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Subject:
From:
Dawn K Martin <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 17 Jul 2002 20:54:11 -0500
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Lynn,
This sounds like it could be my step son and his family, but we're down in
Texas.   When his wife started to have children I wondered what would happen
on this topic.  The women in their church are encouraged to breastfeed, but
to nurse in public requires the utmost modesty, no one should be able to
tell what they are doing for the very reasons you mention.  I gave her a
nice nursing blouse as a gift, along with some Elizabeth Lee patterns and a
MotherWear catalogue.  I consider it mandatory for every pregnant woman to
receive a copy of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding so I gave her one of
those also.  Another friend gave her a nursing blanket that somehow makes
something of a tent over the baby.  She has nursed all three of her infants,
but since her pregnancies have been relatively close together and it is
prohibited to breastfeed during pregnancy (don't get me started on this) I
assume each was weaned before one year (in all probability WELL before a
year, but any breastfeeding is a good thing).

I have offered information and support for breastfeeding and have attempted
to keep it factual rather than emotional (maybe a little more difficult
since this is family).  She has called with a few questions, but is very
subservient to her husband and probably the only reason she called rather
than him is because it involved asking about a bodily function.  During a
later pregnancy I gave them a copy of the Sear's book about Christian
Parenting because I suspected they were "ripe" for the Ezzo sort of
approach.  For the most part I have no idea what they've done with the
information I've given them (but that's often true with clients isn't it?).

Especially difficult for me is that the oldest was diagnosed with cystic
fibrosis during the second pregnancy.  Despite my gentle urgings about how
good it would be for her to continue to nurse or at least get breastmilk
because of her CF, they decided against it.  Luckily they found an excellent
program here to treat her and she is now doing quite well.  On the bright
side (in a sick sort of way) the women in this church don't have much cause
to spend lots of time in public (not prohibited, but they tend to be very
self-reliant within the congregation), so they are able to nurse at home and
among their women friends without restriction.  The women in this particular
church community are very devoted mothers, and their church recognizes the
importance of raising their children.  While the overall restrictiveness is
not my cup of tea, I wish more institutions the US would elevate (in
practice as well as words) the parenting role to such honor.

I find these sorts of challenges very interesting hence my reply to the
list.  I hope others will reply here as well, in light of helping all of us
develop creative strategies for unusual situations.  Although religion is a
component I don't really see this as a religious discussion.

Dawn Martin
Austin, TX

----- Original Message -----

> How do you deal with the need to be discreet in women who are part of a
> religious group which tells them that public breastfeeding would
> encourage men to lust, and therefore is a sin on the part of the woman?
>
> Lynn in Missouri

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