728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Breastfeeding › At a Loss for Words

At a Loss for Words

Comebacks to Confront Breastfeeding Ignorance

By Shel Franco

Pages:  1  2  3  

Picture this: A young mother and her baby hunker down for a feeding at a family event. Despite the fact that Mom is very discreet in getting Baby latched on, some folks in the room are obviously uncomfortable. They start cracking jokes about nursing, acting as if the mother and baby aren't even in the room. Finally, a relative directs her comments at the now flush and embarrassed mom. "Are you going to let her do that once she starts kindergarten?" she says. The rest of the room erupts with sneers and laughter.

Sound familiar? It might. Many breastfeeding moms find themselves fending off rude comments about breastfeeding. Unfortunately, some moms are at a loss for words to combat these nasty remarks, so we're taking the liberty of offering you some advice.

In the Beginning
The decision to breastfeed is often met with blank stares and foreboding stories about past nursing failures. In the early days, that disbelief is bound to turn into incredulous stares at the site of a breastfeeding baby. When the rude comments begin, turn to these comebacks by iParenting Expert Advisor Karen Zeretzke, IBCLC:

When you are asked: "How can you stand to breastfeed?"
Answer: "How can you not?"

When you are asked: "Doesn't it bother you to have a baby hanging off your breasts?"
Answer: "Seems to me that's why they are there."

The Frequency of Feeding
Newborns eat a lot. Breastfed newborns eat even more. Breast milk is the proper food for a baby, so it is digested properly – quickly and easily. But our formula-feeding society doesn't seem to view this as a benefit. How can you answer obnoxious questions about how often – and how much – your baby eats? Zeretzke offers this advice:

When you are asked: "Didn't you just nurse that baby?"
Answer: "Hmmm, she must have forgotten already."


Pages:  1  2  3  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.