Exclusive Breastfeeding "Not the Norm" in U.S.
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Exclusive Breastfeeding "Not the Norm" in U.S.
| Fri, 11-18-2011 - 9:02am |
When something's been scientifically proven as good for the body -- nourishing, boosting disease-fighting ability and more -- you might think Americans would clamor to adopt it, especially when the
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I think the mentality that a little is better than none at all is still a very strong concept with a lot of people as well as doctors even though studies show the long term benefits of extended breastfeeding. So when babies growth spurt and breastfeeding gets taxing, people give up.
It does not help that breastfeeding in public is still so frowned upon in our country.
Breastfeeding can be a challenge - it definitely isn't easy for everyone - and I think support for moms who are struggling isn't easy to come by. My services were great while I was in the hospital but when I had a question months later, I had to leave a message and wait days to hear back and that person was very little help to me. In that time, many inexperienced moms likely would have given up or lost their supply.
I do think that breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding is becoming a more popular choice. It's nice to see shows like Teen Mom showing very young girls who are opting for breastfeeding at an age where most of their peers would be so turned off by that.
I was not a breastfed baby. My family was shocked to know that at 20 years old I was choosing to nurse my baby, and have since nursed all my babies. Many moms choose what their mothers chose. It's time to bring that cycle back to breastfeeding and make that the norm.