Study: Breast-feeding would save lives, money

[Satori]

Yes, it's the same way with birth control and all the vaccinations, etc.

But at some point people do have to think. And people in general don't care to think. Thus breastfeeding goes in and out of fashion, like hem lengths, as people do what the magazines and the pediatricians and the stupid pushy post-partum nurses tell them to do (no offense, nurses, I'm thinking of my own experience).

[Jacafamala]

Yes, it's the same way with birth control and all the vaccinations, etc.

But at some point people do have to think. And people in general don't care to think. Thus breastfeeding goes in and out of fashion, like hem lengths, as people do what the magazines and the pediatricians and the stupid pushy post-partum nurses tell them to do (no offense, nurses, I'm thinking of my own experience).

Yes, it's true. I was told that I HAD to give my jaundiced baby water. I just said, "yes, yes" and squirted the water from the syringe into a vase of flowers--and pumped like crazy, then gave the baby that in an sns feeder--from the breast...


But now how in the world would a new mother know to do that unless she'd been prepared by other experienced mothers? Do you see what I mean? There are many problems that a  mother can run into and unless she's ready--and has help--the whole breastfeeding experience can be sabotaged rather quickly early on.

[Satori]

Yes, you are right, but isn't the biggest part of the problem that so many of us did not grow up seeing women breastfeed? I want to know when women en masse decided it was a good idea to feed babies formula without a serious reason to do so -- let them shoulder most of the blame.

By the way, lest you misunderstand me, I'm not sitting here thinking vicious, blameful thoughts of women who don't breastfeed, but I do think it's absurd that they escape any responsibility while blame is laid on workplaces.

[Jacafamala]

Yes, you are right, but isn't the biggest part of the problem that so many of us did not grow up seeing women breastfeed? I want to know when women en masse decided it was a good idea to feed babies formula without a serious reason to do so -- let them shoulder most of the blame.

'
The 'science of bottle feeding' became the supposed best way to feed babies around the turn of the last century. Women actually believed it was better, more scientific because the doctor said so.

By the way, lest you misunderstand me, I'm not sitting here thinking vicious, blameful thoughts of women who don't breastfeed,

Oh, I know you're not like that.  You too nice.

but I do think it's absurd that they escape any responsibility while blame is laid on workplaces.

well, workplaces should provide a clean place to pump, at regular intervals...near a sink with a fridge.  I'm all for that. Got me out of jury duty once. They couldn't provide it, so I couldn't go. True.

You can't just say, "Woman should breastfeed." and then say, "but workplaces don't need to be required to provide space for that." It's too inconsistent.

Yes, in a perfect world all mommies would be home nursing their babes while the Daddy provided. But you know it ain't that way.

[Satori]

Yes, you are right, but isn't the biggest part of the problem that so many of us did not grow up seeing women breastfeed? I want to know when women en masse decided it was a good idea to feed babies formula without a serious reason to do so -- let them shoulder most of the blame.

'
The 'science of bottle feeding' became the supposed best way to feed babies around the turn of the last century. Women actually believed it was better, more scientific because the doctor said so.

By the way, lest you misunderstand me, I'm not sitting here thinking vicious, blameful thoughts of women who don't breastfeed,

Oh, I know you're not like that.  You too nice.

but I do think it's absurd that they escape any responsibility while blame is laid on workplaces.

well, workplaces should provide a clean place to pump, at regular intervals... I'm all for that. Got me out of jury duty once. They couldn't provide it, so I couldn't go. True.

I wish all places had a clean, private, pleasant place for women to pump or nurse, oh, I do, but I don't know that I want to lay down the law, do you?

How old was your baby when you got out of jury duty? I nearly got called in last summer, but wasn't sure the breastfeeding excuse would fly since mine was about eighteen months.

[introibo]

You know, strangely enough there's a number of ladies at my church who give their babies bottles. I've wondered about that. I would've thought that traditional women would feed their babies well, traditionally.    But no, I wouldn't want to judge them. I don't know their reasons for not breastfeeding and really I don't want to know. I like them fine otherwise, so I give them the benefit of the doubt.

I think this is a problem of being overly modest, thinking, as stated in so many threads even on this forum, that it is somehow immodest to breastfeed in public, even if done discreetly.  And apparently even some priests have spoken against it from the pulpit?  Duh.

Christina

[Jacafamala]

You know, strangely enough there's a number of ladies at my church who give their babies bottles. I've wondered about that. I would've thought that traditional women would feed their babies well, traditionally.    But no, I wouldn't want to judge them. I don't know their reasons for not breastfeeding and really I don't want to know. I like them fine otherwise, so I give them the benefit of the doubt.

I think this is a problem of being overly modest, thinking, as stated in so many threads even on this forum, that it is somehow immodest to breastfeed in public, even if done discreetly.  And apparently even some priests have spoken against it from the pulpit?  Duh.

Christina

I think you're right, Christina. Women often worry about the possibility of breastfeeding being offensive to men, especially a priest. That can be a big factor in deciding to bottle feed. But if a mother's feeling uncomfortable or like it might not be appropriate to nurse in a certain setting, it's usually fairly easy enough to move into another room and nurse in a quiet spot somewhere else in the church. I'm sure this is what women must have done before the advent of bottles. Wearing the right close also helps. Ponchos and shawls with tee shirts and skirts are great. It's important to sort of gauge each situation in terms of discretion. But I agree that nursing discretely in public isn't immodest.

My church keeps chairs in the ladies rooms so in a pinch, nursing can always be done there.

 

[mom]

Sorry, have never and will never feed my baby in a bathroom. I am not some militant, 'let it all hang out' lactivist but I can't  think of a situation that would ever justify feeding a baby in a bathroom.
As for tradcat women who bottlefeed, ime, it is a combo of over-the-top modesty-I knew a woman whose husband made her breastfeed in a closet so the older children wouldn't see her doing it, breastfeeding difficulties and desire to get predictable cycles back sooner for aid in efficacy of NFP.

[Satori]

Sorry, have never and will never feed my baby in a bathroom. I am not some militant, 'let it all hang out' lactivist but I can't  think of a situation that would ever justify feeding a baby in a bathroom.
As for tradcat women who bottlefeed, ime, it is a combo of over-the-top modesty-I knew a woman whose husband made her breastfeed in a closet so the older children wouldn't see her doing it, breastfeeding difficulties and desire to get predictable cycles back sooner for aid in efficacy of NFP.

Well, I fed mine in the church restroom a few times because there was absolutely NO PLACE to do it privately and my child was one of those who threw off the blanket/nursing cover. The problem here -- the main one -- is that fathers hung out in the cry room.

[mom]

A father in the cry room wouldn't and hasn't stopped me from nursing there and our cry room is about 10 x 6 . Either they will deal with it and not look  if it bugs them so much or will get up and leave.