Comments on: Beware The Scorn of the Dutiful “Breastfeeding Malcontents” http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/beware-the-scorn-of-the-dutiful-breastfeeding-malcontents/ ...Contemplating the Core Elements of a Modern Breastfeeding Lifestyle Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:48:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lily http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/beware-the-scorn-of-the-dutiful-breastfeeding-malcontents/comment-page-1/#comment-225 Lily Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:12:44 +0000 http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/?p=225#comment-225 Hi. With my first born, I felt so alone and discouraged in breastfeeding and offering breast milk. My first born was colicky and slept probably no more than 5 hours per day. When on the breast, she was there for up to an hour or an hour and a half. Then she'd want to nurse a mere hour later, even when she was 4-6 mos old. Family wanted to know exactly how much I was feeding her each time and people even wanted to bottle feed her after I was done breastfeeding, assuming (without any evidence) my body wasn't producing enough to satisfy her. Initially, I thought I would be fortunate to survive 3 months of breastfeeding. Then 6 months. I breastfed my first born for 15 months. And, only then, I stopped because I was in my second trimester of pregnancy with my second child; and I did not desire to tandem nurse. Breastfeeding my second child, by comparison, was and is a breeze. My nipples were sore for quite awhile when she was breastfeeding as a newborn, but that got better with time. She is nearing 22 months, and she still nurses (about twice a day). I want to be extremely careful not to offer any hasty generalizations, but neither one of my children have had any ear infections yet. Though I have no scientific study to back up what I'm about to say, I'm sure my breast milk had a HUGE role to play in protecting my children's ears from infection. And it would seem to be quite a coincidence that when they got sick, they seemed to get over their illnesses much faster (than other children) when I breastfed them more frequently (through the illnesses). So, to the question, "How would you describe your breastfeeding experience?" I would say I've had a super challenging experience and rewarding experiences. I've heard a lot of friends complain about how much of a nuisance breastfeeding was and is because it requires a lot of commitment and changes, but I view breastfeeding as one of the greatest gifts I can give my children early in their lives. Hi. With my first born, I felt so alone and discouraged in breastfeeding and offering breast milk. My first born was colicky and slept probably no more than 5 hours per day. When on the breast, she was there for up to an hour or an hour and a half. Then she’d want to nurse a mere hour later, even when she was 4-6 mos old. Family wanted to know exactly how much I was feeding her each time and people even wanted to bottle feed her after I was done breastfeeding, assuming (without any evidence) my body wasn’t producing enough to satisfy her. Initially, I thought I would be fortunate to survive 3 months of breastfeeding. Then 6 months. I breastfed my first born for 15 months. And, only then, I stopped because I was in my second trimester of pregnancy with my second child; and I did not desire to tandem nurse. Breastfeeding my second child, by comparison, was and is a breeze. My nipples were sore for quite awhile when she was breastfeeding as a newborn, but that got better with time. She is nearing 22 months, and she still nurses (about twice a day). I want to be extremely careful not to offer any hasty generalizations, but neither one of my children have had any ear infections yet. Though I have no scientific study to back up what I’m about to say, I’m sure my breast milk had a HUGE role to play in protecting my children’s ears from infection. And it would seem to be quite a coincidence that when they got sick, they seemed to get over their illnesses much faster (than other children) when I breastfed them more frequently (through the illnesses). So, to the question, “How would you describe your breastfeeding experience?” I would say I’ve had a super challenging experience and rewarding experiences. I’ve heard a lot of friends complain about how much of a nuisance breastfeeding was and is because it requires a lot of commitment and changes, but I view breastfeeding as one of the greatest gifts I can give my children early in their lives.

]]> By: Nilda Quintana http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/beware-the-scorn-of-the-dutiful-breastfeeding-malcontents/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Nilda Quintana Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:01:07 +0000 http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/?p=225#comment-181 My son was born 4 months ago, and my heart was set in breasfeeding since I got pregnant. I informed myself, after hearing so many unsuccesful stories, and was determined to overcome any obstacle. After all, nothing would be more painful than labor anyway. I endured cracked nipples, mastitis, over-production during he first 2 weeks. Now, it's second nature and I absolutely love every minute of it. My son loves it too. Thank God, he has never been sick and he looks very healthy. My son was born 4 months ago, and my heart was set in breasfeeding since I got pregnant. I informed myself, after hearing so many unsuccesful stories, and was determined to overcome any obstacle. After all, nothing would be more painful than labor anyway. I endured cracked nipples, mastitis, over-production during he first 2 weeks. Now, it’s second nature and I absolutely love every minute of it. My son loves it too. Thank God, he has never been sick and he looks very healthy.

]]> By: Anna Hale http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/beware-the-scorn-of-the-dutiful-breastfeeding-malcontents/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Anna Hale Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:14:26 +0000 http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/?p=225#comment-180 I've had a very positive experience feeding both my children. People complain about lack of sleep, but I learnt to feed lying down and slept through a good proportion of my children's night feeds. I never had to worry about not having food for my children if I was out longer than planned. Sadly society does work against breastfeeding, despite all the 'malcontents' say about having breast is best pushed at you, far more influential is having friends and family who don't support you. I've had people tell me they have been accused of being selfish for breastfeeding or feeling that they should at least mix feed because Granny or Daddy can't 'have a proper go' of the child if they don't feed them in the first few months (i.e. before solids), they seem to be confusing children with dolls. Also many people seem to think that your life after having children should be exactly the same as your life before, and if it isn't then there is something wrong. It doesn't matter how you feed your life will change, and just having children can affect your marriage and job, perhaps people need to read the job spec more carefully and decide how (and if) they deal with the change. I’ve had a very positive experience feeding both my children. People complain about lack of sleep, but I learnt to feed lying down and slept through a good proportion of my children’s night feeds. I never had to worry about not having food for my children if I was out longer than planned. Sadly society does work against breastfeeding, despite all the ‘malcontents’ say about having breast is best pushed at you, far more influential is having friends and family who don’t support you. I’ve had people tell me they have been accused of being selfish for breastfeeding or feeling that they should at least mix feed because Granny or Daddy can’t ‘have a proper go’ of the child if they don’t feed them in the first few months (i.e. before solids), they seem to be confusing children with dolls. Also many people seem to think that your life after having children should be exactly the same as your life before, and if it isn’t then there is something wrong. It doesn’t matter how you feed your life will change, and just having children can affect your marriage and job, perhaps people need to read the job spec more carefully and decide how (and if) they deal with the change.

]]> By: Maire Clements RN IBCLC http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/beware-the-scorn-of-the-dutiful-breastfeeding-malcontents/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Maire Clements RN IBCLC Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:34:39 +0000 http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/?p=225#comment-172 @Milly Having read your comment many times I am trying to ascertain whether you read my post and the article which prompted it. Your comment feels full of malcontent. I find your choice of words "fetishization of breastfeeding " "feed the munchkin exclusively boobtastically" and "take your haughtiness out “educating” the frazzled barista at starbucks" quite intriguing. I am left wondering where you fall in the continuum. Are you a modesty bib buying consumer or a frazzled barista? What was/is your experience of breastfeeding? Sadly, the choice to breastfeed does seem to be increasingly correlated with education and social status in the Western world. It is ironic that it is now perceived by you and others as an upper middle-class choice. Not long ago, that was the view of formula feeding by immigrants to our Western shores. In the interest of feminist solidarity, we need to create a positive and supportive breastfeeding culture that supports all mothers and truly fits into a modern lifestyle. @Milly Having read your comment many times I am trying to ascertain whether you read my post and the article which prompted it.

Your comment feels full of malcontent. I find your choice of words “fetishization of breastfeeding ” “feed the munchkin exclusively boobtastically” and “take your haughtiness out “educating” the frazzled barista at starbucks” quite intriguing.

I am left wondering where you fall in the continuum. Are you a modesty bib buying consumer or a frazzled barista? What was/is your experience of breastfeeding?

Sadly, the choice to breastfeed does seem to be increasingly correlated with education and social status in the Western world. It is ironic that it is now perceived by you and others as an upper middle-class choice. Not long ago, that was the view of formula feeding by immigrants to our Western shores.

In the interest of feminist solidarity, we need to create a positive and supportive breastfeeding culture that supports all mothers and truly fits into a modern lifestyle.

]]> By: milly http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/beware-the-scorn-of-the-dutiful-breastfeeding-malcontents/comment-page-1/#comment-167 milly Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:22:49 +0000 http://consciousbreastfeedingconnections.com/?p=225#comment-167 I think the disgruntled types are in part reacting to the fetishization of breastfeeding by folks who think it is their duty to prescribe what is best for mom and baby. I think these folks are the same ones who came up with those 65 dollar 'modesty' bibs—as if to say "I'm not doing this because it is free, oh heaven's no! I could afford formula if I needed to!" This stuff is not rocket science! Chicks have been doing it for 1000s of years! (And so have wet nurses...) But a lot of women have way too much of their identities invested in their ability to somehow 'perfect' modern motherhood. And, increasingly, breastfeeding is becoming a huge class issue. If you can stay home for 6 months and feed the munchkin exclusively boobtastically, that is superdeluxe. But don't take your haughtiness out "educating" the frazzled barista at starbucks who gave up trying to express expressly on her 15 minute lunchbreak in the bathroom when she gives up in disgust and grabs the formula. A little more feminist solidarity about the difficulty of squeezing expressing in at work would be nice, you know? not everyone has upper middle-class choices. I think the disgruntled types are in part reacting to the fetishization of breastfeeding by folks who think it is their duty to prescribe what is best for mom and baby. I think these folks are the same ones who came up with those 65 dollar ‘modesty’ bibs—as if to say “I’m not doing this because it is free, oh heaven’s no! I could afford formula if I needed to!” This stuff is not rocket science! Chicks have been doing it for 1000s of years! (And so have wet nurses…) But a lot of women have way too much of their identities invested in their ability to somehow ‘perfect’ modern motherhood. And, increasingly, breastfeeding is becoming a huge class issue. If you can stay home for 6 months and feed the munchkin exclusively boobtastically, that is superdeluxe. But don’t take your haughtiness out “educating” the frazzled barista at starbucks who gave up trying to express expressly on her 15 minute lunchbreak in the bathroom when she gives up in disgust and grabs the formula. A little more feminist solidarity about the difficulty of squeezing expressing in at work would be nice, you know? not everyone has upper middle-class choices.

]]>