Chatelaine magazine - "Breastfeeding Sucks" cover story

[Janice in Canada]

I've been told that the cover story of the November issue of Chatelaine (Canada's woman's magazine) is titled "Breastfeeding Sucks"

I'm told "it's spectacularly awful.. she compares labour to "12 hours of anal rape" and LLL to anti-abortion activists."

I haven't read or seen it myself yet, and its not on-line. Those that have a subscription just got it in the mail yesterday, I suppose it won't be on the newstands for a few days. I'll try to get a copy from my library and scan it. If anyone has a copy and would scan it, send it to me at momsformilk @ sasktel.net



While searching, I found this less than supportive mention of breastfeeding in the October issue: (the only mention of breastfeeding in this whole article - it sure doesn't leave a very positive feeling about breasts in general - they seem to just be time bombs waiting to give you painful lumps and cancer)

21 things you need to know about your breasts

http://www.chatelaine.com/health/art...02_5632&page=2


11. Breastfeeding can yield surprises. It can lead to tender, chapped nipples and blocked milk ducts – which can show up as hard lumps in the breast and armpit area.


Janice

[stacey2061]

i just heard about this and am dying to hear about the article...i want to run out and buy it, but then i don't want to put money into something bashing bf...what to do?

[shimmerMom]

Yikes, My mOm gets tha mag. I'll have to read it this weekend.

I think that article sounds like a good reason to write to the editor.


I'll find the adress and post it this weekend if anyone wants it.

Sarah

[Meiri]

How Odd...In my experience, only the children sucked, though the more accurate term is suckled, and how else were they supposed to get their milk?

11. Breastfeeding can yield surprises. It can lead to tender, chapped nipples and blocked milk ducts – which can show up as hard lumps in the breast and armpit area.

Indeed, as can consuming too much caffeine. Once one of my sisters went off caffeine, the lumps in her breasts went away. Same thing happened with me too. Amazingly enough, and that is shockingly bad reporting that they missed this, breastfeeding also leads to a wellfed healthy baby, and eventually (for those of us who continue) a happy secure child.

Seriously, if any magazine I subscribed to wrote such garbage, I'd be cancelling my subscription, as well as filing complaints.

[Penelope]

The story sounds terrible.

Her description of labor makes me wonder about a possible history of abuse of the author - I know that my own history (not the worst I've heard by any means, but bad enough) came up for me during my first labor. Something about the feeling of un-reality (being in laborland) jogged bad memories for me.

If she was traumatized by labor, no doubt that made bf more difficult. But why write a piece that universalizes that experience?

[HelloKitty]

Yikes, that sounds dreadful.

[SLC]

I just read this article while waiting for an appointment. The article does not bash breastfeeding but rather, truthfully depicts the lack of support and understanding women experiencing difficulty breastfeeding encounter particularly from those who are entrenched in the pro-breastfeeding communities. I whole-heartily agree with her depiction of the situation. Having had breast reduction surgery I was aware that my mild production may be compromised. I did a lot of reading and research regarding this issue and spoke with lactation consultants about my situation. The response I got to my concerns was always "You'll be able to breastfeed, don't worry about it". My concerns were brushed off and felt totally unsupported. When I had my first son, he had a great latch but was in obvious distress due to lack of food I began to supplement with formula. But not without experiencing extreme feelings of failure and guilt. First time mothers should not be made to feel bad about themselves because they are unable to or choose not to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is one aspect of raising a healthy, happy baby, but it's not the only thing that's important. The author of the article, like my self is pro-breastfeeding, but each women should be able to make this choice based on what works for them, their babies and their families without being made to feel like they are doing harm to their baby. She also makes the point that it would be helpful to hear about how painful and challenging breastfeeding can be for some women rather than ignoring these aspects. I think the article is well-written and I hope it serves to encourage women to speak openly about their breastfeeding experiences, both positive and negative, so that new mothers will have a better picture of what to expect from it. I encourage everyone to read this article with an open mind.

[lotusbeans]

Originally Posted by stacey2061

i just heard about this and am dying to hear about the article...i want to run out and buy it, but then i don't want to put money into something bashing bf...what to do?

I wonder what would happen if you bought it, then sent it back with a letter and a request for a refund?

[St. Margaret]

Er... SLC, this is the LACTIVISM board. Maybe hang around and lurk a bit to see what's what around here. While I agree that information is always powerful, and it is better to educate women about the real deal so they are prepared to meet any challenges, we are not here to be supportive to moms who "choose" to use formula (while we ARE loving towards that tiny % who MUST use it); we are here to work towards making society more supportive of BFing and mothers who are BFing. And there are plenty of communications out there already bashing BFing... Also, we are not here to buy into the idea that formula is just as good-- it sadly is not, and therefore it lacks benefits of BM, meaning yes it is risky/harmful. You will find many here that believe those semantics carry a lot of significance in this issue.

[zoot]

I get Chatelaine and just read the article (was surprised to find it - I didn't know anything about it before I just happened to flip through the magazine).

I must say, I am at the end of my subscription and I was not going to renew, but now I am, and I'll probably send them a note that it's because of this article.

[rambunctiouscurls]

Originally Posted by SLC

I just read this article while waiting for an appointment. The article does not bash breastfeeding but rather, truthfully depicts the lack of support and understanding women experiencing difficulty breastfeeding encounter particularly from those who are entrenched in the pro-breastfeeding communities. I whole-heartily agree with her depiction of the situation. Having had breast reduction surgery I was aware that my mild production may be compromised. I did a lot of reading and research regarding this issue and spoke with lactation consultants about my situation. The response I got to my concerns was always "You'll be able to breastfeed, don't worry about it". My concerns were brushed off and felt totally unsupported. When I had my first son, he had a great latch but was in obvious distress due to lack of food I began to supplement with formula. But not without experiencing extreme feelings of failure and guilt. First time mothers should not be made to feel bad about themselves because they are unable to or choose not to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is one aspect of raising a healthy, happy baby, but it's not the only thing that's important. The author of the article, like my self is pro-breastfeeding, but each women should be able to make this choice based on what works for them, their babies and their families without being made to feel like they are doing harm to their baby. She also makes the point that it would be helpful to hear about how painful and challenging breastfeeding can be for some women rather than ignoring these aspects. I think the article is well-written and I hope it serves to encourage women to speak openly about their breastfeeding experiences, both positive and negative, so that new mothers will have a better picture of what to expect from it. I encourage everyone to read this article with an open mind.

I'm sorry you didn't get the support you needed. but there's a difference in being truly unable to breastfeed and choosing not to. and since this is a lactivism board, most are not going to be supportive of a woman who chooses an inferior product for her baby.
It helps to talk about how challenging breastfeeding is but with education, determination and good support those initial challenges CAN be overcome. However, It's not helpful for anyone to put down breastfeeding and make it seem an impossible task. it's only impossible for two percent of the population.

[lissabob]

*scratching my head* what's with the new posters? Not trying to be mean, but do you all realize where you are? LOL

[zoot]

Originally Posted by lissabob

*scratching my head* what's with the new posters? Not trying to be mean, but do you all realize where you are? LOL

Do you?

I'm on a site that supports mothers. Real mothers, not fake, pretend-to-be-perfect ones.


Hands up - who here has READ the article AND dislikes the article? No one? I didn't think so.

Apparently the title alone is enough to make people into the exact sort of people the article complains about (well, actually I'm sure those people were that way long before they heard the title )

[My4Boys]

Originally Posted by Janice in Canada

I'm told "it's spectacularly awful.. she compares labour to "12 hours of anal rape" and LLL to anti-abortion activists."
Janice

For those who have read the article, does it indeed compare labour to rape and LLL to anti-abortion activists? If it does either of those things, it is NOT supportive of women, childbirth or breastfeeding.

[zoot]

Originally Posted by My4Boys

For those who have read the article, does it indeed compare labour to rape and LLL to anti-abortion activists? If it does either of those things, it is NOT supportive of women, childbirth or breastfeeding.

She doesn't "compare" anal-rape to breastfeeding. The comment is taken totally out of context. And the comment wasn't hers, it was a comment by a friend.

"People understate childbirth pain, too, but word has leaked out. As one friend described it: "Twelve hours of anal rape anyone?"

(personally I find it intensely offensive that someone above basically said that the author must have been abused if she says this... any woman who dares admit the pain of childbirth must be emotionally damaged)

As to the LLL as anti-abortion activists, she says (after describing how her local LLL was other than helpful to her)

"A recent controversial American ad campaign showed a pregnant woman on a mechanical bull with the slogan:"You wouldn't take risks before your baby's born, why start after?" The intent is honourable, bt the tone is beyond insulting. "

I agree with her that this is insulting. Implying that a woman who doesn't complete breastfeeding is purposefully putting her child at risk, just for fun. It makes me fume :

Incidently, the author DID breastfeed. Two kids. I think her article will do more to get women to breastfeed than that horrible TV ad will - it will assure them that it's sometimes not easy, but it can be done, and it's okay not to have a perfect experience.

[zoot]

You can probably tell I'm passionate about this article. I hate to spoil the ending of a good story, but before you bash it, please read the final paragraph. I think it's brilliant. It put me near tears:

Once word got out that I was a breast feeders who hated breastfeeding, I got emails and calls from friends and freinds of friends suffering with their newborns and asking the same question: Is this normal? Why can't I get decent information? And what the hell is with the "bad latch" chorus? I told them what I always wanted to hear: Whatever you're going through is normal, it's not necessarily your fault, and you are not alone. We might have to suck up the pain of breastfeeding, but we can spit out the piety of the breastfeeding bullies.

Every one of you year has the ability to be a supporter for a breastfeeding mom, but there's always the potential to be a breastfeeding bully. I've been both, I'm sure. I'm going to try my best never to be a bully again.

[sphinxie]

Are there any people here who work in the magazine industry? I had an ex who was in publishing, and the authors of articles are rarely the ones who choose titles or headlines. Also articles can be heavily edited. I am getting the impression that some magazines delibarately edit articles to be more controversial from time to time, in order to get more exposure and publicity, possibly.

I think it makes a difference whether the author is sincerely stating her views, or the article has been spun to make it more controversial than it may have originally been. If it's a case of the latter, and I was critical of the outcome, I would personally choose my reaction in such a way as to avoid being "played", or basically acting to the magazine's advantage. If it was the former I would write to the magazine criticizing the author and their choice to publish something like that.

I also don't expect much from most magazines...

[zoot]

I don't actually see a problem with the title. If I had writen the article, I would have been pleased with how it turned out.

If someone wrote "Labour Sucks" or "Menopause Sucks" or "Puberty Sucks", would people get so upset? Surely everyone here admits that all those life events can be less than pleasurable.

I have been coming here a long time. This author is bashing a society which often lies to women about breastfeeding. These lies make women feel like they are failures, like they are the only ones who aren't "smart enough" or "born mothers". These feelings can lead to depression, anxiety, more pain, and, yes, formula feeding. The guidelines for Lactivism are clear:

"Lactivism is breastfeeding activism. The main goal of Lactivism is creating change due to positive action. It can take many forms including working to help get laws enacted to support breastfeeding mothers and their children, educating mothers and mothers-to-be on the benefits of breastfeeding and the disadvantages of choosing formula and demonstrating against those who interfere with the nursing relationship between mother and child but organizing nurse-ins, letter writing campaigns, etc. These are only a few examples.

The purpose of the Lactivism forum on MDC is to provide a place for Lactivists to work together in creating these changes through positive action. Lactivists can support one another by sharing opportunities for lactivism and brainstorming solutions. We can share and celebrate in our successes, encourage one another in our efforts and look forward to more positive changes in the future.

Positive action occurs when we seek solutions and act for change. Rather than pointing our fingers at individuals and judging, Lactivists seek to create a systemic change that challenges the general acceptance of formula feeding and guides mothers towards breastfeeding as a cultural norm.
"Criticizing ideas, campaigns, and actions that negatively impact breastfeeding are all acceptable forms of lactivism."

[lissabob]

Originally Posted by zoot

Do you?

I'm on a site that supports mothers. Real mothers, not fake, pretend-to-be-perfect ones.


Hands up - who here has READ the article AND dislikes the article? No one? I didn't think so.

Apparently the title alone is enough to make people into the exact sort of people the article complains about (well, actually I'm sure those people were that way long before they heard the title )

Who's pretending? Anyone who knows my bfing story knows I went through quite a bit in the beginning to have a successful bfing relationship. I also managed to go through pit and AROM induced labor with a sunny side up baby with no pain meds so I know the pain of labor very well. Doesn't mean I will endorse an article that minimalizes the pain of REALLY being raped no matter any positive point that may be in it. I have to wonder how the "friend" knows what anal rape feels like to be able to compare it? Or if she just made an off the cuff comment that really shows a lack of compassion for true victims.

[abimommy]

I think by asking if people "knew where they were" they were pointing out this is the Lactivism board.

We have an entire seperate area that is dedicated to helping mothers overcome problems in breastfeeding. People can post and receive very quick assistance and advice.

"People understate childbirth pain, too, but word has leaked out. As one friend described it: "Twelve hours of anal rape anyone?"

I really don't see it as being "taken out of context," if she didn't want to convey this opinion, it wouldn't have been included in the article.

Once word got out that I was a breast feeders who hated breastfeeding, I got emails and calls from friends and freinds of friends suffering with their newborns and asking the same question: Is this normal? Why can't I get decent information? And what the hell is with the "bad latch" chorus? I told them what I always wanted to hear: Whatever you're going through is normal, it's not necessarily your fault, and you are not alone. We might have to suck up the pain of breastfeeding, but we can spit out the piety of the breastfeeding bullies.

Interesting, if this person had asked the same thing here, they actually would have been given information on correcting the "bad latch" rather than "suck it up."

Breastfeeding doesn't *have* to be painful.

I think it's brilliant.

I disagree.