Good, bad, and ugly breastfeeding news this week.

There's been a flurry of breastfeeding news this week.  Here's my summary:

THE GOOD: Oprah featured a set of sextuplets, and the mother who breastfed them.  The mother said, "The doctor told me Mother Nature would take care of this all...I was pumping about 50 to 60 bottles a day."  Thanks to reader Cindy for this one!

Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross was interviewed about her new twins and talked about the "huge accomplishment" of nursing them at once.  Jennifer Garner, in an interview in InStyle magazine, said "That surprised me – how much I loved [nursing] and how effortless it has been to pump anywhere in the world."  And Tori Spelling said in an interview, "[Nursing] is hard, but I love it. That's our time together."

Two new studies showed that 1) breastfed children are less likely to be overweight, and that breastfeeding appears to put kids on a "favorable body mass index track;" and 2) breastfeeding protects women from breast cancer even if they give birth after age 25.  This is good news considering that "older" mothers breastfeed at higher rates anyway.

THE BAD: In my home state of Massachusetts, I got word that formula companies are trying to recruit nurses to form a coalition to counter the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition.  Should we be flattered?

The new show, "Notes from the Underbelly" featured an episode called "I wrecked my boobs," in which a woman insists that nursing "devastated" her breasts.  Thanks to Colleen for this one.  By the way, breast changes during pregnancy, and good old gravity over time contribute to sagging, not breastfeeding.

THE UGLY: The mother of a 17 month old twin who was recovering from brain surgery at the Ronald McDonald House in Houston, Texas, was told to nurse in a private room.  When Texas law was brought to the attention of the management, they threatened to make the family leave.  The two sides have reached an agreement which allows the mother to nurse in common areas if she is "discreet."  Much more on this story, and ways to weigh in, at The Reluctant Lactivist.  Here's hoping that pending Texas legislation becomes law.

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Comments

[Stephanie (Adventures in Babywearing)]

I saw that comment on Oprah and applauded!! THEN when I was at a jewelry party that night the women were talking about it, and saying how that woman was crazy for breastfeeding. I of course have to pipe in and say it's crazy NOT TO. You know. Out of the 5 women there I was the only one breastfeeding, and my child is the oldest out of all the kids! Anyway!

Steph

[Tanya Lieberman]

Good for you!

Can you imagine what it's like when several of them are sick at once? I'd do it for that alone, not to mention all the other benefits. Plus, they must have come early, and preterm babies need all the help they can get!

I also love that she was making so much milk. Really shows you what we can do when we need to!

[Heidi]

Yeah, that would be awesome to nurse 6 - goodness! It's truly amazing that her body produced that much milk!!!!!!

[Raenyn]

I am impressed with that doctor. How many nursing mothers have encountered unsupportive doctors that imply that our milk is not nourishing enough for our little ones. How right that doctor was!
I am also inspired. Who am I to complain about having to work and pump when this woman pumped 50-60 bottles a day for her six babies?
I am glad to see so many celebrity mommies nursing their babies.
Cindy

[rValley]

Oh I would love to photograph the woman from Houston for my bf gallery in August! If anyone knows her let her know!!

[EllenRebekah]

I just read the interview of Jennifer Garner. What a wonderful article! I've never read a better celebrity interview. It was awesome to hear a female celebrity, whom I already admire, speak about motherhood in a way that resonates with me. In the same InStyle issue was a photo of Gwen Stephani wearing her son Kingston in a sling.

[Tanya Lieberman]

Yes - I really like her interviews, too. I saw a picture of her last year carrying her Pump in Style around on a set and I knew I was a fan. Here's my favorite recent quote from her about nursing, from an Allure magazine interview:

"All I ever heard was everyone bitch about it - nobody ever said, 'You are not going to believe how emotional this is.' It's like, I'll say I'm going to stop, and then I'm in there, feeding her."