Is breastfeeding a birthright?

I read a great article in The Boston Globe this week that, I think, really speaks to what so many mothers go through when they make the choice not to breastfeed.  The article was triggered by supermodel Gisele Bundchen's judgmental comment that breastfeeding should be a worldwide law ( she has since said it's not for her to judge).

Bundchen's comments set off a furor on both sides of the debate.  Passions run deep for sure and that's fine, as long as everyone respects others' points of view.  Sadly, that doesn't happen often.  When it does happen, you're more likely to see formula feeding parents more understanding of why people would breastfeed but not vice versa.  One breastfeeding advocate last week charged that "breastfeeding is a birthright."

Let's think about that for a second.  By implication it sends the message that if you don't breastfeed your child you're not giving your baby his/her basic human right.  That's a terribly dangerous message.  What about mothers who can't breastfeed, either for medical reasons or perhaps their milk doesn't come in,  or perhaps their nipples are cracked, or they have an infection and have to be on anti-biotics?  Are they doing "wrong" by their child because they have to use formula?  Or are they providing the most nutritous alternative to breastfeeding?

What about women who have to go back to work and whose workplaces don't support pumping?  Are they being bad moms?  Not all of us have the luxury of not working.  And many moms don't have support systems.  Are they committing the cardinal sin? 

Are all these moms not giving their children their birthright?  I don't think so.

There are myriad reasons why women can't or choose not to breastfeed.  Every one of those reasons is legitimate. 

A child's birthright is to be loved, cared for, fed, and supported.   It's that simple.  For many mothers that means using formula instead of breastfeeding, or doing some of both.  Dr. Sidney Spiesel, a pediatrician with the Yale School of Medicine, argues that a mother's psychological health is as important as a child's nutritional health.  If a mother is in a good place, and not stressed, while feeding her child, the baby will eat better, be happier and do just fine.  That's a child's birthright, not breastmilk.