Anyone currently reading Politics Of Breastfeeding?

[hunkermunker]

I'd like to talk about bits of it with people who are reading it/have read it/are interested in reading it/aren't currently interested in reading it, but will be once they've read the thread. And likely some other people too, but I haven't thought of their categories yet.

I'll review the book, definitely. I have become a fan on FB too, though I haven't actually read it yet! Still, shows how much I trust my fellow MNers. I know it will be good.

Pacific - your comment about men being 'fixers' reminds me of what I have just read in Dream Babies about the massive rise in advice books for new dads in the 90s and how they are marketed in a way which offers 'solutions' to problems, treating the baby like a little machine. There is a 'Babies for Dummies' which is set out like a guide for installing software and a Haynes style guide - they usually do guides on how to fix cars!

Oh dear. I finished Politics last night and it all goes very gloomy at the end. Feeling decidedly glum now! What a lot of research, work and passion. I am just in awe of Gabrielle Palmer.

I just gave my copy to my HV to read - she's as passionate about BF as I am so we get to climb on our soap box together

dxx

I just got mine, can't wait to read.

There is an interview with Gabrielle Palmer at the Book Depository here
Martin

Thanks Martin, look forward to reading it

Mine arrived today. Going to get reading...

finished it 2 weeks ago feeling very depressed and

what to do? And the situation in the US is so bad too - I feel like sending Barack Obama a copy of the book. It's awful to think so called 3rd world nations look to us and see ff and think, that's the thing to do.

We need a Minister for Breastfeeding at Westminster and the BBC should promote bf in all its programmes eg Eastenders. The government should advertise bf on TV to counter the artifical milk ads and all HVs and MWs need retraining (esp they stop telling bfing mothers to top up)

I've been inspired to search the web for how to take action and found this event : Breastfeeding Picnic in
Parliament Square on Monday July 20th, 2009, from noon 'till 3pm. Blog of the organiser here I invited my MP and he says he'll come along as his wife got lots of rude comments when bfing their ds.

Great thread.

I have just ordered the book from the Book depository (never knew it before so double discovery).

Just wondering how any of us "convinced" bf-ers can convince others to bf.

As a pp said, the ones who need convincing wouldn't touch the book.

I have started a thread before about this before (wanting advice about helping a friend who was using formula top-ups) and got a complete flaming from people telling me to mind my own business.

But can you really be aware of all the benefits of bf and the industry behind ff and NOT want to influence your friends just a little.

It feels WRONG not to.

I know haventslept - I have just signed the one million campaign petition here and I want to spread the word but I'm worried about offending my friends some of whom ff and those who bf have stopped (our babies are 9/10MO). It's such an emotive issue, it's difficult to prosletyse without stepping on people's feelings.

Message withdrawn

I have signed the petition sambo - thanks for the link.

One positive thing to do - and one which doesn't involve potentially offending friends - is to stop buying Nestle products. I think some student unions and possibly schools still ban them.

No way I can get to London on 20th July but I'll have a look at the blog and keep an eye out for anything local.

Like so many others here, I have been disturbed by reading this book and searching for ways to encouraging more mothers to b/f and make it the 'norm'.

Some years ago - before I had my own children and no real opinion/knowledge about feeding babies - I worked in a hospital with mothers and their newborns. Hardly any breastfed and if they did it was only very briefly. I frequently heard new mothers talk about the "breastfeeding nazis" on the labour wards and infer that, in some cases, not even attempting to b/f at all was almost an act of rebellion. I have often wondered since what would have made a difference to these women.

I agree with HaventSlept that there's a real fear of interfering with people's life choices, although, as Palmer says, "most women do not 'choose' how they feed their babies: they do what their culture and society expects". She also talks about how the 'benefits' of b/f-ing make it sound as though artificial feeding is normal and safe when the risks are never highlighted - just that breastfeeding is an extra advantage.

It is fantastic, of course, that women are entitled to maternity leave, but when I hear ideas such as the sharing of leave between both parents - separately - I am stunned that b/fing is not brought up as an argument against this! (Not that I've come across anyway).

Sorry if this makes no sense whatsoever!!

mrsgamp I totally agree with you - one of my NCT friends was adamant she would not bf because "everyone is telling me to do it" and I was also stunned by the think tank suggestion that ML is shared between partners - no mention at all of how that would really make bf difficult. The Government thinking is not joined up at all.

banoffi I am not familiar with the tea towel thingies American women wear and the very thought depresses me. Within months of getting bf sorted I was flashing my boobs accidentally whilst out and about and I didnt care one whit, which is the opposite of how I thought I would be. Bfing made me amazed and proud at how powerful womens bodies are but seems I am in the minority.

Who is the petition by? like to know these things before I sign 'em.

about the American women with the tea towel thing.

In Abu Dhabi I spotted a mum under a gazebo with what I thought was a Hotsling pouch and being a sling wearer myself I beamed and strode over with crazy smile on my face.

As I got nearer, I slowly began to realise to my horror that it was a Hooter Hider in the same colour as the hotsling that Scary Spice once was photographed wearing.

There were thing chubby legs peeping out the bottom and I sat under the gazebo not knowing what to say as I was torn between laughing at this bizarre Mumsnet moment and feeling sorry for the poor baby. I said hi and other pleasantries to her but apart from that, the hooter hider just felt like an elephant in the room. (yes she was American)

the real sadness is that apart from us 2 women and babies, there was no one else around but our toddlers in this beautiful park on the sea front.

A week later in contrast, same park, same time of day 2 Emirati women sitting on a bench complete black Abayas and head scarves, one opens up her abaya, lifts her top to expose a whole boob and latches on a strapping toddler.

hooter hider? I just googled that to find out if you were joking. To my horror you were not. What a sick world we live in....

I know what you mean about those 'hooter hiders' but if they make some women feel more comfortable feeding in public they are OK in my book, better than feeding in the toilets or not bfing at all.

hooter hider

pouch sling

i know what you mean kingrolo but the hooter hider runs the risk of telling mums that it is unacceptable to flash some breast in public in order to feed your baby and it confirms to bigots that breast feeding should be kept hidden away.

what is wrong with a pretty shawl or scarf for modesty?

I didn't realise the hooter hider was an actual product, I thought it was just what Americans called a scarf or shawl. Horrendous! The fact that it's called a 'hooter' hider is sickening enough - surely breasts are only called hooters by 10 year old boys?

Totally get your point Foxy but until things change in society as a whole and women's breasts stop being presented purely as sexual objects some women will want to cover up.

As more women bf I suppose we'll see an increase in these 'indispensible, breast feeding must haves' in maternity and baby shops; pillows, pumps, bras, shawls and the like. Not to mention Annabel Karmel's range of breastfeeding ready meals and infused water.

Thanks so much for this thread, have ordered the book and looking forward to its arrival!

Someone gave me one of those Hooter Hiders for baby number three - I had no idea it was called that or I probably would never have used it on principal!!!! But I have to say that it is useful for certain situations. I have no problem feeding in public/answering door to delivery people with baby clamped to boob etc but if I'm going to be somewhere where I'm the guest and the hosts' feelings matter to me (eg, a wedding - lots of old people who never had people breastfeeding openly in their generation and not the time or place to try and change their minds) then I'm happy to cover up (I would never use it in the kiddies' bit of the park though or with other mothers - can't believe that the americans do that!). The hooter hider gadget is much better I think than a discreet scarf/muslin, as the baby can still see your face and you can maintain eye contact and talk to them. Also, it is very useful for feeding while walking along! With baby number three one can't just sit in feeding snuggling all day, one has to be out and about with the others. My baby bounces around so flashing is inevitable and I have to hold him on meaning its a bit complicated to manage it while walking along and a discreet scarf wouldn't work! I'm sure there are some slings where you can do a feed easily while walking along but I've got the baby bjorn and haven't had the time to research any others and in the meantime this combo works very well for me. Can anyone recommend a better sling though?

Sarraburd - depends a bit on your size and boob position. Might be a Moby wrap or ring sling or a mei tai. I would check out www.thebabywearer.com and see what people are saying if they have your shape. You could even start a discussion thread and just pop back to check responses. Doesn't have to be hours of research.

Book just arrived, am now going to have to wait for time to read! Can I just say that I have no problem flashing my boobs when feeding DS ANYWHERE but did try and rig up something for the first month or two simply to avoid soaking passers-by.. I was a veritable fountain.

Sarraburd: look at naturalmamas as well. it is a UK based babywearing forum and they also have an active for sale or trade board where you can buy a pre-loved sling which will work out cheaper than new.

i favour wrap slings. most people seem to get on with stretchy wraps if they have a small new born and are not used to slings.

otoh some prefer ring slings or pouches. you can bf in all of them and the rather small learning curve is worth the trouble.

naturalmamas users love love talking slings so you won't bore them.

I am getting closer and closer to the end of this book and get angrier and sadder all the time.