Ep. 16 - Breastfeeding - The Controversy and the Reality

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg ignited a firestorm of controversy with his recent policy to make breastfeeding support a priority in NYC hospitals that made headlines across the nation.

What could possibly be controversial about breastfeeding?  On this show, we explore breastfeeding, the controversy, and the reality. 

But first, hold on to your hats for some stats to ground us in this conversation: Over 80% of American women have children by the time they’re forty-four years old.  And of those women, 75% start out breastfeeding, but only 13% end up nursing exclusively when their babies are 6 months old as doctors universally recommend. 

That’s a big gap.

This show goes beyond the hyped up tabloid style controversies about breastfeeding, and uncovers the real deal about where this gap is coming from, what can be done to close it, and why it matters in a lively conversation with doctors, moms, and advocates.  

*Special guests include: Dr. Lorraine Boyd, Medical Director for the New York City Health Department’s Bureau of Maternal, Infant & Reproductive Health; Dr. Kathleen Marinelli, the USBC Chair Elect US Breastfeeding Committee; Kimberly Seals Allers, blogger, activist and founder of mochamanual.com; Ashley Foxx, MomsRising Mom; Wendy Fery, Kaiser Permanente.