the ewwwwwwww factor

[Celtain]

What do you say to someone when they ask if you are breast or bottle feeding and you say breast and the make a face or say "eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww, I could never do that, it's so gross." I get so offended I never have a good responce. Any suggestions?

[Trishy]

"How is it gross to use my breasts as they were intended? What else would I do with them, make a commercial for beer?"

[crayon]

My DH says to people all the time "we dont need anything, we have cloth and a set of boobs" :LOL

If someone goes in the ewww factor with me, I say stuff about obesity and bonding and I say something like "and she sleeps with us" I like the shock factor more than making my point. The look on their faces are so funny. I dont get as much ewwww factor with BFing as I do when people see I use cloth.

[stafl]

I have never gotten that response! Well, most people know I breastfeed, I make no secret of that, and I am very outspoken in defense of breastmilk.

I would probably say something like, "have you ever read the ingredients list on a can of formula? Now THAT'S gross!"

[heldt123]

How about "Have you smelled formula or changed a formula diaper?" In my opinion, that is eeeeeeewww! Formula and formula diapers stink!

[TiredX2]

I honestly can't image what I would say-- no one has ever been that blatant around me.

I would be tempted to say something along the lines, "Wow, you don't *look* ignorant."

[captain optimism]

Wow, I have never encountered anyone who said eeewwww. I presume this person has never had a baby, because breastfeeding is certainly a lot less gross than, say, pregnancy or birth!

Okay, I know, it's a miracle, it's not gross. Okay. But come on, there is involuntary pooping when you give birth. Breastfeeding is just cuddling a sweet-smelling, gorgeous baby up to your warm torso and looking lovingly into their eyes. aaawwwwwww.....

[crayon]

Originally Posted by TiredX2

I would be tempted to say something along the lines, "Wow, you don't *look* ignorant."

: I love that! I am going to use that one when someome says something about toddler nursing!

[elelvee]

If they thought it was gross, why did they even ask.

That's not so much ignorant as rude.

[Nosebite]

My darling, dear sister is somewhat ignorant regarding BF. She has a 14 month son and was a proud formula feeder. Once I shared my desire to BF my son at least until he is two. She said, "That is totally gross!" Oye! She's young and uneducated when it comes to mothering. Oh yeah, she is pre-CIO. : I guess it's my job to educate.

[annettemarie]

Once at a baby fair, someone came up to the La Leche League table and said that breastfeeding just didn't seem natural. :

Really, I would probably ask them what was gross about it. I would want to get into their warped little mind.

Annette

[jeca]

I have had that said to me twice, I got annoyed and snapped at her " well, I would never wear that dress but I guess we're just differant". Not sayong you should say something mean her reaction just annoyed the hell out of me.
The second time was at a wic office and the lady was going around asking the mothers if they were BF or FF. She asked one women if she was breastfeeding a dn the woman said" god, no!" in such an obviously ugly matter , again I snapped. Whe teh wic lady came to me and asked breastfeeding or formula I told her " breastfeeding, I don't feed my babies crap". And made an icky face. The other lady turned red as I wanted her to do but unfortunatly I probably offended the other two woman also since I was the only one nurisng.

Not saying you should say something mean I just hate to hear something like that and usually my mouth speaks beforemy brain can follow. Well, to each their own is okay to say.

[Dmitrizmom]

I've started responding with, "Do you drink (cow's) milk?"
If their answer is yes, "Do you think that is gross?"
If the answer to that is no... "well, consider that in order to get that milk, the cow is fed with antibiotic laced feed, which often contains ground up bits of other cows (true in the US). Then that cow is hooked up to a machine that pumps that milk into a vat. From the vat, the milk is pumped into a truck and transported to a dairy processing plant, transferred into a holding tank, run through tubing, pasteurized by heating, and then transferred into containers that may or may not be completely sealed, then transferred to a store where you buy it.... I see alot of chances for contamination there. At least I know where my child's milk has been." and if that doesn't get them, I make the point that we are the only species that routinely takes the milk of another species and drinks it into adulthood.

[orangebird]

Well as far as I'm concerned, cow's breastmilk is even more ewwww. And the smell of a formula fed baby? Um, EWWWWW!

[CryPixie83]

Eww is the smell of formula... it's so sour! I don't understand how ff moms stand the smell... have they ever tasted that stuff? blech! And the diapers? toxic.

[insert apologies and such to moms who *can't bf*, I mean absolutely no offense to you my dears]

What would I say? Hopefully something intelligent, but being me I'd probably just stutter and stammer. I have confrontation issues :LOL

I'd love to say something like "Have you ever tasted formula?" or "yea, what am I thinking?giving my dd what nature intended? I should definately switch to an inferior, man-made second rate imitation right away" or maybe even "grow up."

[TiredX2]

Well as far as I'm concerned, cow's breastmilk is even more ewwww.

I drink cows milk and when I think about the amt of puss in most cow's milk I get :Puke At least I know I'm healthy!

[nannymom]

Originally Posted by stafl

I have never gotten that response! Well, most people know I breastfeed, I make no secret of that, and I am very outspoken in defense of breastmilk.

I would probably say something like, "have you ever read the ingredients list on a can of formula? Now THAT'S gross!"

I love that response!

[mommyofshmoo]

If someone said "Eeeeewwwww." I suppose I might say, "I didn't know you were still in high school."

When people have been less than supportive, I have told them, "You do realize that milk at the supermarket comes out of the boob of a COW? In fact, a cow that is most likely kept in horrendous conditions, pumped full of antibiotics, and who has several active infections."

I must say, it has put it in persepctive for some.

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by TiredX2

I drink cows milk and when I think about the amt of puss in most cow's milk I get :Puke At least I know I'm healthy!

Eeeew, that just halted my trip to the kitchen for oreos... rats.

[littlemommy18]

when someone says ewww to me i've just learned that we probably have totally different views and this is just my chance to expose them to all the other options in child-rearing so i'll say" yeah we nurse, probably till shes four, two at a time, and we use cloth diapers, sleep TOGETHER, won't spank, and homeschool! by this time their jaws are on the floor!! :LOL