[Shahbazin]

I was poking around on another board, & in a discussion involving breastfeeding TWO different posters said the reason they fed formula was that "the thought of having a baby suck off my boob seriously makes my skin crawl" - & one added that it also gave her "dry heaves" as well.

: I think this is why NIP is so important, because so many people are divorced from nature, & don't realize where food comes from, or feel comfortable w/it. I breed sheep, dogs, & poultry, butcher & eat my own chickens, & have seen/assisted many puppies & lambs nursing; I just had expectations, that as a mammal, I would be lactating & feeding my baby just as I'd seen so many ewes & bitches feed their babies - it was "how things should be done"

I have to say, I never saw humans nursing until I went to a few LLL meetings while pregnant.

 

[merrick]

I have heard the same thing from my sister in law. We won't even get into how disgusting she thinks it is that my almost 4 y/o ds still nurses. So sad.

Being divorced from nature may have something to do with it, but I myself am pretty much divorced from nature (hate bugs, camping, don't even like to handle raw meat, etc.) and I didn't think twice about breastfeeding. It was always something I knew I would do.

 

[Kavita]

To be honest, I wasn't so sure I was going to like breastfeeding--not b/c I am divorced from nature, just b/c it's a pretty sensitive body part, in my case somewhat oversensitive. I was going to do it regardless though. After getting past the latch problems and thrush and all the painful crap in the beginning I am fine with it.

Also, for some women who have sexual abuse issues, particularly involving the breast, breastfeeding is just too much of a trigger.

 

[KrystalC]

I know someone who never even considered nursing her daughter and fed her formula from day one because "none of her friends breastfed" yet this same person attacked another mom over not vaccinating. She said something along the lines of, "I vaccinated my daughter because it's best for her and I can't imagine a mother not vaccinating her child and leaving her vulnerable to disease" but phrased much less intelligently, believe me. Well, perhaps breast feeding would have been an equally viable alternative?

It really bothers me that people CHOOSE to feed their babies formula rather than breastmilk and then attack other moms with regard to their decisions. I just have to wonder why they think we make milk in the first place if breastfeeding is somehow "immoral" or "disgusting"... to sell at the local dairy market???

 

[DreamsInDigital]

Sad, just sad.

 

[frontierpsych]

I can't imagine how someone can think it's gross. What exactly is gross about it, what?!

 

[arlecchina]

when I breastfed my son, I admit at the beginning, not having done it before, I had concerns I might, ah...like it. but no such thing occured: feeding your child is nothing in the least like sexual activity. I do know some women get those feelings from breastfeeding and it IS normal, I was just uncomfortable with it. yet it did not and would not have stopped me.

so I don't understand people who are all "EW DISGUSTING BABIES ON BOOBS"

 

[prettypixels]

It's gross because they can only see the breast as a sex object; so they see a baby nursing as a sex act. Never mind that most of them engage in oral sex without ever seeing that genitals are used for other purposes than sexual and that doesn't bother them a bit!

 

[chandasz]

I'm sorry... I just think it's much grosser to mix up some weird ass powder to feed to someone.... makes me think of those baby alive dolls I had when I was a kid.

Yes, sex abuse in the past can make BF an issue but I think if you are going to bring a child into the world-- it's worth trying to get some therapy and getting beyond some of this stuff

 

[forthebest]

I am so glad I breastfed,to me it was a very exciting part of motherhood, to be able to do it just made me feel all grown-up! And of course the health benefits made that the definite outcome for me.I always looked forward to the day I would breastfeed since I was young I thought it simply fantastic. Yes it got a bit painful but that was totally due to the medwives lack of breastfeeding knowledge and subsequent actions.It's very telling of people's state of mind that breastfeeding can be viewed by them as something other than a natural thing betwixt mom and babe.What is all this sexualisation bs? It's brainwashing.

 

[User101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chandasz I'm sorry... I just think it's much grosser to mix up some weird ass powder to feed to someone.... makes me think of those baby alive dolls I had when I was a kid.

I agree with this 100%. I really believe we need full disclosure and people should know everything they're choosing to put in their baby. I think they might change their mind about what is disgusting and what is not.

Quote:

Yes, sex abuse in the past can make BF an issue but I think if you are going to bring a child into the world-- it's worth trying to get some therapy and getting beyond some of this stuff

I do, however, wonder if you realize how callous this is. Some people are abused so severely, they can't just suck it up and get a little therapy (if they can afford it!) and then immediately breastfeed. For some people, even having a baby is a victory. I agree that we need to help women breastfeed despite past traumatic abuse, but I think we as lactivists need to start by adapting a compassionate attitide and not understating or underestimating the potential difficulties.

 

[moonfirefaery]

No one is saying that every person who was abused is going to be able to move on, get over it, breastfeed, and live a normal, totally healthy life as if the abuse never happened. But they can try. I was abused as a child, but I make an effort everyday to give my child a better life BECAUSE of the abuse I suffered.

 

[User101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonfirefaery No one is saying that every person who was abused is going to be able to move on, get over it, breastfeed, and live a normal, totally healthy life as if the abuse never happened. But they can try. I was abused as a child, but I make an effort everyday to give my child a better life BECAUSE of the abuse I suffered.

Quote:

it's worth trying to get some therapy and getting beyond some of this stuff

I appreciate your input but I was responding to something specific that someone DID actually say and would love to hear her thoughts on it since she's the one who said it. Not everyone can afford therapy, not everyone has access to therapy, and not everyone will "get beyond some of this stuff" simply because they go to therapy.

My point is that just because you and I by some act of grace were able to get past it does not mean that everyone can, and I firmly believe we need to start from a place of compassion, not of dismissal.

 

[julie128]

Quote:

Originally Posted by prettypixels It's gross because they can only see the breast as a sex object; so they see a baby nursing as a sex act. Never mind that most of them engage in oral sex without ever seeing that genitals are used for other purposes than sexual and that doesn't bother them a bit!

:

:

:

 

[BabyBumblebee]

I think that's just really really sad. As a SA survivor I know how difficult it can be sometimes to let go of physical sensations, but I actually found bf'ing my dd incredibly healing and peaceful, despite my fears.

My skin crawled at the thought of dd being dependent on a powder made in a factory, and subject to who knows what handling/tampering/recalls

 

[frontierpsych]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyBumblebee My skin crawled at the thought of dd being dependent on a powder made in a factory, and subject to who knows what handling/tampering/recalls

:

 

[Mrs.PhD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyBumblebee I think that's just really really sad. As a SA survivor I know how difficult it can be sometimes to let go of physical sensations, but I actually found bf'ing my dd incredibly healing and peaceful, despite my fears. My skin crawled at the thought of dd being dependent on a powder made in a factory, and subject to who knows what handling/tampering/recalls

That is so wonderful (and I agree about the powder.)

For me I was truly amazed at my body, that it knew just what to do to grow a baby. Even with me as a 1st time mama and no idea what it (my body) was doing.

Then once the baby was born, once again my body knew just what to do. It now only grew my child, it was able to feed it and even tell me WHEN to feed it.

I have never been so impressed my own body and boobs before in my life.

My neighbor said the same type of thing about breast feeding. She had NO interest in it and her mother was outraged that they wouldn't give her any meds to dry up her milk. She just had to suffer through engorgement. This was 14 years ago.

 

[User101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyBumblebee I think that's just really really sad. As a SA survivor I know how difficult it can be sometimes to let go of physical sensations, but I actually found bf'ing my dd incredibly healing and peaceful, despite my fears.

I agree.

For me, breastfeeding my children was beautifully healing.

 

[dukeswalker]

WHen I nursed my 1st (at age 18 for 6 days) it DID make my skin crawl - but that was because I never viewed my breasts as anything but sexual. It wasn't until I became a woman - in part because of the mothering I did for my 1st - that allowed me to see how amazing my body was - and that I wasn't merely a sexual object - but a fully functioning woman....I feel bad for women who feel that way - because i WAS a girl who felt that way. I also think that when you toss into the picture a "traditional" medicalized birth, further surpressing the good mama hormoses we get when we really experience childbirth - I think it can feel (or atleast they think it feels) don't right icky.

I agree, by NIP we are sending the message to the younger generations that we (women) are pretty darn cool and that there isn't anything sexual about it. (Or atleast that's what I hope for)

 

[HeatherKae]

I think I'm a prime example of not needing to LIKE breastfeeding to do it. Yes. That's right. I said it. I don't like breastfeeding. In fact, I hate it. Yes. I hate it. And yet, I do it. Why? Because I am SUPPOSED to. I don't like changing poopy diapers much or being spit up upon, but I do what I have to b/c I am a mother with babies to feed, diapers needing to be changed, and bellies to burp.

I get really sick and tired of hearing women say crap like that. "Oh, I just don't want someone messing with my boobs." Yeah, well neither do I but that's the choice I made when I decided to have children.

Excuses make ME heave.