In a powerful episode of Doctors & Scientists on Kids’ Health TV, host Brian Hooker, Ph.D., brings together two experts, Romy Karz Rapoport and Jessica Ailes, to discuss the often underappreciated but amazing benefits of breastfeeding.1
Rapoport and Ailes, advocates for maternal and infant health, share insight into the inner wisdom of our bodies and parenting practices that honor nature’s design.
This section explains how breastfeeding is not only a feeding option but also a support system for mother and child. Unfortunately, our formulaic culture, driven by industrial marketing, has devalued this ancient practice.
Why breastfeeding is important – more than nutrition
Breastfeeding is more than nutrition. Rapoport and Ailes emphasize that breast milk provides a comprehensive support system for infants, which cannot be replicated. Rapoport explains that breastfeeding is not a supplement like taking vitamins. It is the baseline, the natural norm.
Unlike formula, breast milk provides a unique set of antibodies, immune factors, hormones, and stem cells that are tailored to your baby’s needs. It is flexible, adjusting its formula in response to cues from the baby’s saliva and feeding frequency.
Breastfed babies have better immune responses, less chance of respiratory infections and better cognitive development. Research shows that breastfed babies often score higher on IQ tests, and Rapoport adds, “Breastfed babies have improved mental and cognitive development, which makes them thrive.”2
In addition, breastfeeding mothers also benefit, with a lower risk of postpartum depression, premenopausal cancer, osteoporosis, and other diseases. Breastfeeding is also important for bonding between mother and child. Rapoport described it as “a special dance.”3 Where the mother and baby’s bodies interact through hormones and physical contact.
This bond not only helps to control the child’s emotions, but also promotes a sense of security, which has lasting psychological benefits. In addition to simple nutrition, breastfeeding provides a deep emotional and physiological connection.
Formula industry spin – marketing formula as standard
One of the main challenges to breastfeeding is the powerful influence of the formula industry. Over the past few decades, formula has become so ingrained in the public consciousness that it is often considered equal to, if not superior to, breast milk. This change is largely due to strategic marketing. Islands explained, this is not a conspiracy theory; It’s simply business. The formula industry is in direct competition with every woman’s milk-producing breasts.4
The tactics of the industry are more than advertising. Formula companies Medical institutions, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, oppose pro-breastfeeding policies such as maternity leave. Hospitals distribute free samples of formula, making sure that it is not only safe, but also accepted by the medical community.
Ailes emphasizes that the formula industry has created a cultural equation between formula and breast milk, and that normalizing it undermines breastfeeding.5 The formula industry also feeds into our society’s obsession with convenience. It is said that formula that interrupts the breastfeeding cycle gives mothers more independence and allows babies to sleep through the night.
Isles know that sleep training is a big industry and formula companies promote it knowing it can harm breastfeeding.6 This makes mothers less likely to try breastfeeding and think that formula is a more viable option.
Oxytocin and the biology of lactation
Breastfeeding fits perfectly with our biological design. At the heart of this connection is oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone”, which plays an important role in bonding, childbirth and breastfeeding. This hormone causes milk to decrease and a deep connection between mother and child.
Oxytocin also supports maternal health by reducing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. In addition, women who breastfeed have a lower risk of premenopausal cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis, and babies benefit from breast milk’s immune-boosting and brain-development properties. In the classroom, breastfeeding is said to be a natural way to support the mental and physical health of mother and child.
The emotional benefits of oxytocin extend to the baby, helping them regulate their emotions and develop a sense of security. Breastfed babies often experience less stress and cry less, which strengthens the mother-child bond.
Modern birth practices create barriers to breastfeeding
The show also pointed out how current medical practices interfere with breastfeeding. Many interventions during labor and delivery—such as IV fluids, epidurals, and labor—can affect breastfeeding success. When childbirth is over-medicated, it disrupts the natural flow of hormones that facilitate breastfeeding.
Formula samples given in hospitals further complicate matters. Many mothers receive formula samples and weight charts that show babies growing faster than breastfed babies. Isles says a breastfeeding mother may feel pressured to increase milk if her baby appears underweight compared to these charts. But those charts don’t take into account the natural growth patterns of breastfed babies.7
Another issue is how to treat the early weight of newborn babies by breastfeeding. Ailes explains that weight loss of up to 10% in the first week is common for breastfed babies as they adjust to feedings.
But some health care providers are too quick to recommend extra food if the baby loses weight, creating unnecessary alarm. As a result, many new mothers believe that something is wrong when there is no, which causes them to fill with formula, which disrupts breastfeeding.
Reestablish breastfeeding as normal
Rapoport and Ailes emphasize the importance of establishing breastfeeding as a natural nutritional requirement for children, stating that we must view breastfeeding as the foundation of human health. Our current culture, influenced by formula marketing, often views breastfeeding as a lifestyle choice rather than a biological norm.
To challenge this narrative, Ailes and Rapoport argue for greater community support. Organizations such as La Leche League, an international network of free, peer-led breastfeeding support, play an important role. Lactation counselors and doulas are also an invaluable resource, offering guidance and reassurance during the first few weeks of breastfeeding.
Expectations must also change. Rapoport advises that new mothers face challenges during the first four to six weeks of breastfeeding.8 Breastfeeding can take time to establish, and it’s normal for both mother and baby to need an adjustment period.
Addressing cultural stigma around extended breastfeeding
Another barrier to successful breastfeeding is the cultural stigma surrounding breastfeeding. In cultures where artificial breastfeeding is not practiced, the natural breastfeeding age can range from 2.5 to 7 years. However, in the western world, mothers feel pressured to stop breastfeeding when their child is 1 year old.
In addition, societal expectations undermine breastfeeding, often deeming it inconvenient or unnecessary after the child reaches a certain age. Women who breastfeed for more than a year are often seen as “weird” or overly clingy, Ailes explained.9 However, extended breastfeeding offers many benefits, especially by boosting the child’s immune system, supporting brain development and increasing emotional resilience.
Formula companies fuel this cultural stigma by marketing formula as the norm and promoting the idea that extended breastfeeding is unnecessary or excessive. If more women learn about the benefits of extended breastfeeding, they may feel more empowered to continue.
Practical measures to support breastfeeding mothers
Ailes and Rapoport shared several practical solutions for fostering a breastfeeding-friendly culture. From policy changes to increased community support, these steps can make a meaningful difference:
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Policy changes – Paid maternity leave and financial incentives for breastfeeding give mothers the time and resources to breastfeed without economic hardship. |
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Medical Training- The show emphasized the importance of breastfeeding education in medical schools, explaining that doctors and nurses need a foundation to support, not support, mothers during this stressful time of breastfeeding. |
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Cultural Representation – Normalizing breastfeeding in public spaces, workplaces and media can help break down societal barriers and portray breastfeeding as an acceptable and normal part of life. |
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Financial Assistance – Formula companies know that economic pressures against paid maternity leave force many women to stop breastfeeding earlier than they would like. |
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Encouraging partners and families – Support from family, especially fathers, greatly increases breastfeeding success. Educating the whole family about breastfeeding can make a meaningful difference. |
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Changing expectations – Rapoport and Isles focus on setting realistic expectations, especially in the early weeks of breastfeeding. In addition to waiting for tests for a few weeks, women should get support if they need it. |
Embrace the natural abilities of the female body
Ailes and Rapoport explain that supporting breastfeeding is essential to what Ailes calls “biological feminism.”10 This concept celebrates women’s natural abilities and celebrates the amazing biology of breastfeeding. By embracing biological feminism, society can promote healthy relationships between mothers and children, support women’s health, and even improve public health.
Breastfeeding is, in many ways, a powerful feminine act. It emphasizes that women’s bodies are capable, not just equal to men’s, but unique in ways that deserve special respect and support. “Celebrating the miracle of the female body brings us closer to humanity and helps us all flourish,” Ailes says.11
Breastfeeding Unfortunately, our culture views it as an option or a burden. Through education, advocacy and policy reform, we can reclaim breastfeeding as the norm and recognize it as an important part of health and well-being. Isles’ and Rapoport’s insights highlight that women’s bodies are unique and in ways that deserve to be respected and supported.
As Ailes put it, “We are so strong. We can rule the world. Women are amazing, but we can’t breastfeed … we shouldn’t even try … These are the messages that are conveyed in the media.”12 This section challenges the forces that have shaped modern motherhood and calls for a return to natural health practices that honor mother and child.
However, I understand that not all mothers can breastfeed. If you haven’t breastfed in the first place, or if you’ve stopped for weeks or months, you may find it difficult to return to breastfeeding because you won’t be able to resume breastfeeding as often as you’d like. In this case, using formula milk may be the only choice. But instead of buying baby formula sold for sale, I recommend making it yourself Baby formula using this recipe.
It’s time to recognize breastfeeding for what it is: a cornerstone of infant and maternal health. Let’s support and celebrate this relationship by making breastfeeding a recognized and valued choice for families.
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