4 ms·

Agreed. I 100% think breast feeding is great if you can do it but it's no shame if you can't or need to supplement with formula. Additionally I think it should

Agreed. I 100% think breast feeding is great if you can do it but it's no shame if you can't or need to supplement with formula. Additionally I think it should be a matter between a mother and her pediatrician/lactation specialist and not the government.

mirceal 8y ago
Hmm. I think the government can step in and properly inform people, subsidize lactation consultants so that everyone can afford them, subsidize breast pumps (how are you gonna feed your baby when you’re at work?) and subsidize breast milk banks. You make the final call, but it should not be a struggle to feed your baby breast milk.
- usaar333 8y ago
  I definitely agree with you on information providing, but I think these actions all need careful cost/benefit analysis. > subsidize breast pumps Especially given that they can be rented, this is probably a clear positive to do. > subsidize breast milk banks Donor Milk is extremely expensive ($3-$5 an once). While infant consumers do see reduced rates of gastrointestinal tract infection and eczema, other benefits are less clear. Some more research would be needed to see if this is the best use of health dollars; perhaps a minimal amount of donor milk (several onces), combined with formula may be optimal. > subsidize lactation consultants so that everyone can afford them I'm down with this, as long as lactation consultants are more regulated. The ones we used were far overzealous in over-pushing breast feeding (e.g. overstating benefits)
  - mirceal 8y ago
    Sure. Not gonna chance the world overnight, but we need to know where North is. Right now I feel like people are questioning the compass and if it really works :(
deleted 8y ago
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cxseven 8y ago
Not that you intend to support this, but many mothers fear that they're not providing enough milk to their babies, even though there are natural ramp-up periods where a baby will be left temporarily wanting more. Lack of faith (or awareness) in this stressful process, and the beckon of relief lures those mothers to supplementation. That can interrupt the feedback loop that encourages more milk production and begin a slide towards dependence on formula, reassured by its pervasiveness and positive marketing. Of course, even more significantly, most mothers are forced back to work prematurely and then don't have the time, energy, or even a private space to pump their milk. I bet formula companies know all of this. They shipped a pallet of "free" formula to our address as soon as our daughter was born, unrequested.

mirceal 8y ago

Hmm. I think the government can step in and properly inform people, subsidize lactation consultants so that everyone can afford them, subsidize breast pumps (how are you gonna feed your baby when you’re at work?) and subsidize breast milk banks. You make the final call, but it should not be a struggle to feed your baby breast milk.

usaar333 8y ago
I definitely agree with you on information providing, but I think these actions all need careful cost/benefit analysis. > subsidize breast pumps Especially given that they can be rented, this is probably a clear positive to do. > subsidize breast milk banks Donor Milk is extremely expensive ($3-$5 an once). While infant consumers do see reduced rates of gastrointestinal tract infection and eczema, other benefits are less clear. Some more research would be needed to see if this is the best use of health dollars; perhaps a minimal amount of donor milk (several onces), combined with formula may be optimal. > subsidize lactation consultants so that everyone can afford them I'm down with this, as long as lactation consultants are more regulated. The ones we used were far overzealous in over-pushing breast feeding (e.g. overstating benefits)
- mirceal 8y ago
  Sure. Not gonna chance the world overnight, but we need to know where North is. Right now I feel like people are questioning the compass and if it really works :(

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

cxseven 8y ago

Not that you intend to support this, but many mothers fear that they're not providing enough milk to their babies, even though there are natural ramp-up periods where a baby will be left temporarily wanting more. Lack of faith (or awareness) in this stressful process, and the beckon of relief lures those mothers to supplementation. That can interrupt the feedback loop that encourages more milk production and begin a slide towards dependence on formula, reassured by its pervasiveness and positive marketing. Of course, even more significantly, most mothers are forced back to work prematurely and then don't have the time, energy, or even a private space to pump their milk. I bet formula companies know all of this. They shipped a pallet of "free" formula to our address as soon as our daughter was born, unrequested.