A recent study "Is Breastfeeding Really Free: The Economic Consequences of Breastfeeding for Mothers" reveals that within a year, mothers who choose to breast feed are more likely to see a dramatic decline in their income, a decline that ten years later they are unlikely to recover from.
SOOO Depressing! Hmm, which to choose: a sick baby or a sick pay check? Reuben comes first. But realistically Reuben depends on me for economic as well as physical well being. Both disadvantages are disadvantages to him.
I'm getting most of this off Slate's XX Factor which I enjoy quite a bit. It'll fill you in on all the juicy details. You can see the study here.
5 comments:
There's no silver bullet I suppose.
This is a subject that interests me a great deal. Recent studies like the one you referenced are bringing attention to the fact that breastfeeding/formula feeding is often an economic choice - incredibly, this fact has largely been ignored by breastfeeding advocates in the past. The La Leche League model declares that breastfeeding is possible for every woman, but it also assumes that every woman will be able to either stay home full time, or work in a place where it's possible to take the time to pump several times a day. This overlooks huge segments of the population. I'm not sure what the solution is, but there has to be some kind of balance found in doing what is best for babies AND what is best for moms and dads.
There is another option. Establish breastfeeding well when your baby is a newborn. As the time comes to go back to work, or be away from your baby more, nurse when you are together and supplement when you must. Even some breastfeeding benefits the infant tremendously, especially if they were exclusively breastfed when a newborn.
Have a baby in Sweden. Mother and father split 18 months paid leave: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7202694.stm
Huh, that's interesting. On the bright side, I read an article this week about a correlation btwn breastfeeding and women's health (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/health/research/22breast.html?ref=research).
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