Livid

[jessesgirl]

So I was watching the news last night and they had a report on breastfeeding.

New research has revealed that breast milk does not make a child any more intelligent than formula. Huge woo-hoo for those of us who don't breastfeed, right???

Wrong.



Not two whole seconds after that was said, they stated that children who are breastfed have higher IQ's....why? Because their moms are smart enough to know that breastmilk is just better so in having a smarter mother, they become smarter as they grow!

IDK who they cited as the source as I was only half listening in the beginning. I was so excited that they had actual "proof" that breastfed babies weren't "smarter" than those who were formula fed.

I know that my mom raised three kids on formula and we are all pretty smart...my sister is a stinkin genius! So is my brother....and so are a TON of people I know that were formula fed...so I have known all along that this is not necessarily true...but I guess what makes me mad is that if we choose not to breastfeed for whatever reason (medical, personal, preferential), we are less intelligent, in others eyes, for doing so.

Sorry I had to rant, it made me so mad! It is hard enough in this day and age to bottle feed with everyone so judgemental as they are...this is just one step back for those of us who choose to do so.

 

[Linnis]

Reading a magazine waiting for my appointment yesterday there was this study with a poll taken by "real moms" about breastfeeding. The poll had 40 some percent switching to formula and it went down to 8% who replied to "It's tough, but I still breastfeed." well maybe some would have picked "I breastfeed and we like/love it." if the choice was there but it's automatically assumed breastfeeding is this horrible thing one step above blowing your nose.

I personally think that the breastmilk itself doesn't make kids smarter, which would make the new article true. Out of all the breastfeeding mothers, a much higher percentage are taking a more indepth concern with what their kids eat, do, learn etc than out of all the formula fed kids. Not that I'm saying there are not formula feeding parents who take a very active role in their kids lives but yeah.

My husband was formula fed and a premmie way back in the 70s and when he gets going about what he finds interesting, half the time, me and my breastfed brain get lost.


I'm still really hoping that my baby and I can breastfeed.

The point is NO MATTER what you do someone will tell you it's wrong and why. EVERYONE always thinks they have a right to tell you what's best for your child. You are mum you make the rules and if they don't like it tough.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

This whole concept of bf babies are smarter always struck me odd. Babies who come from inteligent parents are likely to be inteligent, bf or not. Babies who come from less inteligent parents are likely to not be as intelligent. While I believe there are physical benefits of bfding for both mom and baby, I don't think becoming smarter is really one of them. Oh, and for perspective I did a combination of exclusively bf one of my children, exclusively formula fed another and did a little of both with the oldest. So far the one that has been formula fed is showing signs of more comprehension and problem solving at his age than his sisters did at that age.

 

[jessesgirl]

I definitely don't think that breastfeeding is horrible, but it isn't for me. My main problem was that once again, it portrayed women who don't breastfeed as below the ones who do. If I could find it in myself to breastfeed, I would do it in a heartbeat, but I think that my baby will get just as much attentiveness out of me bottlefeeding him. I think that a lot of mothers who don't make time for baby bottlefeed, but there are also lots of us who bottlefeed that intend to make all the time in the world for baby...IDK, maybe its just early, I haven't had any slep, and I am ranting....whatever the case may be...I think its just wrong to portray women who bottlefeed that way. that's all!

 

[Krystina661]

I agree with ya all the way hun!

 

[lin1235]

Well I am convinced that breastfeeding will be good for me and my baby, but that does NOT make me a better mom than someone who chooses not to bf! Or a smarter one, at that. The smart mom is one who makes an informed decision on what will be best for her and her baby.

I was breastfed for only 2 weeks before my mom switched to formula, but my sister and two brothers were all breastfed for longer, and on IQ tests I score higher than they do. So at least in our family, there is absolutely no basis for the idea that breastmilk = IQ.

The worst part about this whole thing is that it makes women feel guilty for not bf'ing, or makes them keep trying when it's not in their best interests to do so (e.g. if there is some reason why it's not working, baby can't latch properly, etc.) Plus of course, being from South Africa my perspective is a little different, the latest research says as many as 28% of pregnant moms in South Africa are HIV positive, and sometimes the baby doesn't get the virus through the placenta but then they get it in the breast milk. So in that case formula is 100% better for the baby, breast milk is positively dangerous! I just want women to make informed decisions, and that those who will enjoy breastfeeding should choose to do so, and those who will not enjoy it or cannot do it should be free to choose the alternative that is best for them.

 

[GolfingMom]

Well I am convinced that breastfeeding will be good for me and my baby, but that does NOT make me a better mom than someone who chooses not to bf! Or a smarter one, at that. The smart mom is one who makes an informed decision on what will be best for her and her baby.

I was breastfed for only 2 weeks before my mom switched to formula, but my sister and two brothers were all breastfed for longer, and on IQ tests I score higher than they do. So at least in our family, there is absolutely no basis for the idea that breastmilk = IQ.

The worst part about this whole thing is that it makes women feel guilty for not bf'ing, or makes them keep trying when it's not in their best interests to do so (e.g. if there is some reason why it's not working, baby can't latch properly, etc.) Plus of course, being from South Africa my perspective is a little different, the latest research says as many as 28% of pregnant moms in South Africa are HIV positive, and sometimes the baby doesn't get the virus through the placenta but then they get it in the breast milk. So in that case formula is 100% better for the baby, breast milk is positively dangerous! I just want women to make informed decisions, and that those who will enjoy breastfeeding should choose to do so, and those who will not enjoy it or cannot do it should be free to choose the alternative that is best for them.

Bold is my editing

 

[RoseofLima]

I wish the world would get over itself--find a way to put forth the evidence which is scientifically based, in a scientific way....and that then it would support women in their choices about child rearing.

I think one of the main reasons women struggle with breastfreeding is that they have no support...there's lots of experts telling everyone what's best, but where are they at 2 and 3 and 4 in the morning- when baby is hungry and mom can't get baby to latch on her cracked and sore nipples. Where are the REAL benefits for working moms - so that they can stay home for more than 6-8 weeks??? Where are the paternity benefits- so that mom is surrounded by love and help for the first several weeks after baby is born??

 

[jessesgirl]

 

[Athene]

I wish the world would get over itself--find a way to put forth the evidence which is scientifically based, in a scientific way....and that then it would support women in their choices about child rearing.

I think one of the main reasons women struggle with breastfreeding is that they have no support...there's lots of experts telling everyone what's best, but where are they at 2 and 3 and 4 in the morning- when baby is hungry and mom can't get baby to latch on her cracked and sore nipples. Where are the REAL benefits for working moms - so that they can stay home for more than 6-8 weeks??? Where are the paternity benefits- so that mom is surrounded by love and help for the first several weeks after baby is born??

They're in Norway - 97% breastfeeding rate.

 

[Athene]

I wish the world would get over itself--find a way to put forth the evidence which is scientifically based, in a scientific way....and that then it would support women in their choices about child rearing.

I think one of the main reasons women struggle with breastfreeding is that they have no support...there's lots of experts telling everyone what's best, but where are they at 2 and 3 and 4 in the morning- when baby is hungry and mom can't get baby to latch on her cracked and sore nipples. Where are the REAL benefits for working moms - so that they can stay home for more than 6-8 weeks??? Where are the paternity benefits- so that mom is surrounded by love and help for the first several weeks after baby is born??

They're in Norway - 97% breastfeeding rate.

I know it doesn't help you or me but anyway . . .

 

[RoseofLima]

They're in Norway - 97% breastfeeding rate.

LOL! Exactly! I think Norway has a very high rate even still at 6 months...

 

[RedTulipMom]

Well now that the doctors are coming around to realize the importance of DHA which is found in breastmilk, maybe formula fed babies WILL be as smart. For years DHA was NOT included in formula...but it is in breastmilk and helps BRAIN development. Im not sure how many years ago they FINALLY put DHA in formula, maybe less than 10 yrs. Now i go to the OB this week with a new pregnancy and the doctor prescribes a prenatal AND a DHA softgel for me. I look at him weird. He says.."Ya,things have changed since your last son was born 2 yrs ago..theyve now discovered the importance of pregnant woman taking DHA for the babys brain development!" So my son i was pregnant with 2 yrs ago wasnt getting the dha while in utero..but this one will. HMMM! So YA...too bad they didnt know back in the 50's 60's and 70's how IMPORTANT DHA is for brain development..so the pregnant moms didnt take it AND it wasnt in the formula..THAT might be why some of these studies showed that formula fed infants werent as smart as breastfed babies. hmmm. So for years people gave their babies formula without DHA in it..and the breastfed babies WERE getting DHA from the breastmilk but these moms were being told that formula gave their baby's EVERYTHING they needed...but it DIDNT! Sorry..but i dont trust doctors..they are always discovering new things. What else will they discover formula fed babies arent getting?? Breastmilk obviously has EVERYTHING the baby needs...Formula MAY or MAY NOT..time will tell. I for one aint experimenting on my child and letting them be a guinea pig of the forumula companies.

/Rant over

 

[Athene]

Interesting . . .. the study doesn't mention how long the breastfed babies were breastfed for, nor if they were given supplementary bottles. A study like this should state something along the lines of 'A breastfed baby is defined as one who is exclusively breastfed for x months' the survey doesn't do this so these babies could have been fed once, twice, for the first 3 weeks. We don't know and we need to know .

I can't remember the exact figures but isn't it something like only 2% of mothers are still breastfeeding after 6 months, after the first month there is a big drop as well . .the study doesn't take this into account, and it needs too.

 

[jessesgirl]

I still just don't think that it makes those of us who don't breastfeed any less of mothers or our children any less of children. That's all!

 

[Athaliamum]

Well now that the doctors are coming around to realize the importance of DHA

Just eat lots of advocado and free-range eggs while your pregnant and I'd give advocado to bub as first foods - they're both really high in DHA, which is another way of saying omega 3's etc.

I aslo think that there is too much emphasis on babies intelligence - acidemic IQ isn't everything. There are lots of benefits for the mother as well for breastfeeding - it apparently reduces the risk of arthritis by a wooping 80% - don't ask me how though.

I did both. My milk didn't come in on it's own after a c-section at 37 weeks so I had to go on tablets to bring it in. After 3 months though it started to dry up again and I was given a choice between more tablets or bottle feeding - I chose bottle feeding. It's hard enough breast feeding without worrying about tablets and whether or not she really was getting enough because it is artifical and some days I just had nothing there. We were both a lot happier on formula - but you should have seen some of the looks I'd get! One women saw I was bottle feeding and she'd go "Oh, you're bottle feeding! Well I breast feed for a year." Oh really, good on ya...nick off, I don't want to hear it!

It's almost like a competition and it's just stupid. I had originally felt like a failure in the first place because my body wasn't doing what it was meant to and it was a hard enough decision in the first place without that twaddle to go with. If the baby is thriving, no matter which method I don't think it really matters.