.......*gasp* Breast Feeding............
I have come to notice how women, especially the younger generation are split.
By split i mean, they really do stand on two different sides of the fence. I have friends that EBF and friends that just regularly BF (up to the one year mark). But then.....there are the ones that refuse, and i mean down right refuse to even consider Breast Feeding. All because of one little thing........
The stupid Misconception that America has invented that the Breast is a Sexual Object. That in part has ruined or at least tweaked with the way that younger women perceive Breast Feeding. It is a really sad truth. I have had women that i know personally asked why, they simply say that they cannot imagine ; and i quote 'sitting around with a baby sucking on their Tit.' Seriously, that's the reason i have been given.
I just don't understand why there is such a large sexual 'stint' on the human breast. Hello, first and foremost it exsists to feed and nourish our young! We are the only mammals on the planet that feed our young other than breast milk when it is not deemed necessary. And yes there are times that it is necessary to Formula Feed. It's just that people always say that when they are asked why the formula feed. When in actuality; it's only a small percentage that HAS to formula feed. Sick mother, mother seriously can't lactate (only 2% of women i'm talking about here) or the Foster care system, although i feel there could be a way for milk banks to work like blood banks to help the babies in need.
It's the stupid ass stigma that the entertainment industry and PRUDE people have implanted in society to make the human breast this big bad sexual object. When, in fact it is not. It utterly astounds me. I mean really, once people get over themselves and other human beings body parts it's not a big deal at all. Hello, women are just feeding their children the way that they were intended.
I feel as if our society has failed us.
| Country | % of mothers who start | % who continue 6 months or longer |
| | ||
| Sweden | 98 | 53 |
| Norway | 98 | 50 |
| Poland | 93 | 10 |
| Canada | 80 | 24 |
| Netherlands | 68 | 25 |
| Britain | 63 | 21 |
| United States | 57 | 20 |
| | ||
| Sources: Baby Milk Action, Cambridge, England; Center for Breastfeeding Information, Schaumburg, IL | ||
Isn't that just remarkable? I don't understand why all these other countries have such hire statistics and us here in the US fall s short. I think partially it has to do with how much our society backs up our decision to BF. For example in countries like New Zealand, Norway and Australia have breast feeding rooms in stores, lots of activism and they don't pass out formula like candy in doctors offices like here in America. Their country does not under mind the decision to Breast Feed and i feel that is a big reason as to why they have such high rates.
All that i ask of Americans is to really weigh in on the decisions you make regarding your children. Especially the decision on how to nourish your children. Because Breast Feeding is so much more than nourishment.
2 comments:
I like this.. I was all for breastfeeding.. but its really really hard. Benjamin and I struggled with it for the first 4 months. It was painful and Benjamin was always hungry I just wasn't making enough for him. BUt I agree the breast is now this sexual icon so breastfeeding is out of the norm now. We get milk for a reason and its the best thing for our little ones. :)
Exactlly Mindi. And i was going to add to this but oculdn't because Isabella woke up. But i was going to say there are a few social markers that makes nursing harder, like if it's a split family where the child needs to go between house holds. I commend you for sticking with it as long as you two could. All i ask for about breast feeding is that every mother at least TRY.
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