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One of the biggest controversies for mothers today is whether or not to breastfeed their babies. The legacy of feeding infant formula to a baby was passed down by women from the 19th century who are long gone and forgotten. These women sold their industrialized sisters of the 20th century a bill of goods that said infant formula was superior to breast milk. What makes it all so unfathomable is that up until the 19th century, it was unthinkable to not give your baby breast milk-be it yours or someone else’s.
When we look at birthing customs as late as the 17th and 18th centuries, breastfeeding served a few purposes for working class English women-it nourished the baby, acted as a contraceptive to assist with birth spacing, and provided money via wet nursing. Conversely, wealthy women were discouraged from breastfeeding so that they could produce many children for their respective monarchies. To compensate for this, they hired wet nurses who were working class women or they used their slaves to breast feed their infants. The whole birthing process was handled completely by women, such as midwives, female relatives and neighbors. Men were generally off doing “men” activities, and had absolutely no interest in being a part of a woman’s care.
Fast forward to the 20th century and you will find that things were changing rapidly. The “sage” advice of male doctors replaced the midwives in the birthing process, and guess what the doctors got rid of next-breastfeeding. It was no longer appropriate for women to breastfeed, especially since the first infant formula had already been invented in Europe by Baron Justus von Liebig in 1867. By 1869, Liebig’s concoction was being marketed in the US as an equal substitute to breastfeeding. Soon after, Nestle created his version of infant formula along with a creative marketing plan that said his milk was superior to breast milk. Doctors and thousands of middle class mothers who had been using infant formulas were unanimously in agreement with Nestle. Needless to say, the working class women were sold on infant formulas and continued to feed their babies this processed milk well into the 21st century.
Today, most women in industrialized nations continue to promote the use of infant formula over breastfeeding. Although a higher percentage of women start out breast feeding, only 31 percent are still breastfeeding by the time the baby is 3 months old. Women and men continue to have poor perceptions of breastfeeding despite the research that shows a myriad of undeniable benefits.
The most important facts about breastfeeding are (1) it builds your baby’s immune system, (2) it protects againstlymphoma, crohn’s disease, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, asthma and allergies, respiratory infections, eczema, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, (3) it improves your baby’s brain functions, (4) it helps your baby emotionally by being held close to its mother, (5) it improves your baby’s IQ, and (6) it saves you thousands of dollars. There are at least 400 nutrients in breast milk that processed milk cannot duplicate. These nutrients work in tandem, which maximizes their nutritional effectiveness. Conversely, any isolated, synthetic vitamin that is found in infant formulas offers no real nutritional value because they lack the whole food property of breast milk. Hopefully, we will correct the wrongs of our 19th century sisters and revert back to the days of yester year-the days when a human baby received it’s nourishment from another human being. If you are unable to breastfeed, you do have options, such as using a wet-nurse, patronizing a breast milk bank, or making your own healthy, homemade recipe of infant formula.
Additional Toni Hall Parker Articles
References:
Hareyan. (August 2007). Percentage of US Women Breastfeeding Their Infants Reaches Highest Levels. EmaxHealth. Retrieved on August 1, 2009 from http://www.emaxhealth.com/84/14708.html
Olver, Lynne. (July 2008). Food Timeline. FAQs: Baby Food. Foodtimeline.org. Whale.to. Retrieved on August 1, 2008 from http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodbaby.html
Palmer, Gabriel. (2008). The Politics of Breastfeeding. Retrieved on August 1, 2009 from http://www.whale.to/vaccine/palmer_b.html
Comments
The National Breast Milk Bank is only an option for those with premature babies. Also, I do not think people are able to legally advertise wet-nurse services. For some mothers, formula is really the only option.
Lynn, only about 2% of women truly cannot breastfeed, if the other 98% of us did, and donated a small amount of milk each week then those women who can't would be able to feed their babies human milk and there would be no need for formula, at all.
Toni,
Breastfeeding does not "protect" babies by reducing the risks of diabetes, lymphoma, asthma, respiratory infections and so on, the reverse is true; formula feeding INCREASES these risks and leaves a baby vulnerable and unable to fight infections the way nature intended them to be able to, with the support of their mothers antibodies, as well as the right balance of nutrients, which change according to the age and developmental needs to each specific baby. Formula is a nutritionally inferior, antibodiless unchanging food which is in no way an equal choice, and should only ever be used if there really is no alternative.
Breast is not BEST, it is what babies need, formula is a very poor substitute which makes babies vulnerable and at increased risk of several life-long and life threatening diseases and conditions. That is the bare, but unpalatable truth, but truth it is all the same!
I don't know about this home-made formula idea. It sounds like a bad one b/c people will probably not put everything in it that is needed... I don't really see the difference in home-made formula and store-bought. Either way it isn't going to be as good as breastmilk...
This is great--very interesting!
Phoenix Baby and Toddler Gear Examiner
Jenny, believe it or not, proper nutrition such as whole foods, do actually protect against many forms of cancer. In fact, many cancers and chronic diseases have been reversed through nutrition, especially juicing. For further information, go to my web site: www.myfoodtherapy.com and look at my book reviews to see the alternative approach. Food is your preventative medicine. If people begin to grasp this ONE concept, they will be amazed at the healing that will begin in their bodies. Breast is best if "it is what babies need".
Jasmine, I a agree-it can be tricky if you do not know what you are doing. However, please note that during the 17th century, women made homemade milk for their babies. It consisted of grains and things that we would not think to use today. I am going to follow up with a recipe from the Weston Price Foundation. Also homemade is best because it will have whole foods and not the synthetically enriched nutritents that formulas have. Also, you can add a quality fish oil to your homemade version, which is better than the inferior omega 3 fatty acids that are used in formula-those omega 3s are highly oxidized. I could go on an on-I will put it in an aricle-I promise.
The Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin is a nonprofit milk bank collecting donated human milk and pasteurizing and dispensing it to premature and sick babies in Austin, Houston and other cities in the region. We are far from meeting the needs of premature infants! More info: milkbank.org
Oh, Lynn, I here that it is big business in Hollywood so where there is a will, there is a way :)
The Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin collects donated human milk & pasteurizes & dispenses it to premature and sick babies in Austin, Houston & other cities. We are no where near meeting the needs of premature infants who thrive on human milk over formula. But 1/2 of moms of preemies can't provide milk to their baby! More info: www.milkbank.org
Surprising that the Google Ad for this page was solicitation to sign up for free infant formula samples.
In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, breastfeeding mothers of healthy babies can connect to other mothers who have vulnerable or sick babies by donating their breastmilk.
For information about all the non-profit milk banks in North America, go to the Human Milk Banking Association of North America web site:
www.hmbana.org
Contact any of the locations to learn how to gift your 'liquid gold' breastmilk. Happy World Breastfeeding Week!
I worked in pediatric intensive care for years and I've seen what can happen when well meaning parents try to make up their own formulas. Kids with growth retardation, severe vitamin deficiencies, and a whole list of serious side effects. I wrote Your Personal Guide to Breastfeeding, and have helped countless moms successfully breastfeed, but it you need to supplement, you can not possibly cook up your own formula that is as safe as what is found in the grocery store. Yes, breast is best, but don't put your baby at risk because of misinformation about the safety of formula.
I'm posting a link to a segment I did on ABC's The View from the Bay on Banking Breast Milk, which I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically encourage moms to consider. Here's the link:
abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=6502151
Thanks Nurse Barb. I would NEVER write about something that I have not thoroughly checked out, especially something as delicate as an infant formula. Both Dr. Mercola and The Weston A. Price Foundation are extremely reputable naturopathic sources. Dr. Mercola's website is the biggest and most visited naturopathic website in the world. If the recipe is followed properly, the babies will be very well nourished. In the 17th century, women did not have processed formulas and their babies ate just fine. It is interesting that women have this fear now when our ancestors had no choice but to cook up something, sterilize it and feed it to their babies with very few problems. Conversely, when nestle sent their infant formula to undeveloped countries, the infant mortality skyrocketed and they were sued. See the Nestle boycott by wikipedia-very interesting information. Lastly, mothers in the US have harmed their babies dut to not following instructions on the labels.
Toni, I agree with most of what you're saying. We all want to do what's best for our babies. We agree that Breast milk is ideal. I just want to make sure that people don't get the impression that homemade formulas are as safe as what you can buy at the store. The danger of making the your own formula is far greater than the perceived danger of using commercially available of formula, that has been tested, regulated and keeps babies growing strong and healthy. Just because people haven't experienced a child on homemade formula developing diarrhea, slowed or retarded growth, and serious anemia doesn't mean that it can't happen, because it does.
You mentioned, the past, well, in the old days, many children never reached their 1st birthday, infant mortality rates were sky high, as many as 1 in 4 to 1 in 3 children died in the first 5 years of life. So breast is best, and commercially available formula is still the next best thing.
Barb, yes there was a high mortality rate due to disease-mainly poor hygene. Diseases like the whooping cough and other plagues were eradicated when people simply started washing their hands and sterilizing their cooking areas. Okay, now I must right another article about the rising number of women who are making their own homemade infant formulas. I will even have links to their testimonials. I still think homemade is better of the two if you do it correctly. I should have the new article out tonight-I am sure it will shock many that we have a "secret" socity of informed women who are not buying into the fear that they are no competent enough to make food for their babies. I hope to see you tomorrow :).
Oh, please forgive the typos Barb, my little one is tugging at me and sick of my obsession with the computer :)
Please do consider donating if your healthy, are willing to be screened and blood tested and have extra milk your own baby does not need. Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) is a not for profit milk bank with a long standing excellent safty record. HMBANA pasteurizes, tests and distributes human milk with a Doctors priscription for medically fragil infants and children. There is a much greater need than supply so if you are interested and able please contact HMBANA.org
For every study that comes out and says breastmilk prevents this that and other, another article comes out and says the evidence is actually inconclusive.
it seems that breastfeeding can help with certain things like allergies ( though I know several people who breastfed and their children still have allergies), diabetes etc. But there's absolutely no conclusive research that shows a child's IQ is higher because he/she was breastfed. What has been shown is that many women who breastfeed come from a higher-socio economic status and are educated and supported by family. They may not need to work. They may have more time to read to their child. There are so many environmental factors that can influence a child's brain. It's immature to link it to breastfeeding.
A woman's choice on how to feed her child is an intensely personal one, one that should be supported by all around her, rather than judged by people who don't know her situation.
Kate if you read my articles carefully, you will note that I have not judged anyone. I support a woman's right to choose. I could not solely breastfeed any of my children and had to rely on formula, which has always bothered me. I was not organic with the first two, which I think had a lot to do with my not being able to produce enough milk. My third was born two months premature so I was able to breastfeed him with a supplement for the first year. If he had been full term, I think I would not have needed the supplements. I would never judge a woman for not breastfeeding because it is a huge committment. However, I will always state what food is the healthiest for woman and their children and that happens to be what nature/God made-breastmilk. As for the IQ-here is a link: www.enfant-encyclopedie.com/pages/PDF/LawrenceANGxp.pdf
Kate,your arguments are very old and outdated, when you speak of higher socio-economic class, etc. good studies are done and factor in all of the variables. The article which I am sure you read stating that the evidence was incpnclusive was done by a journalist who twisted the words of a very important professor, leading professor of paediatrics and breastfeeding adviser to the World Health Organisation and Unicef,Michael Kramer. He
>>"Press twisted my words", says academic in breast-milk row.
"Mothers who do not breastfeed thought they had a new ally. But he was misinterpreted" , he says.
The body of evidence for the benefits of breastfeeding is very large and comes from a wide range of studies into many different illnesses, carried out by numerous researchers in many different universities. Systematic reviews of the literature have also been carried out and are especially useful, as they are able to eliminate weak studies and combine the findings of all the high-quality papers
Continued from below because the comments only allow limited space..
in order to demonstrate with the greatest reliability whether a protective effect truly exists. It is important to note that there is variability in the quality and depth of evidence in relation to some illnesses which is why the authors of these reviews tend to call for further research to clarify the finding. It remains the case, however, that the evidence for the advantages of breastfeeding is strong.
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