Comments on: The Case Against Breastfeeding: Is it Anti-Feminist?

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:53:50 +0000

@elizabeth:

I believe that bottle nursers deserve support (and empathy if they wanted to breastfeed). I do believe that bottle nursers can be AP (and that breastfeeders can be very much non-AP). On the attachment parenting message boards that I have participated in and moderated, bottle nursers were welcome and supported. I think it is too bad that you were not.

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:27:38 +0000

I’m going out on a limb here commenting because I am a bottle-nurser. It is at this point that I feel compelled to explain, at length, how I came to be a bottle-nurser. However, I’m really not sure that telling the story is the thing to do. It is chock full of TMI moments. Nevertheless, I am nearly overwhelmed with the desire to lay it all out, to explain, to justify, to assure, to reassure myself and others that this decision was thought-out, well-intentioned and at least somewhat outside of my control. I also feel compelled to say again and again that I support breastfeeding. I believe it is best for both mother and baby due to the closeness and bonding that it promotes. Obviously, I believe that the milk itself is valuable as well. However, I believe that the biggest benefit is the promotion of bonding. I believe this can be achieved thru bottle-nursing, if a concerted effort is made in this direction (thru co-sleeping, baby-wearing, etc.). As a bottle-nurser, I have been subtly shunned and denied necessary support. Shortly after my daughter’s birth, I joined an online group dedicated to AP parenting.(I was feeling a little lost returning to caring for an infant after a break of nearly seventeen years.) At first, I was welcomed to the group and my questions were answered quickly and wholeheartedly. After I shared that I was not breastfeeding, things changed. In fact, once when I was quoted in a thread, the portion in which I revealed I was not breastfeeding was removed from the quote altogether. The message was clear that I was not truly “crunchy.” If we are going to assume that my daughter and I are disadvantaged due to bottle-nursing, it would seem that the kind and good-spirited thing to do would be to offer us additional support to help bridge the gap. Sadly, it seems to me that breastfeeding has become, in many ways, a status symbol.

By: My Picks for Best Breastfeeding Blogs and Posts | PhD in Parenting

My Picks for Best Breastfeeding Blogs and Posts | PhD in Parenting — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:58:10 +0000

[...] The Case Against Breastfeeding: Is it Anti-Feminist [...]

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:36:35 +0000

@KristaJoy: Very cute.

By: KristaJoy

KristaJoy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:27:46 +0000

I was just reading another article of yours and it linked to this one… I know this is an old post but I had to share with you the awesome adaptation my niece (young breastfeeding instinctual mama that she is!) did of the international breastfeeding symbol: http://www.zazzle.com/KristaJoy

(the creator of the original got a kick of it too!)

By: “Don’t Judge Me” | PhD in Parenting

“Don’t Judge Me” | PhD in Parenting — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:45:43 +0000

[...] is why I often use strong words when attacking societal ills, when attacking the kyriarchy, when attacking ideas that I feel have the ability to push us in the wrong direction. I believe more people will have the opportunity to make good considered choices if more barriers [...]

By: Rational Jenn

Rational Jenn — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:16:06 +0000

I wrote about this a while back, too. She is angry, but I think her anger is clearly misplaced toward breastfeeding. I wrote back in March:

“I guess what I’m saying is that I see so many women wrestle with these “Mommy War” issues–breast or bottle, disposable or cloth, stay-at-home or career–who end up feeling somewhat guilty about their choices. And there’s absolutely no need for guilt if you have considered where your priorities are and chosen accordingly, chosen the things that will make you happiest.”

There is no need to feel guilty–or angry–when you are making conscious choices in accordance with your values.

By: Stefanie

Stefanie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:49:42 +0000

The whole idea that breastfeeding somehow prevents a spouse from being involved in caring for the child, or means that mom has to do everything drives me batty!

I’m a postpartum doula, and believe me when I tell you that in supporting breastfeeding pairs (mom and baby) I have NO problem finding things to do to be helpful and involved. Fix and provide snacks, support, encourage, reassure, fold laundry, provide company, wash dishes, burp the baby, change diapers, change the channel (some babies really require two hands to nurse well at first), run mom a bath, set up baby’s bath supplies, start dinner, write out a dictated grocery list… the opportunities are virtually endless.

I agree, Rosin’s issues seem to be primarily communication and resentment. I don’t see how formula feeding would cure either one.

By: Let me provoke you…and beg for your votes | PhD in Parenting

Let me provoke you…and beg for your votes | PhD in Parenting — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:58:55 +0000

[...] I post. That was true when I lashed out at Hanna Rosin in the Economics of Breastfeeding and in The Case Against Breastfeeding: Is it Anti-Feminist. It was true when I told facebook what I thought about it’s policy on breastfeeding photos in [...]

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:30:44 +0000

@Morgan: Our stats here in Canada are:

~ 90% intend to breastfeed and initiate breastfeeding
~ 52% exclusively breastfeeding @ 3 months
~ 15% exclusively breastfeeding @ 6 months (around 53% still breastfeeding though…my guess a lot of early solids intro still)