Breast-feeding and working are not mutually exclusive. It comes down to the will to make it work and to find a solution that suits both your baby and your employer. Of course, I think it is easier in a town than in a city, and certainly you need reasonable proximity to the child care location.

Dad's make good carers as well. Often there is a different approach or different set of priorities, but that doesnt make it any less effective (I'm a bit biased, I was raised by my dad). There should be more opportunity for men to be carers for their kids - we pay lip-service to it, but in reality its a lot harder to get acceptance.

Breastfeeding is best for babies - it even says so on a formula can! Building better immune systems is a great start - immune systems are boosted by mothers milk and the anti-bodies it contains. If weaned at 1 year or later, baby's immune system has had time to develop itself properly. Breastfeeding is hard and requires a lot of dedication and self-belief (and patience on dad's behalf as well as mum's). There is a big push for it at hospital (to the extent that women that cannot breastfeed well are snubbed to some degree), but little support after that.

As for the industrial revolution pushing women into factories from their homes, I suggest that it took them from the fields (where they generally had their children with them) to the factories (where they could not take their children). Women have always worked outside the home as well as in it, just in varying locations and numbers.

CG,

'There is a big push for it at hospital (to the extent that women that cannot breastfeed well are snubbed to some degree), but little support after that.'

Definately. It is a zealous, blind, ideological, judgemental onslaught against any mother who has trouble breastfeeding by the whole 'support' (ha! what a word) system of breast feeding evangalists, through every midwife/nurse you encounter before and after birth. The doctors, rightly, are just interested in mother and baby being happy and healthy physically and emotionally. Our pediatrician told us of a 7 year longitudinal study that found no significant difference between bottle fed and breast fed babies.

Then after trying their best through tears and blood and infections and hungry babies, the brave mothers who look for help amongst the high and mighty evangilists are basically told, you're not trying hard enough, all mothers should be able to breast feed! (i.e. you're a quitter, a bad mother and less of a women.)

My sample of 14 women from my wife's mothers group is unanimous about this.

Other things they are unanimous about....

1. They'd rather not work until the kids are at school, and those that do wouldn't if they had the money not to.
2. They wouldn't be happy for their husbands to stay home, regardless of breast feeding. (Yet, if you talk to feminists like SJF, it's those nasty chauvinist men enslaving them at home)
3. At least 50% have had a hell of a lot of trouble breast feeding.
4. Those that gave up have had a happier mother and baby ever since.
5. Two of those that didn't have ended up badly depressed, and their kids are still screaming all the time.

Finally, my partner believes, and I'm inclined to agree, that it's a sick psychological need of the mother to breast feed once the baby has teeth.

PartTime,

The time spent cooking has been replaced, in this age, of children as king of the house, with 100% attention and daily activities, with swiming and gymbaroo (don't ask!) for 2 month old babies.

Several Re:'s
Re Usual Suspect:
"The time spent cooking has been replaced, in this age, of children as king of the house, with 100% attention and daily activities, with swiming and gymbaroo (don't ask!) for 2 month old babies."

That's true, Usual. Again you are right on the mark... But is that good to produce little emperors and princesses?

I have 2 kids; a baby and 4.5 year old, so I know both work, and life. I'm a lucky man!

I know all about Gymberoo. It's fun for the kids and the parent. It's not 'work' WOuld you rather be facing a day of office-drag and office politics? or a bit of shopping, playing, gymeroo and so on? Sure, it's 'child-care' but it is enjoyable!

SJF:
I do know about juggling work-life with two kids. I choose to work a 4-day week, and have never had such a pleasant life! Even now with 2month-old-from-hell, it beats working!

The proportion of women working full-time has not changed in 40 years! (ABS citation below) Yes, more women are working part-time, But that isn't a capitalist conspiracy, it's a result of CHOICE!

The proportion of women working FULL-TIME in 1978 was 29.1%, and by 30.9% by 2005!
A massive increase of 1.8% in 27 years! I am woman watch me roar!
Australian Bureau of Statistics 6202.0.55.001 Labour Force, Australia, Spreadsheets : Table 01. Labour force status by Sex - Trend
PartTimeParent@pobox.com

Due to medical reasons my wife could not breast feed. The result was distain on the part of mid wife and envy from the other mothers when my wife slept in and I fed the children.

Both my kids are strong smart and seldom ill, so I am not sold on the overwhelming benefit of breast feeding.

Midwives feel strongly about breastfeeding because the evidence shows that it is best for babies and mothers, and because they take on the responsibility for countering all the negative stereotypes and misinformation out there about breastfeeding.

For example, the view that it is a sick psychological need of the mother to breast feed once the baby has teeth: this is not backed up by generations of babies being breastfeed to full-term all around the world nor any evidence, and suggests someone that perhaps needs some professional psychological help themselves.

Usual Suspect, there is absolutely NO link between breastfeeding and post-natal depression. There is a connection between new mothers feeling unsupported and depression, and this is surely the issue. This is about support from professionals such as midwives, but more importantly support from partners, families and friends.

The ten women in my mother's group all breastfed and when one of us had problems, was supported by everyone else to make the choices that were best for them and their baby. Three of us are still breastfeeding our 2 year olds. All of us except for one are back at work, a combination of full and part time, and though some of us may not be if we didn't have to for money, pretty much everyone I know wouldn't be at work if they didn't have to! For 4 of us, our husbands/partners share the care part time.

The broad generalisations about what women and men want just don't apply to a lot of people and really aren't that helpful in working towards everyone having a better work/life balance

ruthm,

'Usual Suspect, there is absolutely NO link between breastfeeding and post-natal depression.'

I never suggested there was. What I am saying is that mothers struggling with breastfeeding, in the breastfeeding evangilist environment that is mid-wifery, with a constantly hungry screaming baby, being told to 'tough it out', with all the judgement from the breast feeding brigade have ended up in a world of screaming, hungry unhappy baby, guilt, sleep deprived themselves for such a long period, leading to a state of depression.

Mothers who have luckily had the mindset to reject the blind single-mindedness of these do-gooders, are happy enjoying their babies, and the babies are happy and healthy.

I'm inclined to believe our paediatrican and the studies he quoted rather than midwifes and hippies about the benefits of breastfeeding. Sure, if it's all working well, why not. It's natural and free and often more convenient. What I am against is the guilt trip of 'this is best for your baby', 'every mother has enough milk, you just musn't be doing it right, here see this $300 an hour consultant' attitude.

'more importantly support from partners, families and friends'
Yes. The kind of support needed to reject the industry of guilt trips mentioned above to instead just do what's best for the mother and baby.

'The broad generalisations about what women and men want '
I merely put forward the opinions of women I have asked, that show a rejection of the broad feminist generalisation that women are coerced in some way into being the primary carer.

With regards to your breastfeeding, I make no judgement, and I am sorry to have offended you. My partner just feels that some mothers continue feeding for a long time due to their own wants rather than the child. I mean, there has to be some cutoff where it's not healthy? Maybe you think that's 3 years old, but I'm sure even you would think it a bit troublesome to have a 6 year old feeding? If not, how about a 12 year old?