Mothers: Birthing and Breastfeeding

Brazil (14 November 2010):  Breastfeeding.

Mother or cow? The Brazil story is no different from the dilemma of mothers everywhere in the world today regarding breastfeeding.  There is no doubt about the benefits of breastfeeding--the completeness of mother's milk as food and the strengthening of bonds between mother and child, but how about women who can not or are not willing to breastfeed?   

The WHO (World Health Organization) , the Brazilian Health Ministry, the PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics are advocating that Brazilian mothers should give only breast milk to their newborn babies for six months.   

Despite advocacy campaigns, according to WHO, exclusive breastfeeding of children under 6 months worldwide has not reach 35%. . 

The report says that in Brazil, the advocacy has engendered feelings of guilt among lactating mothers who can not breastfeed for various reasons.  Working women there are given only four months maternity leave, and with a very competitive job market, there is always the risk of losing a job because of the time pressure.  There may also be competition for mother's milk among children born one after another especially since WHO recommends mother's milk up to two years to supplement other foods introduced after the first six months.

There are of course situations that prevent or hinder breastfeeding like breast procedure enhancements, continuous use of certain medications such as antidepressants, misdirection at the beginning of lactation, returning to work, low weight gain for newborn and post-partum stress. 

But then there is another side to the debate, and the report cites indicators borne out by research that "children who never received breast milk exhibit growth, weight gain and health 100% satisfactorily. Moreover, they have an absolutely normal immunity and not get sicker than children who were exclusively breastfed." 

Mother's or cow's milk?  The argument is that the woman should ultimately make the choice whether it's about breastfeeding or any other issue that may affect her body.

Denmark (30 October 2010):  Birthing at Home.

In Denmark, according to the story in Politiken, there were 600 babies born at home.  Midwives say that more and more pregnant women are opting to give birth at home.

In the animal kingdom like these chordates in the front pages of these British and Russian papers, birthing and breastfeeding are not issues at all unless they are kept in the zoos.  Their caretakers--human beings--who keep tab of their pregnancies, birthing and the tender loving care of their newborns, tackle those issues in human ways.