A Poll On Breastfeeding!

by Tara Lykins

Someone asked me the other day why I continue to pump for my 8 month old daughter. I didn't think much of it at the time, after all I get "those looks" every time I pick up my black bag and take the elevator down to the pumping room at the office. So, a little time went by and started to wonder what the big deal was anyway, I mean why would I stop pumping for my 8-month-old? Do people really think that formula is better than mommy milk? I did a little informal poll, here are some of the answers from assorted office workers of varying levels of education :

How long should a baby be breastfed?

6-8 weeks (2 people said this)
1 or 2 days
1 year
6 months (3 people said this one)
until mom goes back to work
they don't need to be
don't know

How long should a mother express her milk for the baby?

6-8 weeks
Express? What do you mean?
That's gross!
I don't know.
Why would she do that?
Until things get started.

Do babies need bottles?

Yes - 85%

No - 11%

Don't know - 4%

What would you tell a mother if she were having problems (not defined) breastfeeding?

Quit
Give the baby a bottle
4 people told of a negative experience their mom or wife had (infection, no milk?, sour milk?, not enough fat in milk?)
Not everyone can do it
It is hard, not a big deal if you quit
"Formula is the same thing, they added that 'stuff' in to make babies smarter, you know"

Where do you think that nursing/working moms should pump?

Bathroom (10 respondents)
Car (4)
Her office (2)

I polled 20 people for each question, these are only some of the results. I think that most significantly, not one person mentioned a lactation consultant as a resource or even La Leche League for help. About 2/3 of those polled were mothers and only 4 had even attempted to breastfeed their infants. One of those mothers breastfed for exactly one year and then weaned her son, of course I commended her for a job well done.

Formula companies have been so successful in undermining a mother's ability to succeed at breastfeeding. I tend to be rather vocal in educating the public about the benefits of nursing, I am a cheerleader for the pumping moms coming back to work, I voice my hope that each new baby born will be breastfed, and I never - ever - give bottles or binkies at baby showers. I may be only one person, but by helping new moms understand all the benefits of breastfeeding I could help an unlimited number of children.