Another post about breast milk, I know…I guess I just can’t help myself. It’s so fascinating what an emotionally-and-politically-charged topic breastfeeding is for so many people.

Though I tend to think it seems pretty well established that breastfeeding is good for both babies and mothers (not to mention the environment), I do have to take a step back and recognize that that’s what I’ve been taught in school and not something I have personal or professional experience in (yet). Listening to another viewpoint can be healthy, even if you do have every intention of saying, “well that was interesting” and going back to your side of an issue afterwards.

Joan B. Wolf, assistant professor of Women’s Studies at Texas A&M University, was on The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC last week discussing the ways in which she challenges the belief that breastfeeding is medically superior to bottle feeding in her new book, Is Breast Best?: Taking on the Breastfeeding Experts and the New High Stakes of Motherhood.

You can listen to the audio of the segment here.

You also might want to watch this short video from WNYC, in which a nursing mother talks about her experience breastfeeding and the reactions and viewpoints of her family and friends.