In a message dated 7/1/2006 11:04:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
You ask women to simply go about your business and NIP, to normalize it.
Well, when you have just changed life circumstance (no children, to new mom,
or working to being at home for a while) and are isolated, and/or you may
not know any other women who are breastfeeding, AND you know that
breastfeeding is a minority activity, well it *IS* pretty hard to NIP by
yourself. There are women who attend these, who have NEVER nursed in
public before, but they will to attend a Nurse-In. And there are still a
few, who won't attend, because they just can't bring themselves to NIP.
Dear Colleagues:
Janice makes an excellent point.
I started out as a radical. I nursed while in a tri-centennial parade
and also on stage dancing (with a group of contra dancers) in front of the
Lieutenant Governor. I got strong, carrying my toddler while dancing and nursing.
She made the rest of the company feel comfortable on stage in front of all
the dignitaries; a nursing baby often relaxes everyone around her.
Nurse-ins are lovely. The more people that are talking about bf and NIP,
the better. Remember that active resistance is a sign of change.
So many of us give the advice that we have learned to live by, in order
to keep our jobs. I've been censored, both as a childbirth educator and as
LC. I've learned how to say things in such a wishy-washy way, so no one gets
upset.
Trouble is, if no one is upset, no one is passionate. (An extreme point
of view I know, but I am coming to believe it.) Women are second class
citizens in the USA; maybe not as physically burdened as in other countries. But
remember that murder is one of the top 10 leading causes of death of pregnant
ladies here in the USA.
What about re-framing, and using the wisdom of Diane Weissinger?
Imagine saying some of the following to people: "What? You don't think
babies should be nourished in public? Why not? You really believe that
pooping and eating are equivalent and need to be done in the same place? You
actually believe that breastfeeding is tantamount to having intercourse in public?
You want to dress up tits as fashion accessories and enticement aides and get
upset when they are used for what they are meant to do?" Who has the
problem here? Certainly NOT the nursing mother!
warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Maternal-Child Adjunct Faculty Union Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
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