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 5 of 6)
61. I commend anyone who breastfeeds even if it is from a bottle. With that said there are other advantages that people don't realize when the baby actually nurses at the breast. The baby's muscular structure is better developed. The breast milk when suckled changes consistency quenching baby's thirst, then providing more fat filling up the baby. Lastly I believe there is more maternal bonding when you are skin to skin.
Amy at 4:50PM on Jan 20th 2008
62. When I was pregnant, over 5 years ago, I heard about the benefits of breastfeeding. I'm not sure where I heard it, but the main difference in bottle feeding breastmilk and nursing has to do with antibodies. When the child is fighting a cold or any type of infection, the saliva/milk exchange during nursing helps the mom develop antibodies for the child to fight the disease which is passed back to the child while nursing later. There were tough times during our time together and I did have some milk in the freezer in case I was going out. My husband was the "burper". Try as I might, I just couldn't get a good burp out of Andrew and he was a gassy baby. Hubby always got the good one. He also would take Andrew for a few hours between feedings so I could shower, sleep or relax. That's a great way for daddy's to bond with the little miracles.
Kaye Lynne at 5:15PM on Jan 20th 2008
63. breastfeeding produced NO milk for me. pumping was the only way my kids got any breastmilk. so don't knock it, you experts out there with perfect boobs who seem to think if you can do it, then the rest of us are just lazy!
amy at 5:22PM on Jan 20th 2008
64. Just wanted to get another word in for those of us who really can't breastfeed. I tried with my first for 4 1/2 weeks. I had mastitis the entire time (got it while still at the hospital), that, despite over 60 days of antibiotics along with many technique assessments (latch-on was great, everything going smoothly in that respect), turned into a multi-lobed abscess that required two drainings and weeks of packing and bandaging. I was left with internal scarring. All of this was caused by a physiological condition...narrow ducts. I'm sure there are other women with this condition, and other conditions, that prevent them from having success with breastfeeding.
BTW, all three of my children bonded closely with me and are happy, healthy individuals.
Lesli at 5:44PM on Jan 20th 2008
65. My mom breastfed 13 children. I kid you not. And she still looks pretty good at 86. I don't think it ever entered her head that there was any "sexualization" in breast feeding. It was her bonding time with her baby. I never had any kids, so don't ask me if I would do it......I'm a dog mom! And their mommies did it for me. LOL!
Betty Boop at 6:30PM on Jan 20th 2008
66. I breastfed my first for 6-1/2 months and then she weaned herself. My second child breastfed until he went off to public school, so for almost 6 years. The bonding between myself and my children is something that has passed the test of time. I never pumped and my second child never took a bottle. People who are uncomfortable with seeing a breast-feeding mother need to just look the other way. God gave women breasts for several reasons and one should not be "sexualized" more than another and breastfeeding is defnitely not meant to be sexual, otherwise God would not have installed mammary glands in the breast - they would be totally made up of adipose tissue. Neither of my children suffered any repercussions due to the length of their breastfeeding. People who have negative opinions of true breastfeeding should keep those opinions to themselves. It is as natural as the act of conceiving those children, and people definitely want to see more of that - SEX SELLS.
Trudy Gautier at 8:16PM on Jan 20th 2008
67. Just a quick note. When breastfeeding directly, the woman's body is able to produce antibodies very quickly for a child who becoming ill. This is one of those great feedback systems in nature that simply can't be reproduced with technology. Breastmilk from a bottle is infinitely superior to formula. However, we should not overlook the benefits of breastfeeding both to ourselves and to our children--and there are a great many. I know it can sometimes be hard when you start, especially if you do not have an experienced person to teach you, but it well worth the effort and even a few days of discomfort. Best of luck to you all!
tiffmumma at 9:21PM on Jan 20th 2008
68. Why can't we all just get along? We do need to get over ourselves and support eachother as women and mothers. There are so many stresses in this world, why add more? It is true breast is best, but if you don't want to commit to that then don't feel bad. Dads can bond with baby regardless of bottlefeeding. There are so many benefits to breastfeeding, be strong and don't let the ignorant public make you feel bad. Don't let overzealous La Leche League members scare you away from it. Be strong and follow your beleifs. Your baby will still turn out fine. I was bottle fed, but my four children were breastfed. Any difference? No, being a parent is about choices we see are best for our children. We are all faced with different lives and situations, let us all come together in support.
Kelli at 12:22PM on Jan 21st 2008
69. It seems that a lot of parents think they are doing what is best for baby by working 8-10 hour days and leaving the sitter to feed the breastmilk. One of a child's greatest fears is that of abandonment. It is not about nutrition, but security that breast contact gives the infant. This type of security will lead to a very confident and independent adult
with fewer self-image problems. Our society could use more of these.If you really want to provide this type of security in the first 5 years, you can
work out a plan to be at home with your child until he goes to school. I came from a very meager background and did it. After my children went to school, I got my degree and now I am very fortunate to have a beautiful home and wonderfully secure children. Please be there for your baby/toddler.
Charlotte Sego at 7:36AM on Jan 21st 2008
70. I'm actually breastfeeding while I write this. I pump twice a week while I'm at work, but I love breastfeeding directly because I get that moment to pause, spend time with her and maybe even check online news. It's amazing to see how calming breastfeeding is on my baby. She can be sick or upset, but when I start nursing she gets totally relaxed. My husband wishes the bottle could do that the nights that I'm at work.
Breastfeeding can take some effort, but it's so worth it to give of yourself for one so precious.
Sarah at 9:25AM on Jan 21st 2008
71. The first function of the breast was NOT meant for sexual pleasure. It was meant to NURTURE mankind! The sexual pleasure is a bi product of having breasts. Any woman that gets off with her child nursuing has issues. I have 4 kids and breast feed them. I NEVER had sexual anything arrive out of nursing them. It was very different when my husband was on my breast versus my CHILD. In my mind, their was no need to make a disctinction, it was innate. Breastfeeding is what is best for the baby. Someone commented on the nuture aspect and that this is very true. It is critical that our kids receive the neccessary nuture required to keep them from becoming psychos. I understand the pain, the premies and all. The majority of the reason for pain is improper latching. This causes an unnatural slant of the nipple, bleeding of the nipple, etc. Making sure that we as a society will support breastfeeding moms is critical from day one and throughout. If someone is looking at you like you are crazy when you are nursing, look at them back. NO ONE would stop me from doing what is best for my child. NO ONE.
As far as getting the breast milk through pumps, hated them. I felt like a cow being milked. However, I had to work, so I did pump, with my hand. It was much less painful, I got more milk, and it was quicker. But I would never just give my kids milk through the bottle, simply because I didn't WANT to breastfeed. That is not cool. Physically, you give your child what is best, but you are missing out on some key moments.
Tasha at 10:02AM on Jan 21st 2008
72. La Leche League Leaders are specifically trained not to be condeming, and to meet the needs of the mother, even if she wants to do something contrary to our beliefs or even science (if a mother is giving her 3 week old solids, but her supply is ok and she's not complaining, we're not supposed to say anything about it). I think that people sometimes confuse LLL members with Leaders. Leaders are trained and required to follow certain rules (involving appropriate communication skills, respect exc.), members, of course, are not. La Leche League is an organization that exists to help mothers who want to breastfeed their babies at any level: part-time, full-time, pumping only, for 2 weeks, whatever the mother wants. Any Leader that tries to pressure a mother to do something she isn't comfortable with is going against what she has been trained to do.
Leta at 12:36PM on Jan 21st 2008
73. The breast feeding moms get slammed by some people who find it offensive to breast feed in public. The bottle feeding moms are condemned by La Leche and the breast feedings moms. I get sick and tired of hearing how bottle feeding moms don't care about their babies because they chose the bottle or GOD FORBID, formula. Did both, I see no differance in my children's behavior, intelligence or love and affection towards me. Also, the bottle enabled my husband to join in. He loved feeding his babies. Okay, now I know I'll be condemned for this. I also used the pacifier.........GASP! By the way, great post Vicki
kmf at 12:41PM on Jan 21st 2008
74. While I totally understand and sympathize with the women who are physically unable to breastfeed, I'm finding it hard to understand the scarcity of comments by women who have successfully and joyfully breastfed their babies and loved every minute of it. I was a working mother with both of my children, now aged 15 and 11, but thinking back to the precious, all too short 6 months I was able to breastfeed each child still brings warm fuzzy memories. There is no substitute for looking deeply into your child's eyes, cuddling him/her next to your heart and knowing that you yourself are able to give them everything they need to sustain life. Sure, it wasn't always easy - I had my share of bleeding cracked nipples and steeling myself for that first awful cringe when the baby latches on... but doesn't the whole motherhood experience have its share of pain? I also expressed milk so that my husband could share in the bonding, and expressing milk was just as if not more painful without the rewards! So for those women thinking of expressing and bottle feeding breast milk solely to avoid the "sexuality connotation" please please don't miss out on what can be one of the most wonderful and loving experiences of your mommyhood.
Mia at 5:26PM on Jan 21st 2008
75. I posted earlier on having a physical limitation and thus having to discontinue breastfeeding...what I want to add is that, while I understand completely the biological benefits of breastfeeding (although I couldn't at all with two of my children, I still "dripped" colostrum into their mouths in the hopes that antibodies would be passed on!), the closeness can definitely still be there, in spades, with bottle feeding. I held them close, to my skin, when feeding them, and in holding the bottle didn't even have a hand free to do anything else but enjoy their presence. Closeness and bonding is NOT an exclusive joy of breastfeeding. It's a result of being a caring and loving parent.
Lesli at 11:06PM on Jan 21st 2008