Wow!! What an iflammatory subject! I have read through the entire thread and felt compelled to post - for the first time ever, anywhere. I completely endorse and support freedom of speech, but also feel that this requires the speaker (or writer) to recognise the resposibility that comes with such freedom. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and judgement, no matter how biased, prejudiced, abhorrent etc. others may find it. They are not, however, entitled to spout forth their beliefs to anyone and everyone, not least because views can incite, influence, hurt and affect in ways that cannot always be foreseen.
I have bf successfully, quite long-term, and loved every minute. If asked for an opinion on bfeeding by an expectant mum, I would wholeheartedly endorse it and offer what support I could, but I would aim to offer them a balanced view, and this is what the offending article lacks. I have bf (very discreetly) in public, but won't in front of certain people or in certain situatons because it makes ME uncomfortable. I couldn't really give a monkey's what others think of what I'm doing. I have never encountered 'militant bfeeding mother's' and would not class myself as one. When people have found out I'm bfeeding I have had very mixed responses - a few positive, some people have literally expressed disgust, my HV was so surprised at how long I fed for it was as though I'd said I was embarking a a project to crochet a life-size replica of the Eiffel Tower, but I have been judged and deemed a bit 'weird', and only, obviously, by those that haven't bf. One friend actually said bfeeding wasn't 'natural'. I do feel that there is a stigma attached to bfeeding and this article perpetuates that. It also reinforces the sexualisation of women which takes us back several decades. What also saddens me is how divisive we, as women, are. How we feed our children is important as it is reflective of the decisions we have made and the growth and development of our children is often how we measure our own success as a parent. Whatever your choice, if it is an informed one, credit to you as it shows you have at least taken the time to think about it - and this applies to both ff's and bf's alike. What works for one will not work for another but as long as we think about and care about what goes into our children's bodies, surely we're on the right track? I agree with the seldom discussed, but vitally important point made earlier about what under-5's are fed generally. Whatever goes into our children for the first 6months or so can potentially be negated if we then load them with crap once they're weaned steps off soap box goes to check that children aren't eating play-doh/crayons/dog food