I love all the great slogans for breast milk that have been suggested for
baby bottles lately.  I am troubled, however, by the eagerness of some
mothers I see to give breast milk to their babies but to place little value
on the *act* of breastfeeding.  Some mothers seem to develop a relationship
with the breast pump but to have difficulty getting the baby to breast.  I
am thinking of one mom who worked full-time while pumping milk for her
twins for 6 months.  In the evenings and on weekends she had many social
and organizational activities. The babies got all breastmilk until they
started solids, but very little nursing.  Another mother of twins never got
past pumping and bottle-feeding, even though she was with her babies
full-time.  (Both cases were several years ago).  I think our society's
view of breasts as sexual objects has much to do with this.  I know there
are situations when mothers cannot breastfeed, and times when bottles are a
temporary help for all mothers.  But I hate to have people focus on the
benefits of breastmilk while passing over the benefits of the act of
breastfeeding itself.  The importance of early attachment to one, primary
caretaker can get lost.  The value of skin-to-skin contact, the loving
gazes and games that nursing mothers and babies share, cannot be duplicated
when the breastmilk is put in a bottle that is propped or held by the older
baby or even when the bottle is given by any number of other loving
caretakers. I read once that human beings are the only animals that nurse
"en-face."  We know the mother's face during breastfeeding is just at the
ideal distance for baby's vision.  Despite the formula ads that show
bottle-feeding parents with the mother (or father) looking lovingly into
the baby's eyes, most bottle-fed babies are not held in a way that
encourages face-to-face eye contact throughout the feeding.
        Do mothers reap the same benefits of the release of prolactin and
oxytocin, the "mothering" hormones that help them feel calm and loving in
the midst of a chaotic day, when using a breast pump rather than sitting
down to hold, cuddle and nurse?  (I really don't know!)
        Just some thoughts.  Any comments?
Anne Altshuler, RN, MS, IBCLC and LLL leader in Madison, WI