“Crystal’s Soapbox,” published each Thursday, is a column by conservative Texas mom Crystal Arcand who loves to rant about issues that relate to her kids….and yours.
I call myself a lactivist. Let’s get that out in the open right off the bat. I breastfed my three children for a combined total of 37 months (that’s three years and a month for those that have stopped counting time in months). I believe that breast milk is the best food for babies and that most – if not all – women should at least attempt breastfeeding their children. I believe that babies should be nursed for at least a year, and preferably two.
And as much as I believe all that, I more strongly believe in doing what is best for your baby, you, and your family. And that might not be the same thing for every situation.
That said, breastfeeding can be extremely confusing. I know that breastfeeding is completely natural, but that it isn’t easy. Far too many women have been given the false notion that “natural” and “easy” are synonymous. Then when problems arise, they are dubbed as nursing failures. I can’t tell you how many women have told me, “I can’t breastfeed” because that’s what their doctors told them when they presented with issues that can be addressed while continuing breastfeeding.
I believe many “breastfeeding friendly” hospitals and doctors set mothers up for these “nursing failures” with myths, scare tactics, and misinformation. Why? They don’t really understand it. They go with whatever the rep from the formula company tells them. Breastfeeding isn’t covered in any great concentration during medical training, even for obstetricians or pediatricians. They mostly rely on the information presented to them. Sadly, the information obstetric and pediatric offices get hand over first come from formula companies. They know they may not get formula in your bag as you leave the hospital, but they know that with the information they’ve given the doctors and hospitals, they’ll most likely have it in your home within the next 6 months.
And that really hacks me off.
Moms, research breastfeeding as much as you can. Look for sources that don’t have the Nestle name attached somewhere (Nestle is a top formula manufacturer). Now is a perfect time to connect with other moms that are breastfeeding their babies and seek real-world experience. And if you can’t find someone where you are, then come talk to me (you can find my Twitter and Facebook information on my author page).
