how can we nomalise breastfeeding??

[shreksmissus]

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COLDITZ I wholeheartedly agree, we should be showing childrne it's normal.
DD is seven and happily talks to anyone about mummy feeding her new brother from her boobs, at times I almost want to say 'Sh, stop talking about breasts!' but I stop myself, why shouldn't she talk about it?
It's food!

ROFL at Divastrop's suggesting I might have small pert socially acceptable boobs. PMSL, LOLOLOLOL. Size 32G - Bravissimo girl. Sometimes GG even. Hardly pert, and of course bigger when lactating, which I'm not doing any more.

Many centuries ago, when I was at (girls') school I remember

• much sniggering and looking at me when we sang "my cup runneth over" in assembly
• guessing my size to be 50 Z
• suggestions I was more likely to get breast cancer because well endowed
• suggestions I would be keeping them in my waistcoat pockets by the age of 30

but still none of these adverse comments caused me to feel embarrassed about my "assets" as they were called, especially in a bf situation.

My view is, breasts are for feeding babies first and foremost. Yes, they have a role to play in sexual attraction and sexual behaviour, but when feeding in public, breasts are clearly being used for the former and not the latter. Besides, hardly any of the breast is on display, esp when baby is latched on.

I take the view that any one who thinks breastfeeding is to do with sex has sadly misunderstood what it's all about, and I am not going to let their ignorance and stupidity compromise my baby's health and wellbeing.

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While shopping with dh today we popped into Drukcers for coffee and cake. Ds started squawking for food, so I duly popped out the boob and put him on. One of the assistants who couldn't have been more than 17 came over (I initially thought to complain or tell me to stop) and said, 'Awwww....how beautiful'.

I was so chuffed and heartened.

Druckers even.

And the cake was delicious!

I think women do know that bf is what they should do but there is this 'I was bottle-fed it never did me any harm' belief, almost as if if they did bf it would be a criticism of their own mothers and the way they were brought up, iyswim. And I wonder how supportive the grandmothers are of bf if they ff? If you're not in that culture it can be quite hard, especially as you look to women in your family who've had children for advice. That's a big barrier to overcome, imo in normalising bf.

Just as the mw visits for 21 days after birth of your first baby, just as valuable would have been a bf supporter for the same length of time. The HV asked if I was bf, said I was struggling but managing to express. She dutifully ticked the breast feeding box and went away happy!

And frankly I didn't think the information I got about bf was up to much. It didn't address any of the issues I had and as ppl have said it's a practical skill. A few lecturing antenatal classes that got ppl's backs up and a couple of leaflets handed out in a Bounty bag aren't going to increase bf rates.

So I would like to see antenatal bf support offered as the norm rather than having to be proactive and seek it out. Bf classes even & drop in sessions I would have gone to, as then you're part of a bf gang.

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