Apparently in order to prevent climate change, women need to breastfeed. Or at least that's what a recently article in the BMJ claims.
The abstract from the article reads: 'Conversations around the complex subject of infant feeding have invariably focused on health outcomes, but recent studies have highlighted the environmental cost of decades of disinvestment in services to support breastfeeding. Breastfeeding uses few resources and produces minimal or zero waste. The associated infant and maternal health outcomes produce healthier populations that use fewer healthcare resources. The production of unnecessary infant and toddler formulas exacerbates environmental damage and should be a matter of increasing global concern.'
Much like the suggestion that women need to stop using disposable menstrual products to save the world, pushing breastfeeding as an answer to saving the world misses the point. Yes, if you can make a greener choice that's great. But many women can't. Mooncups, period proof pants and recyclable pads don't work for everyone, and neither does breastfeeding.
When breastfeeding works it's brilliant, but it's not for everyone. There are a litany of reasons why a woman might not breastfeed. For some it's too painful, for others it precludes an early return to work or an ability to go out on your own. It could be that a woman tries and tries to feed and cannot manage it, or it might be that she just doesn't like the idea.
Saving the world is important, we all know that. But asking women to save it with their bodies isn't right or fair,especially while large scale political and institutional change is still so slow. While governments are reticent to sign off on anything which might inconvenience them, there is no sense in heaping extra mum guilt on women who find breastfeeding unappealing or impossible.
Breastfeeding is a hugely emotionally loaded issue. Most online discussions about it descend into chaos within a few comments. Women feel judged for doing it, not doing it, doing it for too long or not doing it for long enough. And now there's something else to feel bad about - the environmental impact of not breastfeeding.
The article in the BMJ calls for increased support for women who wish to breastfeed, which we can all agree is a brilliant and essential measure. But we have to increase the support without increasing the guilt, pressure and expectation.
Disposable nappies, tampons, pads, condoms and wet wipes are all bad for the planet. But they're good for our lives. Until they're made greener by those who produce them, we will continue to consume them even if they do clog up the ocean, because it's hard to find another choice. If you can rely on cloth nappies, mooncups, the rhythm method and a damp cloth then you're doing an amazing job. But it's also okay if you can't.
READ MORE: Breastfeeding shaming is wrong - but so is shaming women who choose not to.