California v. Kentucky: Breastfeeding
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, we take a look at and discuss how each of our states breaks down when it comes to the womanly art of breastfeeding.
California
Upon giving birth to the Little Dude, I always intended to breastfeed (if my body allowed and thankfully it did), but I never had a set timeline in mind for how long my boobs would be out on loan. In fact, I initially thought the recommended six months of breastfeeding sounded like an eternity and I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a 24/7 milk maid for that long. So, it still surprises me to say that I breastfed exclusively for one year and continued to nurse my son until he self-weaned around 18 months.
{My Brest Friend was truly that (and an armrest) during the million+ feeds}
Let me back up, though, and explain how I got there. First, I was fortunate enough to give birth in a hospital that promotes breastfeeding and offers daily on-site lactation support and personal consultations while staying in the postpartum recovery ward (this coupled with the fact that my son had a strong latch and voracious appetite got us off on the right foot). Second, my son's pediatrician, who is also a lactation specialist, served as a cheerleader when nursing hurt like hell and helped me make it past the two-week adjustment period during which I often felt like throwing in the towel. And third, it was very easy for me to nurse exclusively. I had six months of maternity leave and, although I returned to work for four months and had the undesirable full-time job of pumping, I quickly regained easy access to the baby when I resigned and became a WAHM.
I did consider switching to formula when I was in the throes of pumping, but I never got my act together to start the weaning process before we moved to LA and I didn't want to throw another transition wrench into the baby's routine (I'm not sure if this would have been the case if I didn't have the privacy of my office for pumping—and talking to my pump—because I don't think I would have felt comfortable using the firm's lactation room (read: locker room)). Once the Little Dude turned one, we realized he had allergies to cow's milk so I continued to nurse to stave off more serious reactions and because we couldn't as easily transition to a milk substitute. He continued to nurse because, simply put, he was a boobaholic / breast milk addict.
During my breastfeeding tenure, I never considered how where I lived would impact my chance of doing so successfully. I'm certain that my success was made easier by the supportive women around me—my group of friends, moms and non-moms alike, never cast judgment or acted like sanctimommies if one didn't want to nurse, faced difficulty nursing and supplemented, or nursed beyond the child's first year. Perhaps their positive attitudes are a product of living in California, which tends to be a place that has a more progressive, open-minded approach to lifestyles (but I think it's because they're awesome women and friends). Californians may also be more open to breastfeeding than other states because seeing a woman's boob is no big deal here—we have year-round beaches, we have Hollywood, and we have an obsession with larger-than-life chest anatomy (you've seen the Real Housewives, right?). I do appreciate that famous moms lend their celebrity to promote and raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding, hopefully elevating the public's consciousness about and comfort level with babies and breasts.
{ LA-based celebs like Julie Bowen champion mama's milk }
Breastfeeding in Los Angeles is also made easier by The Pump Station, a breastfeeding resource center where every new mom finds herself at some point or another for lactation support, parenting classes, or mommy socialization (if you can't make it to LA for a visit, check out the store's extensive online library that offers many how tos, videos, and links). I also assume that more Californians enjoy their right to breastfeed due to the work of city and state coalitions dedicated to the cause. Finally, California's laws promote, protect, and support breastfeeding—the state has even passed legislation stating that it's a woman's right to breastfeed in public.
Because Sarah Stewart Holland is such an advocate of breastfeeding, I know she won't mind if I gloat over California's rank of 8th in the nation for most promising breastfeeding rates.
Kentucky
This is the first time I'm willing to admit it. California legitimately kicks our ass when it comes to this one. According to the Center for Disease Control's yearly Breastfeeding Report Card, Kentucky ranks a dismal 45th out of 50 when it comes to the percentage of infants still breastfed on their first birthday. The World Health Organization recommends infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. The percent of infants in Kentucky exclusively breastfed at 6 months? 9.8.
Ouch.
Griffin was one of those lucky few. I breastfed him exclusively until six months and continued to breastfeed him until he was 11 months old. Amos is also exclusively breastfed. I can't say I encountered an environment that was hostile to breastfeeding. My mother breastfed me, as did most of my female relatives with their children. I also have several close friends that exclusively breastfed for a year or more. However, I also have friends that chose never to breastfed at all, which is something I never encountered in D.C.
Now, it is essential to note that I've been lucky enough to stay home. I hate pumping with the burning passion of a thousand suns so I can't honestly say I would have made it as long if I'd had to go back to work.
However, while there might be a higher percentage here that never chose breastfeeding at all, I have to say most women I've encountered face the same challenges women all over the country face when it comes to breastfeeding. Hospitals are less than supportive, even feeding formula without the parents' permission. There is a lack of support in the community. Paducah has a La Leche League but there are few lactation consultants and no breastfeeding supply store or education center to find support. And despite legal protections, most workplaces do not provide sufficient dedicated breast-pumping spaces, much less support employees who need time to pump.
I have loved breastfeeding my boys and it breaks my heart that I live in a state where so many women don't have the same experience.
Do you think where you live has influenced your desire or ability to breastfeed?
Image of Julie Bowen via Huffington Post.
14 Comments
Reader Comments (14)
(I have read your blog for awhile, but after spending 5 weeks in Bowling Green, KY this summer, I have a new appreciation for you. ;)
I am one of the freaky ones, and I breastfed both of my boys until their 4th birthday. The first 2 years with the first were in the north shore suburbs of Chicago. I was the weird one at library playgroup after about 9 months. He was not not not ready to stop, though, and I am OK with being the odd one. It did not influence me.
For the next 4 years of breastfeeding (2 years overlap!) I was in the Bay Area, California. I breastfed my 3 year old on the curb once when he was overtired, overstimulated, and melting down, and it was perfectly acceptable. Though most didn't breastfeed until 4, and not so many tandem nursed, either, the average age had to be well over 1. It definitely made it easier.
Wow, Heather! We're quiet impressed that you nursed TWO for four years each. It doesn't surprise us that mothers in the Bay Area nurse well over the age of one, as we know the area really embraces healthy, holistic, and organic living. To outsiders, the environment definitely seems more conducive to such a personal choice. Congrats to you and your healthy boys!
I don't think my state (New York) influenced my decision to breastfeed, I think it was my situation. When I was pregnant with my twins, I thought I would give it a shot but was realistic about the chances of being able to successfully breastfeed twins and wasn't counting on it. Once they arrived, it suddenly became the most important thing to me. I think there were three factors that led to my decision and success with breastfeeding: (a) my girls were preemies (barely 31 weeks), (b) I had an unbelievably massive supply that came in immediately upon delivery, and (c) I had 24 weeks of maternity leave. I could hardly touch or hold my babies for weeks after they were born but the one thing I COULD do was provide them with breastmilk. It was the only maternal, care-taking function I could provide during their first weeks of life, which were spent in incubators hooked up to umpteen machines. I pumped and pumped and was adamant that my girls never have formula during their 6 weeks in the hospital, and then until they were 6 months old. Since I clearly had an abundance of milk, I felt compelled to keep going when we struggled with nursing after they came home. Weeks and weeks (and many hysterical sobbing breakdowns on my part) later, one became a champion nurser and the other could only nurse here and there in short spurts (tandem first thing in the morning), so I ultimately nursed one plus pumped for the other at every feed until my girls were 9 months. I could never have done it without my 6 months of maternity leave, plus having someone around almost all the time - between my husband, mother-in-law and carefully timed visits of family and friends, it was rare that I didn't have someone in the house helping so I could pump. When I went back to work, I was able to close my office door, pump whenever I needed to, and keep the milk in my personal fridge. I am one of the lucky ones. Breastfeeding my twins was the hardest thing I have ever done and also the most rewarding.
I am confused about your comment on how hospitals do not support breastfeeding. Minutes after my daughter was born and I was taken to recovery, a Lactation Specialist was waiting for me to assist with breastfeeding. Until I left a specialist would come in every two hours and work with me to breastfeed. Unfortunatly my daughter had difficulty latching and I was unable to produce milk. I would pump for hours, several times a day and nothing so my daughter was exclusively on formula.
Breastfeeding is very important but on the same lines, formula is not a bad thing and mothers should not be made to feel shamed that they had to go the formula route. It’s more important to make sure your baby is receiving the nourishment he or she needs rather that insisting on only breastfeeding. That is why we have formula, because years of mothers who could not breastfeed. I know a woman's body is built to breastfeed but not everything is 100%. Also, hospitals are very supportive of breastfeeding. I have never met a mother who birthed in a hospital who said otherwise. Hospitals are not bad or evil places.
Carol, I cannot speak for Sarah Stewart Holland's experience but like you the hospital I gave birth at was very supportive of breastfeeding with on-site lactation consultants available 24/7. I also know many friends who gave birth at the same hospital and had difficulty nursing or the baby had health problems that demanded formula, and the hospital staff never made the women feel "less than" in those situations.
I certainly don't think using formula is a bad thing, nor do I feel mothers should be shamed or feel ashamed for using it. Each parent has to do what is best for her and her child, and in this case mother knows best.
This blog post was not meant to suggest formula use is problematic, but rather is just to share our personal experiences. Because it's World Breastfeeding Week, I think we just hope to raise awareness about the cause to fight against instances of discrimination that we have so recently read about in the media (i.e., women not allowed to pump at work, women cited for nursing covered in a park). Ideally, all women and all choices should be honored and supported.
Thanks for sharing another part of the bigger story.
~ The Other Sarah
I've experienced both ends of the spectrum, I guess -- KY and Asheville. Even though there wasn't an abundance of lactation support per se in KY, it did feel like the choice to breastfeed was accepted. In the hospital they did automatically give formula to infants, but I had a wonderful nurse who literally SPRINTED to the nursery to tell them not to give my boy a bottle. I only experienced aversion to nursing in public once - and it was teenagers, so I forgive them. And they were very supportive about pumping at my workplace.
In Asheville the attitude is totally different. Our hospital is considered "baby friendly," which is a very exclusive designation that includes strong support of breastfeeding. There were no pacifiers available! They don't accept "freebies" from formula companies, which is apparently a big deal considering they have a NICU and go through lots of formula. Since I didn't have issues, I haven't taken advantage of the help, but I'm sure it makes a difference in a woman's choice around here.
Other than an aunt and cousin, I'm the first woman to breastfeed in our families. For me, the biggest challenge wasn't where I lived but dealing with subtle (and obvious) discouragement from close family members.
Interesting post on CNN about breastfeeding. Center for Disease Control reports U.S. hospitals not doing enough to support breastfeeding.
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/03/hospitals-need-to-do-more-to-help-moms-breastfeed/?hpt=hp_bn6
Carol, I completely agree that mothers shouldn't feel shamed for using formula. However, I think the article posted by SR does a good job of summing up why they aren't doing enough to promote breastfeeding. Mainly, they give formula when there is no need, they don't allow rooming in, and they don't get the baby to breast soon enough. Hospitals aren't evil but there is A TON of room for improvement when it comes to obstetrics practice and policy in this country. - SSH
Thank you SR for posting the link to CNN. I believe my comment was not understood. Yes, we as a society need to support breastfeeding and when and where mothers and infants need to do so. However, we also need to support those mothers who cannot because being unable to is very emotional and there is more of an attack on mothers who did not or could not breastfeed. We are made to feel as if we do not care about their health and well being and putting our needs before our children when in fact it's just the opposite.
You are absolutely right, Carol. As with a lot of things in motherhood, there's far too much judgment and not enough support. - SSH
Love this post. Fortunately I birthed both of my children at hospitals that support breastfeeding, but unfortunately for some friends of mine, one local hospital where they gave birth doesn't give the support to the mothers. They are quick to push the formula, not giving mothers or their babies a fair chance of giving/getting the undisputedly BEST form of nutrition that a human baby can get. I had to work Extremely hard at getting my fist born to nurse. We had to deal with a tongue tie issue, thus a latching issue and him not gaining sufficient weight for a period of time, but thankfully our perseverance paid off. Some mothers I know either didn't try at all or stopped within days/weeks because the bottle was easier as they got more sleep and time to themselves while someone else fed the baby. For these children I feel bad. I do understand that there are people who try their hardest and for one reason or another it just doesn't work after doing everything possible to get the baby to nurse and that's understandable and applaudable that those mothers tried their hardest to do what's best for their children.
Thought you would find this interesting! So sad, in a day in age when there is NO dispute that human milk is the best choice for a human baby! http://www.boston.com/Boston/dailydose/2011/08/cdc-hospitals-fail-encourage-breastfeeding/nJ05sZdEsBqm0Is9YtXMcN/index.html
Breast milk is best but my daughter has done just fine on formula. I was in a hospital where the lactation consultant would not leave until she was feeding. They were almost to the point of being cruel with refusing to supplement my hungry baby. One day after her screaming and crying for nearly two hours I begged for formula, She was tired and hungry and I was stressed and upset. I cried to my doctor and hers that this wasn't working. I tried for three weeks with breast feeding and pumping and the most I would get after an hour was maybe a half an ounce. Instead of my daughter losing weight and being hungry I gave up breastfeeding and went to only formula. I wanted to breastfeed but it just didn't happen. So everyday I have to feel like less of a mother and that I have done wrong for my child because I gave her formula. I put her needs before my wants like many other mothers and feel the punishment for it. My daughter is healthy and thriving. Mothers need to support mothers and understand why sometimes we choose a differnt path other than nature. I read it here on this blog that you were almost in tears over almost having to give your son formula. Could you in=magine how that could make a mother feel who had to supplement with formula? Unless you've been there do you understand what it's like not being able to do what your body is designed to do. Judgement for some comes easier than understanding I guess.
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