"For me, it doesn't seem to matter that I know a lot about cholesterol
and
triglycerides and extra weight....it doesn't seem to matter that I
remember slim
and how good it felt -- or that I know that nothing tastes as good as
slender
feels. I know all the positives and all the negatives -- so why is
losing
weight and keeping it off so difficult?
Why is continuing breastfeeding so difficult? What kind of marketing do
we
need to do to *convince* women that they should continue?>"
I think this is the best analogy I have heard so far for the lack of
breastfeeding in the United States. And the answer, from my own life, is what we are
raised with is what we go back to most often. My mother had five children, at
age 54 she is still within 10 lbs. of her weight when she got married (118
lbs at 5'5"). It is easy for me to maintain my weight (don't hate me!!) because
what I grew up with was whole wheat bread, wheat germ, cottage cheese, salad,
skinless chicken, healthy foods and healthy portions. If one were not so
lucky then it would be monumentally difficult to change those habits and
patterns; food is social and food is comforting. When we need comfort and
socialization we go to that with which we are familiar.
I am the oldest of the five and the youngest was born when I was 14. My
mother breastfed all of us so, when I had my kids it wasn't even a choice.
Because I was raised with breastfeeding as the norm, the difficulties I had with my
two kids while nursing (not knowing estrogen BCP can decrease milk supply...to
nothing the first week I went back to work at 6 weeks postpartum, thankfully
I was able to re-lactate after burning the Pill and nurse for one year; my
second had neurosurgery at four months while I was living in Korea so surgery was
in Hawaii, etc. etc.) were obstacles to be overcome, not barriers to cause a
change in feeding choices.
Until MOST women are raised with breastfeeding as the norm when they are
children/young adults I don't think we will see MOST women stick to the "breast or
bust" (no pun when I wrote it but it's catchy?!) when the road gets rough. I
think the same could be true for weight loss and obesity in America. Until
MOST people are raised with portion control and healthy foods then we won't see
MOST people stick to that when the cheesecake is passed and the box of
truffles are opened.
IF people were educated about healthy eating BEFORE they needed to lose
weight and were able to make changes without any pressure for results on the scale
would it help them to avoid being overweight later? IF we were able to
educate women about breastfeeding before they were even pregnant would it make a
difference in their choices and commitment later? THUS, the Ad Campaign...sigh.
So, we keep doing what we are doing and encouraging women who aren't pregnant
to consider breastfeeding when they are in a position to make that choice.
There is no "guilt" there is there? Even the AAP or a formula company couldn't
argue with that, or could they? There isn't even a baby to nurse yet!!
Which is what I don't understand about ACOG and their same line of don't make
mother's feel guilty...since when is a woman at a prenatal visit able to nurse her
fetus? It's like having Maternity Battle Dress Uniforms (the camouflage
uniform for the military)...who's charging a hill while pregnant? But that's
another story...
Have a Happy New Year!!
Christie Pillado
El Paso, TX
***********************************************
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
