1. Breastfeeding in public is all about modesty
No it’s not. If it was about modesty people opposed to breastfeeding in public would be going up to every woman in a low cut top and telling her that she was offending them.
2. When they are old enough to ask for it they are too old.
Um. No. Arbitrary. Some kids speak before they are 1, others not until they are 3. A baby communicates their wants and needs with smiles and coos and crying. Why should those wants and needs be ignored when they can say a few words.
3. When they have teeth they are too old for it.
Some babies are born with teeth. Or get them really early. Some don’t get any until they are a year old. Again arbitrary and stupid.
4. Once they can eat solid food/drumstick they are too old for it.
Turns out that breastmilk contains things that food doesn’t. Plus it’s comforting. Yes, even more comforting than a drumstick.
5. When I have children I won’t do that.
You really can’t know what you will or won’t do.
6. It should be a private thing
The basic premise of house arrest is tempting but I think I’ll continue to live my life
7. Breastfeeding is just another way of oppressing women
Or not. Do what you want to do. But if anything being able to breastfeed is something that I am really proud of and that I really enjoyed.
8. There is no physiological need for breastmilk past a certain age. It’s just comfort.
I’m not sure about the truth of this statement but I really don’t get what the big deal is about comfort anyway. Children need alot of comfort. So do adults. I’m not suggesting that adults breastfeed but I don’t see the big issue with children continuing to breastfeed for comfort over physical needs.
9. If they are walking they are too old for it.
Again arbitrary. One thing has nothing to do with the other. It seems to me we are getting into a blatant fumbling around in the dark for any milestone indicative of age as a reason that we shouldn’t be breastfeeding.
10. Breastfeeding mothers should stop making formula feeding mothers feel guilty.
I’m allowed to be proud of breastfeeding and allowed to advocate the many benefits. I’m talking about me. Talking about my choices is not a judgement on anyone else’s choices. I’m not making anyone feel guilty.
Stop writing posts that I have to RT and flog on FB
You know I am with on every single point in this post x
Bwahahahahahahahaha you are powerless against the rant.
Love this post!You’ve hit the nail on the head.
Xx
Is it wrong that I think of Barney Stinson ‘nailed it!’
I have to say it *is* a trifle disturbing when they pop off after a feed, little trickle of milk coming out of their mouth and say “that’s so yum, mummy”. The Little Kid was about 2 and a bit at that point!
I’ve been on both sides of the fence, and I can say formula feeding mothers make THEMSELVES feel guilty far more than someone who breastfeeds.In the same breath “Formula feeding mothers should stop making breastfeeding mothers feel guilty” Like…just no. It’s not a vaild argument. Shut the fuck up.
Breastfeeding isn’t oppressive. AT ALL. It is liberating that your child is depending on you for this one single thing. Only you can provide. That is LIBERATING.
I show more boobs when I go out than I ever have feeding in public. I see a hell of a lot more boobs not breastfeeding than I see breatfeeding at the shops.
Also there is a pysiological need for it for some children. Greenie has an egg allergy, it makes feeding him really tough sometimes and I’m glad that he was still breastfed for almost a year after finding out his allergy because it gave me time to adjust and look into approriate meals and foods for him. He’s never had a big appetite, always prefering to breastfeed over eating foods, and it’s ok. There is nothing wrong with his speech or jaw muscles or anything. I wish people who were not educating themselves about this would just shut up. You’re teaching people something that is false, and then they go on to teach someone and so on. Unless you know this for a fact then say “In my opinion…” or “I don’t know what the research says but my experience was that…” make it clear that you have no fucking idea but you feel obliged to give your two cents anyway.
That’s such a good point. Riley was a really late eater and still eats like a bird.
Same with Greenie. He’s a grazer, doesn’t like to eat much, whereas Bluey can eat HEAPS in one sitting.At least with Greenie, I never felt worried he wasn’t “getting enough” because when he was breastfed I knew he would get what he needed from that at the very least.
But is that a cultural thing because we aren’t used to it? It’s not that different from Piper slapping my breasts when she’s hungry and giggling up a storm when she’s finished.
Quite possibly. He’s six now, and he still goes for his ‘favourite’ for a bit of a rub when he’s unhappy or feeling a little overwhelmed with a situation.
[...] original post here: 10 Things People Say About Breastfeeding That They Really … Tags: 365-project, amber, life, parenting, photography, photos, rants, social-media February 1st, [...]
YES!I’d never heard the oppressive comment though – I don’t see how in any way that could be possible..
Totally 100% AGREE! Oh how I have gone to write the exact same post sooo many times! I just couldn’t get the wording right!
You are my girl, BRILLIANT!
xxx
I feel like I was more tied down with my daughter who was bottlefed. We could not leave the house without her bottle, water, and formula. Now I just leave with a blanket. At night all I have to do is change the diaper and feed no need to make a bottle at 2 in the morning.
I know I had to do the whole bottle thing yesterday and I felt like I needed the organisation of ten people!
You did an amazing thing going for two years! And I don’t think that’s a judgement on me who only breastfed Riley for 11 months. I think it probably stems from people who don’t feel as confident in their decisions as they could
Thank you!
Thank you lovely! I keep meaning to post that present for Ivy and I keep forgetting! Will send asap.
By these accounts Alexa would’ve been cut off at 6 months or so. At the latest a year. I’m thrilled that we went till almost 2 years. I don’t understand why being proud of an achievement is seen as a judgement towards others that do it differently. I wish we could all just support each other.
Ah, yes. Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. Thanks for sharing.
Nailing it again, my friend. Bravo.