Would you have asked? - Page 3

[timneh_mom]

I wouldn't have said anything. It makes me sad, though.

I just wanted to add, I've been an RN for 15 years and they teach you NOTHING ABOUT THE BENEFITS of breastfeeding in school! NOTHING. I never learned about breastfeeding like I did when I started nursing my own kids. They really don't teach anything about it in school.

[elelvee]

BCFD, because people have been conditioned to put more trust in the more artificial things and less in the live, fresh foods. People actually believe things are unsafe until the surface has been sprayed with Clorox. When anything that could possibly live on the counter has been killed, then food can touch it. Um no thanks.
How could people not like to eat real food and dare to put Twinkies in their mouth? Cheerios? The formula is cooked to death along with corn syrup which is cooked to death. That's a serious issue more than the creature it comes from. When it's been pulverized like this one can hardly tell whether it originated from a cow or a bean.

[jeanine123]

Originally Posted by carriebft

I think it is fair to believe that parents who feel breastmilk is gross will pass that feeling on to their children. This is why I feel it is necessary to have positive breastfeeding images, conversations, advertisments, etc. We need to work on normalcy and acceptance to break the cycle that exists.

Some may not pass it. Many children may not listen to the gross message. But a big part of the problem in the USA is routed in the passage of misinformation and antibreast messages through the generations.

(why else do we get so excited when a small child exemplifies a positive breastfeeding attitude?)

How are we to further normalcy and acceptance if we approach random strangers at weddings who happened to have uttered an opinion that we don't agree with within ear shot of us? Isn't that just furthering the perception of crazy militants instead? Seems to me that it'd be far more normal to just nurse your own child if the occasion presented itself like the OP did instead of trying to insert yourself into a conversation that likely isn't directed at you to begin with.

[gcgirl]

Originally Posted by carriebft

"Cow's milk is from the tit of a cow. I mean, imagine yourself sucking a cow's tit. Pumped breastmilk looking better eh?"

Okay, my grandpa used to suck goat's milk directly from the teats. I can see where some might think THAT's gross, but I just have a hard time seeing how human babies drinking human breastmilk is gross. Ya know?

[carriebft]

Originally Posted by jeanine123

How are we to further normalcy and acceptance if we approach random strangers at weddings who happened to have uttered an opinion that we don't agree with within ear shot of us? Isn't that just furthering the perception of crazy militants instead? Seems to me that it'd be far more normal to just nurse your own child if the occasion presented itself like the OP did instead of trying to insert yourself into a conversation that likely isn't directed at you to begin with.

It's all gonna depend on the situation (as I have stated time and time again in this thread). I don't think the location (a wedding) is enough to make a 100% judgement on whether I would or not. If I get a vibe that these people are open to it, that maybe a funny line might be accepted or a serious one or whatever, I might go for it.

Others wouldn't.

Maybe its a very informal reception, maybe it isn't. That might add in my decision. What is the family like? etcetc it's not cut and dry for me to say "wedding: no way."

[steph76]

I know a lady who is a l&d nurse.
She recently had a baby.
She knew before being pg that she was not going to bf.
Yes, she knows the benefits.

When someone is that adamently oppossed, I have to believe that they know themselves better than I. For all I know she has abuse issues in her past.
I simply do not know, and for that I can not judge her.

So, my point is you don't know either. Perhaps, it is easier for her to talk about bm being gross than abuse.
Yes, I know I am reaching.

[Claire and Boys]

Originally Posted by timneh_mom

I wouldn't have said anything. It makes me sad, though.

I just wanted to add, I've been an RN for 15 years and they teach you NOTHING ABOUT THE BENEFITS of breastfeeding in school! NOTHING. I never learned about breastfeeding like I did when I started nursing my own kids. They really don't teach anything about it in school.

Doesn't surprise me. I am a trained nursery nurse...We had NO Training whatsoever on breastfeeding and benefits of breastmilk. They didn't even MENTION it. We were taught how to mix bottles of formula and that was it.

[theelfqueen]

I might have rather loudly excused myself to "go pump" (even if I'm not pumping it might throw them into thinking about what they were saying and how posibly offensive it is).

[ulla]

I think it would be very rude to eavesdrop on a private conversation and then bust into it to "educate" strangers. It is also rude to the bride and groom to start evangelizing one's favorite cause at a festive event like a wedding. The other guests did not attend to be subjected to some stranger's political views. They are there to have fun and celebrate the happy couple.

I think the same goes for festive family gatherings like holiday meals, birthday and anniversary celebrations, etc. I have only minimal contact with my sister for just this reason. She has ruined countless family gatherings with her constant lecturing and "educating" about her latest pet cause and her appalling inability to read the room and realize no one wants to hear her rantings for the umpteenth time. My boys all think she is a creepy nutcase and won't have anything to do with her..

[scoobysgirl03]

I would say nothing in that situation. Even if I do not agree with the choice she made, I would respect her decision and privacy. I am not offended that she finds breastfeeding gross - why would I take that personally? Do I find it unfortunate? Yes. However, her comments were not made as a personal attack on me or my beliefs; she was expressing her opinion to someone else and it was overheard. I certainly would not appreciate it if someone eavesdropped on my conversation regarding the benefits of breastfeeding, then proceeded to tell me why they believe I should NOT breastfeed. I strongly believe in educating women about breastfeeding, but I don't think it the ideal time and place is after overhearing someone's conversation at a wedding.