I've often read about how the % of mothers still breastfeeding decreases significantly over the first few months (from ~70% at birth to 36% at 6 months to 18% at one year) [1]. Given that I'm all about "whatever works for mom" when it comes to feeding babies, my interest in this number is not concern for the babies who aren't getting breastmilk after a certain age, but for the many moms who want to continue breastfeeding but find it too difficult once they return to work, due to unsupportive working environments[2].
I just stumbled on this article that claims:
"However one major reason why women stop breastfeeding is low weight gain and growth rate of their baby," Steven L. Bealer of the University of Utah points out.
Riiiiight. Leading to a groundbreaking conclusion of:
"if the efficiency of the oxytocin system can be improved, perhaps it will encourage mothers to lengthen how long they breast feed their children."
Dude... come on. It is SO not the oxytocin system. Go find something useful to study, like the flow rate of ketchup. Come to think of it, bring these guys who think the increasing obesity rates are a result of a virus with you.[3]
[1] For some reason, the idea of the CDC having goals for breastfeeding rates in 2010 amuses me. I think they should have a scorecard, and report on their progress at a monthly status meeting in front of their vice president.
[2] And the fact that breastfeeding while working is a TOTAL PAIN IN THE ASS.
[3] OK I admit the data described in that article seems mildly interesting, but I just have to love our eternal optimism as a society that we can find some magic pill to fix our weight problems that are of course caused by something other than how we eat too much, too often and don't move very much.[4]
[4] And I am fully guilty of all three offenses.
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