In late June, the Academy of American Pediatrics changed its breastfeeding recommendations. Instead of suggesting that parents breastfeed for six months exclusively, and then to one year, it recommended parents breastfeed for two years, if desired.
More importantly, the AAP recognized how challenging meeting a two-year goal is for parents who do not have breastfeeding support, family leave, and other policies that are supportive of parents with young kids. It also acknowledged that marginalized folks and low-income families face more roadblocks than others when it comes to successful breastfeeding and equitable support.
Even so, the new policy has seen some backlash, especially from people who note the new policy was released as the country is contending with a reproductive rights crisis as well as a formula shortage. Many people feel that it doesn’t make sense to encourage parents to breastfeed more when they lack the needed support to breastfeed at all, and when parenting is in such economic and societal turmoil.
I understand the critique and I don’t think anyone should be pressured to breastfeed longer than they wish to, or at all. I also completely agree that we need to implement much better policies to support parents on all levels. But I also know from personal and professional experience that this policy change is long overdue.
I’m a mom of two and a lactation consultant
My boys are big now, but when they were little, I breastfed them for a long time — even past the new two-year recommendation. Back then, there was almost no support for this. I remember not being totally honest with doctors about how frequently I was still breastfeeding at 12 months (yes, my first son was still going every one to two hours then!). After 12 months, I even hid the fact that we were “still” nursing at times.
In some ways, I was a proud long-term breastfeeder, but I also didn’t want to cause a scene just by feeding and nurturing my child. While I was pretty comfortable nursing a baby in public (despite being harassed at a restaurant once), when it came to nursing a walking, talking child, I felt pretty closeted. I didn’t know what kinds of stares I’d get, whether I’d get thrown out of an establishment, or whether I’d be belittled or harassed.
So I almost never breastfed in public spaces
As a lactation consultant who also ran a breastfeeding support group, I met many mothers who confessed that they nursed toddlers (and preschoolers too), but that they were totally private about it. Most didn’t tell their doctors, and some didn’t even tell their spouses! Our breastfeeding support meetings were among the only places they felt accepted.
And that wasn't all
Not only did they often actively hide this fact, but they felt shame and judgment about what they were doing. They constantly questioned themselves, and often weaned prematurely, even though both they and their child wanted to continue.
So while I wholeheartedly agree with the AAP that more needs to be done to support parents in meeting their breastfeeding goals, I also applaud this announcement. It means a lot to have a medical authority like the AAP proclaims that breastfeeding to two years (or more!) is not only beneficial to babies and their breastfeeding parents, but is also encouraged and recommended.
To me, this is a huge win when it comes to destigmatizing long-term breastfeeding, assuring parents that long-term breastfeeding isn’t gross or unacceptable, and giving parents the freedom to choose what is right for their families.
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