A Pharmacy professor of Northeastern University, Roger Edwards, chose a topic for his research that not many men would venture into. He was studying the phenomenon of breastfeeding and the health benefits it has. His ignorance was wiped away during the birth of his first child when he saw his wife fighting everyone just to breastfeed her baby. It was a dangerous move, as bottle-feeding is considered the norm.
Edwards, coming from a public health background, was keen on researching this topic. What he found that this ‘fight’ his wife had to endure was the result of the hospital as well as the societal ‘rules’. These rules are so rooted in society that only 15% of the mothers in the whole country are seen to cross that line and breastfeed their children for at least half a year.
If mothers could’ve had their way, their children would’ve benefitted a lot from the health advantages of breastfeeding. They don’t, however, have their way – not here, or in any other area. “Hospital maternity practices fall short,” said Edwards. “Health professionals and hospital don’t necessarily support mothers breastfeeding babies.”
Edwards, from his research, found out that countries other than his didn’t consider breastfeeding as abnormal. They are also kept by their mothers’ side and not immediately shipped off to a nursery. This way, they get to know their babies and understand how to initiate the deceptively simple act of breastfeeding.
Edwards’ research also sheds light on the health benefits of the act. People are running helter-skelter to find cures and establish systems that will help improve health and let us take care of us properly. However, they also have seemed to forget that our bodies come well-equipped with the resistance needed to fight many of the health problems. In fact, breast-feeding provides better protection against diabetes, obesity, and even cancer!
As for why breastfeeding is considered abnormal, Edwards had his own views on it. “A lot of it doesn’t happen because we’re just not comfortable talking about these things. We also want to be careful not to put pressure on mothers to do it. It isn’t their fault. We as a society need to take responsibility.”
Pranjali Wakde