Words of Wisdom from
the Natural Reproduction Association

You just have to ask yourself…

Have you ever met an axe wielding murderer who was breastfed as a baby? No! You haven’t! And neither have we. Not one iota of research has ever revealed a link between being breastfed and growing up to be a homicidal maniac – yet there are plenty of maniacs out there, just as there are plenty of formula-fed babies. You do the maths.

Therefore, mums – it is your duty to society as well as to your beloved babies, to persevere with breastfeeding no matter what. It just takes a little time and effort and the benefits are endless.

The nutritional value of mother’s milk has been well documented. So when you see children of below-average height, limping around the playground trying to catch up with their peers – they must be the bottle-fed ones.

Bonding is another issue. Cuddling and caring for a baby fosters a bond to an extent, certainly – but it is also well known, through constant repetition, that breastfeeding creates an extra special bond. By definition, this means that bottle-fed babies can’t be as tightly bonded to their mothers as their breastfed counterparts. You only have to watch bottle-fed children after school, greeting their mothers with handshakes rather than hugs, to get the picture.

So we at the NRA would like to encourage mums to put their nipple worries aside for just a minute and concentrate on giving their precious babies the best start in life. We fully understand that some mothers find breastfeeding difficult at first – but you don’t get anywhere without trying now, do you?

Whereas 99% of new mums in their usual, selfless, motherly way take to breastfeeding like mummy ducks to water, there are always a certain few who seem to get a little distracted by minor problems. Fortunately, we are here to give them the advice they need to steer them back on course.

This is typical of the type of query we receive:

Mother with Problem: I have struggled for some weeks but I don’t seem to have enough milk to satisfy my baby’s appetite. He is losing weight and seems unhappy. My partner thinks I should try him on formula. What do you think?

NRA: Why punish Baby for your shortcomings, dear? Every woman is designed to produce enough milk to feed her offspring. You must be doing something wrong. I expect your diet is full of the sort of food and drink choices made by non-mothers. Or maybe you’re just not that maternal. Either way you’re going to have to get your act together and soon. Your baby is losing weight for God's sake! Have you any idea how dangerous that is?

If your partner suggests formula again, just tell him, you’re not prepared to condemn your child to a life of chronic ill health just to stop a little wailing. But above all, relax! You’ll never produce a dribble if you’re tense.

Our postbag is regularly full of such letters and we answer them all, no matter how ludicrous their concerns. That’s because the NRA is here to support all mothers – even those who choose to deprive their babies of mother’s milk after only a year or so. A little is better than none at all, is what we say, and if you take the time to put your baby’s wellbeing first now, you’ll be grateful later, as you watch them take their place beside their peers in the jury box as opposed to in the dock beside the Defence Counsel.