It seems to me that women need to see other women breastfeed. It is such a
private, secretive activity in much of the United States. I think we need
to deliver the message that breastfeedimg is something you do in public.
The more women see other women do it, the more accepted it becomes. Many
of the women I teach, sophisticated urbanites, have never witnessed anyone
breastfeeding a baby. They are often moved by scenes in childbirth videos
of women breastfeeding, but will then relate stories of their friends
unsuccessful attempts to breastfeed, and enter the whole process with a
completely defeatist attitude. They need to be bombarded with positive
images, that this can be done, it is not an impossibility, it is normal
and life goes on around it. Since breastfeeding is often done in private,
I think women often have the idea that if you do finally manage to succeed
at it, then you have to give up your life to do it, since you must hide
while you feed your baby. The best way to provide positive images,is to
encourage women to breastfeed in public.In my classes, I always introduce
the concept of breastfeeding in a restaurant, in a park, in the
schoolyard. First of all, breastfeeding is easier, if you don't feel that
you have to run away to do it, but it also becomes the norm, and
encourages other women to believe they can do this. I actually had a woman
call me because her baby was making noises while she ate. When I went to
watch the baby eat, it was obvious that she was feeding beautifully, if
somewhat quickly. If this woman had grown up surrounded by women
breastfeeding, she would have been able to immediately feel joy at her
baby's wonderful talents,rather than anxiety.
I will now shut up, having shot my LN wad, on vacuum extractors and modern
medicine! Don't want to hog the cyberspace.
Kathy Lilleskov RN IBCLC
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