Public Health Issue: Breastfeeding

         The topic of breastfeeding is personal.  I nursed both of my children past their first year of life.  It was always interesting to me, how people felt the need to tell me their opinion on whether I should be feeding my baby from my breast or not throughout their infancy into toddlerhood.  The culture of breastfeeding has evolved over time.  Throughout history, babies have been fed from the breast.  In the mid-twentieth century, formula became preferred by mothers and were even led to believe it was better for the baby.  Recently, breastfeeding is beginning to make a comeback and mothers are being encouraged to nurse their babies to at least the first birthday or longer.  However, in the United States, only 25 percent are still breastfeeding at one year old (Berger, 2016).  According to Berger, worldwide statistics show “about half of all two-year olds are still nursing, usually at night” (Berger, 2016, p. 166).  This is a big difference from the US and international research findings.

            While breastfeeding my children, the statistical trends of US followed the societal standards of the acceptance or rejection of my decision to nurse, depending on the age of my child.  When they were newborns, all of my family members were thankful I chose to breastfeed, and I was told over and over that “breast was best”.  When we got to about four to six months of age, family members and friends began to ask when we were going to wean because the baby could begin solids.  By their first birthday, my family and friends were annoyed that my child needed to nurse with me and it took time away from them.  When we finally did wean our children, there seemed to be a sense of relief for everyone that phase was over.  My children are now three and seven years old.  They are happy and healthy children and I do not regret one day I breastfed my children, especially the length of time I committed myself.

            In the article, Using liminality to understand mothers’ experiences of long-term breastfeeding: ‘Betwixt and between’, and ‘matter out of place’, long-term breastfeeding is studied in UK women predominantly attending support meetings (Dowling, S., & Pontin, D., 2017).  Through interviews and questionnaires, the women described their experiences, societal reactions, and the challenges to long-term breastfeeding.  The authors base the study on the concept of liminality.  Breastfeeding is a liminal phase that leaves a woman in transition from her normal body and activities (Dowling, S., & Pontin, D., 2017). 

            When the women discussed the liminality they felt, the feelings increased as breastfeeding became long-term.  “They experienced gradual withdrawal of support from 6 to 8 months, received comments such as ‘Are you still nursing?’ at 9–10 months, with increasing pressure/coercion to wean if still breastfeeding at 12 months and beyond. Support from organizations such as La Leche League (LLL) was important.” (Dowling, S., & Pontin, D., 2017, p. 59).  This was like the experience I described previously that I gone through.  I was lucky enough to receive amazing support at my workplace at the time I was breastfeeding with my children.  I was able to teach in our infant classroom and breastfeed my infants on demand at work.  And my husband was behind me the whole way.

            Having a support network that encourages breastfeeding long-term can provide life-long benefits to the mother and child.  I received support from my husband, workplace, and medical professionals.  The UK women found support through similar avenues.  They also mentioned the support of literature and internet.  Without these support systems, I am not sure if I would have had the motivation to continue past the first year of breastfeeding.  I am thankful that I had all the support necessary to provide the best nutrition and social-emotional base for strong attachments.

References

Berger, K. S. (2016). The developing person through childhood (7th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Dowling, S., & Pontin, D. (2017). Using liminality to understand mothers’ experiences of long-term breastfeeding: ‘Betwixt and between’, and ‘matter out of place’. Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness & Medicine. 21(1): 57-75.