Gov. payments for mums who breastfeed 12mth+

[glenny_c]

Sorry but I agree with erybery. It would just be another way to make mums who can't bf feel inferior. Having to put my dd on formula was the hardest decision I have ever had to make. even though I didn't really have a choice as everyone was suffering with me persisting in trying to feed her (long story). It has taken 5 months for me to start to accept that my daughter is ff and I am still ashamed when I have to feed her in public. I worry about what other mums think of me and I still have overwhelming guilt and feelings that I am less of a mother since I can't breastfeed. This would just be something else making me feel bad about something which was out of my control.

[FabFiona]

Medicare rebates for lactation consultants. If you want to lobby the Govt for something, think about that.

[Jellybean29]

At least we all seem to agree that more support, education and social awareness/acceptance is needed for breastfeeding and also a need for support and options for those who can't, like milk banks and wet nurses.

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[LionsandBears]

Btw BBB, I think it's good you've raised the question. Just because I disagree with the methodology to a solution doesnt mean I disagree that there's a problem. I thought I clarify in case you thought I was jumping down your throat or something

Eta: snap

[Jellybean29]

Btw BBB, I think it's good you've raised the question. Just because I disagree with the methodology to a solution doesnt mean I disagree that there's a problem. I thought I clarify in case you thought I was jumping down your throat or something

No no hun its all good
My aim was just some discussion on what we can do to increase breastfeeding and long term breastfeeding in aus. Getting some fabulous responses and ideas, this is great ! I just thought my thread title and opening idea would grab attention... But aim was for a discussion about bfing and society in general

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[Jellyfish]

There is already a financial incentive to breastfeed; formula costs money and breastmilk is free so I don't think it would encourage much anyway. Medicare rebates for lactation consultants sounds like a good idea and definitely more education.

For the record PZ, if you don't vax or choose to delay you can still access the immunization allowance by signing a consensus objection form with your GP.

[PumpkinZulu]

There is already a financial incentive to breastfeed; formula costs money and breastmilk is free so I don't think it would encourage much anyway. Medicare rebates for lactation consultants sounds like a good idea and definitely more education.

For the record PZ, if you don't vax or choose to delay you can still access the immunization allowance by signing a consensus objection form with your GP.

Thank you, I wasn't really sure

[kiwimummy]

Interesting idea, but not what I would go for (even though I would have got the payment twice if I was over there). I find it rather odd the baby bonus and the immunisation payments, we don't have anything like that here.

TV ads is a good idea - NZ has had a huge campaign over the last few years with TV ads, large posters/billboards, and radio ads all portraying normal women breastfeeding babies (often in public, but also at homes showing family support etc). It's seeming to raise the awareness of BF being normal and what we should expect to see in public.

I also think educating GPs is a blimmin good idea!

[entreat]

Well isn't it easy to tell the difference between lactating boobies and non-lactating ones?

As much as I would LOVE to be paid for something I was doing for free anyway, I'm not inclined to squirt my boob-juice for a government employee.

And the money could be better spent on useful things like milk-banks, to cater for people that would LOVE to BF but can't for genuine reasons.

[jackrose]

Well isn't it easy to tell the difference between lactating boobies and non-lactating ones?

Not necessarily at the 12 month end of breast feeding. Early on, maybe but with both my DDs, by about 10 months my breasts were back to normal in shape and appearance, if not a little softer than before.

At the year mark, breast milk production has become such an efficient and baby matched system that I only produced the milk that was in demand. I honestly never feel engorged - even if my baby skips a feed. I could not prove I was breast feeding at this point in time except to actually breast feed in front of someone. Even then it would not be guaranteed as my engaged, interested, curious 12 month old is pretty keen to check things out going on around her rather than have a feed unless she is in her calm, usual breast feeding place at home or just starving hungry.

Interesting discussion though.

Kiwimummy, I love the sound of the media campaign in NZ. The use of images and real life examples is a great way to change attitudes. It seems that the overuse of images of breasts in the media as a sexual statement has won out and made that normal, time for a bit of balance maybe.