Breastfeeding in USA » Parent Plaza

An infant formula industry study found that only 31 percent of US infants are still being breastfed at 6 months, and even though experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, one study found that only 13% of breastfeeding mothers at 3 months and a MERE 1% at 6 months were doing so.

Why do women fail to breastfeed or wean too early? There are many reasons. Some mothers think breastfeeding is 'yucky'. The husband or partner might think woman's breasts are for sexual purposes and become jealous over the nursing mom's breasts, or start thinking that the baby is doing something indecent and pervert when it feeds.

The numerous women who have negative experiences about breastfeeding pass them on to their friends. Doctors know very little about breastfeeding and about the dangers of bottlefeeding. Actually, a study found that the majority of pediatricians believe breastfeeding and formula-feeding are equally acceptable methods for feeding infants.

Some women have problems in breastfeeding but don't receive enough support and help to overcome the difficulties. Many have difficulties with breastfeeding in public because of other people's attitudes towards exposing their breasts. With some, going to work prevents them from breastfeeding and/or pumping breast milk.

One major factor undermining breastfeeding in US is the way infant formula companies advertise their products. They send free samples to pregnant mothers and to hospitals, give free gifts to doctors and nurses, and leave the impression in their pamphlets that formula is almost as good as breast milk. No wonder the 'supplemental bottle' is often used when there is just a minor solvable problem with breastfeeding!

Another reason why babies are weaned early is because people have misconceptions about weaning. Most people in Northern America and in other western countries think that breastfeeding is only for the first couple of months of an infant's life, or mostly up to year. However, in most other cultures worldwide children wean much later, and in most of the history children weaned much later.

According to Katherine Dettwyler's studies, comparing humans to our closest animal relatives shows that the natural age of weaning in humans should be between 2.3 and 7 years. Children who are allowed to wean themselves, usually do so between 2 and 5 years of age.

It seems that everybody agrees that breast milk is better, but that the whole society is negative about breastfeeding? Why is that? In the course of history many different parts of the female body have been fetishes for men, for example ankles, necks, and tiny feet (in China), so why are North Americans so obsessed with breasts as sexual objects in our age?

In my opinion the reason is because the whole society is about to forget what is the real purpose of female breasts. That is shown for example in Katherine Dettwyler's experience in her 'Women and Culture' course in the fall of 1993. One of her undergraduate students was totally flabbergasted to discover that the biological function of women's breasts was for feeding children.

With obvious shock and disgust evident in her voice she asked, 'You mean women's breasts are like a cow's udder?' If you can see breasts as 'wonderful milk-making machines' meant for babies, then you won't worry anymore what men think of your breasts or what they look like!

We have a vicious cycle on our hands: the less women breastfeed, the less people get to see the real purpose of breasts. At the same time media everywhere constantly touts the perverted view of female breasts, which makes people view breasts as sexual. That in turn makes it harder for women to breastfeed, since many of the reasons for not breastfeeding are linked to the erroneous idea that woman's breasts are sexual organs.

So the less women breastfeed, the harder it becomes for women to breastfeed. This cycle self-promotes the view that female breasts are sexual and that women are mere sex objects, which can lead to more pornography, sexual crime and abuse of women - all the while little children are robbed of their best nutrition.

The cure?

Women, breastfeed your babies! Men, understand the real function of female breasts! Everybody, forget about breasts being sexual!

About The Author :

Adrien Brody is a business writer specializing in health and beauty products and has written authoritative articles on the industry. To learn more about breast enhancement, make sure you visit http://curvesenhancement.com

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