Why the Politics of Breastfeeding Matter

Pinter & Martin Why It Matters

De: Gabrielle Palmer

Narrado por: Gabrielle Palmer

Pinter and Martin's Why it Matters series offer succinct, balanced and evidence-based introductions to the topics that affect family life in the 21st century. The Politics of Breastfeeding, first published in 1988, described how big business and vested interests influence the intimate relationship between mothers and their babies to the detriment of all, rich or poor, in the West or in the developing world. In Why the Politics of Breastfeeding Matter, the central ideas of the politics of breastfeeding are distilled into a concise form, making it the perfect introduction to understanding the complex forces that govern what many think of as a simple choice to breastfeed or not.

©2016 Gabrielle Palmer (P)2017 Gabrielle Palmer

Heartbreaking and infuriating

As a lactation professional I was expecting to have a lot of feelings around this book. I thought I already knew the depth of our culture's problems with formula and breastfeeding, but I have learned so much more than I could have expected! I am going to redouble my efforts to make as many others aware as possible.

Informative

I did love this book. It can be uncomfortable discussing breastfeeding among other mothers, and even with health personnel. So many times it seems like everyone is either trying to be politically correct, or they offer the extremes of "don't guilt me for choosing formula" or "don't look at me weird cause I'm still breastfeeding".

We're all trying to do our best to raise healthy children.
Facts are facts and regardless of preference or circumstance, we can change or manipulate any product to be superior to breastmilk. But breastmilk can't always be readily available. That's ok.
I think it's important to be informed!
That way moms and health personnel can properly navigate formula feeding an infant.
Formula can be a vital, and wonderful tool. I'm glad it exists just as much as I'm glad breast milk banks exist.
The history of formula development is important for everyone to know because it is still developing!
And mothers who sincerely are having trouble but want to breastfeed and can't need all the support they can get to manage at least a small or short lived milk supply.

Listen to be informed, it should not cause you feel like you have to decide either way.

I felt informed. And I'm happy about that. Thank you to the author. Not sure how many google searches I would've had to do to get this info in my own.

thought provoking

Worthwhile societal context for the charged discourse on infant feeding. I plan to read her longer book on the subject.