How long should a mom Breastfeed?
Dec 13 '00 (Updated Jan 04 '01)
The debate on whether and when to breastfeed is very heated; both side’s present valid benefits and drawbacks. You might be wondering why a male would tackle such a heated issue, however after a 6-year-old boy was taken into protective custody from his home by the Illinois Child Protection Services after allegedly being forced to breast feed by his mother I had to cast my humble thoughts.
I searched the Georgia Department of Family Services Policy book and could not find any specific rules about when to stop breast-feeding. In Georgia, you cannot be arrested for breastfeeding your child any place a woman would normally be. Such places include beaches, pools, restaurants (at the table), park benches, and parking lots, among others. You cannot be forced to remove yourself to a bathroom, closet, or vehicle. If anyone tries to tell you otherwise, you should feel free to refuse to comply, and inform them of civil rights.
Obviously, forcing a six-year-old child to breastfeed is a problem. Who would want to breastfeed a six-year-old anyway? I thought as long as the baby is eating age-appropriate solid foods, a mother might nurse a couple of years if she wishes. My understanding was that a baby needs breast milk for the first year of life, and then as long as desired after that.
A mother’s milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in manufactured baby formula. I cannot tell you that any formula is like breast-milk. They aren't! They cannot match it even closely. There are so many nutrients that are too expensive to duplicate or put into formula. Babies generally are not allergic to their mother's milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats or if the mother is taking medication or using drugs. If she eliminates it from her diet, the problem resolves itself.
Sucking at the breast promotes good jaw development as well. It's harder work to get milk out of a breast than a bottle, and the exercise strengthens the infant’s jaws and encourages the growth of straight, healthy teeth. The baby at the breast also can control the flow of milk by sucking and stopping. With a bottle, the baby must constantly suck or react to the pressure of the nipple placed in the mouth.
Of course I’m not a medical doctor, and can not imagine what it feels like to breast-feed but I’ve been told a lot of different things. Some women adjust to breastfeeding easily, encountering no major hurdles.
Some women have told me that they don’t like to handle their breast and think of them as sexual and not functional. Others have told me that they don’t want to be exposed in public. My late mother told me that she did not breast feed me long, she jokingly said I almost sucked her nipple off. I guess my mother just did not feel comfortable with the idea of nursing.
Although the State of Georgia does not offer a lactation room complete with breast pumps for mothers that nurse several of my co-workers breast-feed. When I was a supervisor one of employee’s returned to work after giving birth to her first child and was determined to continue breastfeeding. With a briefcase and breast pump on one hip and her baby on the other, she breastfeed without a problem.
I honestly have no idea how woman physically get prepared to breastfeed, but there are a few mental preparations I suggest. Read some of the other well written opinions posted on this site, take a class and do some research, hang out with breastfeeding friends, but most importantly get the facts before your baby is born. The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants
Most research doesn’t currently look at children being breastfed more than 24 months. When your child gets older and becomes verbal, you may want to start putting limits on where and when you breastfeed. But please don’t wait until they are 6 years old I believe this is a problem. Mom should have said, "You are a big boy now, and we aren't going to nurse anymore.” Of course she should keep hugging her child and showing affection, however at 6 it’s time to let go. Bottom line it’s a woman’s choice, breastfeeding is a personal decision however at age 6 the state will intervene to protect the child choice.
*****ADDED ON January 4, 2001*****
Since writing this opinion about the Champaign, Illinois mother whom is fighting state officials over custody of her 6-year-old son the issue of breast-feeding continues to gain momentum. I found the following article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution December 29th issue.
The article is titled, ““Nursing past infancy” Illinois custody case ignites debate over an old question: How long should a woman breast-feed?”
The newspapers website (http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/newsatlanta/breastfeed1229.html)
features an opinion poll stating, “Do you think it's wrong for a mother to breast-feed a child who's older than 2?” As of today 01/05/00 3190 people have voted with 28% saying yes and 72% saying no. Although the debate continues I hope this provides a little additional information on how heated this subject is.
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