At the homebirth conference, Robyn Thompson gave a fantastic talk and presentation, with some very disturbing images of women's nipples. Women are not supported to breastfeed properly and many expect that the hospital will teach them everything they need to know (or will know they right way to teach mum) or show them how to do it and feel a great deal of anxiety when they don't get that support. I thought my nipples were bad with my first bub, but this was revolting what we saw, nipples that were majorly hacked away in chunks and bleeding.
Women need to seek support when they get home and anytime if breastfeeding is hurting - it should not hurt and if it does, there is an attachment problem - women should seek that support before it gets worse and / or they think they cannot breastfeed. Babies should be feeding where the breast falls naturally and lined up across your body which is not hunched over, twisted, etc (which a consultant can help you with if you aren't sure), all this lining up with the thumb here or nose here etc is far too confusing. Instead of concentrating on her baby, she is concentrating on if she has the right thumb distance or nose lined up etc. Then she gets anxious, milk supply is a problem.
I just urge you all to seek out support of the ABA or a lactation consultant if you are having issues. Breastfeeding is something that should not hurt and is enjoyable - even with one of the more disturbing cases we saw images of, Robyn was able to help the mum and she was immediately able to feed without pain! Despite having terribly damaged nipples. Of course, some women are so affected by the experience that they make the decision to bottlefeed - Robyn often says that its emotive even for her - they sometimes sit and cry together. But no matter what choice, it needs to be made with love and respect, and hopefully with some good knowledge and education, we can stop breastfeeding being such a terrible experience and getting to the point where a mum no longer enjoys breastfeeding, or is in so much pain that she can't go on. Please seek help!
In regards to this article, it is not attacking those who choose to bottledfeed for this reason, it is attacking society and government and manufacturers for leading us to believe it is a better alternative or an equal alternative so that women decide to bottlefeed thinking its the best for their baby, better than breastmilk. As it also stated, formula was made so that orphans would not go hungry and die, it was a 'back-up' plan for those who couldnt have breastmilk.
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