I've been out of town and didn't get to respond sooner to Karleen's comments
about social marketing techniques.
> The social marketing model also communicates that a behavior is "fun,
easy,
> and popular."
Karleen wrote: "But that is a lie! Breastfeeding in the developed world is
(for most mums) none of these things! I can't see how telling mums that it
is can help!"
I think "the truth" about breastfeeding depends on your point of view. It is
most definitely not a lie for me to say that I find breastfeeding "fun,
easy, and popular," though I recognize that by staying home with my kids and
living in a progressive city in the state with the highest breastfeeding
rates in the US (Portland, Oregon), I am privileged relative to many women
in the "developed" world. As feeding methods go, I and many other moms I
know believe that breastfeeding is much more fun than pumping and bottle
feeding my own milk, bottle feeding someone else's milk, or bottle feeding
formula. Certainly breastfeeding isn't ALWAYS fun, and I have had some
breastfeeding challenges...but the challenges have been well worth the
rewards of the ease, convenience, and intense bonding of breastfeeding.
About 70% of US moms initiate breastfeeding. That says to me that
breastfeeding is popular, but because there are so many obstacles to
breastfeeding here, especially for moms who return to work away from home or
who lack support from family, it's difficult for many to continue.
While it may not be true for every mom that breastfeeding IS "fun, easy, and
popular," given proper support it certainly CAN BE...and perhaps that's a
more honest message to give moms.
Chris
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