I spend a lot of time on message boards amongst cleft parents and exclusive pumping parents - the saddest thing I hear come up frequently is parents who believe that they didn't breastfeed their babies. Often these are women who have dedicated themselves body and soul to pumping around the clock setting the alarm clock every three hours in order to provide breastmilk for their babies. Why do we not call this breastfeeding?

I wrote a post specifically for these parents about 'really breastfeeding' http://cleftlipandpalatebreastfeeding.com/2013/11/can-i-really-breastfeed/ and there is a reference in my post to the International Breastfeeding Journal article 'Questioning current definitions for breastfeeding research' http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/content/7/1/9 which in turn refers to the WHO definitions of breastfeeding.

I think we need to tread very carefully when 'promoting' breastfeeding as this can hurt those who are most vulnerable. I understand the desire to protect the breastfeeding dyad against politicians who think that pumping is the same thing as breastfeeding directly. To tell someone that they are not breastfeeding, rather they are breastmilk feeding, however, I believe is harmful (I explain in my post) - I believe that emphasising the difference between breast milk feeding and breast feeding is discriminatory against those of us who simply cannot enjoy a 'normal' breastfeeding relationship.

Obviously definitions have their place in scientific studies when comparisons are essential (which is a second post I am currently working on), but when talking about breastfeeding generally, I think we should be more inclusive. I think a lot of parents feel like second class citizens (and also do not seek support - or don't know where to seek support) because they are not 'really breastfeeding',

Alice Farrow
www.cleftlipandpalatebreastfeeding.com
www.languageofinclusion.com

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome