In Defense of Breastfeeding

by Jill Richardson · 2009-03-19 14:00:00 UTC
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This week, Hanna Rosin made a splash by coming out against breastfeeding. I feel compelled to counter her arguments. First of all, in the wake of the food safety crises, when you breastfeed, you don't need to worry about the safety of the food you are giving the most vulnerable member of your family, or the ethics of the CEO of the company that manufactured it.

Second, breastmilk is the ultimate local food. No gas, no packaging, no shipping.

Third, you don't need to worry about some company's ability to formulate the right nutrients for your baby when you breastfeed. It's going to be 100% right for your baby nutritionally and that won't ever change based on trendy nutritional wisdom of the day.

And of course, there are all of the very, very many health benefits, like immune support.

After reading her article, it seems that Rosin's main beef with breastfeeding is that it's a drag to do all that work and men can't help relieve women's burden. Yes, it's disappointing that men can't breastfeed too and we ladies got stuck with the job whether we like it or not. But I think the benefits are so clear that it's worth the work.

Jill Richardson
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