Breastfeeding in Today's Society

While in today's society, due to the demands of busy schedules, breastfeeding an infant is not an easy feat; it is still the best way to start and establish the bond of motherhood. Not only cost effective, but it's the healthiest thing (in most circumstances) that a mother can do for her infant. There are many reasons that breast feeding is most beneficial: Breast milk is not too cold, not too hot like a bottle can be. The mother's face is a perfect distance away from their baby whose vision is limited early in life. The warmth of the mother's body, the reassuring sound of the familiar heartbeat, not to mention all of the nutrition and protection that the breast milk affords the infant all are key reasons why "breast is best".

However, in today's society and especially in the U.S., breastfeeding is increasingly difficult. While I was able to imagine some of the factors that make breastfeeding difficult not yet having a child myself, I asked a colleague of mine her thoughts. As an expectant mother with a 2 year old, she explained to me from her point of view strikes against women who wish to breastfeed that would not have occurred to me yet. If our society wished to be fully supportive of women who chose to work as well as breastfeed the ideal situation would be as follows: All jobs having affordable onsite daycare, as well as rooms where mothers who also choose to pump milk could go. Schedules would be somewhat limited for mothers back from maternity leave for up to 2 years if they so wished, which would permit a mother to visit the onsite center and bond with the baby during the day. Most importantly would be that no one would view this partially modified schedule as a strike against a business woman, but would instead be proud to have such a well rounded employee who was not only successfully contributing to a company, but successfully contributing to motherhood… and in turn society.

I know fully well that when the times come to try and breastfeed my children, I will give it my best try, however even knowing fully well how beneficial it is to breastfeed… I will try and not despair NOR let society condemn me if the breastfeeding is not successful. My family will not be influenced by another person's opinion.