Comments on Analytical Armadillo - The Booby Whisperer: The Breastfeeding Nazi - For Real?

http://sunshinemamaandtheboys.blogspot.com/2012/02...

2012-02-02T17:16:45.924Z

http://sunshinemamaandtheboys.blogspot.com/2012/02/breastfeeding-nazi.html Thank you so much for this post. I linked to it in my own recent post. I was recently called a Breastfeeding Nazi and Hippie Super Mom by a life-long friend, and that really, really stung me. Thank you so much for being a voice of reason in a society that can be shockingly anti-breastfeeding.

I didn't get as far as his article, because I ...

2012-01-27T20:55:03.481Z

I didn't get as far as his article, because I thought the tweet was insulting - it could be the most amazing article in the world and it wont change the fact his tweets were offensive.
I totally agree new mums are pressured to breastfeed, often receive conflicting advice from NHS staff and passive support - but who are the "mafia" who are making these mums feel guilty beyond a figment of the imagination of the media/AF manufacturers?
Is there a blog that pops to mind? A webpage? Newspaper article? I genuinely want to learn more!
AA

I actually agree with his article in the main, new...

2012-01-27T20:29:16.308Z

I actually agree with his article in the main, new mums are made to feel pressured into breastfeeding and very guilty if its not going right, alongside incredibly conflicting advice from NHS staff and a complete lack of support. If we could turn down the pressure and turn up the accurate information and support we'd be going a long way to improving breastfeeding rates and improving maternal mental health.
Why he had to go and sabotage his quite reasonable article with unreasonable tweets and name calling I have no idea. If a militant is a breastfeeding mum who is happy to give support and share experience with others, whilst criticising the NHS for its conflicting messages, pressure and lack of support, then I am happy, and more than a little bit proud, to be one (I would prefer a different term though, are we allowed to choose one ourselves?).

I think that man needs to do a litte more research...

2012-01-27T16:52:35.729Z

I think that man needs to do a litte more research and maybe return to school...

I liked his article in places. However being in de...

2012-01-27T15:47:19.037Z

I liked his article in places. However being in defense of one whilst attacking the other = pot & kettle. Both should be informed and supported choices choices and currently really neither are. If the choice is informed and the support is there to allow a mother to EITHER breast or bottle feed then there should also be the structure and tools around them to allow them to do so in the best possible way. No woman should be made to feel guilty or feel the need to hide away from their choice whatever it is. But there isn't enough support. There's lots of prejudice on both sides and a lot of preconceptions. That's what needs to change. And it's a shame he didn't write that.

Does anyone have any evidence of diet and exercise...

2012-01-27T13:07:47.290Z

Does anyone have any evidence of diet and exercise proponents being called "gym Nazis" or "salad police", or anti-smoking campaingers being called "fagstapo" or anything else along those lines? Why is it breastfeeding supporters - those who spend countless hours and more actually HELPING other mothers to meet their own breastfeeding goals, not just those who think it's a good idea - are open targets for this kind of abuse? Surely there are people in the above groups that abuse the fat, the unfit, the unhealthy, the smokers just as badly, if not more, than these alleged "militant breastfeeders"?!

The lactivist/nazi/mafia thing is something I feel...

2012-01-26T20:13:23.759Z

The lactivist/nazi/mafia thing is something I feel so strongly about, and I seriously think that the 'all publicity is good publicity' approach is taken on this. Every time you say something negative about breastfeeding, or positive about formula, there's an all out war between mothers, and it promotes the cause of formula COMPANIES. It's all free advertising and takes focus off the issue at hand: support for mums, and what's really best for the babies.

http://www.diaryofafirstchild.com/2011/03/24/lactivism-breast-feeding-bottle-feeding-formula-and-mothers-at-war/

But for as long as we have to cart around NHS mate...

2012-01-13T13:37:02.506Z

But for as long as we have to cart around NHS material embazoned with 'Breast is BEST' we will look like we are being smug, superior, divisory lactivists who want to thrust bf at everyone and treat all non-breastfeeding women as neglectful mothers... For as long as women are treated to that tagline at their midwife appointments and see it plastered everywhere in hospitals and drs surgeries, it fuels the 'them and us' culture, and projects bf mums as self satisfied and judgemental. It's only natural to want to hold your baby close. It's only natural to want to nourish that child, to meet their every need, to give them the best start you can. It's only natural to breastfeed. But we live in a bf unfriendly society where women don't know how it should work, how it does work, where it went wrong or how to fix it. And they don't want to ask for help, in case they are seen as veering away from the path of 'best for baby' so they struggle, quit, and then resent those who are still going and become bitter, and start to refer to other mums as breastapo etc. And sadly there are bf supporters out there who feed that perception, who are in the role because they like the feeling of power and superiority, and who DO judge women. And one mum exposed to one of those will have ten times the negative effect on bf society that any one mum being well supported has positive effect. No, I don't enjoy being judged as militant, or having people make what are, frankly, offensive suggestions about my choices as though it is totally acceptable to run a public poll on how long I may feed my child. But I do understand why it happens, and I don't think it will reduce even slightly for as long as we have the establishment thrusting campaigns at women and not backing them up with funding for active support...instead, we have mums on each side feeling resentful and intimidated from working together to move forwards...

If only you'd published this a week ago! You ...

2012-01-13T08:34:37.077Z

If only you'd published this a week ago! You have a much better way with words than me and I'm sick of this argument!

2012-01-11T17:47:04.136Z

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

thank you thank you. so well said. i am sharing th...

2012-01-10T17:55:53.107Z

thank you thank you. so well said. i am sharing this around. i often wonder where are those breastfeeding meanies that everyone is always talking about. i have yet to run in to any and i know some very big breastfeeding supporters who are always respectful to formula feeding mom, and yet on occasion i have seen and experienced the exact opposite from from formula feeding moms. have been asked to cover up and use the bathroom. while in a shop the other day i smiled a a mom making a bottle for her baby and when she saw me nursing later she wouldn't let her husband go near me. yet i didn't give her a dirty look, keep my kids away from her using an artificial nipple in public.

Thank you!

2012-01-10T17:25:46.848Z

Thank you!

I think its the other way around that the mafia be...

2012-01-10T16:53:07.011Z

I think its the other way around that the mafia belongs to the formula feeders. I got so much flack from people in my playgroup even for still nursing at six months. My Mother gave me no support, I had overactive letdown and six breast infections. Thank goodness for La Leche League and their support. I learned to help myself and educate others. It does offend me that people still think formula is the way to go and just as good. I learned to stare back at the ignorant dolts who tried to make me feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public. I was always as discreet as I could be but felt that my baby had the right to eat as much as the person next to me eating. I worked hard for women to have the right to BF when and where they needed. I was trained in counseling and am always kind. The BF nazis do not exist, it's just more misogyny and fear out there.

Lisa yours is tongue in cheek though!

2012-01-10T16:27:15.363Z

Lisa yours is tongue in cheek though!

I agree that it would be loads better to link up p...

2012-01-10T16:13:00.027Z

I agree that it would be loads better to link up positive words with breastfeeding, however, I get lots of requests for 'member of the breastfeeding mafia' badges and mugs from breastfeeding mothers, to the extent that they sell out fast which is great for me! I only sell slogans that sell, having spent the last 7 years pruning and refining the ones I have, I'm really surprised this slogan is so popular. Every time I stop doing it I get requests for it.
It's difficult to write about this without it looking like a blatent plug so please delete if you prefer.

I have used the term "boob nazi." Back w...

2012-01-10T16:10:54.841Z

I have used the term "boob nazi." Back when I was struggling with low supply with my first child (due to as yet undiagnosed IGT) and came across the livejournal community (http://boob-nazis.livejournal.com/profile) while seeking answers and support.
I'm a member of a fantastic support group now for moms with low supply, and we've coined the phrase "wacktavist" as a substitute for the more offensive term.
Many of the members of my support group HAVE had confrontations with "wacktavists" while seeking support and information, with one even telling a low-supply mom she shouldn't even have children if she's unable to breastfeed exclusively. They do exist.
There's a huge difference between a lactivist who informs and supports a struggling mother without passing judgement, and a wacktavist who writes such a mother off as lazy, uneducated, and unwilling to do the work.

I don't like the connection to them Nazis espe...

2012-01-10T14:16:10.322Z

I don't like the connection to them Nazis especially because they were against breastfeeding!
Mothers were encouraged to bottlefeed, because the regime needed independent soldiers for the war instead of well-bonded children who their mothers wouldn't let go...

I suspect that one reason bf supporters are perce...

2012-01-10T14:13:22.826Z

I suspect that one reason bf supporters are perceived by the general public as militant by default is because it is only the minority that perseveres for any length of time. In other words, you must be an extremist *because* you have chosen to do something outside the norm, and more to the point something that is generally perceived to be very difficult. Only a militant would soldier through the battle that breastfeeding is generally seen to be, particularly if one breastfeeds past a certain time frame. And if you are helping extremists (i.e., breastfeeding moms) by profession or avocation, you are extreme among the extreme! Marginalizing the other is one mechanism people use to normalize themselves. :-(

Cheering, very very well said! i think the majorit...

2012-01-10T13:41:18.737Z

Cheering, very very well said! i think the majority of BF supporters (Mums, counsellors etc) will go out of their way not to make others feel uncomfortable.