Comments on: Bodacious TaTas! http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/07/bodacious-tatas/ Get the most out of your time, money and mobility. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:08:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Jennifer http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/07/bodacious-tatas/#comment-1277 Jennifer Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:18:43 +0000 http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/07/bodacious-tatas/#comment-1277 I have successfully nursed 3 children to 1 or longer. I am currently nursing my 4 1/2 month old, and have thought about this situation a LOT. I am lucky enough to stay home, so maybe I'm not objective. I don't know. But I think part of the reason that new nursing mothers aren't pushing through the difficulties, is that something else is just too readily available. "Nursing is hard? Oh, well, just go buy some formula and be done!" It's party this mindset that is causing issue. At least in my opinion. Formula was first made to be medically necessary intervention for the rare cases that women could absolutely NOT nurse. Which really is rare, no matter how many times you hear the excuse. I also agree that issues with working mom's not being able to pump at work is a problem. But again, I think it goes back to people saying "Well, you can just feed formula, so it doesn't matter if you pump." This is again, only my opinion, but as I said, I've been thinking a lot about this, as I sit and feed my baby the one food that is made JUST for him! I have successfully nursed 3 children to 1 or longer. I am currently nursing my 4 1/2 month old, and have thought about this situation a LOT. I am lucky enough to stay home, so maybe I’m not objective. I don’t know. But I think part of the reason that new nursing mothers aren’t pushing through the difficulties, is that something else is just too readily available. “Nursing is hard? Oh, well, just go buy some formula and be done!” It’s party this mindset that is causing issue. At least in my opinion. Formula was first made to be medically necessary intervention for the rare cases that women could absolutely NOT nurse. Which really is rare, no matter how many times you hear the excuse.

I also agree that issues with working mom’s not being able to pump at work is a problem. But again, I think it goes back to people saying “Well, you can just feed formula, so it doesn’t matter if you pump.” This is again, only my opinion, but as I said, I’ve been thinking a lot about this, as I sit and feed my baby the one food that is made JUST for him!

]]> By: Celeste http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/07/bodacious-tatas/#comment-404 Celeste Tue, 11 Dec 2007 02:47:21 +0000 http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/07/bodacious-tatas/#comment-404 I love being a mom and one of the best parts of being a mom has been nursing. I nursed my son until he was 18 months old. I planned to nurse longer, but unfortunately my family and my in-laws started getting to me. Comments like "You're still nursing?" and "My daughter weaned herself at 9 months. Anything over 12 months is too long, you'll spoil him" were discouraging to say the least. Not to mention the shocked look on their faces when he would toddle up to me and ask "Nur? Nur?" Suddenly because he could verbally express that he wanted to nurse it was wrong? Oh well. Live and learn. I am hoping and praying that we are blessed with another child some day, then I can decide for myself how long is too long! lol I love being a mom and one of the best parts of being a mom has been nursing. I nursed my son until he was 18 months old. I planned to nurse longer, but unfortunately my family and my in-laws started getting to me. Comments like “You’re still nursing?” and “My daughter weaned herself at 9 months. Anything over 12 months is too long, you’ll spoil him” were discouraging to say the least. Not to mention the shocked look on their faces when he would toddle up to me and ask “Nur? Nur?” Suddenly because he could verbally express that he wanted to nurse it was wrong?

Oh well. Live and learn. I am hoping and praying that we are blessed with another child some day, then I can decide for myself how long is too long! lol

]]> By: Hannah Russell-Davis http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/07/bodacious-tatas/#comment-81 Hannah Russell-Davis Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:02:27 +0000 http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/07/bodacious-tatas/#comment-81 Thanks so much for the comment. I couldn't agree more. I have been lucky enough to have the option of staying home with my kids, but many people don't have the option. Quite honestly, regardless of the individual situation, i don't think career vs. caring for children is a choice women should be asked to make anyway. Sadly, the "privilege" of breastfeeding is now drawn along class lines as well. Mid-upper class women might be able to subsist on one income, take some time off, or demand special arrangements for pumping, etc., in the workplace--but, as you pointed out, a waitress doesn't usually have the option to do any of that. Shamefully, our country is at the bottom of the list in terms of family-friend workplaces and parental leave. There are many reasons to be sure--the power of formula companies, lack of education, etc. Partly, we are suffering a backlash of the feminist movement, in which women demanded to be treated equally--without special treatment. A little special treatment would go a long way toward improving our society. Not only would children and families benefit, but our society as a whole. Our country could save tons of money in healthcare costs alone, if breastfeeding was supported rather than discouraged. Thanks so much for the comment. I couldn’t agree more. I have been lucky enough to have the option of staying home with my kids, but many people don’t have the option. Quite honestly, regardless of the individual situation, i don’t think career vs. caring for children is a choice women should be asked to make anyway. Sadly, the “privilege” of breastfeeding is now drawn along class lines as well. Mid-upper class women might be able to subsist on one income, take some time off, or demand special arrangements for pumping, etc., in the workplace–but, as you pointed out, a waitress doesn’t usually have the option to do any of that.

Shamefully, our country is at the bottom of the list in terms of family-friend workplaces and parental leave. There are many reasons to be sure–the power of formula companies, lack of education, etc. Partly, we are suffering a backlash of the feminist movement, in which women demanded to be treated equally–without special treatment. A little special treatment would go a long way toward improving our society. Not only would children and families benefit, but our society as a whole. Our country could save tons of money in healthcare costs alone, if breastfeeding was supported rather than discouraged.

]]> By: Tiny http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/07/bodacious-tatas/#comment-70 Tiny Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:29:35 +0000 http://www.familyhack.com/2007/08/07/bodacious-tatas/#comment-70 I think that one of the issues is the workplace. For those that work, breastfeeding is very difficult. Though many workplaces offer pumping rooms, they can exempt some employees from using them. And what about hourly employees? Or waitresses? or baristas? They don't have the option. Some states have laws about pumping stations for work, but they don't really have teeth. And most women are afraid to push it for fear of retaliation. So, our culture is very breastfeeding unfriendly, in many ways. Lack of appropriate time off after childbirth, lack of facilities for pumping. And if you check out the lactivist blogs, you can note that there are daycare that treat breastmilk like a biohazard! So lack of appropriate education is also a problem. Its amazing to me that we argue about teaching sex ed in schools, but we don't teach about breastfeeding. Thats biology, right? ~laughs~ We have our priorities all screwed up, even in the arguments! I think that one of the issues is the workplace. For those that work, breastfeeding is very difficult. Though many workplaces offer pumping rooms, they can exempt some employees from using them. And what about hourly employees? Or waitresses? or baristas? They don’t have the option. Some states have laws about pumping stations for work, but they don’t really have teeth. And most women are afraid to push it for fear of retaliation.

So, our culture is very breastfeeding unfriendly, in many ways. Lack of appropriate time off after childbirth, lack of facilities for pumping. And if you check out the lactivist blogs, you can note that there are daycare that treat breastmilk like a biohazard! So lack of appropriate education is also a problem. Its amazing to me that we argue about teaching sex ed in schools, but we don’t teach about breastfeeding. Thats biology, right? ~laughs~ We have our priorities all screwed up, even in the arguments!

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