The latest breastfeeding trend: exclusively using a pump rather than nursing. According to this Babble dispatch by Kate Tuttle, more and more women are choosing to give their baby breast milk but not actually delivering it via the breast. One tragic reason is a repulsion toward employing the sexualized breast in the context of a baby:Although there are certainly some women who exclusively pump because of such attitudes, most come to it accidentally, through a combination of a bad start at nursing and a conviction that breast milk is best, even if it doesn't come "straight from the tap."
We know a couple of people who went this route because of physical problems. It seemed like all the hard parts of breastfeeding with only one of the good parts (the milk). So hats off to anyone who spend so much time hooked up to a breast pump in order to get milk to their babies. Hear, hear, to Kate's call for more and better lactation consultation at hospitals, and for raising consciousness about the fact that breasts can actually be both sexy and a source of food.
You can read the whole story here.
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 6)
31. I can't believe how hateful some of these emails sound. It makes no sense to personally berate someone and then say you didn't mean to be ugly...it seems that's exactly what was intended.
I just had to speak up for the women I met at La Leche League when my two children were born. I've never met kinder, gentler, more accepting women in my life. They never made me feel ashamed of the difficulties I had, just supported me and helped me and my children get back on track. I wish some of you had better experiences, but it seems wrong to negatively categorize ALL the women of an international organization based on limited encounters. So, I just wanted to add in my positive experience.
Most (not all) of the women I know who "couldn't" breastfeed gave it up because they didn't have enough support. Just because it's natural, doesn't mean it's always easy. We should be encouraging and helping each other as mothers...telling new mothers that they have what it takes to make it through the challenges and offering support and resources. Not adding to their self-doubt by giving them reasons to quit.
The women who are the most defensive are usually the ones who aren't actually comfortable with their own decisions.
K.D. at 9:04PM on Jan 18th 2008
32. Reminds me of how I flunked out of med school:
I was in my last week, when we were given an oral pop quiz.
My prof. asks me to give three advantages of breast milk over formula.
I think... No Problem, and very confidently begin naming my reasons:
1) Breast milk has a better 'mix' of the proper nutrients, being as how it is produced by the mothers body.
2) As breast milk is contained in the mothers body it is generally hypo-allergenic and less chance for rejection.
Just then, I had the worst panic attack in recorded history. I was unable to speak. I took a deep breath exhaled and began to speak.
3.) IT COMES IN SUCH NICE CONTAINERS......
mac at 9:20PM on Jan 18th 2008
33. Vikki C.,
Actually, the reason the modern woman started using formula exclusively is that formula companies in the mid-1900s told us that formula was better for babies than breast milk. Breastfeeding almost became a lost art. While bottle feeding breast milk is certainly better than formula, "straight from the tap" is still the best because breasts produce milk in response to the baby's needs, including immune needs. When the baby is getting sick, antibodies can be produced and delivered even before the baby shows symptoms or the mother gets sick. Plus, breasts get their clue on how much milk to make based on how much the baby feeds. That said, I'm in the Army and I breast-fed 15 months before I had to leave my daughter for a month of training. This meant that I had to pump during the day. Fortunately, I still got to feed her naturally at night. She never got sick the entire time I breast-fed her. Yep, I had sore nipples a lot and occasionally she bit me, but I was patient and put the nipple cream on and trained her not to bite. One more point: breastfeeding is not only the best for your child, it's the cheapest way to feed your child. I understand that a few women can't, but they are in the minority. With proper education and patience, almost all women can breastfeed.
theraven16 at 10:49PM on Jan 18th 2008
34. KD,
Right on! It takes support and the right resources. La Leche League has a chatroom that women can use if they can't actually get in person support from a lactation consultant. Plus, they can talk to other mothers who are probably experiencing the same thing. They respect that every woman makes her own decision, but are there to support the ones who decide to breastfeed in order to improve their chances of success. Thank you for your voice of positivity.
theraven16 at 10:56PM on Jan 18th 2008
35. I think the biggest shame is that people actually buy into "breastmilk is best". What a crock. I guess anyone wanting to be that close to the farm so badly may as well hook up to a machine.
Get Over It at 11:02PM on Jan 18th 2008
36. My kids were born in the sixties when nursing wasn't encouraged...Simulac formula was in vogue.
My family and my husband would have been very upset had I tried to nurse...it just wasn't discussed in those days, at least I never knew anyone that nursed back then. My babies were just fine, but if I had a chance to do it over, I would definitely try to nurse or at least pump.
Patricia Viamontes at 11:41PM on Jan 18th 2008
37. See, here is the thing. Why are all you women bashing the whole "sexualization" thing, when either way the baby is getting breast milk. Its mothers like you ladies that are so judgmental that make it hard to do anything. Just relax and be happy that its still breast milk. Like they said whether it comes from the tap or not. And get off your high horses, because you make the other mothers who formula fed feel like crap when it is all a matter of preference or possibly medical. Mothers need to stick together not be against each other.
Pamela at 11:45PM on Jan 18th 2008
38. WOW, I am sitting here reading these comments and alot of them amaze me. Most of you had your children years ago. As a mom who is still breastfeeding and formula feeding, I have to step up and comment. My daughter was a very lazy nurser. She would take an hour at time to eat and then be hungry 2 hrs later. It was very exausting. Plus I am a single mom so I had no help, it was me that was up all night when she was new and wanted to eat every 2 hrs. So I started pumping and I could get alot in a short amount of time. But I had to go back to work on the road and was unable to pump or bf much. My daughter wouls still bf a couple times a day. She has weaned herself away from BF within the last few days. She is now 11 months old and has only been sick a few times in her life and she has been formula and bf since she was 4 months old.
All these comments about the palate and the mouth and all that might be slightly true but not for everyone. Someone comment that "EVERYONE" can breastfeed. That is a lie. I know alot of women that have reasons that they can't. My best friend doesn't produce milk at all. Her son got really sick when she tried to feed him, as so had no milk whatso ever so he was formula fed and now is a healthy 8 yr old with no mouth problems.
I was a bf baby and I have mouth problems. Alot of the problems that people have with their mouths is genetics. I have a small small mouth and have had to have teeth pulled simply because my mouth isn't big enough. Genetics nothing else.
I loved to BF, I get to spend alot of time with my daughter but she didn't want to. As she has gotten old, she doesn't want to be tied down. I didn't wean her, she weaned herself. I was going to feed her as long as she wanted but she stopped herself. Yes, it is easier to "give straight from the tap" but not every baby wants to. My daughter loves the freedom of being able to drink her milk when she wants. She has a bottle all day long and she finds it, drinks as much as she wants and then she is on her way again. The dreaded formula has been a big friend of mine. I have been able to go and spend time with family and they get to bond with her as well. She loves when her papa rocks her and feeds her her bottle. She won't let me hold her to feed her. Now that she is able to hold her bottle herself, she loves her freedom.
I am damn proud of myself for going as long as I did. I am the first to go this long in my family for generations, so I am happy that I went 11 mos. Who cares how a baby is getting fed as long as they are. People should be less concerned about what they are feeding a baby as long as they are getting fed properly.
Ronda at 4:22AM on Jan 19th 2008
39. The breasts have been over sexualized in our society horribly. Ada did not make this up. Many women don't breast feed because they can't get that out of their heads, it bothers them or just doesn't feel right. The topic should be addressed. Some babies are not breastfed because of this over-sexualization of the breasts.
And on another completely different subject mentioned above, don't knock those with restless leg syndrome. It's a friggin nightmare, and it isn't made up.
I've been married to a man who for 10 years bounces, jerks, twitches, and fidgets in bed for hours before finally falling asleep. It isn't fun. He won't take any prescription meds for it, so Haiku1VT, do not act like restless legs are made up. Maybe some make it up to get meds or for attention, but screw them, restless legs are seriously, annoyingly real. Try sleeping with someone who has it for 10 years, it's no walk in the park and it includes LOTS of lost sleep!
We finally figured out that if I massage a tiny part of his lower back and then quickly let him sleep, it works. If he stays up after the massage or gets woken up, the legs 'kick' in again. Real restless legs are a nightmare.
Amanda at 4:49AM on Jan 19th 2008
40. In response to Haiku1VT's comment,
First, judge not lest ye be judged you self-righteous ignorant fool.
I am pregnant with my first child and have every hope of breastfeeding my baby, however I have had to undergo numerous surgeries on my breasts that doctors have said may lessen my actual ability to breastfeed. I suppose I would be less of a mother if it was physically impossible to produce milk for my baby, huh?
As for your restless leg comment, I also suffer from this condition at night. I work out EVERY single day for over an hour so I can assure you it has nothing to do with laziness! It is no fun to try and drift off to sleep at night when your legs feel as though they have something crawling up them.
You may want to consider truly educating yourself rather than passing judgement on others!
Crystal at 8:31AM on Jan 19th 2008
41. i myself have stopped inseminating women with my penis due to the revulsion. so i ejaculate into a cup and turkey baste my partner. its so much more clean and precise. i can deliver however many milimeters of sperm i like with the exact amount of pressure. sometimes i mix it with hot milk and use 50 ml at 14 psi just as my partner is climaxing. then i winnie and neigh. she really likes my horsey.
babaganoushe at 9:08AM on Jan 19th 2008
42. It also allows the baby to continue to get breast milk once the mom goes back to work. My boss was more than willing to give me my lunch time in a private office to pump, but had I stayed at home to breastfeed for a year or so, I'd not have the job that we need for our family.
shasha at 9:31AM on Jan 19th 2008
43. While I think it is great if a mom chooses to breast feed, it is not for everyone. I have 4 children,and have never breast fed any of them, and it was by CHOICE. I do not feel one tiny bit guilty for it either. None of my children ever suffered any ill effects from it and we bonded just fine. I am SO tired of the media, medical professionals, etc trying to make moms feel guilty if the don't breast feed. It is a private, personal choice. As long as you make sure your baby is healthy and happy, that is all that matters.
Tessa at 10:26AM on Jan 19th 2008
44. I had my first child at seventeen. I tried breastfeeding him and gave up in shame within a week. I had very little support and it was just an extremely trying time. When he was six weeks old I had to go back to high school too. At first I was told that I was doing all the breastfeeding hoodoo wrong, and then when I made the decision to switch to formula I was given a hard time for that. Sometimes you can't win for losing it seems because everyone else has an opinion that matters more than your own, especially when it comes to raising children. To make this shorter, I bottle fed two of my children and breast fed the other two. There are ups and downs with either decision. Personally I prefer breastfeeding. And wish I had stuck with it back in those misty days of yore. I don't think any mother should be given grief for her decision to breastfeed, or not, though...kudos to anyone who can pump exclusively. Pumping is a pain, and for those who have the dedication to do that nonstop I think that's admirable. For me, I enjoy the closeness of nursing.
Brandy at 11:13AM on Jan 19th 2008
45. During a stay in the hosp., I saw several TV programs on breast-feeding. It wasn't really sexually exciting, but when it was stated that to facilitate the flow of milk, that the breast should be gently massaged, I thought well now - thats a man's task if ever I've heard one! What a way for Mother, Father & baby to bond! Let the Father help support the baby with one hand, while providing the massage with the other.
Robert E. Quillen at 12:01PM on Jan 19th 2008