Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC.
Breastfeed a Toddler—Why on Earth? by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC.
Breastfeeding and Guilt by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC.
Quotes
Modern formulas are only superficially similar to breastmilk.
Every correction of a deficiency in formulas is advertised as an advance.
Fundamentally, formulas are inexact copies based on outdated and incomplete
knowledge of what breastmilk is. Formulas contain no antibodies, no living
cells, no enzymes, no hormones. They contain much more aluminum, manganese,
cadmium, lead and iron than breastmilk. They contain significantly more protein
than breastmilk. The proteins and fats are fundamentally different from those in
breastmilk. Formulas do not vary from the beginning of the feed to the end of
the feed, or from day 1 to day 7 to day 30, or from woman to woman, or from baby
to baby. Your breastmilk is made as required to suit your baby. Formulas are
made to suit every baby, and thus no baby. Formulas succeed only at making
babies grow well, usually, but there is more to breastfeeding than nutrients.---Jack
Newman, MD, FRCPC.
Breastfeeding for 2-4 years was the rule in most cultures since the beginning of human time on this planet. Only in the last 100 years or so has breastfeeding been seen as something to be limited. Children nursed into the third year are not overly dependent. On the contrary, they tend to be very secure and thus more independent. They themselves will make the step to stop breastfeeding (with gentle encouragement from the mother), and thus will be secure in their accomplishment.
One of the most powerful arguments many health professionals, government agencies and formula company manufacturers make for not promoting and supporting breastfeeding is that we should "not make the mother feel guilty for not breastfeeding". Even some strong breastfeeding advocates are disarmed by this "not making mothers feel guilty" ploy. Because, indeed, it is nothing more than a ploy. It is an argument which deflects attention from the lack of knowledge and understanding of most health professionals about breastfeeding. This allows them not to feel guilty for their ignorance of how to help women overcome difficulties with breastfeeding, which could have been overcome and usually which could have been prevented in the first place if mothers were not so undermined in their attempts to breastfeed. This argument also seems to allow formula companies and health professionals to pass out formula company literature and free samples of formula to pregnant women and new mothers without pangs of guilt, though it has been well demonstrated that this literature and the free samples decrease the rate and duration of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and Guilt by Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC.
External articles
Dr Jack Newman: Breastfeeding Articles