Breastfeeding mums giving each other anonymous thank you cards

[CathyLewis]

www.buzzfeed.com/harrietclugston/breastfeeding-mums-are-passing-thank-you-notes-to-276ck

Question to counter that I was the only person in my family who hasn't breastfeed. I couldn't for medical reasons.

Family knew that. It didn't stop them constantly asking why I didn't, giving not helpful advice.

Result? Constantly thinking I was a bad mum and not doing right by my DC.

It's quite sweet. I think let's not make this about bottle feeding mothers potential feelings of inadequacy - this is just one woman printing up a few cards, not a government initiative.

Not the same but at breastfeeding group the leader gave me a print out showing what breastfeeding for x time did for your baby - IE 3 weeks x% less likely to get tummy bugs, that sort of thing. I was there to
Give up breastfeeding ( was having an operation) and I did enjoy receiving it. I thought I might be giving up before my baby wants but i have done all these cool things for us. Why not feel good about it?

Okay yes of course both stories are real, both these dynamics prevail. Encouragement and empathy is useful all around

I agree, Questions.

I think let's not make this about bottle feeding mothers potential feelings of inadequacy

I think also listen to bottle feeding mothers and how they also feel about it.

Are these cards also given to bottle feeding mothers? No thought not. It is another way to split and divide.

Why is BFing in public still such a big deal? Your baby needs feeding, just get your boob out and get on with it. No-one needs to see any flesh except maybe you and the baby. Likewise no-one needs to be congratulated for it, it's completely unremarkable.

Ha! I KNOW no one would have given me a wee little card or commenters...other than with disgust at me breastfeeding my 3 year old in public!
There's a line between ahhh how lovely, squidgy little new one to .....oh. Look a woman with a toddler attached.

I Was bloody good at doing it in disguise.

No fivesix, they are not given to bottle feeding mothers- why would they be? It would be ridiculous to suggest everyone should get a card, printed up by individuals which say well done for feeding your baby

It would be ridiculous to suggest everyone should get a card, printed up by individuals which say well done for feeding your baby

It is ridiculous that anyone should get them imo.

Breastfeeding requires a human to suck on a part of your body and brings with it a sorts of bodily fluid related challenges - cracks flesh blood bruises milk pumps cluster feeds disapproving elders an unevenly accepting public - all of it are part of breastfeeding.

There is nothing wrong with encouraging mums while they go through that.

Have we truly reached a situation where we cannot say an encouraging word about breastfeeding unless we remove the word breast out and simply say the encouraging word about all feeding in general?

It is not ridiculous. This is not a state directed or even charity supported move.

If you see a nursing mum looking nervous in public and think of your own sore days ten years ago and want to give her a card well then do it.

If you see a bottle feeding mum looking hesitant taking out a bottle in public and you remember being made to feel guilty or perceiving pressure from ten years ago and want to give the bottle feeding mum a card to remind her to keep her chin up m, then do it.

Nobody is governing either of hear moves. Nobody is preventing these from becoming viral.

Thanking a complete stranger for performing an act that doesn't concern you whatsoever is weird in the extreme. What's next - "I saw you give your kid a fruit shoot, you pathetic excuse for a mother"???
Mind Your Own Business.

Your baby needs feeding, just get your boob out and get on with it
But it isn't that straight-forward for lots of women. I loved bf'ing and I did feed wherever I was, but I did find it quite hard at first. I felt uncomfortable getting my boob out. I felt awkward.

Getting a compliment from someone is nice. I don't see what the problem is with these. Why would anyone else take offense about a woman getting a compliment?
It's lovely to see more and more women breastfeeding in public because it then makes it easier for other women who want to do the same.

I just think it adds to the whole smuggy smugness reputation that breastfeeding sometimes gets. As someone who is currently breastfeeding if I got one of these cards I'd find it incredibly patronising.

I would tell them to fuck off. So patronising .

Personally getting a card like that would make me want to switch to formula.

Everyone's different isn't it :) if I'd got that- in a country without any family of my own and with Inlaws who firmly and vocally believe formula is "a superior nutritional product" (FIL worked for aptamil) - them I'd have probably cried a bit. Everyone's different.

What toss!

Why does a mother need to be thanked for feeding her child?

oh no! I know I am really twee but I love this idea.

I am a bit too tit happy but... I know mums who are really nervous about feeding in public. Even having fed their baby to 6 months.

I have also known mums (in NI) who have been asked to go to a private place to feed at a baby and toddler group WTF???

When I was visiting a friennd in NI, as I was top fidgeting to feed my daughter I was asked if I wanted to move into the kitchen for more privacy. I am still unsure if this was for me or to save her husband's blushes. She formula fed.

Alas I still think some women need support. Feeding was tricky for me so my first 'public' feeding was at an all female breastfeeding group. It was what I needed to get my tit out in public.

I think its a nice idea.

Nobody is thanking the m for feeding their kid for gods sake

Breastfeeding often comes with a set of bodily challenges including but not restricted to broken skin flesh and leaking blood as many on this thread are aware of even if they fed formula

Breastfeeding also encounters a lack of family support in a country where many families have very few breastfeeding generations to offer useful advice

Breastfeeding in public only became a part of law in 2010 and no - it's still not acceptable in very many places. Women do feel nervous

Breastfeeding involves exposing even if briefly what many would consider a private body part

So - someone thought it's nice to show a nervous fellow breastfeeding mum some support from an kind stranger. That's okay.

If it's twee for some that's okay too

If a bottle feeding mum wishes to do the same to another mum that's okay too

Questionsagaintoday - I love your answer!

I think it is a lovely thing to do