Breast-Feed or Else?

There was an article in yesterday's (June 14, 2006) New York Times written by Roni Rabin about breast feeding that was rather interesting. I agree that breast feeding is optimal for baby but not everyone can do it. It is a little harsh to INSIST that one MUST breastfeed or have their baby suffer health consequences. A happy mommy will usually have a happy baby. A Mommy who is conscious about what she is putting into her baby is acting responsibily. So, if she can't breast feed but is giving the baby other supplements that SHE and the baby's pediatrician believes are helpful, I think that is fine. A mother should not feel inadequate because she just can't breast feed.

Here are some snippets from the article and a link if you are interested in reading the whole thing.

"A new awareness campaign resorts to scare tactics.

Warning: Public health officials have determined that not breast-feeding may be hazardous to your baby's health.

There is no black-box label like that affixed to cans of infant formula or tucked into the corner of magazine advertisements, at least not yet. But that is the unambiguous message of a controversial government public health campaign encouraging new mothers to breast-feed for six months to protect their babies from colds, flu, ear infections, diarrhea and even obesity. In April, the World Health Organization, setting new international bench marks for children's growth, for the first time referred to breast-feeding as the biological norm.Ample scientific evidence supports the contention that breast-fed babies are less vulnerable to acute infectious diseases, including respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, experts say. Some studies also suggest that breast-fed babies are at lower risk for sudden infant death syndrome and serious chronic diseases later in life, including asthma, diabetes, leukemia and some forms of lymphoma, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics."

"Ample scientific evidence supports the contention that breast-fed babies are less vulnerable to acute infectious diseases, including respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, experts say. Some studies also suggest that breast-fed babies are at lower risk for sudden infant death syndrome and serious chronic diseases later in life, including asthma, diabetes, leukemia and some forms of lymphoma, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Research on premature babies has even found that those given breast milk scored higher on I.Q. tests than those who were bottle-fed."

"Breast milk has also been shown to lift the cognitive development of premature babies, presumably because it contains certain fatty acids that aid brain development."
For more click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/13/health/13brea.html?ex=1151035200&en=32a1c2a945e66efe&ei=5070&emc=eta1