On 12/05/2012 00:31, Janice Reynolds wrote:
>
> How about "full-term breastfeeding" or "normal-term"  or
> "biological/physiologically normal breastfeeding"  or even just plain
> "breastfeeding"?
>
'Full-term' or 'normal-term' have always sounded fairly objectionable to 
me because of their implication that a) weaning before this is 
'premature' and b) there's some sort of precise 'term' of breastfeeding 
we should be aiming for with the possibility that nursing for a shorter 
*or* longer time is potentially detrimental.  They can also be confusing 
for people who tend to assume that they're about breastfeeding a 
full-term baby.  There's also, of course, the question of what counts as 
'full-term' and of what we call nursing that goes on for longer than the 
social norm but not as long as whatever we've defined as 'full-term'.

I'd have similar reservations about 'biologically normal breastfeeding', 
with its implication that it's somehow abnormal or wrong to stop 
breastfeeding before that time.  Or, for that matter, that 'biologically 
normal' is something we should automatically be aiming for as a 
desirable goal, something I always find highly questionable (yes, it's 
biologically normal to breastfeed... but it's also biologically normal 
to give birth at 13, have ten children, be one of several wives, or die 
of appendicitis rather than have surgery).

Just plain 'breastfeeding' works well except in situations where the 
issue being discussed is that of whether or not children should 
breastfeed beyond the age considered socially acceptable.  It makes 
discussion extremely difficult if you don't even have a way of 
describing the particular issue you're discussing.  ;-)

I don't personally have a problem with 'extended breastfeeding' as it 
reflects what is the social reality for the vast majority of the women 
we address - that breastfeeding past a certain point is considered 
different, unusual, and worthy of at least comment as something 
different from the norm.  However, in recognition of the fact that many 
people dislike this term, I generally use phrases such as 'breastfeeding 
past infancy', 'breastfeeding a toddler', or 'breastfeeding an older 
child'.  (Obviously, the last two are less all-encompassing so are 
generally useable only in particular contexts.)

I know that one blogger, Hobo Mama, came up with the term 'long-term 
breastfeeding' in response to such a discussion, which she felt suited 
her well and which was positively received by her readers in the 
comments.  I actually felt it sounded rather negative, but don't object 
to it if it's what others like - would be curious to know what others 
think!  (The post is at 
http://www.hobomama.com/2010/03/long-term-breastfeeding.html, for those 
who are interested.)

And now, it's not even 7.30 a.m. and I've already used up my posting 
allotment for the day, so my apologies to anyone whom I can't answer 
until tomorrow at the earliest.  Probably enough controversial 
discussion from me for one day anyway... ;-)


Best wishes,

Dr Sarah Vaughan
MBChB MRCGP

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