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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

126 replies

MPharm · 18/08/2022 14:32

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?

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 19/08/2022 23:44

MajorCarolDanvers · 19/08/2022 15:12

@WhereAreMyAirpods

Any mum who has breastfed knows how hard it is to get timely, professional advice from someone who can deal with all of the issues she is facing

Completely agree with this.

My health visitor was useless for BF advice after about 4 months because I was the only client she had still breastfeeding. All the other mums had switched to formula by then. Every time I had a BF questions she consulted google for the answer - because she hadn't breastfed and she wasn't used to dealing with breastfeeding women after the newborn stage. A person with lived experience (or any experience) would have been brilliant.

But where do you draw the line at the right experience? Someone who's bf for four years to cover most eventualities? But then how much experience will she have of actively weening a child? What if you nerd info about dairy intolerance or tongue tie or poor latch or inverted nipples? At some point you have to accept that not everyone who does every job can have lived experience of everything

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