“Breast is Best”
We can debate that statement till the cows come home.
We can label others ‘nazis’ or ‘bad parents’. We can let it make us feel righteous of guilty. We can be offended and ban images from facebook. We can stage ‘nurse ins’ and join groups and lobby for women’s rights…
We, who have enough food and clean water and access to health care… We privileged people, can afford to have the ‘breast is best’ debate.
Others can not.
According to World Vision Australia, in low income countries babies who are not breastfed are six times more likely to die than those who are.
In developing countries, breastfeeding not only helps reduce the risk of infections such as malaria and pneumonia, it also avoids the risks that dirty water, used to mix infant formula or rinse out bottles, poses. Water born diseases such as diarrhoea or other gastro-intestinal upsets are life-threatening in young children, especially those who are already under-nourished.
Breast milk is also an economical food. Encouraging exclusive breastfeeding means that the baby requires no other food or liquid for the first 6 months.
The debate probably seems a little ridiculous to those living in places without access to clean water to mix formula, or the means to purchase it, let alone adequate health care.
We do all have one thing in common, we mothers…
No matter where we live, no matter what our circumstances, we all make choices about what is best for our children. We try to make the best choices we can with the information we have at the time. But some of us have access to more and better information than others.
World vision run community-level programs, where local mothers can discuss health and feeding issues with trained workers. Giving them the information to make more informed choices that directly improve the lives of their children… something I am fairly sure we all want for our kids.
Read Susie’s Story and Sabina’s Story to learn more about World Vision’s community lead programs
You can support child health and nutrition through World Vision’s Child Health Now Campaign and by buying a World Vision Gift such as Infant and Child Health Care.
{Disclosure and a short note:
I am a World Vision Australia Blogging Ambassador. I was not paid nor expected to write this post. I am simply given access to information and may write about those topics that are meaningful to me.
I am a proud breastfeeder and it means a lot to me. You can read about my beginnings with breastfeeding here and this post about our bonding issues might explain why breast feeding was much more than just milk for me. I strongly advocate for a parents right to choose what is best for their child. I also advocate for parents having access to the best information and support possible.}
Fabulous post! So beautifully written and I agreed with everything it said. It’s a little timely for me actually as my 9m/o has just (yesterday and today), refused to feed. :( For me as his mother, this is both confusing and upsetting, despite having access to all kinds of help and information. Even after a visit to our family Dr today to rule out some of the suggestions I’ve read, I am still no closer to having a solution or an answer. Sometimes I can only wonder what other mothers, without these same resources and the same support available, must feel sometimes.
Well said Kate.
Am I going to come off as a complete pedant / arse if I point out that I think you have a typographical that reverses your intended meaning?
“According to World Vision Australia, in low income countries babies who are not breastfed are six times more likely to die than those who are not.”
I think that should read: “According to World Vision Australia, in low income countries babies who are not breastfed are six times more likely to die than those who ARE.” Otherwise both parts of the statement refer to kids who aren’t breastfed.
It should go without saying, editorial itchy fingers notwithstanding, that I agree with every single part of this post :-)
ARRRGH! Thank you for picking that up… I read and re-read and re-read again and just couldn’t see the error! Story of my life really! :)
Love it Kate, and just shared on my fb page. xx
Sharing your post on the blog. xx
This is so beautifully written Kate! Thank you for sharing this. xJoy, WV staff
Such a great post about the topic Breastfeeding. With my first son I had such huge issues and couldnt BF for long.
With my second son I was given the right advice, and given help with positioning of baby and was successful. I loved that I could bond with my baby, and know that he was getting the best from me.
Yet I also know that whatever means of feeding (be it BF or Bottle) as long as Mum is happy then baby will be healthy and happy :)