The Science of Mom by Alice Callahan

Author:Alice Callahan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: 2021-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

ON EVIDENCE, UNCERTAINTY, AND TRUTH ABOUT SCIENCE

After sorting through all this science on the benefits of breastfeeding, I was struck by how messy and full of conflicting results it is. The scientists publishing this research are usually honest about the limitations of their work and careful in their interpretation, but somewhere between these studies and their translations into public health campaigns, this nuance can get lost in simplified “breast is best” messages that smooth over all the wrinkles and rough spots in the data.

The simplification of public health messages is understandable. After all, most of us prefer clear answers over uncertainty, hedging, and lengthy discussions of correlation versus causation. Yet this is real life, and it’s undeniably complicated. I believe we can highlight the value of science while also acknowledging its limitations. Science is our ongoing pursuit to understand the truth of our own biology so that we can make smart choices at an individual and policy level. But part of the scientific process is questioning our assumptions and probing the evidence for weaknesses, and oversimplifying the evidence or exaggerating the benefits of breastfeeding can compromise public trust in science. If we’re told that breastfeeding will solve all the woes of a chronically ill society (along with the message that every mother can breastfeed), then of course those who breastfeed can become judgmental of those who don’t, and of course formula-feeding parents can end up feeling ashamed and defensive. There’s plenty of solid data to support breastfeeding as beneficial. There’s no need to exaggerate this. For many families, breastfeeding is a wonderful choice. For others, it isn’t, and we can move on to talk about how to support all new parents and their babies. Honesty is essential in how we talk about the science and the barriers to breastfeeding; otherwise we unnecessarily increase the heavy burden of meeting the ideals of parenthood.

It’s also worth pointing out that the hypothesized benefits of breastfeeding for long-term health are small in the scheme of things. Breastfeeding is one factor among many that will shape a child, which is why there’s no apparent difference between cousins Cee and Amy Bell in their health or intelligence. If you can’t or don’t want to breastfeed, there are lots of other ways you can support your baby’s brain development and healthy growth. However, such long-term benefits of breastfeeding could be more meaningful at a population level. This is especially true for more disadvantaged groups, such as those living in poverty or affected by systemic racism, who already face disparities in access to healthy food, safe spaces to exercise, and educational opportunities. As these communities are often the same ones who face more barriers to breastfeeding for reasons like lack of support in their workplaces, families and children would surely benefit from greater societal and political support for breastfeeding.

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