The benefits of breastfeeding do not magically go away after 6 months like some think. But, one needs to only breastfeed for at least 6 months (no solid food or formula) for a baby to get all the benefits. Exclusive for 3 provides some. But if one can make it to at least a year, then you don't ever have to give your baby formula. Just so you all know the new DHA stuff in the formula that is supposed to mimic the fatty acids in breastmilk comes from mold. Yum! There is corn syrup in a lot of formulas as well. Corn syrup is pure crap! This is not to make anyone who has had to use formula feel bad. I had to too for reasons out of my control - see above post. I realize that these things happen.

Lady - I run into this stuff a lot. It is not like this in a lot of other places in the world. I work with a young mexican girl who has been nursing for 6 months. She thought nothing of it. Her grandma said (in spanish) of course she will breastfeed, thats what you do. So refreshing!

I work in Vermont, and we have the best breastfeeding rates in the country I believe. Lots of people here do things naturally!

Yea, the American Pediatric Society came out with a load of crap - said that it is dangerous to sleep with your baby. Then how come people have been doing it all over the world, forever!!!!!???? At my work we still support this practice regardless. We just advise people about safe sleeping practices. You know, don't sleep with your baby if you are on meds that effect your awareness level, no pillows, or huge quilts. Stuff like that. We just had a tragedy locally recently because the mom was heavily dosed on meds for psychiatric reasons.

I tried the family bed, but it did not work for me. Neither my son or I got any sleep. When I moved him into a bassinet beside me we were all much happier! It really is a personal choice.

Yeah, the bed thing is up to everyone I think and one gotta check what works best for baby and parents.

But I feel that these days we sometimes oversee that humans are social animals, that means that babies are not just supposed to be alone a lot of time.
The natural way is to carry them around a lot and have them with you and not just lay them somewhere for longer and hope they will be happy alone.

Don't get me wrong, I would never diss a woman who cannot breastfeed, I know there are valid reasons out there.
But I do criticise that people think it unnatural.

Lieber stehend sterben als kniend leben!


http://www.flickr.com/photos/lalense/

I had read a study that kids fed that dha crap formula actually produced dumber kids then those fed regular formula.

I ended up buying cod liver oil (tested for safety and expensive!) and buying regular forumla.

However, the non dha forumla became almost impossible to find about a month after doing this. And the stupid sales people looked at me like I was insane when I asked for forumla without the DHA.

One of my exes collegues a pediatrician agreed with me, said he wished more parents were educated about it, and hated the forumla industries sneaky practices.

Yep yep. Two semesters ago, for a business writing class, I had to write a proposal. I was pregnant at the time, and I knew I was going to breastfeed. I still am-my son is 8 months old, and I hope to go until he's two, as the World Health Organization suggests. Anyway, the proposal, it could be for anything, it was just to expose us to that style of writing. So I wrote a proposal to the university to begin a resource program for breastfeeding students. (UC-Berkeley offers private "lactation lounges" for moms to go pump, and a fridge to store milk on campus. Me, I have to pump in a bathroom stall and lug around the dorky ass backpack on wheels with my pump and a freezer bag for the milk.)
My prof, who was from Germany, at first rejected my topic because she didn't think it was an issue at all. She didn't think my topic had any mileage, basically. Like I was proposing that the sky be blue every morning, or something. She did not realize that formula feeding is the default for American mothers, and that breastfeeding has an aura of weirdness about it in the US. I suggested she put it to the class, because I really wanted to write my proposal on this. She saw that the class was not comfortable with breastfeeding, even the female students. The class was small, about 20 of us, and everyone was very squirmy about my topic. At least the American students were. There were three Japanese nationals, one was a guy, and breastfeeding was nbd to them.
The Japanese guy and I became friends, and later he asked me if I felt weird with the class more or less discussing my plans for my boobs.
I got an A on my paper, and I anonymously submitted it to ASU's Family Resources office. Our student union was rebuilt after a fire, and now there is a lactation lounge in the union. Sadly, I don't use it because I don't have enough time between classes to get there. But I'm glad it's there for other moms! Also, my pediatrician says she can tell in an exam if the baby is breastfed or not. She says breastfed babies have softer, more evenly colored skin and she said their subcutaneous fat just "feels different". She can tell with her eyes closed, just by feeling their skin. Now that is cool.

Lots of woman around here use slings and where their baby a lot. Using a sling was the only thing that calmed my fussy little guy. He just wanted to be in his mamas arms.

Haha, paloma, that's is one great story!
Speaking up to a stubborn german prof.
And look how far you came with it, you made life better for several mums, my props for that, absolutely cool!
Not only have you gained for yourself, it had a real and positive impact on your surroundings too.
That's what I call doing the homework most effectively!


Loraleena, a young mum friend of mine uses the sling a lot too. The babies are a lot calmer than those I know who are not near mum so often.
Being a social worker I see that children like yours are said to be a kind of "problem cases" or something today when they only ask for a natural state of being a baby.
Even in the literature it is remarked and often critically.
One could avoid so many problems with simple means ...

i used a sling a lot too, and co slept, i think breast feeding is brilliant and something i and all 3 of my children enjoyed, and i am sure benifited from

"Where so ever you go, go with all your Heart."