to feel really sad about what this young mum said?

[CathyBurns]

I don't know this girl well, just know her through someone else - but she's young (late teens) and pg with first baby

she said to her friend "Ugh, no, I won't be breastfeeding, XXX (partner) hates it, he says it's gross and like an animal"

who are these people who think like this? Where has it come from?

I had DD at just nineteen. I was a single mother. I breastfed her for two and a half years. It never occurred to me not to breastfeed. Perhaps I should add the disclaimer that I'm fairly middle class and privately educated, though.

sorry but what has class got to do with BF?

I know many people who dont work and have little education who BF their babies.

I also know people who have a high intellect and work, who dont breastfeed their babies.

why is class being brought into breastfeeding, (really wanting to know) just because someone is poor or uneducated, means they dont want to BF their child.

Or is it only rich people who BF (going by some posters comments?)

confused.com

LittleMrsHappy - the fact is that breastfeeding is much more prevalent amongst middle class Mums.

Of course anecdotal evidence shows working class Mums b/feeding and middle class Mums not - but actual statistics show that uptake is much more likely amongst the middle class.

The ONLY person that bought up class was me, just to be clear. I said it was predominantly a middle class thing. And many many people have disagreed with me, which is fair enough.

I dont want this to look like loads of people have said "she isnt b feeding cos shes a pikey" etc, as this is not so!

I just commended that b feeding (& b feeding nazis) are generally middle class, and I stand by that comment too.

Just stating a pereception not starting a class war......

I know at least 3 people who have said they didn't breast feed because they are not animals and it's disgusting.

Here's the office for national statistics on breast feeding and level of education attained by the mother:

www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=6415&More=Y

Sadly, breast feeding is a class issue. Of course there are those who break the trend, but it doesn't destroy the trend.

Interesting thread. Sad that the young mum wouldn't consider giving bf-ing a try, I think, but agree with other posters that it is a class issue.

In terms of the 'breasts are for baby not for husband', what does everyone think of Desmond Morris's theory (in 'The Naked Ape', 1967) that "in our species, breast design is primarily sexual rather than maternal in function"?

His view was (and I suppose, still is), that if feeding was the primary function, we wouldn't have evolved round, full breasts (which, as many women know, can cause difficulty with latching on etc), but would look like chimps with largely flat breasts and long, teat-like nipples.

The round breasts, he believes, have evolved (along with many other complex sexual characteristics) so women can continue to be sexually attractive to her mate so he'll stick around to help with the huge burden of parenting.

Not a view you hear much these days - I'm no anthropologist and wonder if this theory has since been discredited or simply overlooked?

I was a single working class teenage mum - i breast fed, it was never going to be any other way.

I am a bit of a bf nazi too, i am still working class, but no longer, sadly, a young mum!

I am very about those who say bf repulses them, what about the days before formula, what if it just wasn't possible to bottle feed? Would you still have been repulsed? Of course you wouldn't - which goes to show that it is society and often womens dislike for women that causes such feelings - tis not natural to be repulsed by BF, not natural at all.

We are lucky we have Formula, i mix fed both of my DDs and after six months totally bottle fed, because i had a choice, i just don't get the whole repulsed thing - i get the having to work thing, i get the actually its not always straight forward to BF thing, it doesn't always work and actually we have formula so we dont have to be miserable because we cant produce enough milk, we cant get a proper latch etc etc thats all fine - its fine to simply decide its not for you - but to be repulsed by it? I don't buy it

Perfectly good theory, but the idea was that breasts in humans evolved to be both sexual and able to feed their young.

Thankyou Ladies, interesting read x

humans are intrinsically more sexual though aren't they? Because we are more complex? Theres the emotions too. Aren't we the only species with a female orgasm? apart from the bonobo monkey aren't we the only ones who fuck for fun?

My breasts ARE sexual, i dont know whether or not this is an evolutionary thing, i suspect it may be - but they feel good when sucked, they have a hot line to my clitoris and i have nearly climaxed from nipple stimulation. For this reason, i was a bit about BF when i was pregnant but decided i would have to get over myself, i didnt have to, it didn't bother me at all and certainly no sexual feelings whatsoever. But when DP did it, there was, see tis all in the mind.

thanks for sharing that......

why the [bisciut] I am simply making a point which as i said in my earlier post pertaining to the OP, maybe someone who is in her late teens is going to be all up in the air about sexual feelings as they are not sexually mature and that maybe BF might be a bit of a head fuck? and maybe that is why young mums dont tend to BF? But well, they do so......

OK but I think we all know that breasts are sexual already, without quite the detail you shared!!!!!

colditz.

the point you have made is that the choice you made, you had to make, but it was the best choice for your baby/ies.

that's the best choice you could make.

that you had to make it and what you went through

i know 2 gps who didn't breastfeed, didn't want for whatever reason. their choice.

I also know a 15 year old single mum who bf successfully and enjoyed it. There are always exceptions to the stereotype.

I bf both of mine until 4.5 months then switched to ff for emotional, practical and health reasons. I'm pleased I did that long but don't feel I should pat myself on the back or advertise the fact, I know that's a short time by mn standards despite it being a long time in rl.

I didn't really enjoy bf, particularly dd my first, I felt enslaved, trapped, restricted and as if my body wasn't my own. same reasons I didn't enjoy being pg. I wanted to share childcare with dh as did he and bf meant the most fundamental aspect of childcare fell to me which made me angry and resentful.

Breasts ARE sexual, men find them sexually attractive and women find their stimulation sexually pleasing. That's the reality of it.

I hated my breats being touched when bf, I also had NO sex drive at all. This massively affected our relationship, dh tried to be understanding but ultimately he didn't enjoy being in a sexless marriage, fair enough.

The pro bf looby do themselves no favours when they describe themselves as "militant" etc., and are at women who choose not to. they could do with hiring a good PR company to change their image somewhat this may go someway to improving bf rates in the UK.

Despiet my experiences I think bf is great and I wish for bf to be completely normalised in our culture as i think fear of doing it in public is what hinders a lot of women. The best way for it to be normalised is not to demonise ff but for all bf women to do it anytime, anyplace, anywhere without fear of being commented on/asked to stop.

I know of a few bf mothers who've placed extra pressure on themse;ves by always going home to feed as they wouldn't do it in public. I did, but only in certain places I'll admit due to fear and anxiety about the response I'd get in certain environments.

I did not bf for long, lots of things went wrong long story, but still feel that its the right milk for a baby, and would myself not have considered formula if i did not have too. It does make me a bit to read some of the reasons as to why people do not bf, like one of theose highlighted by the op for example. I do respect that it is a choice which women should have how they feed, we live in a 'democratic country', just wish they would give it a go at least, they might like it.

Lucyellensmumma I don't really care whether you buy it or not. Your reaction is precisely why people lie.

sorry to offend your sensibilities porc - but people were blaming the sexualisation of breasts at the begining of the thread and i was merely demonstrating that society has no influence on physical sexuality - anyway, im clearly some sort of nympho - im off for a cup of tea and a jammy dogder

I really think that everyone should try, for their own benefis if nothing else - Not liking the thought of it is not a good enough reason tbh.

LEM you forgot to add that people who don't try are "just plain lazy"

I also respect people have their reasons for not wanting too like Coldtits fair enough, I think that we should be promoting bf in a different way, not nesessarily 'breast is best', I heard the use of the term 'every bf counts' meaning for every bf there are benefits to the baby, even if you do it for two weeks, not go all guns blazing and making people feel bad because they chose not to bf or had to give up early. There was a thread with a couple of people who said some really harsh things at people who had to give formula as they were having problems bf. That is not the way to go at all, and actually puts people off tbh, and helps with the stereotypes of bf matron or dear i say it nazi.

but coldtits, i dont think that so why would i add it - its far easier to BF than fuck about with bottles! You yourself had REASONS not to BF, i totally respect that - I just don't buy that it is repulsive, how can it be?

actually the more i think about it, the more i think people should have a legitimate reason not to bf and that when they are applying to buy formula they should have to submit a three page essay outlining their reasons for not BFing before they are then given a license to buy formula!

Christ, old enough to procreate but not old enough to be a mother!