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Breast Feeding

In: Social Issues

Submitted By Sealover37
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Humans are the only mammals that can consciously choose to feed their young artificial nourishment such as formula rather than milk from the mother’s breast. According to the company Nestle’, (Nestle.com) infant formula was invented in the late 1860s by a pharmacist named Henri Nestle’. Although mothers had previously used other foods when unable to breastfeed, this infant formula caught on and variations of it have been used through-out the world ever since.
Except perhaps between Vegetarians and Carnivores, nowhere is the act of eating more controversial than the area of feeding a baby. Often strong feelings arise around both bottle-feeding and breast-feeding.; with proponents of each method standing firmly and often, passionately and vociferously on their respective sides. People from all walks of life, male and female, young and old, varying socioeconomic backgrounds, single or partnered generally feel free to weigh-in on the topic of Bottle feeding vs. Breastfeeding.
In researching this topic I spoke with a varied cross section of society in Maine and in Nova Scotia and drew on my over eleven years combined experience spanning two decades being a breastfeeding mother. The information I have compiled reflects the attitudes which I have often witnessed first-hand. The prevailing attitudes in Maine and Nova Scotia towards breastfeeding appear to have changed little over the past 20 years.
According to the World Health Organization “Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health.” The World Health Organization also states

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