Magda Sachs wrote:
> I also wonder about bras, slings, breastfeeding blouses, etc. I can
> see how we got to the point where these are sold by breastfeeding advocates
> and supporters, but I just don't like it, myself.
>
I guess that you just have to look at these things like some look at guns. Guns
don't kill people, people kill people (not that I'm trying to state my position
one way or another about guns). The idea being, that the products are not
inherently bad, just the way they are used (a pencil can is not blamed if
someone writes something ugly about someone with it).
Personally, if it had not been for the nursing bras that I bought from a well
known company, I would have had a very hard time nursing because I'm extremely
large chested. Pulling aside regular bras was uncomfortable for me. Going
braless is painful because my breasts are heavy. I really needed the support I
got from those bras. That being said, I do not in anyway believe that all
mothers need nursing bras. I can see how a lot of mothers get by quite happily
with a stretchy cotton bra or no bra at all. I think that most mothers simply
look upon these things as things that will make their lives easier.
I do understand your concern, though. We had a mother a while back in our LLL
group who donated loads of things (mother's milk tea, pump, bras, clothes, etc.)
that she had bought while pregnant, after she decided to give up breastfeeding
after a few weeks. For her, these things were the "stuff" of a lifestyle that,
I think, sounded "cool" to her and she wanted to try it out.
I think, though, that there are people who are always going to want the "stuff"
that goes along with anything. It's just part of our culture, for better or for
worse. The mother mentioned in the paragraph above is also a person who
literally replaces ALL of her clothing every year because that was "last year's
" clothes. For the yardsalers among us, you would not want to miss her place in
the spring.
In my opinion, as bf supporters (of whatever type) we simply need to be aware of
the aids available so that they can be located when needed. Perhaps we can also
help to dispel the myth among some mother that they "need" to have all these
things.
Tammy Schilling
LLL of Salisbury
--
personal copy designs
better living through computer graphics
http://www.personal-copy.com
410 219 5300
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