Magda wrote:
>Hmm, so breastfeeding is 'really' about the health advantages of breast milk
to the baby and is a health behaviour.  I don't find myself able to buy
this.  Breastfeeding is a biopsychosocial behaviour, with many dimensions,
and deep personal and cultural meanings.  It is an expression of one of the
closest relationships humans can have with one another.  When I was feeding
my own children I remember thinking that the fact that the nutrition of
breastfeeding was better than the alternatives was a sort of bonus, which
was over and above the enjoyment and satisfaction we both felt.  <

I have always wondered if the reason (instinct?) that initially drives
mothers to breastfeed isn't extremely simple.

Baby cries with open mouth.
Mother disturbed by baby's cries.
Mother inserts breast into baby's mouth.

Silence!

And after that comes all the bonding and love and so on...
Breastfeeding as nutrition and medicine?
Sure, but that is incidental :)

norma

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