Comments on: So much for breastfeeding and better mothering http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/04/28/so-much-for-breastfeeding-and-better-mothering/ Parenting, Politics and News for the Perfectly Challenged Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:29:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: SewingSiren http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/04/28/so-much-for-breastfeeding-and-better-mothering/#comment-6 SewingSiren Sat, 29 Apr 2006 13:33:36 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/04/28/so-much-for-breastfeeding-and-better-mothering/#comment-6 Again, this is clearly a case that demonstrates that it is very dangerous to care for an infant while you are drunk.Breastmilk is better (nutritionally), but is not magic, it won't protect against smoothering! I am against stereotyping of any kind, breastfeeding does automatically make you a good mother, nor does formula feeding make you a bad one. Does anyone really think that? Again, this is clearly a case that demonstrates that it is very dangerous to care for an infant while you are drunk.Breastmilk is better (nutritionally), but is not magic, it won’t protect against smoothering!
I am against stereotyping of any kind, breastfeeding does automatically make you a good mother, nor does formula feeding make you a bad one. Does anyone really think that?

]]> By: Alan Thomas http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/04/28/so-much-for-breastfeeding-and-better-mothering/#comment-5 Alan Thomas Fri, 28 Apr 2006 19:36:59 +0000 http://blog.imperfectparent.com/2006/04/28/so-much-for-breastfeeding-and-better-mothering/#comment-5 You're right, of course, that one good mothering practice (like breastfeeding) is not automatically accompanied by every other good mothering practice. Still, the fact remains that formula feeding is harmful to babies (usually in subtle ways but sometimes not) and should be avoided whenever humanly possible. And it IS associated with a higher risk of infant mortality, not just in developing nations but right here in the U.S.: http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/32233/ ----- Forste's study also explains that breastfeeding is just as important to infant mortality as is low birth weight. "The encouragement of breastfeeding needs to be a priority for health care providers," Forste said. "If physicians and other health care workers can successively increase the percentage of black infants being breastfed, the infant mortality gap between blacks and whites should close," she said. ----- (How's that for biting the hand that feeds me, Jessica? ;-) You’re right, of course, that one good mothering practice (like breastfeeding) is not automatically accompanied by every other good mothering practice.

Still, the fact remains that formula feeding is harmful to babies (usually in subtle ways but sometimes not) and should be avoided whenever humanly possible. And it IS associated with a higher risk of infant mortality, not just in developing nations but right here in the U.S.:

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/32233/
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Forste’s study also explains that breastfeeding is just as important to infant mortality as is low birth weight.

“The encouragement of breastfeeding needs to be a priority for health care providers,” Forste said.

“If physicians and other health care workers can successively increase the percentage of black infants being breastfed, the infant mortality gap between blacks and whites should close,” she said.
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(How’s that for biting the hand that feeds me, Jessica? ;-)

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