Breast is Best
07Feb. 09
Breasts. Boobs. Tits. Knockers. Melons. Hooters. Fun bags. Gazongas. Shirt potatoes. Mammalian protuberances. Personal floatation device. Breasticles. Chesticles. The girls. The twins. Bert and Ernie. Mary-Kate & Ashley… Jugs. Milk shakes. Milk shooters. Milk factories… Personally, I call them “Milkies”, at least I do when I’m talking to my daughter who sucked on them for two years.
Breasts are here to produce milk, and not just any old milk, the perfect milk. The perfect milk for the perfect little person who will be drinking it. But why am I talking about breasts on a skeptical website (besides for the fact that everyone likes to think about breasts)? I’ll simplify the issue like this: A misconception exists or is propagated in the public and for various reasons it does not dissolve. I see many misconceptions, held by women, men, children, and health professionals, revolving around the act of breastfeeding.
Breast is Best
The alternative to breastfeeding is bottlefeeding with infant formula, a substance designed to taste and act like breast milk but which is derived from cow, goat or soy milk. Breastfeeding has repeatedly been shown to be more beneficial than feeding with infant formula, in a continually growing number of ways. These include protecting baby from illness and infections, providing hundreds of ingredients necessary for a growing baby, aiding in baby’s development of eyesight, speech and intelligence, and promoting a special bond between mum and bub. Not to mention the benefits to mum if she breastfeeds, such as getting her body back in shape quicker, reduced risk of ovarian and breast cancer, delayed return of menstruation and hence a natural contraceptive (yay!). To put it simply: “Breast is best”. On the other hand, babies who are not breastfed have a higher risk of cot death, have a higher likelihood of allergies, and may have an increased risk of juvenile diabetes and heart disease later in life.
The numbers of breastfed infants have changed dramatically over the last century. Although most Australian newborns were breastfed at the beginning of last century, by the 1970’s the number of breastfed babies had dwindled to under less than 50%. I imagine this was due to the development of infant formula as opposed to just straight cow’s milk, of which no one in their right mind could convince themselves was better than breastmilk. The numbers of breastfed babies have risen since the 70’s, with 2004-05 showing 83% of infants being breastfed when they were discharged from the hospital. Ok, so that seems better, but in reality many of those children will have only been fed exclusively on breast milk for less than the recommended minimum length of time. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and breastfeeding supplemented by solid food for up to two years or beyond. These recommendations take into account all the scientific research and long term studies. There is no doubt in any scientific or pseudo-scientific communities, or even infant formula companies that breastfeeding is the best option. So why were only 32% of infants aged up to six months, the minimum recommended age for exclusive breastfeeding, breastfed in 2001?
In a modern world where we are obsessed with what is best for our health, how is it so many women do what is worst for their children? My answer to this question is education, education at home, in the hospital, through the media, and at schools.
Before I continue about the education of breastfeeding (or lack thereof), let me first explain why there needs to be any education about how to breastfeed and why it is beneficial. Breastfeeding can often be very difficult. And I mean painfully difficult. Think cracked nipples, infected milk ducts, screaming and sleepless babies… and that’s on top of the mother’s sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and pain after giving birth. If a mother doesn’t feed her baby for the right length of time, at the right frequency, or if she gets too stressed, doesn’t get enough sleep, or even eats the wrong things, all sorts of problems can occur with the supply of milk. Many mothers find they are in too much pain or have too little milk and resort to formula, but a large number of these mothers could have avoided those problems if they had been given the right information about breastfeeding in the first place.
Education at Home and in the Community
With 1.3 average children in Australian households (in 2001 and reducing as we speak), it’s obvious that most children aren’t learning about breastfeeding from their own mothers. Back in the day when humans lived in tribes and communities, children would have been around breastfeeding women all the time and picked up techniques without effort, and even if children paid no attention to nursing mothers in their own household they would be sure to get all the help they needed when the time came for them to feed their own baby. With families increasingly moving and living away from their parents, the likelihood that breastfeeding will be learnt from home slides away into the distance. Not only that, but breastfeeding women often report that some people in their community find the act of breastfeeding offensive and give the mothers rude looks or comments. In these cases it is the ignorant strangers and family members who need to be educated rather than the mother.
Education in the Hospital
Yes. This happens. But it is full of flaws. There is usually one voluntary information night that expecting mothers can attend, but at that stage the information is almost useless because absorbing information on something you’ve never even tried to do before is terribly inefficient. When a woman feeds her baby in the hospital, or goes home after the birth, she gets one-on-one advice from a trained nurse or midwife, however I have come across many cases (if not all, with the exception of my own) in which women have received very bad advice from these “trained” professionals. Often the advice is seriously outdated, or biased by the nurse’s personal opinions, or not explained with enough care. The upshot of this is that new mothers are walking into it blind and are likely to make mistakes that will result in the use of formula.
Education through the Media
Groan… When has the media ever taught us anything accurate? Ok, The Simpsons taught me half of what I know, but even that fantastic show fails when it comes to breastfeeding. Over the two years of breastfeeding my own child I kept a keen eye out for the boob on the tube, but I only noticed a few cases where the breast was used instead of the bottle. Look in any children’s book and you’ll find a baby in their cot or pram with a bottle of milk in their mouth. Thankfully there are many celebrities hailing the wonder of the breast, but there are just as many seen filling up the bottle. The media is certainly not the place to turn for an accurate portrayal of reality, and why should it be? A large proportion of the content in the media is advertising. The regulations of the advertising of infant formula have been tightened in recent years but before that, they managed to create false ideas such as infant formula is easier for mothers, helps babies sleep longer, and prevents colic.
Education in Schools
Is there? In biology I learnt that mammals breastfed their young. In Health Ed I learnt that you might be pregnant if you miss your period. I don’t remember anything about human breastfeeding. Do you?
I’ll end with what prompted me to write this article in the first place, excerpts from a letter from my old friends, The Australian Breastfeeding Association, requesting a donation for their “Teaching Our Kids” cause:
Dear Dahliyani,
‘Breastfeeding is rude’ commented 9 year old Olivia in a class discussion.
‘Can’t she afford bottles?’ added her friend when looking at a picture of a breastfeeding mum.
Please help us to show Olivia, and all Australian school children, about the importance of breastfeeding by donating now to ABA’s Teaching Our Kids Appeal.
Throughout Olivia’s school years breastfeeding could be touched upon in a unit on mammals (breast milk is the normal food for human babies), Renaissance art (many examples of breastfeeding), science (growth and immune factors in human milk), and economics (cost of artificial milk feeding to the Australian economy). At the same time her peers, including her future partner, would also be learning these and other aspects of breastfeeding, making it the natural choice when they have their own children.
References:
- http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/subs/donate.html
- http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/04FEBEF9C81FE6BACA25732C002077A2?opendocument#BREASTFEEDING
- http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/en/
- http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/general.html
- http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/3236.0
Tags: Boobs
February 7th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Fantastic article Dahli! Such a more worthy topic for this site than all that silly BSG blather going on in the previous article.
My best friend had a child with his girlfriend 6 months ago and breastfeeding was attempted but not maintained. I forget what the reason for stopping was, but it certainly sounds like it is a shame it did.
I agree that education about the huge benefits of breastfeeding should start as early as possible. Great idea to mix it into those varied subjects where appropriate. Maybe it sounds a touch idealistic to think this could be implemented across the board though, or maybe I am being too pessimistic — I’m no authority on curricula.
I’m interested in whether Kylie Sturgess has any comment on this matter, as she is an experienced educator.
February 7th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Wow, Dahli, you should speak to my mother, she’s a maternal and child health nurse and lactation consultant, and is constantly talking about the benefits of breastfeeding as opposed to formula. We even have a “Breast is Best” sticker on our car!
I completely agree, of course, that breastfeeding needs to be promoted more in the public consciousness and the public schools. Lots of people see the practice as somehow “shameful”, and some women are pressured into not breastfeeding simply because of the attitude against feeding in public. This is stupid.
There’s a heap of research that now exists linking a lack of breastfeeding to jaw malformation and subsequent dental problems in later life. It’s all very interesting science.
February 7th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Joel, I guess the ABA are not thinking they’re going to get their lesson plans into every school in Australia, because that would be idealistic. I think they’re applying the same sort of methods that the Australian Skeptics are — writing lesson plans, having information sheets etc to educate students online, but also give willing teachers to take into the classroom. I know the Vic Skeptics do this with downloadable pamphlets on various skeptical topics and a “Teachers CD” we hand out at teacher conferences, and I think WA and NSW Skeptics have similar strategies. Even reaching a small number of teachers is the beginning to reaching a large number of students.
Btw Joel, the BSG comments are hilarious. It’s amazing the number of people (*cough* geeks *cough*) who come out of the woodwork when their cherished (sci-fi) tv show is criticized. ;)
Jack — two of my Australian friends who live overseas have read this post, one in India and one in Spain. Both complained about how much worse the situation is where they live, but I’m glad to hear that they both persevered with breastfeeding. Most of the locals don’t.. which is probably why it’s not seen as normal. I have the sort of personality that prevents me from understanding how a woman could be pressured into not feeding in public. In my two years of happily taking out by boob wherever I pleased (with particular delight in very formal “hush hush” places), I never once encountered someone who gave me “a look”, which I’m kind of annoyed about now because I would have loved to have gotten angry at, er..I mean “educate”, someone who thought it wasn’t OK to breastfeed in public.
d
February 9th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Dahli
Good one! Would you like to write for ‘The Skeptic’ ? Let me know. ;)
February 10th, 2009 at 5:57 am
Breastfeeding can be challenging, demanding and hard work — especially to establish. It’s understandable that many women give up — due to lack of knowledge, lack of support and higher priorities. Australia does fairly well compared to the USA, where women often go back to work after 6 weeks. Workplace stress, infant care stress and breastfeeding are not a healthy combination.
My main advice would be to have a lactation consultant organised during the pregnancy at consulting regularly with them in the first few weeks, and whenever issues arise. Don’t assume that doctors, hospitals or nurses necessarily have any interest, clues or motivation to help — sometimes yes, but often no.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Fantastic work, thanks Dahli! And yes, DO consider sending this in to the Aust Skeptic. :)
February 17th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Great article Dahli.
And your para beginning “Before I continue…” seems pretty compelling evidence for the non-existence of a compassionate god if you ask me.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Thank you Dahli for a well-written article that touches on some of the issues surrounding breastfeeding in our country today. Your points about education are spot on. The Australian Breastfeeding Association offers Breastfeeding Education Classes, btw.
I disagree that breast is ‘best’, though, because it’s actually normal. Most babies have always been breastfed. Most babies still are, but in our modern society we’ve managed to normalise what is otherwise a medical intervention. There are no advantages to breastfeeding — only disadvantages to not breastfeeding. The human infant has evolved with human milk — there’s no ‘best’ there — it’s the baby that doesn’t get mothers’ milk that’s missing out.
The other thing that breastfeeding needs is support. A mother may know how to breastfeed and have many good reasons for doing so, but without support from her partner, her friends, her employer, her community, she will find it much harder. I guess that too, comes back to education.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Just please do not stigmatise mothers who for ne reason or other don’t breastfeed… Two of three of my friends who have had heir babies recently weren’t able to, and not because they didn’t get any help. I don’t think they need a bad conscience on top of everything else.
March 5th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Coran — Breast is “best” in the sense that there is another mainstream alternative to which it is better than.
I think it’s just semantics to say “there are no advantages to breastfeeding, only disadvantages to not breastfeeding”. Compared to the alternative, breastfeeding has advantages.
I agree about support from family, partner, employer, community, etc. And the point of this article was that in order for these people to support women who want to breastfeed, the people need to be educated about breastfeeding, the benefits and the naturalness of.
i — My question to your friends would be why didn’t they breastfeed? Because they didn’t want to, or because they had problems?
If the latter, then are you sure that getting help would not have helped? Of course sometimes breastfeeding is just not physicaly possible, and these cases I have no problem with.
If the former, I would ask why didn’t they want to bf. Did they research what the effects would be for their child, both emotionally and physically? Do they think it is disgusting or old fashioned? Or do they just have an aversion to using their breast to feed a child (some women do and it’s not something they can get over, so they are unable to bf).
Of course it’s a choice for each parent to make, but it’s what is behind each decision that I’m interested in. In my view, some reasons for choosing not to bf are serious physical of psychological issues and should be respected, but some reasons are stupid and based in ignorance. I’d just like the latter to be minimized (yes, the situation is better in Australia than a lot of other countries, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still try to improve it).
Re: “Bad conscience” — If a mother feels bad about her decision to not bf after reading, say, my article, then maybe she made the wrong decision. I’m not calling anyone names here, I’m just stating the facts.