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Resurrecting an old thread- candidates and breastfeeding?  

post #1 of 32
8/29/08 at 1:49pm
Thread Starter 
I am posting here and not in politics because I do believe that politicians' beliefs/practices etc related to breastfeeding do contribute to the climate of support or lack thereof for breastfeeding mothers and families and to the ultimate goal of lactivism- normalizing breastfeeding.

I know there was a thread long ago in this forum about candidates and breastfeeding, and I'd like to resurrect that as we are getting closer to the general election. This is not meant to be an argument about who is a better candidate, but I would like to discuss what, if anything, anyone knows about the current presidential candidates with relation to breastfeeding?

I've tried researching and have come up with nothing. Looking forward to hearing what you all have to say. Thanks!
post #2 of 32
8/29/08 at 2:30pm
Thanks for creating this thread - I am also curious about this. Especially with the republican VP nominee being a woman who recently had a baby, I am sure she has some beliefs about breastfeeding.
post #3 of 32
8/29/08 at 2:33pm
subing
post #4 of 32
8/29/08 at 3:01pm
Apologies if this shows up twice--

I have read in several places that Sarah Palin is breastfeeding her infant. Nothing I'd cite as absolute evidence, but it's floating around out there.

This isn't enough to make me vote for McCain, but then again, nothing is
post #5 of 32
8/29/08 at 3:16pm
Quote:
I have read in several places that Sarah Palin is breastfeeding her infant. Nothing I'd cite as absolute evidence, but it's floating around out there.

This isn't enough to make me vote for McCain, but then again, nothing is
Right with you, I applaud her decision to b/f her child. I wonder about the effects on him taking on this role. But that is her decision. Sure fire way to dry yourself up from stress. Not sure I would put my 9 month old through the stress let alone a 4 month old with down syndrome. Now that I read that it sounds a little sexist? But I guess that is the breaks for moms.
post #6 of 32
8/29/08 at 3:21pm
I read that she started out breastfeeding but I haven't found any info about if she is still breastfeeding. Since her baby has Down's syndrome and was premature it is extra important that he recieves the benefit of breastfeeding.

A premature baby and other 'at risk' babies may gain 10 or more IQ points by breastfeeding. My adult son was born at 36 weeks and has a 80 IQ. There is a huge difference between an IQ of 70 and an IQ of 80. He is able to read well and has a good paying job, not a likely outcome with a 70 IQ. The research was available even in the 1980's and I knew how important it was to breastfeed him.

Even if all the research about formula being associated with lower IQs is wrong and all the research about artificial feeding being associated with developmental disavantages, breastfeeding would offer a Down's child advantages. Since Palin has a with Down's and he was born premature, I believe her most important job is to breastfeed him for 2-3 years or longer.

Can she do so while running for vp? Can she do it as vp? She could have excellent help with her children and with her job that could make it possible. Many, many American women breastfeed their children despite difficult situations.

However, her special needs baby needs more than breastfeeding including early intervention to develop to his full potential. Meeting the needs of a child with developmental delays with 4 other children is more than a full time job. If she chooses to have a baby when she is over 40, if she chooses to carry the baby to term even though she risked his life by having amniocentisis and found out he would be born with Downs, then is it her responsibility to breastfeed 3 years or longer and care for him herself so that he has the best chance of developing his full potential?

I can not vote for her because I believe my vote would be a vote against what is best for her baby, her, her family, and society. If she is no longer breastfeeding it would be great if she had a wetnurse. Wouldn't that be controversial?
post #7 of 32
8/29/08 at 5:31pm
I haven't heard one way or the other. BUT she did go back to work 3 days after the baby was born, so I don't see how she could successfully BF a baby (and a baby with downs syndrome much less) going back to work so early. And even if she somehow managed it, it would be exceedingly difficult to do it while campaigning as potential VP.

I know I'm being a bit judgmental here, but who goes back to work 3 days after their baby was born? I feel like she isn't being a very good mother. But I don't know anything about her circumstances, so I could be wrong.
post #8 of 32
8/29/08 at 5:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by subrosa View Post
Apologies if this shows up twice--

I have read in several places that Sarah Palin is breastfeeding her infant. Nothing I'd cite as absolute evidence, but it's floating around out there.

This isn't enough to make me vote for McCain, but then again, nothing is
I'm the OP, and I'm right there with you.

I think when I started this thread (or at least when I started to think about posting it), Palin had not been announced yet. I guess I don't think that just because a woman breastfeeds is reason enough to vote for her party (especially in this case where I do so vehemently disagree on many of the other political issues), but I do want to hear what candidates have to say about supporting women's rights to feed their children. I would like it if the candidates actually had to talk about their support of breastfeeding...

I've heard people say (not here) that there are so many other issues and this isn't an important one compared to things like the environment, healthcare, and education, but I think that breastfeeding is really key when talking about maternal and child health and the need for parents to have the support they need to do what is best for their children, so I think that it does deserve mention and is very connected to all of these other "big picture" issues.

I've hit my afternoon downward spiral so please excuse me if this post wasn't as coherent as I wanted it to be
post #9 of 32
8/29/08 at 5:39pm
As an outsider looking in I think that an issue that would probably gather more supporters (not that BF is not worthy of support) would be the idea of a longer, government assisted maternity leave. That would really go a long way toward facilitating longer term BF IMHO.

I somehow don't see them addressing the issue of BF specifically but it would be great if someone forced them to, via those internet video debates maybe?
post #10 of 32
8/29/08 at 6:09pm
Wait. Are people really going to pick choose their candidate and vote on a person depending on whether they bf or not??
post #11 of 32
8/29/08 at 6:11pm
I had a friend who went back to work at something like 4 or 5 days, and she breastfed her child for a couple of years.

Whether or not this woman breastfed or was a sahm or not should not really influence a vote, imo, unless she enacted policies forcing every woman to do the same.
post #12 of 32
8/29/08 at 6:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_lissa View Post
I had a friend who went back to work at something like 4 or 5 days, and she breastfed her child for a couple of years.

Whether or not this woman breastfed or was a sahm or not should not really influence a vote, imo, unless she enacted policies forcing every woman to do the same.
I was thinking more along the lines of instituting a program that facilitates BF for longer and promotes closer attachment (like a longer mat leave).
post #13 of 32
8/29/08 at 6:21pm
Yes but that would be awesome.
post #14 of 32
8/29/08 at 6:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by karina5 View Post
Wait. Are people really going to pick choose their candidate and vote on a person depending on whether they bf or not??
My intent when I started this thread was more to discuss if the candidates are breastfeeding friendly and will do anything to help create an environment more supportive of breastfeeding (and other truly family supportive policies like PAID maternity leave, etc). I think it's already morphed into a discussion of Sarah Palin's breastfeeding and working and running for VP (which was definitely not the direction I was looking for it to head!)...
post #15 of 32
8/29/08 at 7:35pm
Joe Biden has spoken about his experiences as a single father and how that made him understand better how much need there is for parents to get better support - higher quality childcare, longer paid leaves etc. The fact that he commuted 4 hrs/day to and from Delaware in order to be home with his little boys every night (as opposed to most in congress who only see their kids on the weekends) seems like the sign of a devoted parent who would be open to supporting other parents. That's not directly breastfeeding related, obviously, but hopefully in the right direction.

I don't know really if any of the candidates have participated in legislative activities that in any way touched on lactivist issues during their past experiences. Would be very interested to know.
post #16 of 32
8/29/08 at 11:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by georgiegirl1974 View Post
I know I'm being a bit judgmental here, but who goes back to work 3 days after their baby was born? I feel like she isn't being a very good mother. But I don't know anything about her circumstances, so I could be wrong.
I was back in a college class with a baby in my lap less than a week after the birth. I would nurse her under a blanket during class. Having her there with me made it much easier to remain a good mom. I heard Palin has a swing in her office and does much to keep her baby with her as much as possible.

I think judging her for returning to work is a bit of the AP discrimination against working mothers coming through...
post #17 of 32
8/29/08 at 11:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by karina5 View Post
Wait. Are people really going to pick choose their candidate and vote on a person depending on whether they bf or not??
A lot of people vote single issue:-(. I have a friend who voted for GWB due to his position on abortion and only that. She disagreed with his stands on other issues but that one was the deal breaker for her.

I would definately favour a candidate who breastfed or whose spouse breastfed because it means they'd be more receptive to pro-breastfeeding legislation or policies.
post #18 of 32
8/29/08 at 11:34pm
A woman of privilege chooses to bring her baby to work with her and breastfeed.

She gets to make that choice for her child. She has the status to ensure that her coworkers, at least, accept her choice.

What I'm really interested in hearing is that she will look beyond the swing in her own private office and work to give every woman, regardless of economic, political, or social status, a true choice.
post #19 of 32
8/29/08 at 11:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sparklefairy View Post

What I'm really interested in hearing is that she will look beyond the swing in her own private office and work to give every woman, regardless of economic, political, or social status, a true choice.
yeah, a republican is not likely to do that, sadly
post #20 of 32
8/30/08 at 12:06am
OK, mamas, either we discuss the OP's topic or this gets booted to Politics. Thanks!
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