Have you heard about the latest breastfeeding study? It found that breastfed babies have better manners as preschoolers. Apparently just a few months of mommy milk can ensure that your 4-5 year old remembers her “pleases” and “thank yous”.
Really???
….
No. I’m just kidding.
But seriously, it feels like everyday some researcher is proclaiming the newly found “benefits” of breastfeeding. Note: I put benefits in quotation marks throughout this post because I really don’t believe that there are any actual benefits to breastfeeding, only risks to formula feeding.
It reduces allergies, it boosts IQ, it can prevent cancer, it leads to calmer adults, and more. It’s great that so much time and money is being spent on breastfeeding research, but it leads me to wonder: what if there was no “benefit” to it? What if formula offered all the same nutritional value of breastmilk? What if it didn’t matter whether I formula-fed or breastfed?
Would I still breastfeed?
I would.
Although I often hide behind the health “benefits” of breastfeeding when someone confronts me on why on earth I’m nursing a toddler or why I bother to put so much effort into overcoming problems while nursing an infant, the truth is that I don’t think I would know how to be a mother without breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding instantly silences crying, forces me to stop whatever I think is more important (and really isn’t) to care for my baby right away, and it is my sure-fire way to survive anything from bedtime to a supper date with my kid in tow. And the physical closeness, the intimacy of it;
you can’t replace that. I’ve held my baby as she giggled with delight from the simple act of nursing. Babies and toddlers love it and it’s not because it’s good for them.
These new findings about the goodness of breastmilk are just the icing on the cake. I’d do it anyway, but it’s comforting to know that my choice is reinforced with so much research.
What about you? Would you breastfeed even if it wasn’t important to the health of your child?
Felicie is a teacher turned work at home mama to two busy little angels, aged 22 months and 4 and a half years. She is a proud member of La Leche League Canada and has helped to organize three World B[..]
I would breastfeed even if there weren’t “benefits”! Aside from the fantastic things you’ve pointed out, I still can’t get over how much formula costs when I can feed my baby for free! My favorite picture (which I have framed and hung in my room) is of my little girl breastfeeding with a great big grin on her face! My husband has occasionally asked “what’s she giggling about?” and my answer is usually “I don’t know!” but really you’re right, they just love to breastfeed!
In addition to the wonderful intimacy, something unique to a mother and child, I love the ease of breastfeeding.
I can feed my child anywhere and anytime without planning, packing or preparing food. No time is wasted on sterilizing water and equipment, choosing and shopping for formula, mixing and heating food. It is always ready at the perfect temperature.
When my first child was a week old we went on our first visit to my grandmother in the country. I forgot the diaper bag. My husband thought this was a disaster and wanted to go back home immediately. However, I had all the food my newborn would need with me and Nanny simply cut up some hand towels for diapers.
Once established breastfeeding can be so easy. It also allows me to relax throughout the day because I am the only one able to feed my baby.
That must be a beautiful picture, Cynthia! You’re lucky to have captured that moment! Thanks for sharing!
And Penny- you’re right, the freedom of breastfeeding is huge! We’ve done a lot of camping with my girls in the summer and it has always made packing pretty easy- some diapers and clothes, that’s all the need. I can’t imagine the hassle if you had to pack formula and bottles and figure out how you’re going to get clean water and prepare bottles.
Breastfeeding can be a lot of work at first, but it is so worth it!
“…I don’t think I would know how to be a mother without breastfeeding.”
I said the same thing when we were going through the tongue tie ordeal with Quinn and our breastfeeding relationship was tested. It was terrifying.
So yes, I’d still breastfeed, though I rarely call it breastfeeding anymore. I just say “nurse”, because it’s so much more than nutrition.
Amber- I totally understand! My nursing relationship was tested once when I ended up unexpectedly in hospital for a week, so scary, couldn’t picture what I would do without it.
There are many other times when the father and baby can bond. Believe me NOBODY is bonidng 3am in the morning. 3am in the morning is when you’re hoping and praying the baby goes to sleep so you can get some rest! I’ve heard at night is the most crucial time for you’re milk supply. If you really want him to do the feedings why don’t you pump some breast milk and he can feed a bottle in the morning and the bottle before bed. There’s no reason to use formula if you really plan on breastfeeding. Babys don’t stay satisfied longer on formula. During the first few weeks I bottle fed a couple of times a day. I still wasn’t really sure of what I was doing and the pain was pretty intense. So I really know first hand that formula doesn’t really keep them asleep too much longer. Either way they’re going to have to be fed several times throughout the night.Also when I told my nurse about it she told me that I didn’t need to be substituting with formula- that it could potentialy hurt my supply and that I was all the baby needed.