Well, I wouldn't put my kid in that shirt, for a couple of reasons:<br><br>
1. I don't like the phrase "breast is best" I don't think it helps bfing advocacy because it incorrect. Breast is normal, breast is minimum requirements for babies. Saying "breast is best" puts breastfeeding on a pedestal, is optional, is above the call of duty. Many moms are just trying to be "okay" or "good enough". When we say "breast is best", it hardly forces gov'ts or health care systems to HAVE TO provide breastfeeding services - after all - can we REALLY provide the BEST health to everyone??? (I know our gov't can't) - then breastfeeding is a "frill" - nice, if you can afford it.<br>
See<br><a href="http://www.het.brown.edu/people/kjp/stuff/watch_your_language.htm" target="_blank">http://www.het.brown.edu/people/kjp/...r_language.htm</a><br><br><br>
2. I understand why bfing moms like these kind of shirts. Bfing moms often are discriminated against, and they are proud of their success in breastfeeding, especially with all the challenges and obstacles to bfing in our current society. they should be proud, they are heroes. Much of their success is due to their personal determination and committment.<br><br>
But we have to admit that there are many obstacles, and that some women are lesser equiped to overcome them (less education, confidence, support from family or friends, less information or access to information, etc). Everyone's breaking point is different. So some women find that their attempt at bfing ends in failure.<br><br>
But society never talks about the role of "society" (friends, family,health professionals, employers) play in supporting women to breastfeed. We live in a culture that tells us "you can do anything if you try hard enough". Moms who failed, live in that society, too. Mom who fail, know, in their gut, that they wanted to breastfeed, but they failed, and that they were probably hindered, but they don't know how to resolve all these feelings. So they get mad at t-shirts like this.<br><br>
We need to help moms like this, think through their anger at the t-shirt, and realize that they need to move their anger towards a society that gives lip-service to breastfeeding support, and demand REAL breastfeeding support and services.<br><br><br><br>
We Women need to get together on this. T-shirts like this, although they feel good to us to wear, will seperate us, and we spend our energy getting mad at the "other" moms (bfing or ffing).<br><br>
How about "support breastfeeding!" or "have you hugged a breastfeeding mom today?" or "it takes a village to support a breastfeeding mom" I know these aren't catchy, but you get the idea. We need to get together on this, instead of alienating each other.<br><br>
that's why I kind of don't like the new national Breastfeeding Campaign ads - they place all the responsibility for bfing on the moms, with no mention how friends, family, health professionals, employers can all make bfing very difficult. Of course, anything can be overcome, but come on, we all have a breaking point, and some have less resources to keep up the fight.
