Hi Karleen,
>
>
> I think it's good for mothers to enjoy breastfeeding but I don't see a
> problem if they don't. There's lots of babycare that's usually done  
> as an
> obligation (like changing nappies for instance) because it's what  
> babies
> need. Why should breastfeeding be any different?
>
I don't think it serves the baby that the parent dislikes any of the  
baby care details. I feel really uncomfortable when I hear two  
parents argue about who's turn it is to change the smelly nappy, or  
when I hear a parent tell her baby, while changing, that it smells  
yucky. Rachel puts this a lot better. Anyway I think bottle-feeding  
with love serves the baby better there and then  than breastfeeding  
and hating it. An angry care-giver (for whatever the reason) doesn't  
send out cues of unconditional love.
I recommend you read the thesis Breastfeeding and Becoming a Mother  
by Renée Flacking (Uppsala universitet 2007) to understand the  
Swedish situation. Mothers (to babies born preterm) tell about shame,  
powerlessness, feelings of being forced to breastfeed like in a  
training camp instead of entering a relation, and not least the sad  
story about the mother who pretends to breastfeed in public when she  
goes out for a coffee, because she is so ashamed that she has weaned.
I wish this mother , and many others, had met Rachel at some point,  
to get the support as well as the skilled help as I think we all  
deserve.
Marit Olanders
editor of Amningsnytt
bf counsellor in Amningshjälpen
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