Interesting NY Times Breast Feeding Article

URMySunshine77 · July 2012

I thought you ladies might enjoy reading this NY Times article (whether or not you plan on BFing your babies). I found it interesting that a woman is quoted as saying that breast feeding is never free in that it takes up a woman's time and life to dedicate to it.

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/the-ideal-and-the-real-of-breast-feeding

Do you think that society is promoting an ideal that we can rarely attain when it comes to breast feeding?

sbevmc09 · July 2012

URMySunshine77:
I thought you ladies might enjoy reading this NY Times article (whether or not you plan on BFing your babies). I found it interesting that a woman is quoted as saying that breast feeding is never free in that it takes up a woman's time and life to dedicate to it.

Well... feeding a child, however you choose to do so, is taking up time. Raising a child takes A LOT of time and energy and dedication.

Really, I disagree with the article. I think it's sad that it's basically saying that the "ideal of breastfeeding" is unattainable because of how we choose to live our lives as a society. I think it's sad that many women are forced back to work too soon to properly establish a breastfeeding relationship.

I think the real problem is that "breast is best" is frequently said, but little is done to support nursing mothers. I think some things are changing for the better, but women still struggle. There's still a stigma attached to it (nursing in public, anyone?), women still have to advocate for their rights to be able to sufficiently pump at work in a reasonable environment, we don't allow enough time off post-partum, etc. We all know breast is biologically best for babies, but while we talk the talk, we don't walk the walk in that as a society we don't support mothers the way we should. That's my opinion.

Jen748 · July 2012

sbevmc09:
URMySunshine77:

I thought you ladies might enjoy reading this NY Times article (whether or not you plan on BFing your babies). I found it interesting that a woman is quoted as saying that breast feeding is never free in that it takes up a woman's time and life to dedicate to it.

Well... feeding a child, however you choose to do so, is taking up time. Raising a child takes A LOT of time and energy and dedication.

Really, I disagree with the article. I think it's sad that it's basically saying that the "ideal of breastfeeding" is unattainable because of how we choose to live our lives as a society. I think it's sad that many women are forced back to work too soon to properly establish a breastfeeding relationship.

I think the real problem is that "breast is best" is frequently said, but little is done to support nursing mothers. I think some things are changing for the better, but women still struggle. There's still a stigma attached to it (nursing in public, anyone?), women still have to advocate for their rights to be able to sufficiently pump at work in a reasonable environment, we don't allow enough time off post-partum, etc. We all know breast is biologically best for babies, but while we talk the talk, we don't walk the walk in that as a society we don't support mothers the way we should. That's my opinion.

:::golf claps::::

mrsodonnell12 · July 2012

sbevmc09:
URMySunshine77:

I thought you ladies might enjoy reading this NY Times article (whether or not you plan on BFing your babies). I found it interesting that a woman is quoted as saying that breast feeding is never free in that it takes up a woman's time and life to dedicate to it.

Well... feeding a child, however you choose to do so, is taking up time. Raising a child takes A LOT of time and energy and dedication.

Really, I disagree with the article. I think it's sad that it's basically saying that the "ideal of breastfeeding" is unattainable because of how we choose to live our lives as a society. I think it's sad that many women are forced back to work too soon to properly establish a breastfeeding relationship.

I think the real problem is that "breast is best" is frequently said, but little is done to support nursing mothers. I think some things are changing for the better, but women still struggle. There's still a stigma attached to it (nursing in public, anyone?), women still have to advocate for their rights to be able to sufficiently pump at work in a reasonable environment, we don't allow enough time off post-partum, etc. We all know breast is biologically best for babies, but while we talk the talk, we don't walk the walk in that as a society we don't support mothers the way we should. That's my opinion.

I couldnt agree more. I have actually felt the opposite of the article.... people think I am weird for extended breastfeeding..... when did BFing become the norm? Maybe things have changed since DS was born....

zonagirlie · July 2012

sbevmc09:
URMySunshine77:
I thought you ladies might enjoy reading this NY Times article (whether or not you plan on BFing your babies). I found it interesting that a woman is quoted as saying that breast feeding is never free in that it takes up a woman's time and life to dedicate to it.
Well... feeding a child, however you choose to do so, is taking up time. Raising a child takes A LOT of time and energy and dedication.
Really, I disagree with the article. I think it's sad that it's basically saying that the "ideal of breastfeeding" is unattainable because of how we choose to live our lives as a society. I think it's sad that many women are forced back to work too soon to properly establish a breastfeeding relationship.
I think the real problem is that "breast is best" is frequently said, but little is done to support nursing mothers. I think some things are changing for the better, but women still struggle. There's still a stigma attached to it (nursing in public, anyone?), women still have to advocate for their rights to be able to sufficiently pump at work in a reasonable environment, we don't allow enough time off post-partum, etc. We all know breast is biologically best for babies, but while we talk the talk, we don't walk the walk in that as a society we don't support mothers the way we should. That's my opinion.

littlemaybaby · July 2012

I don't think the ideal of breastfeeding is impossible to attain, but I do think society makes it darn hard. "Breast is best." "Nurse on demand." But you can only have 6 weeks of paid leave home with your child. Reality check: I was still seeing an LC at 5 weeks. My BFF still needed and LC at 8 weeks. My kid was still nursing every 2 hours for MONTHS. Not everyone can afford extended maternity leaves. And certainly not everyone has a job that will let them pump every 2 hours. And my body NEVER responded as well to the pump as it did to my child.

I still managed to EBF. Even through getting pregnant and having a major supply tank. But dang it - there were definitely days when spending $25 at Target to feed my kid would have been infinitely "easier." (And I do agree - none of it is easy so I'm not trying to minimize the time FF moms spend feeding their children.)

I can see why some people feel that it is completely unattainable.

littlemaybaby · July 2012

Where I COMPLETELY disagree with the article is it seems to be suggesting that we change the recommendations for BFing instead of helping to remove the hurdles that BFing moms face. An that seems totally backwards to me.

RachelG1016 · July 2012

I think that a lot does depend on your work environment. I am very lucky that I work for a company that allows you to take as much time as you need to pump during your day.

They used to require that you pump during breaks and lunches but there were so many complaints to HR that 20 minutes per pumping cycle was just NOT enough they decided to ease up on it.

I plan on pumping 2-3 times per day during work if I am not able to stay home after my LO is born.

LavenderCupcake · July 2012

If you click through to the Atlantic article it was responding to, it's A LOT more reasonable, and makes many of the points of PPs.

URMySunshine77 · July 2012

littlemaybaby:
Where I COMPLETELY disagree with the article is it seems to be suggesting that we change the recommendations for BFing instead of helping to remove the hurdles that BFing moms face. An that seems totally backwards to me.

I agree that the article conveys this pessimistic tone.

IncogNeato · July 2012

sbevmc09:
URMySunshine77:
I thought you ladies might enjoy reading this NY Times article (whether or not you plan on BFing your babies). I found it interesting that a woman is quoted as saying that breast feeding is never free in that it takes up a woman's time and life to dedicate to it.
Well... feeding a child, however you choose to do so, is taking up time. Raising a child takes A LOT of time and energy and dedication.
Really, I disagree with the article. I think it's sad that it's basically saying that the "ideal of breastfeeding" is unattainable because of how we choose to live our lives as a society. I think it's sad that many women are forced back to work too soon to properly establish a breastfeeding relationship.
I think the real problem is that "breast is best" is frequently said, but little is done to support nursing mothers. I think some things are changing for the better, but women still struggle. There's still a stigma attached to it (nursing in public, anyone?), women still have to advocate for their rights to be able to sufficiently pump at work in a reasonable environment, we don't allow enough time off post-partum, etc. We all know breast is biologically best for babies, but while we talk the talk, we don't walk the walk in that as a society we don't support mothers the way we should. That's my opinion.

Everything she said. BFing is hard, especially at first, and having to carve out time to pump at work when many workplaces do not make it easy, is frustrating. Not having paid maternity leave is IMO unacceptable. But that doesn't mean we should give up on BFing- it means we should push harder to make it easier for women to do so if they choose!

My first few days of BFing the pain was worse than labor, no lie. I was determined, and pushed through, and ended up nursing until 15 months when DD self-weaned. I loved and cherished that special relationship, and I know she loved nursing. It was soothing and calming for my high energy, colicky, high stress kiddo.

I didn't like pumping at work because it took my lunch breaks and time I needed for other things, but it was important to me, so I made it happen, even when I got grief from a supervisor.

We pretend that we value BFing as a country but we don't do nearly enough to help women pull it off. That's the real problem.

(And the part about nursing taking up gym time, etc? I mean, the baby will have to eat either way, so it's not like not nursing will give you extra free time, KWIM?)

financialdiva · July 2012

PrivacyWanted:
sbevmc09:
URMySunshine77:

I thought you ladies might enjoy reading this NY Times article (whether or not you plan on BFing your babies). I found it interesting that a woman is quoted as saying that breast feeding is never free in that it takes up a woman's time and life to dedicate to it.

Well... feeding a child, however you choose to do so, is taking up time. Raising a child takes A LOT of time and energy and dedication.

Really, I disagree with the article. I think it's sad that it's basically saying that the "ideal of breastfeeding" is unattainable because of how we choose to live our lives as a society. I think it's sad that many women are forced back to work too soon to properly establish a breastfeeding relationship.

I think the real problem is that "breast is best" is frequently said, but little is done to support nursing mothers. I think some things are changing for the better, but women still struggle. There's still a stigma attached to it (nursing in public, anyone?), women still have to advocate for their rights to be able to sufficiently pump at work in a reasonable environment, we don't allow enough time off post-partum, etc. We all know breast is biologically best for babies, but while we talk the talk, we don't walk the walk in that as a society we don't support mothers the way we should. That's my opinion.

I agree with all of this.
I also feel like the article has a general tone of "it's impossible to do this so you might as well give up now." Is it hard? Yes it can be. Is it impossible? No.

Well said by both of you. That article was horrible and pissed me off.

SanDimasMama · July 2012

I am also fortunate to have a breastfeeding-friendly workplace as well as a Nursery literally steps from my office, but at my old job I can't imagine making it work.

I don't think any working mom should feel guilty or inadequate for not EBFing. Some women want to champion their right to BF, others just want to keep their career moving forward--YES employers should be more supportive and longer maternity leave would be great but until then we all make the best of our circumstances, and that is what makes us great moms.

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