Say What!?
American Women Are the Worst Breastfeeders
by Michele Zipp on July 4, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Oh, America. We do so many things right. We are the land of the free and home of the brave but we have far too many hang-ups about breasts to breastfeed. Yes, I believe that is the reason why we have dismal breastfeeding rates -- the worst, in fact, of all industrialized nations.
Breasts are sexual. Breasts should be perky. Get surgery if they aren't big enough. Brainwash, brainwash, brainwash. If we were brought up thinking breastfeeding is natural, normal, and if it was accepted by the general public, I think more women would nurse their babies. Or at least try.
This info comes from the 13th annual Mothers’ Index published by Save the Children. It looked at 165 industrialized and developing countries and shares the findings -- the most shocking is that the United States is at the bottom for breastfeeding. And while it's not the worst place in the world to be a mother, America isn't the best. The best place to be a mom is Norway followed by Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, and United Kingdom. The United States ranked 25th out of 43 developed countries on the list of best places to be a mom. Yemen, Afghanistan, and Niger are the worst. A bad place to be a mother means a bad place to be a child.
I know some are so tired to hearing about how important breastfeeding is. But new moms and moms-to-be often fair really well with encouragement, support, and good information. I know I did. So here is it. This study shows how good nutrition during a child's first 1,000 days -- which includes the start of the pregnancy until the baby's 2nd birthday -- is "critical to the future health, well-being, and success" of the child. So why not give it a shot?
I know that even moms who want to breastfeed face obstacles. Some just can't for many reasons. Some don't have support. Some have to go back to work and pumping isn't an option. Sometimes the milk dries up. We have terrible maternity leave. Terrible views about nursing into toddlerhood. Hang-ups about breasts. And in the back of the minds of far too many, breasts are for sexual pleasure and nothing else.
All of these things contribute to America being so low on the list of best places for mothers with tragic breastfeeding rates. It's low. Really low. Lower than it should be. We need to get over it. I wish moms around the country get together for a "take back our breasts" day. Where we hit the streets to announce that breasts aren't obscene. Where future generations of potential breastfeeding mothers can see and learn that breasts are also food sources, and nothing to fear in public. A man's breasts aren't, so why are ours? Just because they are more rounded? That's the only difference. Oh that, and the fact that a woman's breast can make milk. See my point?
If you can't breastfeed or if you tried it and hated it, that's one thing. But if you are caught up in thinking breasts are sexual and shouldn't be used for nursing a baby ... that's where we need reform.
We can do better, America.
Does the low breastfeeding rate surprise you? What about the fact that we rank so low on best countries for mothers? What do you think can and should be done?
Image via sdminor81/Flickr
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EvalynCarnate
I agree that more women should try. I also agree that a lot of women dont get the proper support or encouragement to do so. I couldnt BF with my first for reasons out of my control because GAWD knows I tried..for weeks...I also plan to try again with my son in Sept but I'm not going to feel bad or go into some horrible depression if I cant ( like I did last time ). My daughter is a healthy, active FF kid and while I know breast is best, formula isnt poison and my son will end up fine if thats the route I have to take once more.
Stacey.
See the thing is for most people who cant/ dont want to breastfeed it's not because they think breasts are obscene or because theyre scared to do it in public. Women arent imbeciles we know what breasts are for, we know breast is best, we know some men have bigger ones than we do etc, so this "take back our breasts day" idea is pretty much a moot point. I am guessing that a large number of moms who arent breastfeeding are working or single moms. if you want this to change we need paid maternity leave period. It has pretty much been made impossible for women to partake in brestfeeding longer than a month when they are the sole provider or dont have the option to stay home.
JennyM87
I had my daughter Sep2010. 4 of my nieces have been born after my daughter. My daughter was the only one who was breastfed. I stayed home with her the first 3 months. After that i went back to school in the mornings and worked full time in the afternoons. My breast-pump traveled everywhere with me. I would pump on campus and at work. I had the best support system. My hubby, parents and aunt (who watches my daughter) supported me 100%. My daughter breastfed for 15months. I'm not saying it easy and there were days i dreaded pumping, but it is possible and so worth it!
Tami
I pray that by the time my daughters are mothers our views surrounding breastfeeding have changed. But I doubt they will.
the4mutts
We can see it even in the disgusting comments on here "I don't want to see your floppy breasts" "put those saggy, veiny things away" "I don't want to see her 50yr old dried up nipples"
People like that are the ones who give girls breast image issues, and cause their own daughters to become judgemental prudes.
Judging someones body, is the lowest of the low.
Desireesmom2011
I do agree that Women should at least give it a try but I see nothing wrong with being formula fed. When I was a baby I didn't get one ounce of breast milk and neither did my brother or any of my 28 cousins not to mention any of my cousins children. And our family is happy and very healthy. I'm actually the only one in my family since my grandparents to try and breastfeed. It didn't work out very well but I did try. My daughter wasn't getting enough breast milk and lost way to much weight after 3 and a half weeks so I had to switch to formula. But shes just as happy with formula and also just as healthy if not healthier than all my friends babies who breastfeed. I totally support Mothers who breastfeed but I also support mothers who HAVE TO or CHOOSE TO Breastfeed.
Luisa
Beth
By the by, if you believe that the US is the only country that sexualizes breasts, then you're fooling yourself. Sure, some other countries are more liberal about nudity, but that doesn't mean that they all view breasts as nothing more than baby-feeding devices.
kcanela
sarah