I think that so often, self proclaimed 'lactivists' are looking at the issue from a very insulated perspective. We tend to look at the issue of breastfeeding from our own situations as breastfeeding mothers and on some level, we think "well, I did it so everyone (or almost everyone) should too". The reality is, if we really want to make a difference as breastfeeding supporters, we need to slightly alter the dialogue. We should be saying "I breastfed because I had ( insert resources/supports here) so I will make it my goal that every woman have those resources/supports made available to her".
I wrote this a long time ago but I always think of it when this topic comes up so I decided to paste it onto this thread:
Some women don't breastfeed often because their mother's didn't, their friends don't, the father of their baby thinks it's gross. They want to be able to drink or do drugs. They want freedom to spend the night away. They do not have education or support from the community. They are given formula free by hospitals and foodbanks. They think formula will help thier babies sleep longer. They were not confident enough to try a drug-free birth, ended up having a cesarean which further diminished their confidence, were asleep at the birth of their baby and felt that breastfeeding wouldn't work right either. They want to go on the pill immediately. They are afraid it will make their breasts sag. They feel that they are sexual beings and breastfeeding will make them unsexy. Their friends would make fun of them. They just want the whole thing to be over with so they can play with their babies and get on with their lives.
ETA: to many women, childbirth is an extremely violating experience which feels similar to being raped. It can be very, very traumatic. This aspect is often not mentioned or underplayed. It is no wonder, then that they choose to end the physical side of parenting as soon as possible following such an event.
I wrote this a long time ago but I always think of it when this topic comes up so I decided to paste it onto this thread:
Some women don't breastfeed often because their mother's didn't, their friends don't, the father of their baby thinks it's gross. They want to be able to drink or do drugs. They want freedom to spend the night away. They do not have education or support from the community. They are given formula free by hospitals and foodbanks. They think formula will help thier babies sleep longer. They were not confident enough to try a drug-free birth, ended up having a cesarean which further diminished their confidence, were asleep at the birth of their baby and felt that breastfeeding wouldn't work right either. They want to go on the pill immediately. They are afraid it will make their breasts sag. They feel that they are sexual beings and breastfeeding will make them unsexy. Their friends would make fun of them. They just want the whole thing to be over with so they can play with their babies and get on with their lives.
ETA: to many women, childbirth is an extremely violating experience which feels similar to being raped. It can be very, very traumatic. This aspect is often not mentioned or underplayed. It is no wonder, then that they choose to end the physical side of parenting as soon as possible following such an event.
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