I really like this article about why many women can't afford to breastfeed. It frames our U.S. maternal leave policies in a great way.
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@Mrs Green Grass: yes but formula is $$$- how can they afford it?
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@Mamaof2: In some cases, presumably with government assistance? Or, I guess, it's just something that people have to deal with if it comes down to being able to work vs. having the time to breastfeed.
It is disheartening that so many of the comments (not here - on the original article!) devolved into a giant pissing contest. There always has to be some woman who "made it work" in spite of her long work hours and demanding commute and household chores. It's like - great, congrats to you. However, you don't know everyone's situation and maybe, just maybe, you are actually quite privileged compared to many other working women.
For what it's worth, I only made it to 3.5 months (while supplementing) before my supply tanked. This in spite of following my pediatrician and LC's orders, eating and drinking constantly, taking fenugreek like it was my job, etc. I personally think the stress of PPD was just too much to overcome. I desperate want to be able to breastfeed my next baby, but all the sanctimony from the extreme breastfeeding components really, really turns me off. I don't think they are helping their case by being so insensitive.
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Formula is not always that expensive....E took the Sam's Club variety just fine....and when you add up all the formula I bought in the course of a year, it was under $600, or $50/month.
I spent an awful lot on breast and pump related stuff and barely made it 3 months.
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@Mamaof2: I believe I read recently that something like 50% of formula in the country is purchased with WIC money
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@blackbird: my pump alone was $400. don't even get me started on what I paid for other parts/pieces, etc.
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@Mamaof2: WIC
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@Mrs Green Grass: I liked the article...not so much the argumentative comments after the article. It makes me sad that we can't just agree that breastfeeding when you return to work is challenging.
Who care if it's "doable" and what that means to each person (although I think, for many people it ISN'T doable), the point is that it's hard and better family leave and then better support for new moms trying to pump (and hell, for ALL new parents who may need better sick leave to take care of sick kiddos) is something our country should be striving for.
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@Mamaof2: Losing a job is likely more expensive than formula.
I liked the article and the comments afterwards are as ever from people who have no interest in any views or situations other than their own. I think that the people saying that its 'doable' at all costs have 1- no idea what 'all costs' mean and 2- genuinely made sacrifices to make it work themselves and for some reason are inexplicibly pissed when others don't feel the need to do the same thing.
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I agree that income has a huge impact on whether a woman can/will breastfeed. If she's working a low-income job chances are she won't get breaks to pump and even if she did she can't afford all of the stuff that's necessary to pump.
But I think income is also tied in with education/support and the region where the person lives. I know this is a far cry from "research," but I watch a lot of 16 & Pregnant/Teen Mom (don't judge!) and a majority of the girls on the show don't breastfeed but also don't work. There are a lot of poor women that are SAHMs (maybe because they want to be or maybe because they can't afford childcare and don't have family to do it). I think that's where the lack of education/support comes in. These would be the perfect candidates to BF because they'd save money or wouldn't have to rely on government assistance and they also wouldn't have to purchase a pump and all the parts because they're home with the baby anyways. I know a lot of people on this site find the term "breast is best" to be offensive, but its purpose is to be short and to the point for those that are less educated/supported.
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@lawbee11: In MA, at least, if you are on WIC you can either get formula or extra food, if you are breastfeeding. So even if you are on an assistance program it would be beneficial. I agree with what you said, but I haven't read the article yet.
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@lawbee11: I totally agree with you that there is a segment of the population that is truly uneducated on the benefits of breastfeeding and could really benefit from guidance in this area. I think that's the problem - there's a tendency to view the issue as black or white, when truthfully there is so much grey area.
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I rarely read comments. They make me too angry!
I just like how the show that it's not as "free" as it people make it sound. If we really want to be serious about supporting breastfeeding as a country, it has to start with better leave policies. So the conversation doesn't have to be bfing v. formula at all.
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Yeah, good story, but the comments... I just don't get it. This has been bothering me for a long time. Why do so many moms feel like we're in it for ourselves, and it's our own private struggle? I think so many new mom stresses come from the way our society works. I wish that instead of the constant arguing over different ways to parent, there would be some kind of mom movement to demand more support for all of us! We're raising the next generation. It's not a hobby. It's an important job.
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We are not wealthy by any stretch but the only reason I am still breastfeeding is because we had the financial means to hire a lactation consultant, rent a hospital grade breast pump, purchase herbal supplements, and a variety of other accessories like the right size flanges, nipple cream, etc. For the first 3 months breastfeeding was more expensive for me than formula, especially because we had free samples from mailers & our doctor. That doesn't even take into account the fact that I didn't go back to work for 6 months.
All that to say, I totally believe this. Cultural norms do come into play as well, though interestingly my in-laws are African American and they are all huge proponents of breastfeeding & have been less supportive of my struggles than my side of the family, so the stereotypes are not universally true.
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some people are struggling but don't make "little enough" to qualify for WIC. in those cases, formula CAN get pricey, whether store brand or not... it can be a lose-lose situation for many moms.
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