Some of the latest news:
MSNBC picked up the article to spread it further into the mainstream consciousness. At the end of article there's an option to discuss it on Newsvine. Have a look at the comments. Many thank yous from women who themselves couldn't or didn't want to breastfeed. All these women who did not or could not breastfeed applaud The Case Against Breastfeeding because it makes breastfeeding the villain and assuages their own guilty consciences.
Brings me to the point Dr. Newman makes about guilt and breastfeeding. He says "In order to prevent women feeling guilty about not breastfeeding what is required is not avoiding promotion of breastfeeding, but promotion of breastfeeding coupled with good, knowledgeable and skillful support."
Once again, we have to remember that difficulties breastfeeding are not because breastfeeding is the problem; it is usually because mothers are not getting the support they need from spouse or family, the work place, the community, health care practitioners, the government...the list goes on.
Of course, The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine issued a statement this week in rebuttal. You can read it here.
Here also is the response from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
In the article, "The Case Against Breast-Feeding" by Hanna Rosin, the author skims the literature and has omitted many recent statements including the 2005 statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics which supports the value of breastfeeding for most infants.
This policy references every statement with scientific evidence from over 200 articles which meet scientific standards for accuracy and rigor. The statement was meticulously reviewed by the Section on Breastfeeding, the Committee on Nutrition and numerous other committees and approved by the Board of Directors of the Academy. Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, a study released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (the AHRQ Report) strongly supports the evidence of benefits demonstrated in the breastfeeding research.
The evidence for the value of breastfeeding is scientific, it is strong, and it is continually being reaffirmed by new research work.
The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages women to make an informed decision about feeding their infants based on scientifically established information from credible resources.
David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP
President, American Academy of Pediatrics
Thank you to Tanya Lieberman at Motherwear's Breastfeeding Blog for posting that. Her response is also well worth a read as she tackles some of the scientific claims.
And here is a joint letter to the editor of The Atlantic from the United States Breastfeeding Commitee.
I'm interested to see a round up of the blog posts and articles that address Rosin's science. I think there should be something forthcoming from Phd In Parenting who also put together a collection of the voices who responded to the feminist issues in the original article. Thank you to Annie for including us in such great company.
And just for fun, Hathor the Cow Goddess's take on it all.
Sweet Home Birth Boxes - the supplies you need no matter what your birth plan includes!
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