Dr. Curtis Burke Attwood, who practiced medicine in Newberry, North Carolina, during the late 1700s, wouldn't have believed that we have people today who specialize as breast-feeding consultants. They are certified by their own board, the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. In my grandfather's day practically all women breastfed their babies, but today only 59.7 percent start breast-feeding in the hospital, and by 6 months all but 21.6 percent had given up. Obviously, we're falling far short of this goal. The advantages of breastfeeding are enormous.
Babies have less acute illnesses and allergies.
The bonding between the mother and her baby is enhanced far beyond that between mothers and bottle fed babies. I've always complained to my colleagues that we don't take enough time to explain these procedures and other good health practices to our patients. Usually, this means we don't give them time to ask questions. Let's take breastfeeding for example. It's no wonder we think we're misunderstood.