AIBU to wonder if this is discriminatory by The Breastfeeding Network?

[MPharm]

Today a friend shared a Facebook post advertising a voluntary opportunity for pharmacists to work with The Breastfeeding Network to provide advice on medications during breastfeeding. This is a large part of my day job so I had a look out of interest. One of the essential criteria is 'experience of breastfeeding at least one baby for four months'. As a childless woman I therefore cannot apply. This role is not peer support, or help to establish breastfeeding. It is a pharmacist role advising on the passage of drugs into breastmilk. I can't see why lived experience is essential. AIBU to wonder if this is discrimination? AFAIK being childless is not a protected characteristic, but is infertility? Sex is, so it's surely at least discrimination against men.

In addition, someone has commented on their post expressing her sadness she cannot apply as she breastfed for less than 4 months. The reply says if she 'breast/chest fed at all' she may be considered. So their language can be inclusive of some groups, but not child-free women?

@MPharm

So you're outraged for the sake of it

Ffs

You never wanted to apply so why not scroll past and not let it annoy you

YANBU, surely all that matters is that you have the knowledge about what medications can pass into breastmilk and their effects? Somebody could breastfeed for 15 years on the trot and know nothing about it! How silly.

It's a voluntary role, although they are being very specific on the type of person they want to fill it. I wish them luck!!!

I'm quite sure lots of voluntary roles will have lower requirements.

But to answer the original question discrimination doesn't apply to volunteers. You're not earning a wage so you need no protection from discrimination.

I would assume they are looking for pharmacists that have breastfed past 3 months because that is a very intense newborn period. With clusterfeeding, tongue tie, sore/bleeding nipples, thrush, slow weight gain, low supply, over supply etc.
Chances are you may have experienced some of the above whilst breastfeeding and may be able to give advice in addition advising about the effect of medication on breastfeeding.

I think one of the problems with low breastfeeding rates could be down to having midwives that have never breastfed giving support. They may be experienced as midwives but now nothing about breastfeeding, newborn behavior, latch issues etc.

I'd use the time to locus tbh, not worth the hassle apply. Just swipe left 😂

Surely it should be listed as a "desirable" rather than "essential" skill. That way they can shortlist people who haven't actually breastfed, but do have the best professional pharmaceutical knowledge. And then make a final decision weighing up all the elements candidates might bring to the role.

Well anyone who hasn't breastfed is quite useless to me when I need advice. The local pharmacist here wasn't even sure what I could and couldn't take and said I would have to formula feed. No one who has gone through the tribulations of breastfeeding for months would ever throw that suggestion out. So I'm in support of lived experience as much as possible!

I don’t know if it’s discriminatory or not, but I would prefer breastfeeding advice from a person who can actually relate in addition to being a professional in a certain area. If you feel it’s discriminatory, seek legal advice.

And yet the Period Dignity Working Group didn't deem it necessary to employ a women as their Period Dignity Officer!

As the BFN helper course (peer support) is an essential criteria, that would be the case for positive discrimination. But, that said...I would probably challenge why that is part of the role, because they seem at odds with one another 🤔

I do see your point, but when I was BF I saw an absolutely incredibly lactation consultant who was far more knowledgeable and gave better advice than any other HV, nurse, or NHS LC, and she herself had never had a child much less breastfed one.

If it wasn't for her then I wouldn't have been able to continue breastfeeding.

I'd probably have agreed with you if I hadn't had that experience.

As I said before, you can breastfeed for 15 years and not have the foggiest whether certain drugs are safe to take when bfing.

As I said before, you can breastfeed for 15 years and not have the foggiest whether certain drugs are safe to take when bfing.

Not if you're a qualified pharmacist

no I don’t think it’s discriminatory. There may be medications which cross over into the milk and mothers may have to make the decision to “pump and dump”, quit breastfeeding or breastfeed hours after taking the medication. It’s more difficult to completely understand the effect this will have on the mother, the baby and the baby’s routine if you’ve never breastfed a baby.

I don't understand this? Any medical professional can explain a medical fact to a patient without having experienced the actual issue themselves??

It won’t affect the outcome either way so why does it matter? If they had problems implementing the advice they wouldn’t go to a pharmacist anyway they would seek help from bfing professions. You’re conflating two separate issues.

Yeah. I didn't realise it was just volunteering. So yes this

@MillyWithaY

Do you know what a period dignity officer does?

I'm pretty sure you don't

It isn't discriminatory, but it is optimistic. I hope their client group don't suffer because of it.

Well anyone who hasn't breastfed is quite useless to me when I need advice. The local pharmacist here wasn't even sure what I could and couldn't take and said I would have to formula feed.

Sadly I’ve had the opposite experience. I went to a breastfeeding group when I was struggling and the most useless and unhelpful advice came from other women who had breasted with relative ease.

It's not a battle you should fight. It's a worthy cause and women who have breastfed will have more advice to impart

There are very few roles that don't require experience/abilities that exclude some people, often for reasons beyond that person's control.
The ability to drive
Good standards of written English
Physical fitness
As long as the requirements are justifiable (there are strong arguments in favour of lived experience being important) and don't unfairly and unnecessarily exclude people on the grounds of a protected characteristic, its not a problem.

But the overwhelming majority thought they should have.

I don't. What do they do? I've actually never heard of such a position until the furore when they appointed a man.

I can see why it would be best to have a working understanding of breastfeeding logistics and also safe medications when prescribing for breastfeeding mothers.

Knowing what's safe is one thing but knowing what is likely to be workable, and anticipate concerns the mum may have is another.

It's a voluntary role so I don't see why it's skin off your nose. Is this in Scotland? I'm sure there'll be a fella along to fill the role shortly.