how can we nomalise breastfeeding??

tiktok · 17/04/2008 23:42

Puzzled somewhat....how would bottle feeding classes normalise breastfeeding?

moondog · 17/04/2008 23:43

Maybe she means a scenario in which breastfeeding seen as default option and bottle feeding having to be taught? (That is, opposite of situation now.)

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shreksmissus · 17/04/2008 23:45

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shreksmissus · 17/04/2008 23:46

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moondog · 17/04/2008 23:48

lol
I must drink Champagne to excess more often then.

bossykate · 17/04/2008 23:50

i think formula companies should be made to call their product "breast milk substitute".

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shreksmissus · 17/04/2008 23:51

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shreksmissus · 17/04/2008 23:52

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MissingMyHeels · 17/04/2008 23:55

I think there is SO much that needs to be done regarding educating people, whilst most of my friends are fine with me bfeeding around them my friends from school (so my younger friends, same age as me, 21) have a real issue with me doing it around them. So much so that I now take out expressed milk so I can give her a bottle.

They just think it's gross and horrible and as much as I try and educate them they don't seem to be able to desexualise breasts. I am sure they will when they decide to have kids - but maybe they won't? I don't think they appreciate that it's totally different to me just getting my breasts out for the sake of it, one of my male friends even suggested I bfeed in the toilet, I suggested he fucked off outside if he didn't like it. I am generally confident and opinionated but I have given up fighting them on it now.

I think someone less confident about bfeeding or maybe someone struggling could find an attitude like this even tougher to deal with. So IMO we need to educate people more, especially younger people.

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shreksmissus · 18/04/2008 00:02

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MissingMyHeels · 18/04/2008 00:13

I think people should breastfeed on television more, you hardly ever see it! It should definitely be discussed at school from a young age and I think people should be made aware of the consequences of using formula (when it's not made correctly etc) as whilst everyone knows that bfeeding is best I think lots of people feel that formula is pretty much as good.

If it were up to me I would do a national TV and billboards campaign - like the stop smoking ones but from a start bfeeding point of view. It would need to be handled carefully as I don't think making people who can't breastfeed feel guilty is helpful either but I think people need to see that anyone and everyone should feel comfortable choosing to breastfeed. A few posters in ante-natal clinics isn't enough and it's preaching to the mainly converted as most Mums to be know the benefits.

I just think breastfeeding needs a good PR job to be honest! Mass media convinces lots of people about all kinds of useless crap stuff, it could do a sterling job on increasing numbers of bfeeders - a genuine good cause.

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shreksmissus · 18/04/2008 00:20

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moondog · 18/04/2008 00:22

Looking at local paper tonight,i note that they alert you of smoking inmovies in same way as used to apply to sex and violence.
Blimey.
Bottle feeding next?

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shreksmissus · 18/04/2008 00:29

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moondog · 18/04/2008 00:33

Neither do I.
Not sure what I think these days!

tiktok · 18/04/2008 09:47

Interesting thread

There's certainly a respectable position that to make something Big Deal and Special about breastfeeding is not good - it sort of sidelines it, makes it fringey and like you say, not normal.

I also think that people who use formula do need to know more about how to do it - there are ways to formula feed that reduce its many risks and drawbacks, and of course mothers should know about them. But the most effective way to pass these ideas on is probably one to one, when the baby is actually here, and now I come to think about it, this is the most effective way to pass on breastfeeding skills!

I am an NCT breastfeeding counsellor and I do lead breastfeeding classes, 'cos they are part and parcel of the NCT antenatal course. On the whole, parents to be want to have a session on breastfeeding, and not to have one would be seen as a lesser service.

So we are prob stuck with the idea of doing a class on bf antenatally, a model which is also adopted in other a/n classes run by others.

But the most effective teaching I do on breastfeeding is, I think, afterwards, when the baby is real.

mum2samandalex · 18/04/2008 11:33

I think more celebs encouraging it perhaps poster campaigns etc featuring them as sad as it might be celebs do have alot of influence over society.Breasts have become more of a sexual object rather then something that has a purpose like feeding babies.

MrsBadger · 18/04/2008 11:40

another link to the fab site here

ReverseThePolarity · 18/04/2008 12:00

I think simply seeing more women bf like it's not a big huge deal would normalise it a great deal.

But lots of women I know are nervous of feeding in public because there's such an emphasis on doing it discreetly.

Fine if you have nice small-medium boobs and a single baby with a perfect right-first-time latch who is not easily distracted and is happy to tolerate clothing over his/her head, and you don't have a very strong let down and don't have to cover yourself in muslins to soak up the excess milk, for example.

But anything outside of this and it's difficult to be discreet. And those that feel they can't be discreet feel they can't bf in public at all. I know lots of Mums who express and take a bottle out with them, or who just don't go out.

And when women aren't bfing in public... no one sees it and it's not normalised.

Other things too would help though. School age education - I mean a sixteen year old will know what osmosis means, but not colostrum.

I'm never sure bfing celebrities help that much - adds to the attitude of "well of course she can bf she has loads of money & help and time etc but normal Mums just can't".

oiFoiF · 18/04/2008 12:05

I think bossykates idea is good one. people dont seem to understand anymore that breastmilk is made for human babies. They dont understand that you can make enough/nourish a child/satisfy a child etc etc

and ban fucking centile chart pressure

oiFoiF · 18/04/2008 12:07

I dont like feeding in public either and i dont thibnk its fair to put pressure on women to do it if they dont want to. IOt doesnt mean you cannot feed though as there should be enough feeding rooms everywhere to feed in, should there...

oiFoiF · 18/04/2008 12:07

shouldnt

GrapefruitMoon · 18/04/2008 12:27

I personally think that the more people see friends and family members (and even the general public) breastfeeding, the more it will be seen as "the norm".

And encourage children to see it as normal too - my youngest dc has no recollection of being BF and I'm not really sure he has actually seen a baby being BF. But he knows that that's what women's breasts are for (until his dad tells him otherwise at least!). We had an interesting conversation about BFing yesterday (instigated by him) - one of the results of which was that he decided that men don't BF because they are too furry and the babies wouldn't like it!

Having said all that, I would respect anyone's decision not to breastfeed (but would hope they had made an informed decision)

oiFoiF · 18/04/2008 12:29

my ds who is 6 thinks all babies are breastfed and has even invented his own makaton sign for breastmilk (is there a real one moondog?)

Maybe thats what the problem is. Years ago Mum would be having babies for 20 yrs. Nowe mum has to drop a few out withina couple of years and be done with the whole thing

GrapefruitMoon · 18/04/2008 12:33

I think that's an issue with of lot of stuff to do with babies and children - which is why MN comes in handy! So many people come from small families so never have real experience of small children & babies until they have their own.

Although I didn't appreciate it at the time, having younger siblings who I helped to look after as a teenager, really gave me good experience for motherhood!