The early feeding of our infants has become an issue ,not only because we have a choice , but also because we realize nowadays that the way we go about it has a great deal to do with whether or not our children will develop a sense of security. We must remember how truly helpless and dependent upon us our little baby is.The infant responds,not only to the food,but to us well.An irritable,impatient parent can disturb the child's appetite and digestion just as easily as the wrong food might.
Neither the breast nor the bottle actually solves this problem.It does not matter at all which is used,provided the attitude we display towards our child when we feed him is at least as wholesome as the food we have prepared for him.The food and our attitude flow out of the same nipple,whether it be on the breast or the bottle.In view of this,a women who is about to become a mother need feel no pressure,guilt,or even uncertainty in making her choice.True,there are people who make extravagant climbs and accusations,but all these arguments have three characteristics in common:
1.They miss the point entirely by emphasizing the choice rather then what we do about the choice.
2.They reflect a highly personal and subjective attitude.
3.The arguments have no merit or evidence whatever to support them.
People in favor of breast feeding for example,make the following claims:
1.They say it is natural and therefore best.This overlooks completely the fact that may have had a forceps delivery or even a Caesarean,both of which are anything but natural and at the same time are improvements over nature.
2.Breast feeding is a great maternal experience that one shouldn't miss.This overlooks the fact that there are many women who do not find this at all pleasant and whatever maternal feelings they have may easily be undermined by doing something which doesn't apple to them.Additionally,breast feeding does not guarantee pleasant feeding for the child if the mother performs this task unwillingly.
3.Natural milk is best,and the child enjoys greater immunity when breast fed.This overlooks the fact that medical opinion is completely split on the issue and that there are many doctors who will support the contrary point of view.This is also to say nothing is innumerable cases where natural milk has to be supplemented by formula specifically for the benefit of the child.
4.A women who refuses to breast feed her child is unconsciously rejecting the role of motherhood.She may be,but offering her breast will not alter her basic feelings.We know,too,that rejection may appear in many other spheres and need have little to do with the acceptance of this particular maternal function.
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