Article: Suck On This

[Lil_Pearl]

Hi all....sorry, I would have liked to have responded earlier, but limited hours in one day (don't we all know it!?)

Ryn: 5% is the percentage that was explained to me by a qualified lactation consultant. The good lactation consultants are really good about supporting women who cannot breastfeed, also. For centuries, people who could not breastfeed had wet nurses. There was also a very high infant mortality rate, until recently - no doubt often caused by major feeding difficulties (ranging from sever malnutrition in the mother, to lactation failure for other reasons, also). Formula has saved many babies lives in recent years. In tribal communities, if one has an inability to breastfeed, there is usually another family member present who is lactating and who will happily breastfeed the baby for it's mother. This is true of traditional Aboriginal communities, also. Lack of glandular development is one issue that can lead to an inability to produce breast milk. I've written an article in this same topic heading (feeding) about my personal experience with this condition - perhaps it will shed some light.

Ivana_baby: Sorry if my quote was unclear.... I was saying that the people simply making "assumptions" about their breastfeeding ability make awareness of a true inability to breastfeed even less, and, therefore, the situation is made harder for those with a true inability to breastfeed. About feeling bullied....it is really the woman who truly can't breastfeed who feel the most bullied. This is because, in most cases, they would have truly loved to have breastfed, and they are very aware of peoples lack of knowledge about their condition - there is a lack of understanding of their situation. It's a dreadful situation for these women, and they feel emotionally unsupported by society. It does feel like bullying and is not simply a sensitivity to someone being able to breastfeed. I'm putting together childbirth education courses, one of which will be on breastfeeding. I support and encourage breastfeeding heart and soul....but I also understand that it isn't always possible, and so I support those who cannot breastfeed, too. I've written a personal account of "lack of glandular tissue" in this same section (feeding) - perhaps it may give an insight to those mothers who haven't experienced an inability to breastfeed.

Baby_amore: Yes, there is such lack of education, and such conflicting "advice" out there! Hospitals are rarely conducive to the establishment of breastfeeding...they are such stressful environments. Babies refusing does happen, and isn't always something that can be overcome (some mothers in this situation may still have milk, and can therefore make a choice to express or not). My mother breastfed my sister and I for ages...when my brother was then born, he point-blank refused.

dachlostar: Exactly! If there is an awareness of how to get true help, how to be diagnosed, the small percentage will have greater support from health-care-providers, and have greater support from society, as an awareness =acceptance=support. Furthermore, those who thought they couldn't breastfeed but in fact can, will get the extra support and reassurance that they need, and they will be better equipped with knowledge and resources to enable them to breastfeed.

Everyone: I believe it would be very damaging to state that "everyone can breastfeed". 5% is a high number when you gather together all mothers. We should all be pro-breastfeeding - but lets not forget our reasons behind this - the bigger cause! Why are we pro-breastfeeding? Because we care about the health of the babies and, ultimately, the health of society. The health of society rests on the treatment of mothers - so, we must support ALL mothers. No doubt, the term "breastfeeding Nazi" comes from a backlash to the very small percentage of people who don't believe in an inability to breastfeed....or perhaps they believe it exists, but should be bred out! Absolutely, there should be a focus on the "normal" - but just by using negative words like "abnormal" (and I know it is a good summation of a minority group, but a negative word non-the-less) we are helping to create an unaccepting, intolerant society. 5% of the female population cannot be shunned. I guess one has to think outside the box a little - how would you support your daughter could she not breastfeed? Would you want her to feel like an outsider?