Breast Feeding Across Cultures

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Breast feeding has been in practice for a very long time, as early as 2000 BC. Before the invention of formula, bottles, and pumps this was the safest most common way for a mother to feed their infants. In fact, for 99% of human history breast milk was the sole source of nutrition for children until the age of two. In today’s society there are many different and opposing personal stand points on where or not a mother should breast feed their children. It is a very controversial topic with many variables. In breast feeding there are several benefits, reasons, and cultural effects that go into making the decision to engage or stay away from breast feeding. There is also historical causes and cultural differences that lead influence a mothers choice to engage in breast feeding. Many women choose to breast feed and there are many advantages to this choice. It was discovered that the most successful time for initiation of breast feeding is within 30 minutes of a child’s birth. One of the most obvious benefits of breast feeding is the extreme bonding that the mother and child experience while going through the process. Another benefit that many women see is the cornucopias of nutrients that are naturally produced by the body that get passed to the child. Most argue that the formulas created in a lab just cannot imitate the nutrients that a mother herself can make. The Natural Resources Defense Council concluded that Breast-fed children are less likely to contract a number of diseases early on and also later in life these include but are not limited to juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer. The infant brain also benefits vastly from breastfeeding. The babies are not the only one who benefit from this. Th... ... middle of paper ... ...n the rise. Spanning through history and a plethora of different cultures breastfeeding has always been a respectable and beneficial way to feed a child. The choice is up to one’s own personal beliefs in today’s times References Center For Disease Control, (2012). Breastfeeding Report card—United States, 2012. Retrieved from Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard/reportcard2012.htm Fischer, C. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://madeinamericathebook.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/breastfeeding-history/ Natural Resources Defense Council. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nrdc.org/breastmilk/benefits.asp (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.attachmentacrosscultures.org/beliefs/bfeed_culture.pdf Stevens, E., Stevens, E., & Stevens, E. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684040/

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