Islamic attitude to breastfeeding

[PrettyCandles]

One of the playground mums mentioned last week that her dd would be 2yo in the new year and she was not looking forward to having to wean her. When I said that she could continue bfing as long as she and the LO wanted, she said that she had to stop for religious reasons. I think she said it was an instruction in the Koran. But then the children came out of school and, as ever, the conversation was lost.

But what was she talking about? Is this something all practicing Muslims do? Does the Koran have somthing to say about bfing?

Really interesting.

Anyone know what Judaism says on the subject?

Wouldn't we georgi?

I am definitely exercising that right!

I still expect to be paid though

The Qur'an says "Paradise is found at the feet of your Mother"

Islam is a lot less misogynistic than most people think. The covering from head to toe, FGM etc are cultural practices.

In Turkey, it used to be grounds for divorce if a man failed to keep the coffee pot full. (In other words, keep a woman in the manner to which she has become accustomed!)

Breastfeeding is valued by Jewish tradition, as are health promotional practices [11]. The Talmud discusses breastfeeding duration in a number of contexts and in most cases assumes a duration of 24 months (Ketuvot 60a, b) [12]. The Shulkhan Arukh codifies a minimum of two years (Even Haezer 143:8) and a maximum of five years (Yore Deah 81:7) [13]. Maimonides recommends breastfeeding in his compilation of Jewish law, the Mishneh Torah LeRambam (Gerushin 11:26) [14]. There are other references in traditional texts including discussion in the Talmud regarding breastfeeding durations of two through five years [15]. There is also mention of the importance of preserving breastfeeding that could potentially be challenged by subsequent pregnancy (Yevamot 12b) [12].

from here

That's it, my entire family are converting to Islam.

some of the most famous paintings of the virgin mary breastfeeding here

Well DH already does that...

Maybe i can claim the BF money from the DSS?

catholic breastfeeding org

I'm not sure those artists are adhering to NCT guidelines on correct positioning, you know...

ofcourse christians jews and muslims have the same basis ish if beginnings, so the old testament is rife with metaphorical and literal associations - as it would be becuase it was the norm

i think the second one should seriously look into a breast pump.

look at the third row, second from right - boy was that woman talented!

The Virgin Mary didn't have Mumsnet to ask for advice though did she...

In the olden days I guess if you couldn't BF then your babies were in big trouble - no wonder it's celebrated.

Full term bf-ing would have been normal 13 centuries ago when the Koran was written.

Obviously in the context of an anti-bf-ing culture, it is excellent that the Koran is supportive of BF-ign children for 2 years, but in the context of a society 13 centuries ago where full term BF-ing would have been absolutely normal and standard, I don't know that any instruction to stop at 2 could be considered particularly pro BF-ing. Lots of children and mothers want to continue long beyond 2 and that would have been normal then. But it is quite ambivalent whether it's a minimum or maximum term, isn't it?

Thanks for that, Custardo

Have we worked out a wage rate yet? I have 3.5 years owing to me

I have a friend who is muslim, she says that women are encouraged to bf for two years, but not told to stop at the point.

As far as wages are concerned, I am owed 6 yrs, 3 months, 1 week and 5 days with 3 years, 5 months, 2 weeks and 4 days of it at double time for tandem nursing!! Phew, I'm going to be minted!! (what's the going rate btw?)

It doesn't sound like the 'stop at two' rule is really in the Koran. Certainly this page just says you're meant to bf to two, but you can carry on past that if you like.

That's a good point HerBeautitude. I think the "norm" for countries in which there is no alternitive to BFing is 4 years.

What an interesting thread

My Muslim mil (from hicksville) says that boy should be fed for 2 years and girls for 1 year. I have no idea where she gets this from. I will find out and report back.

I know that in her part of the world (rural Morocco) you are supposed to wean if you become pregnant, because your milk will now poison your baby. mmedical research has nothing on years of superstition and dodgy advice y'know.