Breast, bottle, beatings, bruisings….

The ‘breast is best’ versus ‘free to bottle feed’ debate is in full swing yet again. Yawn.  Here’s the guts – breast is best but formula is a viable alternative. If the stars align for mother and baby then of course breast is best. Let’s not waste our time arguing the point – all the scientific evidence says breast is best. But it’s not just about science. The reality is for some women breast feeding does not come naturally, it can be terribly stressful and can be excruciatingly painful.  Those first few weeks and months after the birth of a baby have moments of extreme stress, despair and the constant worry that you are doing the right thing for the most precious being in your universe.  In my mind, if the quest for breast is failing and causing yet more angst to a family then opting for formula is a choice you make for the sake of your family. 

But what really got my goat is the last week has seen some serious column inches devoted to what I see as a non-debate – what a waste of energy. We have children who are being beaten, dying at the hands of their parents. We also have kids who are failing at school, are constantly sick and history tells us are destined for a life on the dole or a life a crime.  Let’s expend more energy on these issues – they are black and white. This is not acceptable. This is not my New Zealand. This cannot keep happening to our country’s most vulnerable.  Whether these kids were breast or formula fed won’t make a jot of difference in the face of violence, in the face of poverty, malnutrition, neglect.  I can see why the media followed the breast feeding issue – what a formula (excuse the pun) – an All Black at the centre of what has been a female focused issue – gold. But really people, this one gets a regular airing and there is not much new to add. This country has a big problem in the way we fundamentally care for our young – let’s expend any energy we have on this one. We can’t afford to fail.

Disclosure – the writer breast fed her daughter for nine months.