In the United States, it is widely known that breastfeeding provides long-term health benefits for both mother and child that cannot be achieved with formula. Breast milk is incredibly rich in healthy fat and vitamins, natural, and produced by a new mother’s body at no cost. Physicians, women’s health organizations and experienced mothers all encourage expecting women to give the incredible gift of breastfeeding to their children. Given all the benefits that breastfeeding provides, why do many women continue to use formulas instead? In 2002, a study conducted showed that although 71% of US mothers initiated breastfeeding, only 35% of those women were still breastfeeding at 6 months (Taylor). What are the influences that are preventing new mothers from utilizing the economic and nutritional benefits of breastfeeding? There are many social and biological barriers at play in this cultural phenomenon in the United States and beyond.
A study conducted on 2006 aimed to determine breastfeeding rates and durations among first-time mothers in the United States across numerous demographics. Taylor found that overall, 62% of first-time, singleton first-time mothers started breastfeeding and only 36% were still breastfeeding at 3 months. The study determined that many demographic factors play a role in the initiation and duration of breastfeeding. The population most likely to breastfeed past 3 months is older, married and with more education (Taylor). Breastfeeding being more common for those who have been educated shows that women of a lesser educational level need to be more exposed to the benefits of breastfeeding through women’s health organizations and physicians. This is a barrier that can only be improved with better public health care and better health education.
The culture of breastfeeding in the United States is something that also inhibits women from fully committing to breastfeeding their children. Much of this is rooted in the understanding that it is a natural act and should therefore be easy. Most new mothers lack knowledge regarding the basics of breastfeeding such as positioning the baby and achieving the “latch” (Mozingo). When their first few attempts consequently fail, many women will give up within the first two weeks post-partum and choose to use formula (Mozingo).
Not only is the act difficult to become skilled at, but breastfeeding has proven to cause controversy over women publicly feeding their babies. Bottle feeding has become the norm for new mothers through the increased use of infant formulas over breast milk, making public breastfeeding something more uncomfortable for onlookers than it once was. A study conducted in 2001 revealed that only 43% of United States adults feel mothers should have the right to breastfeed in public (Li). The stigma that surrounds the modern culture of public breastfeeding leaves mothers embarrassed and inconvenienced, which much of the time leads to bottle-fed formulas.
Another important aspect of breastfeeding along with public approval and education is support from within the family. Women with friends who have breastfed are much more likely to breastfeed than those who do not (Heinig). Additionally, fathers play a massive role in a woman’s likelihood to breastfeed. They may be opposed to breastfeeding because they cannot share and bond over that experience like the mother can. But fathers who support the nutritional and maternal benefits to breastfeeding can be an immensely positive support system through the process.
Biologically, breastfeeding is difficult to learn and painful for the mother. A woman can experience problems with sore nipples, pain, mastitis, lack of milk and teaching the infant how to latch on. Many women base their future experiences with breastfeeding on past ones, decreasing the chances of trying again for future children (Moore). The biological difficulties that nursing mothers face can be a large player in the decision to discontinue breastfeeding. Without advice from professionals, a mother can consider the act too difficult to continue.
What breastfeeding rates boil down to is a lack of education provided for and pursued by new mothers. Cultural ideologies that discourage breastfeeding can overpower all the natural benefits that breastfeeding provides for the infant and the mother. Without social support systems in families, friends, public health and medical professionals, the act of breastfeeding will become further stigmatized and discouraged by the glaring public eye. If we can increase awareness of the benefits and realities of breastfeeding, rates will increase and the general public’s understanding of it will decrease the negativity toward it. And who doesn’t like a happy, healthy baby?
Works Cited:
1. Taylor J.S., Risica P.M., Geller L., Kirtania U., and Cabral H.J. “Duration of Breastfeeding among First-time Mothers in the United States: Results of a National Survey.” Acta Pediatrica 95 (2006): 980-84.
2. Mozingo J.N., Davis M.W., Droppleman P.G., Meredith A. ‘“It wasn’t working.” Women’s experiences with shortterm breastfeeding.’ American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing 25 (2000): 120–126.
3. Li R., Hsia J., Fridinger F., Hussain A., Benton-Davis S, Grummer-Strawn L. “Public beliefs about breastfeeding policies in various settings.” Journal of American Dietetic Association 104 (2004): 1162–1168.
4. Heinig M.J., Follett J.R., Ishii K.D., Kavanagh-Prochaska K., Cohen R., and Panchula J. “Barriers to compliance with infant-feeding recommendations among low-income women.” Journal of Human Lactation 22 (2006): 27–38.
5. Moore E.R., Anderson G.C., Bergman N. “Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007(3).
The Culture of Breastfeeding 