Unschool Radical

Breasfeeding and Breastfeeding Ads have been big in the news lately- here is a great article and MANY resource links on the risks of NOT breastfeeding:

Breast milk has agents (called antibodies) in it to help protect infants from bacteria and viruses. Recent studies show that babies who are not exclusively breastfed for 6 months are more likely to develop a wide range of infectious diseases including ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory illnesses and have more hospitalizations. Also, infants who are not breastfed have a 21% higher postneonatal infant mortality rate in the U.S.

Some studies suggest that infants who are not breastfed have higher rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the first year of life, and higher rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, overweight and obesity, high cholesterol and asthma. More research in these areas is needed (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005).

Babies who are not breastfed are sick more often and have more doctor’s visits.

Also, when you breastfeed, there are no bottles and nipples to sterilize. Unlike human milk straight from the breast, infant formula has a chance of being contaminated.

http://www.4woman.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=519

Tags: Breastfeeding Support by Administrator
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Argh. Yes another example of the sexualization of the female body and people being disgusted over the site of a baby getting its food from its mother. We think nothing of the violence in Television and video games yet flip out at the site of an infant breastfeeding.
In this case, Babytalk magazine features a very nice cover of a baby nursing at his mothers breast- nicely photographed and no nipple be shown.
Here is article on Cbs’s web site about the controversy
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/28/national/main1844454.shtml
and here on CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/27/nursing.cover.ap/index.html

I am personally saddened when I see an article like this in mainstream media. It just reinforces to young women, pregnant women and society in general that breastfeeding is”bad” or “dirty” or “shameful”
Its the reason why last week at a family BBQ I almost told my 2 1/2 year old he couldn’t nurse because I was worried about what people would think- and I am not a shy person or embarrassed at all about nursing in public. Lest you think I am some kind of exhibitionist, I am 41 years old and quite “rubanesque” anf feel no desire to flaunt my body
I wish breastfeeding would stop being America’s dirty little secret.

Tags: Breastfeeding Support, Unschooling by Administrator
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