Michelle Obama the New Symbol for Breastfeeding?

on February 9, 2010 at 7:36 AM

michelle obama University of California graduation

Michelle Obama breastfed both her daughters. Wow, I never knew that. The First Lady rarely talks about her personal experience with, much less publicly endorses, nursing. Breastfeeding advocates hope that will change, if not with today's announcement of Michelle Obama's big childhood obesity initiative, then in the near future.

"Lactivists" such as Best for Babes and MamaTotoMatema are trying to make inroads to Obama to get her include breastfeeding as a vital part of her plan. They'd love her to become the new "public symbol" for breastfeeding.

Every First Lady has their "cause." Hillary's was health care. Laura Bush promoted literacy. For Obama it's childhood obesity, affecting 1 out of every 3 children.

It makes sense that Obama should including breastfeeding. Breastfed children have a lower rate of ear infections, asthma, cancer and other chronic diseases. And, though the link hasn't been conclusively proven, there is evidence that it even lowers the risk of obesity for the mother and child.

There's another thing to consider, a double benefit, if you will: Black women have one of the highest rates of obesity, and the lowest rate for breastfeeding. Only about 20 percent of black women nurse, compared with 40 percent of Hispanic mothers and 35 percent of white mothers.

We'll have to listen to details of today's press conference to find out if Mrs. Obama mentions breastfeeding. Post any news you hear in comments ...

Should Michelle Obama heartily endorse breastfeeding, become the new public symbol for it? If you're a formula feeding mom, would that bother you?

Other posts you'll like:

Michelle Obama: Right to Bare Arms?

New Mom Secrets: I Hate Breastfeeding

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: breastfeeding, health, in the news, barack obama

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Comments (10)

Brittanie0327

on Feb 9, 2010 at 3:50 PM

That's awesome! Good for her! I think it would be awesome. What an influence that would be on American mother's to have the First Lady to endorse breastfeeding!

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niamibunni

on Feb 10, 2010 at 10:36 AM

If she could somehow give mothers longer and paid maternity leave time and also make it possible for mom's to get private nursing areas at work, it would help even more.

Natsnumberthree

on Feb 10, 2010 at 2:03 PM

I think she should, I think the CDC should take a greater stance on breastfeeding and not play formula off as a choice. There are such great benefits to breasfeeding that it shouldn't be dismissed so quickly by so many.

I don't know why so many people are surprised she nursed the girls, women with higher educations are more likely to breastfeed.

Nonmember comment from Queensteph25

on Feb 10, 2010 at 6:00 PM

i think that it should be the mothers choice to breastfeed. I dont think that we should have to be forced. I did not breastfeed my daughters and they are very healthy and not fat.

Crystal8327

on Feb 10, 2010 at 8:42 PM

I think this is great because blacks have the lowest breast feeding rates and so do Americans in general

RanaAurora

on Feb 12, 2010 at 6:36 PM

Non-member Queen Steph, no one is "forcing" you to nurse by educating you on the matter. That's ridiculous. But... the more educated you are, the less likely you to not nurse - in fact, the more educated someone is in general, the more likely they are to breastfeed.

I would love to see Michelle Obama speak out about breastfeeding. Every attempt this country has made at educating people has been SQUASHED flat by the trillionaire formula companies that even buy out our AAP and therefore our children's doctors. I don't think they could buy out and shut up the First Lady.

chiclet731

on Feb 14, 2010 at 7:19 PM

Wow, this just brightened my day! Yay Michelle Obama and yay boobies!

Nonmember comment from rachel

on Apr 23, 2010 at 3:02 PM

I I am especting my first baby soon and the big issue for me has to either breastfeed or formula. I chose formula since my maternity leave which is considered short term disability is only seven weeks. That would be hard for me to go back to work and try to wean the baby off the breast and try to adjust her to a bottle. Maternity leave should be longer so we have more time with our baby and that would give alot of us who are swaying towards formula a chance to see if the baby would latch on and take to breastfeeding.

Nonmember comment from StaudtCJ

on Jun 28, 2010 at 1:26 PM

I know I'll catch a lot of flung poo for this, but I think that formula is a wonderful, generally safe, absolutely essential back-up plan that should be available only by prescription. Maternity leave should be available for 6 months to give our children the best start. If we want to lower health care costs, reduce obesity, improve the U.S. standing in education, and reduce mental illness, then we have got to do something to improve the lot of infants and reduce the stranglehold that the formula companies have on our babies. Once they have you feeding your child formula, you CAN'T GO BACK. They have you on the hook for at least one 20 dollar can a week, more for premixed, for a year. Option my rear. They convince new mothers that it's a choice, and then they have a monopoly. Your kid doesn't get fed unless you fork over the big bucks. We need to acknowledge that mothers need to work, and we need a comprehensive plan to support breastfeeding moms, especially the low-income ones. Making minimum wage at walmart is not going to let moms pump/feed, and it's also not going to support a 20-40 dollar a week formula habit. Something has to be done.