It’s only natural

The fantasies and fallacies of breastfeeding

Featured in

  • Published 20240507
  • ISBN: 978-1-922212-95-5
  • Extent: 203pp
  • Paperback, ePub, PDF, Kindle compatible

Breastfeeding is an integral part of the reproductive process, the natural and ideal way of feeding the infant and a unique biological and emotional basis for child development.
– Joint WHO/UNICEF Meeting on Infant and Young Child Feeding, 1979

Mothers and babies form an inseparable biological and social unit. The close physical relationship between a breastfeeding baby and the mother contributes to the formation of close emotional ties.
– Australian Breastfeeding Association, Position Statement on Breastfeeding

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

If you are an educator or student wishing to access content for study purposes please contact us at griffithreview@griffith.edu.au

Share article

About the author

Clare Monagle

Clare Monagle is a professor in the Department of History and Archaeology at Macquarie University. 

More from this edition

Seized by a ceaseless meanwhile

Non-fictionOwing to its prominent location and spectacular collapse, Álvaro Obregón 286 featured prominently in media coverage of the earthquake rescue. But residents told me they always suspected something was afoot. Within twenty-­four hours of the disaster, rescuers from Israel and Spain arrived onsite. Both teams quickly recovered documents and computers and rescued only specific people, while others in the rubble still cried out for help.

Everything you could possibly imagine

FictionJoseph was one of the only patients I’d truly enjoyed interacting with, which for the weeks since his arrival had helped me cope with the ward’s sense of monotony. His beard was like a cartoon lumberjack’s, descending into a fine point and thick enough to hold objects if they were stuck into it – which, of course, we’d tried. His eyebrows erupted like old-­growth forest across his forehead, almost demanding to be touched – which, of course, I hadn’t.

For my ex (an unforgiving poem)

Poetry Trust me when I wished you an eventful summer by which I meant processing yourself like a tardy  Microsoft update You will have my blessing. Trust me  about...

Stay up to date with the latest, news, articles and special offers from Griffith Review.