I've been wondering about the effect that the financial crisis might have on breastfeeding rates. You would think that the combination of higher unemployment and increased food prices would push people in the direction of breastfeeding.
But, as I've written before, the rate of breastfeeding is actually lower among women who have lower incomes. The free formula provided through the WIC program might have something to do with that, though the program does not cover the full cost of formula.
The amount usually used to calculate the cost of not breastfeeding (aka the cost of formula feeding) is usually around $1,200. But that's a pretty crude estimate. It doesn't take into account the money breastfeeding mothers spend money on things like pumps, books, nursing clothes, nursing pads, pillows and other accessories. And it also doesn't take into account the costs associated with having children who have more health problems, like ear infections, asthma, diabetes, allergies, and even childhood cancer.
So, I turn to you to tell me, in an extraordinarily unscientific poll, how big of a factor money was in your decision to breastfeed.
