I am a militant lactivist - have you got a problem with that?

[chillybangbang]

Couldn't resist the bolshy thread title...

... but actually I would describe myself on having 'militant' beliefs and feelings on the subject of baby feeding. I wanted to post on this issue because I see a lot of ire directed at militant bf advocates - I wanted to see if I could flush out any other people on this board who feel the same.

Should explain, when I say 'militant' what I mean is that I see the fact that the majority of babies in this country are not breastfed as a political issue and one of public concern. I also see it as an ecological and economic scandal - that one of the world's greatest natural resources, one that's produced by women alone, is being squandered, and that there are people who are profiting hugely from this situation being allowed to continue unchecked.

I want to reclaim the phrase 'breastfeeding militant' from people who are currently using it as an insult. I don't think being a bf militant means you are against choice or that you are judgemental of women who don't breastfeed. In fact the more I understand about the barriers to initiating breastfeeding and the challenges breastfeeding mothers face that make them give up, the more militant I become!

So there you go, cards on the table. Are there any others on this board who want to put their hands up and say: "I am a bf militant"?

Tiktok - my understanding was that continuing bf rates declined very sharply in the 1970's in Norway. I mean - we have a pretty high bf initiation rates in some parts of the UK (85% where I live), but I'd still describe the overall bf picture as pretty bleak.

I echo what Franca and Bucharest say, here in Italy take up is much higher and I would say more so since those 1999 figures you link, not least because all hospitals are baby friendly and really promote bfing, with midwives who are competent and willing. Unfortunately many paediatricians are stuck in the dark ages (or bribed by formula companies?) and are very bottle-happy but baby clinics are not.

Also, no one bats an eyelid about bfing in public. If anything I used to get old ladies stopping to tell me their bfing stories. I never thought there would be an issue with it until I got on an Easyjet flight to London and got tutted at for feeding my 7mo at take off. Most people I know here bfed to at least a year, many to 18mo and beyond.

tiktok - both you're posts were interesting.

I thought the posters on the walls of the hospital and the way the staff behaved was off because it was such an unbalanced message. As I say my wife (and I was supportive) wanted to breast feed anyway but it seemed odd that the other choice was not represeneted at all. I definitley agree with open information about all pros and cons of breast and bottle being publicly on view and is much needed and desirable.

On the issue of Italy, I must say having been to Northern Italy many times I cannot remember ever seeing a woman breastfeed. I am guessing that relative wealth in the North and more working woman set against relative povery in the South of Italy may be a big factor in that choice. I suspect you may be right that Italy is not bf heaven.

bloss - I was interested in your post that you hated bf but seemed to have stuck at it. I agree with your point that no one should feel they have "the right to tell me to do something so personal and intimate". You seem to be in the 'pro choice' camp.

giantkatestacks - interesting to that you feel you have had to fight to bf against determined opposition. I am guessing an unhelpful employer rather than medical?

As a country we do seem to be all over the place on this issue with women being pressured in all directions. Its not fair on women or babies.

Agree with everything Penthe writes as well.

What an interesting thread, chilly, thanks for starting it! I would describe myself as a bf militant using your definition which I think is balanced and directed at the social/political structures that damage UK bf rates rather than a simplistic 'ff vs. bf' debate. However (sadly) using the word 'militant' will only conjure up negative ideas of 'bf mafia' etc.

I know issues of semantics are so dull but I just think the word 'militant' is too emotive... bit like 'radical feminist' or 'radical midwife' (there is an Association of Radical Midwives). They use the word 'radical' in its literal sense of 'root,' so, like, going back to the root of what being a feminist or a midwife is all about. But people hear 'radical' and think of hairy armpitted lentil weaving man haters!

I'm liking this thread.

Penthe (hope you don't mind a bit of familiarity here!), am so with you on the confusing 'double think' approach to this issue. If you feel bf is important for babies you are going to feel concerned that so many babies are not being breastfed in society as a whole. You can't reduce this subject to one that is about nothing more than social choice without ignoring the facts.

I also have strong ethical objection to the activities of formula companies in developing countries, and that's part of the reason I have tried not to buy and use these products myself.

However, the women who are the most entrenched users of artificial milk in this country are also the most disadvantaged, the youngest and the least powerful, and their children have the worst health outcomes. I think this is something that warrants concern too.

spinspinsugar - I see the 'nutrition' issue as applying equally to ff-ing.

Why do people accept things like 'immunofortis' (WTF!!!!) in their babies' food? What the f* is it? Are they really happy putting it into their baby???? That's my problem: people really can't choose what they put into their baby, in that respect.

My name is BCLass and I am a breastfeeding militant.

Hi Maria! Hope you are doing ok, btw!!

I pretty much agree with your analysis of society - of course, you're right about so many things there.

BUT BUT BUT! I would like to take slight issue with your point about what's natural (I think you're playing a sleight of hand there, you subtle thing! ).

People do say that bf-ing is more natural, yes. And while you're right to point out that "natural" is as culturally constructed a term when applied to "society" as any other (I've read Foucault too! ), it is CLEARLY the case that human breast milk is NATURALLY the most natural food for human babies. Rather than cows' milk.

Also, just want to say, I agree with everything that Penthe (! love the abbreviation!) wrote, I usually do agree with most of what she writes (Even though in this case we don't reach the same conclusion)... It's true that there is a huge issue with the marketing formula companies are allowed to do, and it's also true that they spread untrue messages- e.g. about breastfeeding & diet-, & that they would- obviously, as they want to make money- rather like it if these half truths & untruths are spread about bf & about their own products.
Anyone interested in breastfeeding & into the politics of bf should really be looking into this issue & doing their best to combat this misinformation.

That's quite funny chilly - I was bf'ing DS last night and thinking about it - he is 14.5mo so some people might think it's time I stopped but I am quite happy, he is quite happy, can't see the problem.

What set me thinking about it was the people who won't bf, either at all or for longer than is absolutely necessary (e.g. get the colostrum in and then switch to formula) PURELY because they "want their breasts back for themselves/their husband". This attitude amazes me - bf'ing is their JOB, it's what they are there for!!

My sis wouldn't bf because the idea nauseated her - ok, I have some sympathy with that, I suppose.

But in her pre-natal class, 80% of them weren't going to bf - because they didn't want to "be like a cow" - well! Cows provide milk for baby cows because they are mammals (i.e. have mammaries) - humans provide milk for baby humans for the same reason!

I have the greatest sympathy for anyone who can't bf; and formula needs to be available for people in this situation.

But I have zero tolerance of people who think that formula is just as good as breastmilk "it must be, or they wouldn't sell it" - oh FFS, grow up. It's never going to be as good.

Does my rant make me a militant lactivist too?

I do wonder whether this kind of identification actually reinforces the stereotype of 'a certain type of woman' who breastfeeds. And could therefore be considered counterproductive.

Sorry! I was grinning at the lovely Maria.

I'll at you too, Thumbwitch! Be a lactivist! Yeah!

Oops, Penthe (I think I'll keep this term) we've x-posted here.
OK, I agree about the most 'natural' food being breastmilk. But that means very little in my opinion. Could we then say the same about most of the stuff we eat? About other health choices we make? What is the most 'natural' food for adults to eat? All this is far more complex than we initially think.
And I stand by my point (that you rightly picked on) that the term 'natural' is completely culturally constructed & means very little, & actually acts as a huge pressure to women & families.
(I would have similar arguments about 'natural' labour... don't get me started on that one ).

I suppose what I'm arguing against is the idealization & romanticization (phew!! long words...) of bf & natural labour, while in reality women have loads of problems doing both these (supposedly) natural things & need creative, constructive, open-minded, informed, warm support. (For example, I could have done with much more support & info from my NCT antenatal classes about how to push that baby out, WITH an epidural- which I had to have & wanted to have after hours & hours of excruciating labour. The advice I was given to 'breathe through the pain' and 'act as if you're pooing' (!!!!) was frankly completely useless & patronizing).

No point being cowed (geddit! Sigh) by what people will "think", in that sense, TheFallenMadonna.

If we adopted that defeatist attitude, well...

Abetadad, regarding the BF posters on the wall at tge maternity unit, would you have felt indoctrinated by posters showing fruit and veg in the stomach departments? In a hospital the priority is health and BF is best for babies and women. That is not a lifestyle choice, it is a fact.

Really interesting thread. And I so want to be with you on this, as I can see that you're thinking of militant as being about the active championing of a cause or belief (and in a way that respects women's individual behaviours/decisions). But I always struggle with the other - I think more widely understood - meaning of militant as being about being combative or aggressive in the service of a cause. So I'm not yet convinced that this is a helpful label to try and claim in this context.

Was so taken aback by what MrsGuy had said about newspaper reporting that I had to google it - was Daily Mail - and indeed breastfeeding is apparently a "trend". I will remember that when I try to establish BF with DC1 when they arrive in the next few weeks - don't think I've followed a trend since having a ra-ra skirt back in the 80s.

Also, if the rates of bfing past 6 weeks are so low, why do they need to promote FF? Promote the lower uptake situation, not the majority situation.

Yeah!

Defeatist? I didn't say there was nothing to be done. I don't think making it harder for many women to identify with the most prominent examples of breastfeeding women is the way to go. So I'm uncertain about more people taking a 'militant lactivist' stance.

Sorry - x-posting all over the place today!

Hi Maria. I basically agree with you.

I was only picking up on the breastmilk/natural thing, because, in this one case, I do feel it worth defending, because FF companies are doing their damnedest to make out that their products are natural and "close" to bm. Which, I'm afraid, they are not.

FWIW, though it's O/T a little, I actually do think that we - adults - ought to eat more "natural" e.g. unprocessed foods as possible too. I do think that is healthier.

But completely agree that it is a complex picture.

TheProvincialLady

No of course I would not object to them showing posters of fruit and veg in a stomach department.

I might think it strange though if they put up posters about every 3 metres along both walls of a long corridor telling people to be vegetarians.

I would not dissuade anyone from being vegetarian but likewise would not seek to dissuade them from eating meat. I would just give them all the facts about diet and leave them to make the choice.

Same with bf and ff.

I agree Penthe. I also try to eat 'naturally' & to make healthy choices. But (for example) I also eat meat, & some would have it (& it's an arguable point) that that's not the healthiest or most moral choice. Etc etc. There are all sorts of variations to this.
But very very true about formula companies, they really get on my tits with their advertising & their 'immunofortis this or that'. Sigh. I always feel a slight sense of disappointment when I give my boy his evening formula bottle. But I really believe it's been the right choice for us, doing mixed feeding at this point, or should I correct that & say, not the RIGHT choice (as I said, it still feels disappointing) but the choice that our particular circumstances has led us to. I truly believe I would have quit bf a couple of months ago if I hadn't relaxed a bit about it & done mixed feeding...