No Mama is Perfect, but Breast Milk Is!

No Mama is Perfect,  but Breast Milk Is!

Here’s my confession: When I was breastfeeding my 3 month old and needed to have two Surgeries for Gall Bladder Disease, I didn’t Pump and Dump- against Dr’s wishes. I let all of that medication (anesthesia, Percoset for days and whatever they pumped into my IV) flow into my baby’s body with my milk. I did so knowing that most meds get into breastmilk minimally if at all, and that the studies of the effects of which are few. I decided I felt that even “tainted” Breast Milk was better than ANY formula option. I got almost nothing with a breast pump and I wasn’t into getting her hooked on a bottle. I wasn’t trying to be perfect, I just felt so lucky to produce enough breast milk for my baby. I know so many mamas who have trouble producing enough.

And because of my Gall Bladder disease before the surgeries, I wasn’t always eating nutrient-dense foods. I ate very little and whatever didn’t set me off. Then I was on bland fat-free food after the surgeries. With IBS and food allergies I have been on any number of strange experimental diets to try to feel better- I’m sure all of it affecting my milk in various ways for years. I’ve nursed my child through Vicodin and Muscle relaxers, antihistamines, steroids, and more. I nursed her through stomach bug episodes where all I had in my body was Coca Cola.

What’s the point? The point is that I found out that a leader in the nutrition field who many families have come to know and trust has come out and said that you shouldn’t breastfeed if you don’t follow a very specific diet. You should make Weston Price’s own homemade formula recipe instead. 

WHAAAT?? The Weston A. Price Foundation WAPF of the famous Nourishing Traditions Cookbook thinks mamas who can’t/don’t  eat grass-fed beef (vegetarians?) and butt-loads coconut oil (I’ve tried, it makes me nauseous) shouldn’t bother breastfeeding. Weston Price believes that mothers who don’t have a “perfect” diet should feed Weston Price’s very own goat milk-based homemade formula recipe instead!

Some of my friends banded together to promote Breastfeeding today in response to this BS from Weston Price. Below are all of the pro mama milk articles written in protest….(see below)

But you know, what a nasty shame that the natural parenting community can now not stand behind this company offering a healthier formula product for families who need one because of the way they have chosen to throw moms and babies and breast-feeding under the bus in order to promote it!

I myself was exclusively breastfed. I bet most of my mom’s diet at the time was Coca Cola and frozen dinners. But I’ll tell you that corn syrup through a booby is still way better than corn syrup directly out of a formula can! And I love me some goat milk but that is for baby goats, but human milk is for human babies.

xo Love,

Moorea
On Thursday, bloggers from around the world came together in a show of support for breastfeeding mothers. New mothers have enough challenges without having to feel guilty for how they feed their baby, especially when they are choosing the most natural of means – breastfeeding.

Over the last few days there has been a lot of heated debates, controversial posts, and social media outcry against the position that the Weston A. Price Foundation takes on breastfeeding. While they do present sound information on the ideal diet for breastfeeding mothers, they do so in a manner that brings about guilt, fear, and confusion.

The bloggers who participated in the Breastfeeding Support Blog Party are not trying to create a divide between mothers. They simply want to offer support, in the form of blog posts, as to why breastfeeding should always be the first choice both for baby and mama.

We hope you take some time to read the posts that were written as part of the Blog Party. There are also over 140 posts linked up as part of this. Take some time to check them out here or link up your own breastfeeding support post!

Dionna at Code Name: Mama has come up with 40 ways that family, friends, coworkers and employers can support mothers who pump breastmilk, along with a ton of resources for you and the pumping mom in your life. There are also some fun graphics you can print and pass out, with 70% of all proceeds going to buy pumps for moms in domestic violence shelters!

Destany at They Are All of Me writes about ten common breastfeeding myths that scare women out of breastfeeding.

Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama discusses how her diet wasn’t WAPF perfect, but she still breastfed a perfectly healthy baby.

Christine at African Babies Don’t Cry is passionate about breastfeeding, here are her 101 reasons why!

Kelly at Becoming Crunchy discusses the question of whether you should still nurse – even if your diet isn’t ‘right’.

Jorje of Momma Jorje has enough pressure in her life, she is glad she doesn’t have to worry about what, when and how much food she feeds her son since he is also still nursing.

Angela at EarthMamas World discusses a few of the most common problems that a mama may encounter while breastfeeding. Angela also shares natural remedies for each of these breastfeeding problems!

That Mama Gretchen reflects on the beautiful bond breastfeeding has created as her two children have transitioned from their womb experience to their earth side one.

Julia at A Little Bit of All of It shares ways breastfeeding and breastmilk are unique and special in a way only they can be.

Amy W. at Natural Parents Network shares 5 scientific reasons that mother’s milk is an unequaled form of nutrition and nurture: so awesome, and so unique!

Laura at Authentic Parenting shares solid information on iron intake for the breastfed baby.

Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares the questions (and answers) about breastfeeding she wished she had a friend to answer for her before becoming a mama.

Abbie at Farmer’s Daughter choose to breastfeed her children in part because it’s easier than bottle feeding, not to mention that it is the best nutrition for babies, that it has health benefits for both mother and child, that it encourages bonding, and of course that it’s free! Basically breastmilk is the ultimate convenience food.

KerryAnn at Cooking Traditional Foods shares how the rush to recommend raw milk formula actually harms mothers.

Starlene at GAPS Diet Journey shares her experience with nursing and why she feels it is an important piece of the your baby’s health.

At Living Peacefully with Children, Mandy draws a connection between how formula companies market and how women are treated by society.

Amy at Anktangle outlines a few of the many ways breastfeeding benefits both mom and child—aside from providing excellent nutrition.

Adrienne at Whole New Mom shares Part One and Part Two of 100 Reasons Why Breast Is Best.

Dawn at Cultured Mama shares her personal breastfeeding journey and how she overcame low supply issues and successfully tandemed nursed with only one breast.

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