The Ethics of Breast Milk - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SwingGirl · 03-18-2010, 12:37 PM

Interesting thread...
I breastfed my daughter until she was 8 months old. It is what my mom did and I always knew it was the most beneficial to baby and mother. Not to mention that it is free.

My experience with breastfeeding from the time I gave birth in the hospital was that of being judged negatively by medical professionals in the hospital. My baby had some breathing issues right after birth so needed to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care for monitoring. Knowing full well that I was breastfeeding and did not want my daughter given formula, the NICU nurses gave her bottle after bottle of formula. When I stressed that I was choosing to breastfeed they all rolled their eyes and acted like I was some uneducated, backwoods perv!

During the entire time I breastfed, I was disheartened by the negative responses I received from those around me. There is a terrible misconception about breastfeeding and it is influencing young moms to choose formula.

---------- Post added at 12:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 PM ----------

As far as breastmilk banks, I feel that in the case that a mother is unable to breastfeed her child, she should be able to have access to breastmilk from someone else.

AS LONG as steps have been made to make sure the milk is free of sickness or disease (like we do for other types of milk) then it should be made available.

There are so many nutrients and valuable sickness fighting anti-bodies in breastmilk that I have often wondered why this has not been thought of sooner. I am sure it has mostly to do with the sexual aspect of breasts.

03-18-2010, 12:37 PM	#41 (permalink)
SwingGirl Upright Location: Washington DC	Interesting thread... I breastfed my daughter until she was 8 months old. It is what my mom did and I always knew it was the most beneficial to baby and mother. Not to mention that it is free. My experience with breastfeeding from the time I gave birth in the hospital was that of being judged negatively by medical professionals in the hospital. My baby had some breathing issues right after birth so needed to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care for monitoring. Knowing full well that I was breastfeeding and did not want my daughter given formula, the NICU nurses gave her bottle after bottle of formula. When I stressed that I was choosing to breastfeed they all rolled their eyes and acted like I was some uneducated, backwoods perv! During the entire time I breastfed, I was disheartened by the negative responses I received from those around me. There is a terrible misconception about breastfeeding and it is influencing young moms to choose formula. ---------- Post added at 12:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 PM ---------- As far as breastmilk banks, I feel that in the case that a mother is unable to breastfeed her child, she should be able to have access to breastmilk from someone else. AS LONG as steps have been made to make sure the milk is free of sickness or disease (like we do for other types of milk) then it should be made available. There are so many nutrients and valuable sickness fighting anti-bodies in breastmilk that I have often wondered why this has not been thought of sooner. I am sure it has mostly to do with the sexual aspect of breasts.