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I Don't Want to Wean!
What Does Extended Nursing Really Mean?
By Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC
A Cultural Perspective
In the United States, we are all American but we are not all the same. Each mother brings with her into motherhood her own cultural beliefs and plans. Many of us are affected by the opinions of our spouses, our mothers and our friends. We are also affected by advertising. From early pregnancy, mothers are bombarded by "friendly" formula companies who send free coupons and samples to expectant and new mothers. When signing up for baby clubs, mothers who are planning to breastfeed are placed on the target list of infant formula companies. Carefully mailed formula encouragers arrive before Baby's birth, in the take-home bag from the hospital and again when the baby is around 6 weeks old. A multi-million dollar industry with a tremendous advertising budget would like to recruit you and your baby to buy their product! Why do you think one of the formula companies gives out a booklet about breastfeeding in the first two months? By the way, each time a formula company sends advertising and gifts to mothers, this compny is in violation of the International Code of Marketing of Infant Formula, which the United States has voluntarily agreed to withhold.
A Medical Perspective
