Telegraph: 'Breastfeeding going out of fashion'

[thesmallestpotato]

Has anyone read this??? I can't get through the paywall to actually read the article, could anyone do a quick summary?

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/10139435/10-reasons-why-breastfeeding-is-out-of-fashion.html

It is a pretty lame excuse to get women to stop breast feeding so someone else can feed the newborn baby. What would be more helpful is if said person who wants to feed the baby, helped the mother to cook or clean instead.

How many women get pressured into trying to be some sort of nigella lawson soon after birth?

Fair enough if it is your choice, but to pressure a mum who wants to bf to stop is not what should happen.

Hmmm the only time my dp did that was when my 3 lost waaaay too much weight,he had every right to.

Since when was breastfeeding fashion related? Its sustenance for baby and the best thing for them. They will grow up and go off and do their own thing and will one day ignore everything you say and do no matter how good it may be for them, breast feeding is a mother's opportunity to do their child some good... (considering that even parents tend to mess up their kids sometimes!)
Speaking from my own experience breastfeed my child:

1. Breast feeding needs a new marketing and advertising campaign, not only targeted at maternity wards and antenatal clinics but to the general public. Everyone - men, women, young, old need to see and understand that is normal, healthy and beneficial to breast feed. Why cant there be a breast feeding posted on the road side just like the stop smoking poster?
2. Breasts needs to be de-glamourised. Yea, their really cool to have and makes that slinky blouse look great and can be used by some as a WMD. But they are here for a purpose as well - not just to be looked at. They have the ability to keep another life healthy and strong. Ref point 1.
3. Breast feeding instructors need to be realistic when they are teaching mum-to-be. Tell us that 'yes, it will be difficult at first, ' yes, you will need to stop everything you are doing to bf', 'yes, you will find hours of your life just vanishing away in bf time', 'yes, you will have moments of doubt', ' yes, you will want to give up', 'yes, it will make your outings in public a little more challenging'. And teach us how to cope.
4. Public spaces need to be made bf friendly. While i can lift my top and bf in public; it does require me to gather my guts and keep an eye out at the surroundings. While no one really gwaks or stares, my sense of modesty gets in the way of what I know is best for my baby.
5. Baby changing rooms should also accommodate for breast feeding. All I'm asking for is a chair!!
6. HW and bf support workers can also help with demonstrating to new mums the tools at their disposal to make bf easier. I would have loved it if my HV told me 'here, try this pillow' or 'the so-and-so pump has worked for a number or women'. Instead of me trawling websites and forums for info and reading reviews
7. Returning to work while bf is very difficult (Im dreading the thought). HW should also provide moral support during such times when the easier option is to give up

...ok, I'll stop now

Hear, hear!

MrButtercat KM would not make me bf or bottlefeed my dc. My dc would though.

Fashionable? Ffs

My DH went to an amazing breastfeeding for dads session run by our local NCT breastfeeding counsellor. It was run by the lady and her husband, and I absolutely credit this class as the thing that kept us going with breastfeeding as a family. My DH has always been so supportive, bringing drinks and snacks in the early days, bringing the baby to me for night feeds and helping me adjust my latch.

The local NHS breastfeeding classes are advertised as "strictly women only"

I personally have no issue with how a woman chooses to feed her child, as long as that child is happy and fed. I do have an issue with women not being supported in their choices, and it's hard to be supported when breast feeding is treated like some daft secret society.