Tracy Oldfield

 
I found this while looking for an article to share on the subject of why breastfeeding is normal, not superior, but it serves a good purpose, and I can safely say that the contents can be turned around to say that if someone tells you that they haven't breastfed, take the time to find out why before you get high and mighty about it. :-)
 
Tracy
 
PS  when I find the link for the other thing, I'll post that too
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2000 12:12 AM
Subject: breastfeeding rants was Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] champagne moment...

Just to clarify, I'm not a LLL Leader yet :-)  I need to make this clear, as any counsellor-type will know, so that no-one thinks I talk about breastfeeding on LLL's behalf, yet.  But I too groaned when I read this post, not only because of its inflamatorry nature, but because this is exactly the kind of superiority complex which puts some people off breastfeeding.  Breastfeeding is natural.  Breastmilk is what babies' sytems are designed to deal with.  That does not mean that bottlefeeding, 'with safety and love' as Bill and Martha Sears' Baby Book says, cannot meet the needs of babies who cannot be breastfed. 
 
I think Stephanie's husband would read this message and be more put off.  It would be more helpful for him to talk to other fathers who support their partner's feeding choices.  My dh said, when asked how many times dd2 woke in the night, 'I don't know,' I don't wake up.'  A major benefit for the co-sleeping, breastfeeding father!!
 
Dogmatics and rants don't change people's minds, nor can they change the fact that some people physically can't breastfeed.  There's enough aggro in the world without adding to it.
 
Tracy