Nipple Nazis strike again
Says ABC News:
My initial reaction to this is a rush of sympathy for all of the exhausted and overwhelmed new mothers subject to a hard-sell official campaign to get them to breast-feed. My wife tried breast-feeding our son at the beginning, but she couldn't get him to latch on properly and she had a pediatric practice screaming for the return of her administrative attention and medical skills. Pretty quickly, we opted for formula. Wendy felt guilty enough about the decision without other people laying a guilt trip on her.
Even so, some of the lactation evangelists tried to lean on her; as a local pediatrician, she was able to shut them down with a glare.
Ever since, she's been supportive of whatever feeding options parents choose, so long as the kids get the nutrition they need to keep going. Sometimes that means breast milk; other times it means formula.
But through my wife's experiences, and the experiences of many of her patients' mothers, it's clear to me that some people adhere to breast-feeding with a nearly theological zeal. They're perfectly willing to go beyond touting the benefits of breast-feeding and actually attack parents who choose to feed their kids formula. They'll tell outrageous scare stories and question moms' and dads' love for their children if they don't agree that "breast is best" and, in some cases, keep the kids on the nipple until they're ready for school.
I'm not kidding.
Now the Church of the Tit has become a state religion for some government-owned hospitals. That's unfortunate news for mothers who find breast-feeding too difficult or impractical given the demands of work and life. They'll be subject to the attention of missionaries who have little tolerance for free-thinking when it comes the core issue of their religion.
In the name of constructive heresy, I hope somebody smuggles a few cases of formula into those hospitals.
New York City's hospitals have banned infant formula from their gift bags for new mothers — a policy that they hope will encourage nursing and healthier babies. ...
In New York City's $2 million plan, new mothers will each be given a breast-milk bottle cooler, disposable nursing pads, breast-feeding tips and a baby T-shirt with the slogan, "I Eat at Mom's."
Coaches will work with mothers to begin breast-feeding within the first hour after birth. Mothers will also receive free breast pumps and, for those whose babies remain in the hospital, electric breast pumps.
My initial reaction to this is a rush of sympathy for all of the exhausted and overwhelmed new mothers subject to a hard-sell official campaign to get them to breast-feed. My wife tried breast-feeding our son at the beginning, but she couldn't get him to latch on properly and she had a pediatric practice screaming for the return of her administrative attention and medical skills. Pretty quickly, we opted for formula. Wendy felt guilty enough about the decision without other people laying a guilt trip on her.
Even so, some of the lactation evangelists tried to lean on her; as a local pediatrician, she was able to shut them down with a glare.
Ever since, she's been supportive of whatever feeding options parents choose, so long as the kids get the nutrition they need to keep going. Sometimes that means breast milk; other times it means formula.
But through my wife's experiences, and the experiences of many of her patients' mothers, it's clear to me that some people adhere to breast-feeding with a nearly theological zeal. They're perfectly willing to go beyond touting the benefits of breast-feeding and actually attack parents who choose to feed their kids formula. They'll tell outrageous scare stories and question moms' and dads' love for their children if they don't agree that "breast is best" and, in some cases, keep the kids on the nipple until they're ready for school.
I'm not kidding.
Now the Church of the Tit has become a state religion for some government-owned hospitals. That's unfortunate news for mothers who find breast-feeding too difficult or impractical given the demands of work and life. They'll be subject to the attention of missionaries who have little tolerance for free-thinking when it comes the core issue of their religion.
In the name of constructive heresy, I hope somebody smuggles a few cases of formula into those hospitals.
posted by J.D. Tuccille at
8:36 PM
11 Comments:
I would humbly suggest that you would do better to try to understand a subject before writing nonsense about it.
Don't you know what this issue is all about? Giving free samples is marketing, and marketing works, or don't you think so? But there is a difference between giving out formula samples and giving out diapers. If a mother starts with one diaper brand and decides she doesn't like it, she can always change to another brand. But if the mother starts formula feeding and then decides she would like to breastfeed (happens a lot actually), it may be too late to turn it around as her milk will have dried up or the baby refuses to take the breast. A mother who starts breastfeeding and finds it's not for her can easily change to formula. As your pediatrician wife saw.
It's too bad your pediatrician wife didn't succeed. She probably didn't have the knowledge or the support she needed to succeed. But that's no reason to say that it doesn't matter if you breastfeed or not. It's like saying, I couldn't avoid the caesarean section, so it doesn't matter how I give birth. It does.
The risks of not breastfeeding are considerable, and the literature is quite convincing. For example, the mother who didn't breastfeed has an increased risk of getting breast cancer. Is it okay to just say doesn't matter if you breastfeed or not.
Don't you think that comparing breastfeeding advocates to the Nazis is just a little sickingly inappropriate? Have you no shame? Are you seriously suggesting this or is this another example of your sloppiness with words and ideas?
Nobody is stopping mothers from formula feeding. They do what they want. How does banning the free samples prevent mothers from "choosing" to feed her baby artificial milk? Does the fact that the supermarket not give out samples of a particular product to try prevent anyone from buying that product? The health system should not be a marketing tool for industry.
Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC
Toronto, Canada
I would humbly suggest that you would do better to try to understand a subject before writing nonsense about it.
Don't you know what this issue is all about? Giving free samples is marketing, and marketing works, or don't you think so? But there is a difference between giving out formula samples and giving out diapers. If a mother starts with one diaper brand and decides she doesn't like it, she can always change to another brand. But if the mother starts formula feeding and then decides she would like to breastfeed (happens a lot actually), it may be too late to turn it around as her milk will have dried up or the baby refuses to take the breast. A mother who starts breastfeeding and finds it's not for her can easily change to formula. As your pediatrician wife saw.
It's too bad your pediatrician wife didn't succeed. She probably didn't have the knowledge or the support she needed to succeed. But that's no reason to say that it doesn't matter if you breastfeed or not. It's like saying, I couldn't avoid the caesarean section, so it doesn't matter how I give birth. It does.
The risks of not breastfeeding are considerable, and the literature is quite convincing. For example, the mother who didn't breastfeed has an increased risk of getting breast cancer. Is it okay to just say doesn't matter if you breastfeed or not.
Don't you think that comparing breastfeeding advocates to the Nazis is just a little sickingly inappropriate? Have you no shame? Are you seriously suggesting this or is this another example of your sloppiness with words and ideas?
Nobody is stopping mothers from formula feeding. They do what they want. How does banning the free samples prevent mothers from "choosing" to feed her baby artificial milk? Does the fact that the supermarket not give out samples of a particular product to try prevent anyone from buying that product? The health system should not be a marketing tool for industry.
Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC
Toronto, Canada
Dr. Newman,
The appellation "Nipple Nazi" is a term of art, much like "body nazi," "health nazi" and "safety nazi." Appending the word "nazi" is not meant to be taken as a literal statement that the described parties adhere to state-sponsored racism, socialist economics, police-state tactics and a hawkish foreign policy, but rather that they push their views to the extreme, possess an authoritarian mind-set and are intolerant of opposing views.
However, I understand that you respond strongly to the term. For the purposes of this conversation, I'll adopt something a bit less loaded. How about ... Colostrum Communists?"
The point of my essay wasn't to suggest that bottle-feeding is a one-for-one alternative to breast-feeding. I'm well aware that there are health benefits to be derived from breast-feeding babies. However, life is about trade-offs. Some women have difficulty getting their babies to latch on, no matter how much counseling and support they receive. Other women have jobs to return to and families to support. After ten months of pregnancy, some simply want their bodies back. Bottle feeding may not convey the same health benefits as breast-feeding, but it is an acceptable alternative for many women for a variety of reasons.
This is not to say that breast-feeding advocates are wrong to recommend breast-feeding. But we have to acknowledge that in doing so, they are engaged in marketing much like the formula manufacturers. They tout one feeding option, the formula companies tout another. Both have their good and bad points, depending on your priorities, needs and preferences.
The thrust of my criticism was directed at those breast-feeding advocates who step beyond mere marketing to evangelize their preferences with the ideological zeal of err ... Colostrum Communists. Nobody likes a fanatic, and women who have just given birth are a vulnerable captive audience for breast-feeding missionaries who brow-beat, bully and try to dispense with access to other options.
I completely agree with you Mr. Tuccille! We all know "breast is best",but sometimes there just is no other option but the formula. I remember sitting in my living room crying through an hour & a half of pumping only to get less than a 1/4 of an ounce of milk. At that rate my baby would have starved. I did the best I could but to be honest with you, if it wasn't for the samples I had on hand I wouldn't have been able to feed my baby anything. I couldn't drive with the medication I was on & really wasn't in the state of mind to go running around. Those were a Godsend & I refuse to let any Nipple Nazi-yes Dr Newman I'm taking artful license here- make me feel guilty for my choice.
Finally! An opinion which we are afraid to state becuase we may be labelled as "bad mothers". When I gave birth to my daughter last year, I had every intention of breast feeding. For 2 weeks, I struggled, my daughter struggled. We had help, but, nothing worked. I felt like a failure and became depressed. Then my husband went out and purchased a very expensive breast pump ($500), and we were all very happy. I landed up pumping for 7 months. I now have a beautiful 18 month daughter, who is smart and curious. And she has a calm, fun and relaxed mother.
Reena
Hamilton Ontario Canada
I must say that I also am grateful that some one has addressed the issue of near forced breastfeeding. I am HURT by the phrasing "they (mothers) will do what they want". Do you think we WANT to be labeled because we do what we have to? Despite constant breast-feeding of my son he decided to go on "strike" he wont breast feed at all. I tried working with a lactation consultant (and still am for that matter) for the last 3 weeks with no positive result. He SCREAMS if even presented with the breast. In my case it was thrush causing pain during nursing that turned him off. I tried a dropper but at 3 mos it wasn't fast enough to make him happy. I tried a syringe, same problem. I tried a cup he HATED it, it was messy and too hard for him to do. It is truly preposterous that I am attacked by women (including my in-laws) for the simple act of providing my child with nourishment. Do I not love my darling as much as a mom that this comes easy for? For that matter does a mom who CHOOSES to bottle feed for ANY reason lover her child less for the simple fact that she chose the road that worked best for her for whatever reason? FOR SHAME to all thoes who judge another in such a way. Bravo to the loving mothers who take this abuse and drive on.
For the mother's who tryed to breatfeed their babies and it did'nt work out you just did'nt try hard. If you realy did love your baby you would have tryed harder
I had three lactation consultants in the hospital and each told me something different. First one said you have great boobs, next one said I had horrible boobs and the third said one was okay the other was short. I breastfed my son exclusively but he lost weight. After a week another lactation consultant diagnosed me with low supply which is a taboo subject (you hardly see it in the baby books and is never talked about) but it is real. The consultant told me I had to get some herbs to boost my supply, since breast is best. The day my husband an I were going to get the herbs I broke my leg in 3 places. Two surgeries and a bunch of painkillers (which could kill my kid) later my son is on the bottle and happy. I still get asked whether or not I am breastfeeding and get looks when I say that I am not. It isn't until I tell them about the painkillers that the look of contempt is lessened. I guess anonymous would like a drugged up breastfed baby, I could be applauded for trying hard while being locked up for child abuse!
There is rarely an excuse not to provide breast milk for your baby. If you or your baby has a congenital problem which makes it near impossible for proper latching, then PUMP. Rent a hospital grade pump and get to work! If a mother pumps a minimum of 8 times per day with a hospital pump, it is very rare that she would not produce enough milk to exclusively use breast milk. Of course, even if some formula were necessary, it is better than using all formula. Even if a mother is only able to do this for a few months...IT STILL COUNTS. It is still far better than not providing any breast milk at all. Likewise, a mother that is unable to nurse at the breast can place a baby skin-to-skin and still get a wonderful bonding experience.
I refuse to buy the excuse that one's busy work schedule inhibits her from pumping. If your job is so overwhelming that you cannot spare 10 minutes every 3 hours to pump, then I also find it hard to believe that one could be a decent mother and also meet such unreasonable work demands.
If a mother must be on medication that is contraindicated or has HIV, then "DUH" there is no need to argue, a mother's own milk is NOT ideal. However, it would behoove our culture to cut the ties that bind the evil pharma companies to our healthcare system, and make donor milk an option. In case you haven't noticed -- YOUR BABY IS NOT A COW!! The sooner we realize this and start breast feeding our babies and bonding appropriately with them (instead of throwing them in plastic contraptions that blink, sing, and vibrate)...the sooner we will stop suffering from PPD and ADD.
Donor milk at $3 an ounce? Well I guess breast is best and expensive.
Breastfeeding advocates have nothing to gain or profit from encouraging mothers to nurse for as long as possible. Formula is expensive and once you get a baby on it, you've got a new loyal customer. There's nothing benevolent about free formula samples in hospitals.
I am a mother of two. I had problems breastfeeding my first and pumped for 8 months. I was so exhausted and overwhelmed with new mothehood that I ignored my doctor's advice about nipple confusion and used some bottles of formula to get some sleep. My baby wouldn't go back to the breast.
I'm happy to say that I am now nursing my 6 month old second child. I agree that the "nipple nazis" can seem overzealous and crazed about the boob. But, when you're trying to reverse a systemic trend, and when new moms are so exhausted and depressed, they just wanna reach for that bottle...you just wanna keep pressing them to stick with the breast.
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