WARNING: This is a RANT!!!!!!!
Head on over to Radical Midwife's blog to read this article about breastfeeding. I couldn't have said it any better. I would have LOVED to have thought about this when I was nursing Turkey in K-Mart when she was about 4 months old and this lady actually had the nerve to tell me that it was disgusting and dirty. I wasn't even being obvious about it. NOTING exposed but she still didn't appreciate it. I did tell her that I absolutely WOULD NOT nurse in the bathroom and she wouldn't eat in the bathroom so why should my baby? I also told her if she didn't like it she didn't have to look. Its not illegal to nurse in public, I wasn't breaking the law. She didn't like that much but I continued until Turkey was satisfied. I hate that society sees nursing as dirty or obscene. It just blows my mind that there are so many people out there that don't even consider it because they "can't stand the thought of having a baby sucking on those." (Yes, I actually heard someone say this just the other day and another friend of mine said the same thing) Excuse me...aren't that what they are there for? Isn't that their purpose? Last time I checked they weren't just an object for men to look at. URGH!!!
Sorry, I am a tad bit passionate about this topic. It unnerves me that people actually put everyone else above their child knowing breastfeeding is better. Why would anyone choose to supplement with something that is not natural and is far less superior that breast milk? It's designed to be the perfect food for babies. You choose what goes into it by choosing what you comsume. Not to mention the cost and convenience of it. Oh yeah I forgot, most of these people don't believe in co-sleeping either. They believe their newborn baby should sleep in a bed in another room all by themself. Thats a totally different topic in and of itself though. But they want their baby's dad to be able to feed them. I guess there isn't any other for the dad to bond with baby. They can't possibly feed them pumped breast milk, change a diaper, dress them, hold and cuddle them, play with them etc. Nope it has to be formula from god knows what country that could be contaminated with god knows what. Come on people. Open your minds and think for yourself. Stop conforming and start thinking for yourself. Do your own research and don't just do what someone tells you to do.
It also burns me that women are forced formula in the hospital. I didn't choose to birth in a hospital but the circumstances required that I do so. I was very adamant about breastfeeding and not having anything to do with formula yet they still sent it home with me in the so called "breastfeeding gift pack". America is setting women up to fail in this aspect. There isn't enough education or support for those who choose to breastfeed. It seems that more and more women aren't even trying because they don't see it as a viable option. It is very sad.
I am proud to say that I breastfed Turkey for 20 or so months. She was in the 'special care' nursery for 2 days before she could nurse. I pumped until she could and WOULD NOT allow myself to fail.
This post isn't in any way for those who really can't for some reason breastfeed their child. It is directed to those that are perfectly capable but that choose to put everyone and everything above their children.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
You already know my thoughts on this. especially since you lent me the pump! :0)
OH! The "breastfeeding" gift pack! I was just fuming over this last night. I home birthed, but our breastfeeding gift pack came from the first pediatrician that we interviewed. (duh. Didn't choose that one.) It came with a thermal storage bag (at least that part was useful), DHA supplement samples (as if my breast milk isn't already perfect for my baby), huge formula coupons and 8 formula packs. I was so pissed. I gave it away on freecycle (except the thermal bag. That is now my makeup case;-).)
We were having the "Would you eat your dinner in a bathroom discussion at church this afternoon with a few young single childless guys who didn't understand why no one can use the cryroom except nursing moms and parents of crying babies. I am so glad to read your post today. It's good to know there are others out there as passionate as I am about this!
I actually thing more people breastfeed now than my mother's generation. Then it was considered dirty. Now it's more acceptable even though you still have those few stupid people that comment. My kids were breastfed everywhere out in public. At first my husband was like, you are going to do that here?? I would tell him more people are going to be looking if the baby is screaming than if the baby is nursing!
Post a Comment