I just read 52 posts so don't expect much mental acuity.

I, too, am accused of seeing every issue through breast-colored glasses.
There is much that puzzles me about attitudes toward breastfeeding, in our
"modern" cultures. There seems to be a very strong aversion to even
*thinking* about breastfeeding.  I read articles about breast health, infant
nutrition, emotional and mental health, child abuse, unconnected children,
adult health, parent abuse, and many other aspects of the human condition
and I see the clear connection to the experiences of the first several years
of life. But the researchers or the writers never consider breastfeeding as
a factor.  The most basic, natural beginning to life and they don't even
look at it. It seems that they would have to work hard to NOT see a
connection.

How many years will it take for "us" to PROVE that breastfeeding is the way
to feed our young, and that babies and mothers belong together?  It is
ridiculous to call this "non-supportive" of breastfeeding.  It is downright
subversive.  Where is all of this vehement objection coming from?  There can
be 33 studies that prove the superiority of breastfeeding, but the impact
will be wiped out by ONE study showing that it is no big deal.

There has been mention of recommended length of breastfeeding. I hear often,
"How long does a mother have to breastfeed for her baby to get the benefit."
Or, "My doctor said that all of the benefit to the baby is gained by six
weeks,(or six months, or 'till the milk comes in, or one year.)  A mother
called me yesterday about weaning her 18-month old  because every time she
takes the baby to the ped. the nurses and the doc ask, "Are you STILL
breastfeeding? There is no benefit to the baby now. She is just using you as
a pacifier." The implication in so much advice is "Do this *thing* for as
short a time as is absolutely necessary."  Where did this attitude come
from, that breastfeeding is a necessity, but not to be done with enthusiasm
nor any longer than you *have* to?  Can you imagine anything else that has
as much benefit to mother, baby, family, and society being limited to its
minimal experience?

We Americans are accused of excess.  "If a little is good, more is better."
"Can't get too much of a good thing."  "If jogging 4 miles a day is good for
my heart, I will jog 24 miles a day."  One journal article comes out saying
that oats reduce cholesterol and everything gets fortified with oat bran.
Where is, "If breastfeeding a baby for three years grows more brain capacity
or reduces illness, let's breastfeed for six years"?

If studies show that *some* breastfed babies have low vit D levels, Peds
recommend ALL infants be given vit D. If a few babies are at risk for Hep B,
then give the shot to ALL infants.  But if breastfed babies are physically,
mentally, and emotionally healthier, these same docs aren't eager to
champion a return to breastfeeding for ALL infants.  In fact,they don't want
to hear that breastfed babies are healthier. WIERD!!! It will be interesting
to see if the APP statement in the upcoming Journal will have any impact at all.

There is some kind of abhorance toward breastfeeding, but not as much toward
breastmilk.  I think much of the resistance would be relaxed if we could get
a "good pumping system" going and there wasn't all of that "being there", or
touching, or cuddling, or connecting. It's that baby at the mother's breast
that must be limited, or ignored, or discouraged.

Is some of it "simple" ignorance or lack of training?  Do they fear not
knowing how to help a mother solve her breastfeeding problems, more than
they do the ill health that will be created by abm?  I believe that many
pediatricians (others too) truly believe that all of the infants in the US
that are not breastfeeding would be dead if it weren't for abm. They feel so
much safer with what they understand and what was taught in their schools.
Is the problem that we are letting them call the shots?

What I am asking is WHY IS THIS SO HARD?  It shouldn't be so hard to
convince "Health Care Providers" of the benefit of breastfeeding.  It
shouldn't take volumes of studies and references and years of "proof."

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee