Breast Feeding email war.

So I contemplated not posting this because I know what a heated debate breast feeding can be, but then I realized, it's my blog why not?!?

I got into to an internet war with a stranger. Yes, it's stupid, it's pointless and it's pathetic. Shouldn't I be doing more productive things with my time than arguing with a computer screen? I was having a particularly hard day that day and had finally convinced my kids to take a nap so I got a break. I went to open my email and there I found one of the e-newsletters I get for the Miami Mom's. In this e-news letter, another mom had posted a question. Here was the question.

"I'm trying to wean my breast fed daughter (13 months old) to whole milk and it's not going very well. She won't drink the cow milk no matter what I do. Any tips on how to get her to drink?"

I replied with a few tips, such as warming the milk at first, teaching her how to drink out of a straw and if all else fails, don't worry about it and just give her other dairy such as yogurt and cheese.

After my reply a very haughty woman named "kmdc03" replied after me.

kmdc03: "Yikes- you want to switch her from wonderful nutrient dense, enzyme filled, immune system boosting mother's milk, that has small molecules that are easy to digest- and give her cow's milk that has a molecule 20xs the size of mother's milk, and has been heated so there are no useful enzymes and homogenized so that it is extremely difficult to digest, and probably the number one cause of allergies and mucous producing digusting slim- and then you wonder why she doesn't want to drink it? It's not too hard to figure out!!!
Stop being selfish- her body's innate intelligence is telling her NO
And you're not listening to her.
See Weston Price Foundation for correct data. Not the fake information out there."

Being utterly annoyed by this woman now, I sent her a private message that said the following:

Me: a bit harsh don't you think? She's obviously made her decision and was asking for help on getting her daughter to drink cows milk, she wasn't asking for a lecture on long-term breast feeding.

Below you can watch the drama unfold for yourself.

kmdc03: information is help- how can one make an informed decision w/o data?
making sure all children have the best nutrition is a job for all of us, and with the junk that is being sold for "food" it is best if each and everyone of us help.
Making an informed decision reguires having the information to do so. That is what she was asking for.

Me: This lady has made her informed decision and it is her decision to make. She doesn't need women like you out there questioning her moves. Her daughter doesn't need you to save her from horrible cows milk, nor does the mom need your criticism.

kmdc03: I see from your profile you are a doctor. I'm shocked that someone with your training isn't more supportive of breast feeding. The Weston Price Foundation believes children should be breast fed until they chose not to be and it is based on scientific data.

Me: I see from your profile you have a 4 year old son. Let me take a wild guess. You still breast feed him.

kmdc03: I can proudly say I do.

Me: Well, I can proudly say you're a nut. If you read my profile more carefully you would see that I am a cancer biologist. So, unless you think pediatricians and cancer biologists have the same skill set, I can not advocate long-term breast feeding. Even a cancer cell knows it has to leave the primary tumor mass at some point in time and stop suckling blood from it and go find it's own source. You should take note.

kmdc03: Name calling? Modern parenting is responsible for almost all food allergies, obesity, and the decline of our society. What you stand for is not only tearing apart families, but our nation as a whole. My son's body tells him he needs breast milk and I am there to provide it, that is what a mother does for her children.

Me: His body also tells him he want's a hershey bar and cheetos. Do you pop those out too? Are you a one-stop mom grocery shop?

kmdc03: Now you're being ridiculous. I provide his body with nourishment that can not be replicated by animal milk.

Me: Humans are animals.

kmdc03: Of course they are and being animals we nurture our young.

Me: Hamsters eat their young.

kmdc03: I'm not replying anymore and I'm tempted to report you.

Me: By all means do, and I'll report you.

kmdc03: FOR WHAT?

Me: Being stupid.

Well, that was the end of my conversation with kmdc03. Who knows if she will report me or not, but I promise my heart will not be broken if I'm kicked off of the Miami Mom's e-newsletter. I do want to make it clear that I am extremely pro-breast feeding, but I'm anti-stupid. This woman just got under my skin because she was so rude to the first (normal) mom who was basically asking for some sip-cup advice. I'm sure there are all sorts of reasons people can go into on why breast feeding after 1 year of age is all fantastic and stuff but to me, it's just weird. When a child is walking and talking, or can undo the buttons on your shirt themselves, I think it's creepy. Sometimes I think you just have to let go and let your child grow up.