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From: [log in to unmask] (Laura Wright)
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 00:22:40 -0500 (CDT)
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Bottlefeeding ABM
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Judi,

This one I do not know. I do see a lot of mothers pumping bottles for a
quick trip to the store...I keep a mirror handy for practicing dscreet
nursing, or demonstrate with my clinic doll.  Many are very surprised
that they don't have to "bare it all".  But he women I was referring to
are the ones who like to top each others birth-horror and
breastfeeding-failure stories.

My theory is that in Civil-War era when all the "genteel" ladies were
wearing corsettes and fainting all over the place,  we Sotherners,
became a little warped. We now have some distorted image of "fine,
genteel" women as being  "delicate" and therefore NOT "hardy".  Many
many of us compare illnesses and frailties as if they were desirable
things.  The harder it was for you to give birth, the more "feminine"
you are, and truly "feminine" women can not possibly produce enough
milk, or a good quality milk. "My doctor said my milk was too weak for
my baby", "I knew my baby wasn't getting enough because he wanted to
nurse every 2 hours! I did keep trying for 2 weeks!"

Somewhere along that line being hardy and healthy and able to nurse
twins or tandem nurse became "common".

I guess that makes me VERY common. My mom tells stories of her cousin
running up on the porch at 6 to "nurse a minute".

In some ways I think the childbirth policies in the US feed this
phenoenom...Wealthy women can afford to have epidurals, or shop around
for Drs who will perform scheduled unecessary sections....Those of us
who are on a budget have to "tough it out".  Recently overheard a woman
telling her friend how she "passed-out" during her delivery.  I
sometimes wonder if I should  actively listen and sympathize over her
hardship, or just be impressed and move on.

Please, no flaming now, this is my personal theory about my own
sub-culture. I may have a Yankee Grandma, but I was born and raised
right here in cotton country! (Never could understand that woman
anyway!)

Laura Wright
Mississippi, USA