72: “Breast is Best” is the Worst with Mallory Whitmore

If you are a parent or have spent time with expectant and new parents, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “Breast is best.” The phrase is used to promote breastfeeding as a superior way to feed a baby, and it has terrorized many new parents along the way. My guest is Mallory Whitmore, “The Formula Mom,” who is a passionate advocate for formula-feeding parents. Join us for the discussion!  Show Highlights: ●      How and when “breast is best” originated and became a popular slogan ●      The tragic and manipulative history of formula marketing ●      How “Breast is best” has come to symbolize superior parenting choices and not merely nutrition ●      How breastfeeding is often the first failure in parenthood and one that causes extreme mom guilt ●      Mallory’s take on the question: Is breast best? ●      Why most parenting choices are a cost/benefit decision ●      The truth about the data behind “Breast is Best”---and why the research is skewed ●      KC’s personal experience of struggling to breastfeed and switching to formula ●      Why the fundamental issue here is a woman’s bodily autonomy, something most people support in every other circumstance ●      Why the “lacti-vism” movement is wrong in assigning moral superiority to the act of breastfeeding ●      The realities of life around breastfeeding on the job and a lack of empathy ●      Why Mallory’s mission is to support and empower formula moms to combat the shame—not to convince people not to breastfeed   Resources and Links: Connect with Mallory: Instagram, TikTok, and Milk Drunk Connect with KC: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Get KC’s book, How to Keep House While Drowning We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: www.strugglecare.com/promo-codes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices