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Original Story Here

Federal health officials say most are changing to formula too soon

By MIKE STOBBE
Associated Press

ATLANTA — Nearly three-quarters of new mothers in the United States are breast-feeding their babies, but they are quitting too soon and resorting to infant formula too often, federal health officials said Thursday.

A government survey found that only about 30 percent of new moms are feeding their babies breast milk alone three months after birth. At six months, only 11 percent are breast-feeding exclusively.

Formula isn't as good at protecting babies against diseases, eczema and childhood obesity. Ideally, nearly all mothers should breast-feed their babies for six months or more, said Dr. David Paige, a Johns Hopkins University reproductive health expert.

But many do not because of their jobs, the inconvenience, and perhaps because of convincing advertising for baby formula.

What's wrong with giving a baby a bottle every once in a while? Not much, except it can begin a pattern as a child sucks at the breast less, causing less stimulation needed to produce milk, Paige said.

"It creates a downward spiral," he said, adding that often, a woman then moves away from breast-feeding altogether.

The annual random-digit-dial survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the percentage of women who start breast-feeding rose slightly from 2000 to 2004, from 71 percent to 74 percent. That's a new high, CDC officials said.

A previous survey suggested a higher percentage breast-fed exclusively — 39 percent at three months and 14 percent at six months. However, researchers think there may have been confusion in that earlier survey that led to the higher percentage.

The new results are being called the best national data to date on "exclusive breast-feeding," in which mothers give their infants nothing but breast milk except for vitamin drops.

The CDC study found that rates of exclusive breast-feeding were lowest among black women and among those who are unmarried, poor, rural, younger than 20, and have a high school education or less. Those findings are consistent with earlier studies.

This year, the government announced goals for 2010: getting 60 percent of women to breast-feed exclusively for the first three months and 25 percent through six months.

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Very interesting, but how is this 'Sex news?'

Doesn't posting this here perpetuate the inaccurate perception of breast feeding in the western world - that it's somehow 'dirty' or sexual?

When feeding your child, there is nothing that feels so pure, innocent and unsullied......I think that kind of intense yet non-sexual intimacy is something that men can never understand.

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I say the world started it (the perception, that is)...I guess it is unavoidable that we tend to sexualize the breasts so much, that it's hard to push those thoughts aside when they're being used for their primary purpose...having said that, I felt that I got at least a glimmer of understanding that feeling while watching my wife feeding our firstborn, it was perhaps the only time I was able to look upon her breasts without any of the usual lusty feelings, just pride at what we'd done together & being allowed to view their bonding...

I was also gently amused at the embarrassment of both grandfathers when they came for the first visit, which just happened to be feeding time...

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Not true; there are many, many cultures which don't attach much sexual importance to breasts. Pretty much pervades western culture, which pretty much tries to pervade thw world.

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Thanks for saying that for me Gekkogecko! It's also not something that's gone on forever in Western history. In Ancient Greece (i.e. the birth of Western civilisation) some of the dresses the women wore did not cover the breasts, as they were not seen as sexual objects.

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That may depend on one’s point of view. Some would suggest that there are differences between Russian culture and Italian culture, between French culture and English culture, between Spanish culture and American culture, etc.

When examined from that POV, there is less apparent conflict between cultures.

Edit: I was able to find this link to a thread of first-hand reports by people in Asia.

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By the same token, there are differences in Northern English culture and Southern, but the point remains that there is generally a very cultures divide between traditional Eastern/Western (or developed/developing world) cultures.

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"Time flies like an arrow -
Fruit flies like a banana"

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My sister-in-law visited from Germany when her son was an infant. I picked her up at the airport and she was unsure how to breast feed him. She said in Germany she'd just pop out a breast and feed him. But she'd been told we Americans didn't do that. She wanted to know should she go somewhere private to feed him. I showed her the ole' receiving blanket over the shoulder/boob/babys head trick. She said she felt more embarrassed that way then if she'd been at home and did it her way.



Scotz, I remember an older bachelor cousin bending down to kiss the baby on the head and then realizing I was nursing her (nothing showed and it looked like I was just holding her in my arms) Poor guy was so embarassed, he didn't know what to say or do.

i don't think most "westerners" do sexualize breastfeeding. the breast, yes, and to some extent, breastfeeding in public (i.e. showing a breast as being a bit unseemly or scandalous) but not the act of a baby feeding. i don't think it was meant to be a sexual article, just a news article. i suspect, with all the articles the mods get sent, they just go into article posting mode and update this forum at a run.

more importantly, to me at least, is why federal health officials and lactation consultants/nurses (we won't even mention the la leche league ) must make women who do formula feed, feel guilty about it.

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some fairly sordid tales, rambles, and anecdotes
Hypothetically Speaking * Something More * Cammy Interrupted * An Experimental Vacation * Masked * so..damn..hot * Thank You * My toy, his idea * no.19 Maple Lane * I Have A Surprise For You * Yesterday * In a Quiet Kitchen * help me decide * untitled prose * more untitled prose