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Wow, seriously?!?! I cannot believe MOTHERS have this attitude about breastfeeding and pumping.| the grotesque ritual carried out behind closed office doors nationwide by beleaguered working mothers who are fully “committed” (as the lactation consultants put it) to the goal of long-term, exclusive breast-feeding |
| ...a mother’s need for some semblance of physical dignity.....“Who could blame [your husband] for never wanting to sleep with you again?” |
| ...supplementing with formula isn’t necessarily an act of gross irresponsibility.. |
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And I would hope that the moms who work so hard to pump for their little ones feel more pride and accomplishment than anything.
| ...supplementing with formula isn’t necessarily an act of gross irresponsibility.. |
| ...a mother’s need for some semblance of physical dignity.....“Who could blame [your husband] for never wanting to sleep with you again?” |
.| Rosin’s article, based upon a review of the relevant medical literature and some physician interviews, makes the case that the health claims about breast milk have been greatly overstated. There’s contradictory evidence, she writes, on the virtues of breast milk in combating allergies, leukemia, high cholesterol and diabetes. There is evidence that breast-feeding can help prevent diarrhea, and some indications that breast-feeding might hike up a baby’s I.Q. – by a more or less meaningless couple of points. But the cause of this intelligence boost is unclear. Are breast-fed babies very slightly smarter because they’ve been fed breast milk, or because they’ve been snuggled more closely, been cooed over more exclusively, or otherwise enjoyed any other hard-to-identify-or-isolate variables that simply can’t be controlled in the kinds of studies that currently exist and compare breast-fed and bottle-fed babies? |
: I appreciate one point of this writer's article, that a shift in our culture is necessary. We should be able to have longer parental leave AND A CULTURE IN WHICH THIS IS ACCEPTED -- EVEN CELEBRATED, instead of relying on strange medical devices like breastpumps 
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Originally Posted by spughy
 Does it occur to anyone else that breastfeeding isn't very compatible with North American culture, period? It's specific to women, but not sexual; it requires some flexibility and may interfere with money-earning; it can be hard; and it doesn't provide much in the way of "economic stimulus". Not exactly the sort of thing you'd *expect* to catch on in this culture.
We're all aghast at the Atlantic article and its aftermath, but you know, I think it's a symptom, not the real problem. |
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Originally Posted by ChampagneBlossom
I know I'm going to be flamed for this, but I too am strangely repulsed by the act of pumping. Perhaps that's why I never got any milk to let down, despite purchasing a fancy schmancy pump, taking supplements up the whazoo, etc. I totally wanted to pump... but honestly, it wasn't working. My son wouldn't suck, I couldn't pump... Double failure. (I was so glad to be able to exclusively breastfeed my daughter without needing to do any pumping.
I fully support and encourage all mothers to provide breast milk for their babies, but I don't think it's... "kind" ... to demonize mothers who really... REALLY don't like the way pumping makes their bodies feel. I can totally relate to the repulsion some women feel at watching nipples being stretched in those machines... I applaud women who make that sacrifice, but is it... dare I say... fair? to EXPECT that sacrifice? I'm not saying let's just push formula, because breastmilk is definitely a baby's birthright... but maybe women who don't *mind* pumping (and there are some!!) as much can donate milk for the babies who truly cannot breastfeed? I don't know what I would have to say about mothers who work... Maybe work on improving maternity benefits? Instead of saying, "well hey, just pump!" It's just not that simple. And while there ARE pumps available for OTHER than medical reasons (like the baby cannot suck or something) pumping shouldn't be the go-to-first option for working mothers. Just my two cents. Please don't hate on me too much. |
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Originally Posted by ChampagneBlossom
I know I'm going to be flamed for this, but I too am strangely repulsed by the act of pumping. Perhaps that's why I never got any milk to let down, despite purchasing a fancy schmancy pump, taking supplements up the whazoo, etc. I totally wanted to pump... but honestly, it wasn't working. My son wouldn't suck, I couldn't pump... Double failure. (I was so glad to be able to exclusively breastfeed my daughter without needing to do any pumping.
I fully support and encourage all mothers to provide breast milk for their babies, but I don't think it's... "kind" ... to demonize mothers who really... REALLY don't like the way pumping makes their bodies feel. I can totally relate to the repulsion some women feel at watching nipples being stretched in those machines... I applaud women who make that sacrifice, but is it... dare I say... fair? to EXPECT that sacrifice? I'm not saying let's just push formula, because breastmilk is definitely a baby's birthright... but maybe women who don't *mind* pumping (and there are some!!) as much can donate milk for the babies who truly cannot breastfeed? I don't know what I would have to say about mothers who work... Maybe work on improving maternity benefits? Instead of saying, "well hey, just pump!" It's just not that simple. And while there ARE pumps available for OTHER than medical reasons (like the baby cannot suck or something) pumping shouldn't be the go-to-first option for working mothers. Just my two cents. Please don't hate on me too much. |
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Originally Posted by krystyn33
:"That a mother’s need for some semblance of physical dignity is perhaps a right worth respecting?" |
| “That was my least favorite thing I ever did in my whole life,” Washington writer Hanna Rosin says in a podcast conversation |
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Originally Posted by MaryJaneLouise
ITA with pumping being "weird" and
: I appreciate one point of this writer's article, that a shift in our culture is necessary. We should be able to have longer parental leave AND A CULTURE IN WHICH THIS IS ACCEPTED -- EVEN CELEBRATED, instead of relying on strange medical devices like breastpumps . |
: Oh, but wait, that would stimulate the economy (and the formula companies' pockets) even less. 
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Originally Posted by jessasmilkmama
what about watching your baby die from diarrhea. What about the chinese parents who buried their kids. I bet those things were the least favorite parts of their lives. On a smaller scale, i know parents who have gone from bf to ff only to see horrible reactions, illnesses, etc. Your life is pretty effing good if the worst thing that ever happened was using a $300 breastpump at the office.
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Originally Posted by ChampagneBlossom
I don't think that quote is offensive at all. Some women find certain things undignified while others couldn't care less. And if one feels that hooking their body up to a whirring machine is somehow violating their personal integrity... is it really your place to tell that person that it's wrong to feel that way?
I don't like to shower in front of people, but the gym has communal showers. Am I "wrong" for not being OK with that (for myself)? Other women do it and they're just fine with it. But I'm not comfortable. Am I wrong for the way I feel? |
