The New York Times carried a blog article called "Ban the Breast Pump." Since our children will all be adopted, this is kind of a non-issue for me. But reading it did lessen some of my worry/guilt on this issue. It refers to studies that have shown that breast-feedings advantages have been overstated.
Breast-feeding is great for so many reasons:
* the physical closeness it gives mother and child
* the nutrients and antibodies provided
* the lack of extra expense and of extra packaging waste
However, some of us won't breastfeed. Cleft palettes (which my nephews have been born with) make breastfeeding impossible. I was glad to hear that we aren't radically disadvantaging our children! Besides, there are bonuses too. Primarily, in our care: Taylor wields a bottle just as well as I do! And since he sleeps lightly and I sleep like the dead, he gets to do the baby duty at night. Hey, he got through most of the Harry Potter books on tape during the nighttime feedings David's first 2 months!
Friday, April 3, 2009
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1 comments:
Lisa,
Definitely an interesting and thought provoking article. I haven't had to struggle with the breast-feeding vs pumping issues because I haven't gone back to work since having kids. I find myself wondering why women torture themselves that way and maybe it is kind of an emotional thing to think that since they aren't with their children throughout the day this is one sacrifice that they can make. On the other hand, just because a mother is home and accessible also doesn't mean that she has to breast-feed. It's all down to personal choice and feelings. I'm grateful that I can breast-feed and it has been a wonderful bonding experience. Fascinating and heated topic to say the least. I believe Anna H. referred to a similar article a few months back. Probably more important than what our children consume in their tummies is what they "consume" in their minds and hearts.
~Kim
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