Breast feeding impressions - USA x Scandinavia

[Quindin]

So, now I have been nursing my son for 13 months and he is the first child I gave birth to in the US (my first two were born in Denmark) - and it still amazes me how BF is NOT common sense here!!

I live in a very progressive little town where all moms seem to nurse, but I just HATE having to hide myself when nursing if go to the mall or other places outside my little town. I mean, I don't have to, but I just can't stand the looks and loud whispers - specially not now my son is so "old".

And the Drs??? How can they ever suggest "bottle" as an option for new moms??? And when I had thrush my own Dr. basically just said I should quit nursing - my son was big enough anyways and I should just wean him

I sooo miss Denmark when it comes to pregnancy, birth and breast feeding...

For you to have an idea, it is assumed that you will give birth with a midwife, and obgyns are only for emergencies or VERY complicated deliveries. Midwifery is high status career, and when you say your daughter git in midwifery school people are very impressed.

And nursing?? The hospital prefers that you don't go home unless breast feeding is going well. There was a lady I met who could not nurse after delivery and was going to give up, but the nurses asked her to stay and helped her FULL TIME with nursing for 5 days and it all worked out!!

Nestle is so aware of the fact that 99.9% of women are totally pro nursing that they won't even try to advertise for formula in Denmark!! You can actually read on their boxes of baby cereal that "it is recommended that babies nurse EXCLUSIVELY until about 4 -6 months". I wish they had the same atittude here in the US...

Of course, it helps that maternity leave (fully paid) lasts 1 year! When I gave birth it was only 6 months, but people found that babies had better stay with their moms longer for nursing and bonding.

Sorry for going on and on... I am just a bit frustrated. I miss being able to just sit in a mall or park, take my boob out and nurse my child without anyone staring and talking behind my back...

Here is the picture of a sculpture I . It is right on the entrance of the main arts museum in Copenhagen. All midwife students pose here for pictures when they graduate and it is also often used in BF advocacy pamphlets

[~Megan~]

That makes me want to cry! I want to live there!

[Lula's Mom]

Yes, you're right about the attitude toward breastfeeding here. I wish it wasn't like that too. I think there are a lot of reasons for it, including the insane way breasts are sexualized, and at the same time how uncomfortable many women are with their own bodies. The irony... In any case, please don't hide the fact that your son is nursing. We can only change the situation by showing that it's normal and natural!

I have a daughter who will be 3 in August, and she almost never asks to nurse in public. But the other day at Chick-fil-A, she did- and I said YES. It's largely because of these boards that I felt justified and supported in that choice. (And by the way, nobody said one thing to me, and woe to them if they had!!! ) My daughter and I have the right to nurse, and we'll exercise that right! Now get out there and nurse, mama! Rah rah rah! :bf

[gethane]

That makes me sad. So much for our "family values.". Of course, I've known that was a crock for a long time.

Yay for other countries that "get it" though.

[rareimer]

scandinavian countries always seem so much further ahead than north america when it comes to natural birth, breastfeeding, and loads of other things. makes me wonder...if they have it "figured out"...why can't we copy what they are doing? it's obviously working!!!!

[MA mommy]

I'm moving to Denmark!

[CryPixie83]

Hmm.. DF is always commmenting (half-heartedly) that we should move to Canada... I wonder if I could get him to stretch that to Denmark But then it seems wrong to leave my home because of the ignorance of others instead of trying my darnedest to educate and create change. But, Denmark does sound like heaven...

[DaryLLL]

I think one of the problems is the diversity and hugeness of the US. Denmark and most other European countries, are the size of one of our states. We do have areas in the country almost as pro-bfing as Denmark.

Our country is adolescent and an upstart. We are more concerned with world domination through out of control capitalism and the military, than with mundane little things like our children's health.

[fourgrtkidos]

I wish it was like that here. I am tired of feeling abnormal for homebirths, good food, no junk toys, homeschooling, extended breastfeeding and family beds. Some days I feel like maybe everyone else is right and I am just an antiquated wanna be hippie. : All those things just seemed like the right way to parent my children even from the time I was a young 18 yr old mom and hadn't read a darn book except that awful What to expect when you're expecting book. It seemed off to me and wrong; it went against all my instincts to accept med interventions during labor, bottle feeding and caring my baby around in one of those stupid car seat carrier things instead of holding him in a sling or my arms. How come our ideas are such a minority?

[Quindin]

Reading my thread again, I got worried that some of you might thinl I hate the US. I think that there are good and bad things in every country... Denmark is our home, and of course I look forward to moving back. Still, I know I will miss MANY things about the US as well.
As another poster said, the US is in its adolescence and I have hopes that it will slowly adopt the idea of a more "child-friendly" society. All the new BF laws are a a good sign that things are slowly changing.
Sometimes I just wish everyone would see family the way we do here in the MDC TODAY, but changes take time...

[AmandasMom]

Beautiful statue!!!!

[MamaAllNatural]

Originally Posted by MA mommy

I'm moving to Denmark!

Me too! Also, that sculpture is so beautiful. Thanks for the link.

[OwensMa]

Beautiful sculpture!

[thirtycats]

Isn't Denmark also the country that saved a bunch of Jews during the Holocaust?