A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

Revae — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:40:43 GMT

Come on, people, there are positives and negatives to both. With my child, I used formula and pumped (for all of 4 weeks, but I figure some is better than nothing). I HATED trying to nurse. I couldn't get him to latch on (Isn't that such a wonderfull term? It sounds like... well, I don't know what it sounds like, but it ain't good.), and I thought the whole experience was just disgusting. And pumping was just as bad. I felt like a cow being attatched to a milking machine. It was f**king terrible. And for those of you who I know are gonna say I'm 'insensitive' and a 'bad mother', and 'women bond with their children so much more when they brestfeed'- I bonded just fine over the bottle and so did he. And I REFUSED to go to work and have to take brakes to pump or worry about leaking all over my uniform. Being a female in the millitary, I was NOT going to even risk having it seen as something that could be used as an excuse to get out of doing my job. Don't get me wrong, it is a REQUIREMENT for brestfeeding mothers to be given brakes and private areas to pump, and it's IN NO WAY looked down upon for women to pump on duty. My choice was in no way a reflection of how females in the millitary are treated by the males. We are treated equally in every way. For me it was more a question of why am I going to set myself back (in my mind, not other peoples) as a female in the workplace by doing something I find primative, and quite frankly, disgusting. I definantly think that women should have the right to brestfeed anytime and anywhere they see fit to do it. Just because I don't like doing it doesn't mean other women shouldn't. I'v had the argument that 'it's a natural thing, and it's nothing to be ashamed of' thrown in my face from everyone from the delivery room nurses to my own mother and husband (who all tried to make me do it right in front of them). I simply fired back 'So is taking a sh*t. You wanna be around me when I'm doing that, too? I'm not trying to down people who brestfeed, if it's what you want to do, that's fine. Wonderfull. Go for it. I'm not gonna look down on you for it, no matter how I feel about doing it myself. But don't try to force it on me and my child. And don't make judgements or assumptions about me because I chose not to. And to the person who made the comment about the author of the article being a man, what does him being a man have to do with ANYTHING?

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

Ash — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:08:13 GMT

geez...people are so uptight about all of this! just FEED your baby!! I mean, seriously, there are SO many children out there that are neglected the food they need and yet our society continues to battle between breast and bottle! give me a break! my firstborn was exclusively formula fed and I in no way feel the least bit guilty b/c of that! I am expecting soon and am going to try breastfeeding this time (only b/c of the financial aspect!)....but if it doesn't work out, you can guarantee that I will find a way to purchase the formula...my baby will not starve!! as long as the baby is thriving then our society should stay out of a PERSONAL decision!

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

tooth doc — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:39:28 GMT

Actually, the act of breastfeeding helps to grow straight teeth. Breastfeeding reduces the need for orthodontia later in life. It also reduces the risk of developing sleep apnea later in life. The actual act of breastfeeding is actually huge for developing a healthy baby. This is just part of the terribly incorrect information in the article.

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

Momof2bfsons — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:01:28 GMT

I just have to add, I THINK THE ARTICLE IS FOR A LAUGH. If you read the authors bio at the bottom you can understand he is NOT serious. Most of the 'information' if that is what you want to call it, is incorrect. Plus, he is a man!

Breastfeeding is a choice, for me and my boys, I wanted the best and sorry but BF is the best! Of all the women who have fed their children formula (who turn out to be smart, funny and happy children) ever tasted the stuff? GROSS! It is disgusting! Breastmilk on the other hand, is naturally sweet... almost like melon juice. And the 'added' benefit, there is a bond with your child no-one else can understand, or penetrate. And your body does produce endorphs... and oh, they are wonderful! Plus, you can sleep thru night feedings if you learn to feed on your side.

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

Cher — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:29:49 GMT

this is insane....first of all, I don't see why breastmilk isn't good enough for babies...i couldn't breast feed my son because he couldn't latch on properly...most hospitals recommend breastfeeding anyways. It doesn't matter if it comes from a can or whether you make your own, it's just as good. that comment about making your baby smarter...HA! that's a first...my son came 2 1/2 months early, he's just as smart as other kids his own age. Its he upbringing not the breastmilk!

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

mtlmama — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:05:11 GMT

I concur MomofBeans...

but seriously I breastfeed because the formula isle at the pharmacy is way too complicated for my mommy brain - just unsnap and latch, it's much easier.

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

MomofBeans — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:45:29 GMT

Meh. I breastfeed, but just don't care what other people feed their kids. As long as you're not giving them Jesus juice, it's all good.

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

Erin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:30:11 GMT

Pumping and dumping after a few drinks is completely unnecessary. Have a drink - have a couple - it's fine. Go to Kellymom or LLL to find out more.

Do we really have to spell out the difference between statistical analysis and individual experiences AGAIN? I'm so sick of the "I FF and my daughter is so smart" or "I BF and my son still has allergies." That's like saying you deny that sugar and fat intake are related to obesity because you have a bowl of ice cream every day yet aren't obese. This is exactly how research is conducted in every field involving human health; it's the same way we know eating healthy is generally beneficial even though many *individuals* eat poorly and seem to be doing "just fine." Formula has been shown to be an inferior feeding method based on statistical analysis of certain populations - an individual case neither proves nor disproves the point.

Finally, a language point: it is misleading to asser that breastfeeding is linked to "higher IQ." Human milk is created specifically, and perfectly, to meet the needs of human infants, and is the biological norm which must form the baseline of any responsible analysis. Formula feeding is linked to *lower IQ* and greater risk of disease.

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

Gretchen — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:08:12 GMT

This is so irritating to me. Why do we keep debating about breastfeeding versus bottle feeding? It only fuels mommy wars and makes others feel insecure or superior. Blah.

Yes, breast is best, but don't you all agree that we are all choosing what is best for our children? Whether we feed them from a bottle, or from our breasts, we have their best interests at heart and we love our babies. I'm tired of issues like these causing rifts between mothers. Why can't we all just get along? Drop the superiority, ladies! We are all moms together.

re: A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

Lorri — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:31:38 GMT

I have breastfeed both my children for over a year each, and I am a card-carrying member of a breastfeeding "club". That being said, this post was SO FULL of misinformation, its almost laughable. Is it April Fool's Day again? If you're after some real breastfeeding info, check out Kellymom.com.

re: 5 Reason Breast Feeding Isn’t That Great (and 5 Reasons Why It Is) – Part II

Alex — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:47:22 GMT

I have breastfed all three of my children for 15 months each (for a combined total of 45 months, yes, almost 4 years of my life breastfeeding). I like your humor but the insistence that breastfeeding is a choice demonstrates a certain ignorance of the science. There are really only two drawbacks to breastfeeding, mom can't drink, and teething. As for its benefits, well, we find more every day. I understand the point that formula is "just fine" but "just fine" isn't good enough for my babies. Only the good stuff!

re: 5 Reason Breast Feeding Isn’t That Great (and 5 Reasons Why It Is) – Part II

Rinda — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:42:10 GMT

I breastfed both of mine for loner than 1 year...both have allergies and my son has had learning issues...so the crap of how it makes them smarter and all is just that crap...I did it because I wanted to and it was cheaper...I know some woman who truly could not and there is no shame in it...I wish women would support each other in our decisions for our own lives and the lives of our children...a baby not breastfeed is not going to be a pimple on the face of humanity and a breastfed baby is not guaranteed to be the next president or a virtuoso...let it rest and let each of us decide what is right for our own children...I thought the article was kind of funny.

re: 5 Reason Breast Feeding Isn’t That Great (and 5 Reasons Why It Is) – Part II

Karen — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:14:25 GMT

My first little girl has an IQ of 142. I didn't breastfeed an ounce! The second one, who is three-months-old sleeps from 8 to 8 every day. As a result, Mommy and Daddy are very happy, very relaxed parents.

Breastfeeding? Bah. You can keep it.

re: 5 Reason Breast Feeding Isn’t That Great (and 5 Reasons Why It Is) – Part II

Cherie — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:54:05 GMT

I do believe breastfeeding is a choice. I choose to do it and I feel really good about it. However, that being said, I am also often jealous of those who don't. Why?

1. I would LOVE to have a few drinks on one of my nights off and not worry about pumping and/or waiting several hours to nurse again.

2. A break! I'm always the one feeding cause I hate pumping.

3. I HATE pumping! I do it as little as possible.

4. It's not exactly fun whipping my boob out in public. I do try to cover as best I can.

5. She's getting teeth!

6. She's 6 months old and I now often receive a foot to the face during the process.

All this being said, I'm proud of myself for sticking to it and I'll do it for probably the first year, year and a half. After that kinda creeps me out. I have a million pros I could add but this has gone on long enough. Bottom line: I LOVE nursing her and feel for those who want to but can't. As far as the vitamin D thing, while the idea of my little one wearing an eye patch is very endearing, I think I'll give her vitamin drops instead.

re: 5 Reason Breast Feeding Isn’t That Great (and 5 Reasons Why It Is) – Part II

Jamie — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:06:34 GMT

I know how your wife felt. I had to stop breast feeding after four months and everyone from my mom to my pediatrician made it seem like I was doing such a terrible thing. Formula feeding is attributed to everything from an increase in ear infections to a lower IQ. I am sure that it is more healthy but an entire generation of people were predominately bottle fed and they seem fine.

re: 5 Reason Breast Feeding Isn’t That Great (and 5 Reasons Why It Is) – Part II

Kara — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:34:38 GMT

I breastfeed my three kids, for a combined period of just over a year, and never more than 6 months with any. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. I did however learn to breastfeed lying down, so I was able to pretty much sleep through the middle of the night feedings.

re: 5 Reason Breast Feeding Isn’t That Great (and 5 Reasons Why It Is) – Part II

leahsmom — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:19:28 GMT

I like the your kid will become a pirate line! Yarrr!