👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💖✊🏽♀️ It breakes my heart what is happening in the birth/breastfeeding world. LLL was such a wonderful part of my childhood and beyond. We made life long friendships. In my adulthood I am dedicated to helping mothers through these phases of life. Knowing how harmful this language is just makes my heart sink. I can not begin to understand how so many women who should know better fell for this BS. 😢 Thank you for this article. The importance of mothers milk straight from the tap is not talked about enough. 💖💖💖
Writing from Africa where I still support MOTHERS and BABIES and FAMILIES though I no longer call myself a LLL leader. Being white and American gives them the time and privilege to waste the ressources of so many committed volunteer mothers. Black people are still mistreated, latino people are still mistreated, mothers are still traumatised at birth, babies are still routinely given formula in maternity wards... But none of that is important in the name of inclusive language! (AKA white privilege). Not missing you guys, but so sorry for the mammas not getting support when they could (sigh).
The most powerful ‘weapon’ LLL had to protect mothers and babies against harmful breastmilk substitutes, and their multibillion marketing strategies, was science. LLL became so effective at supporting mothers and babies because it was backed up by evidence-based information.
Now LLLUS is demolishing six decades of hard, compassionate, sustainable work.
Also, I’m rather bothered by the number of moms that come to me and don’t know they don’t have to pump in order to breastfeed - and their relief is palpable when I tell them this. Our society (mostly social media) has made them believe their bodies are not capable to producing milk simply by breastfeeding. Of course, there are situations where pumping is necessary to establish and/or maintain supply. But for a mother who is breastfeeding exclusively without issue, pumping typically just adds more stress.
Brilliant article . What’s becoming clear to me after 30 years as a midwife is that the relationship of breast feeding is as much a part of the experience as is feeding the baby why has it taken me so long to articulate that with confidence though ? . I was with a mum who gave birth recently who was adopted and didn’t seem to notice her babies feeding cues and said she was going to pump so dad could feed too . I was confronting and said this wasn’t ideal for baby or her but I didn’t mention intimacy and relationship which is central and which is generally unspoken and which mothers who breastfeed love about it and yet which she may not understand on a body level if she was removed from her mum . . Instead we get diverted by the details which whilst extremely relevant are easier to dismiss if you are already ambivalent I think .
I watched the Sarah Everard programme last night and it upsets me so much when mothers are removed and parents added in where feeding is concerned . Men have no place in breast feeding whatsoever.
Yes. This new mother wasn't mothered by her birth mother so has missed out on that foundational relationship and now this is what she knows, which is really sad for her and her baby. Some mothers who were adopted as babies use their own experience of motherhood to in a way try and connect with their babies with the intimacy that they missed out on. But they may need support, information and encouragement to do this as it is a new sensation that can also feel overwhelming and scary. Dads are important in the lives of babies, but not as food providers. Their roles are different, which is why it is never appropriate to use the word "parent" in relation to babies. For babies, parents are in no way interchangeable Lego bricks (and no baby should be created with the purpose of being handed over to physiological strangers who have bought them).
Because this is exactly what it is. Breastfeeding is a relationship and human milk is a product. Anyone can human milk feed a baby (as long as some woman has put in her labor to produce it), but a mother/baby dyad forms a relationship that not only endures for a lifetime, it is also a foundational social contract.
Great post. Whenever I see moms questioning chestfeeding and other “inclusive” terms, they are immediately given condescending answers and essentially told to sit down and shut up.
I appreciate the thoughts on breastfeeding versus giving human milk via bottle. It’s not uncommon to see posts that say “pumping is breastfeeding!” But I do think that’s incorrect. It’s not to make people feel bad if they are exclusively pumping. But it’s not accurate.
Pumping is most certainly not breastfeeding; pumping is pumping. Which if it's the only way to give your baby your milk is better than the other alternatives, but all the research is very clear: the optimizing benefits of breastfeeding are only fully available to women and their babies who breastfeed.
And what the ^&%$ is going on when women who come to LLL for breastfeeding support are instead given a compelled speech lesson instead?
I'm curious as to how this happened, the shift. Probably individual personalities involved. I know from speaking to women of a certain age, who would all identify as feminists, that they "just want everyone to be happy". That approach results in women losing out, but they don't seem to get that.
Lucy leader you should eat a bag of dicks. Your article is filled with opinions, not facts. This is your way of spreading your hate into the world. LLL has been harmful to people who are not white stay at home moms for a long time. You are going against LLL rules by posting things. Please leave LLL and the world of lactation bc there is enough inequity there already. You can’t even be brave enough to reveal your true identity. You’re a coward with a keyboard smh
Wow! Please do tell us how your hateful post illuminates breastfeeding support, and minorities??
Surely you can see how an argument that starts with “you should eat a bag of dicks” cannot be taken seriously by anyone.
Those “white ladies” that founded LLL have helped mothers all over the world, 80 countries (most of these countries are non-white).
It is sad enough that mothers are socially isolated when they insist on breastfeeding, when they give their child the best start in life, against all odds. This traps them at home, with no financial independence. I would suggest that you take your hatred and direct it to a system, a government, who does not protect or support the right to breastfeed of any mothers.
This is a sad state of affairs, and mothers of every race, every nationality, every ethnic group, are the victims.
I would fact-check Lucy’s article if I were you. You might learn a thing or two.
Haha! I just realized that you wrote an anonymous post and called Lucy a coward for not signing her name. Oh, you would be hilarious... if not for your potty mouth.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💖✊🏽♀️ It breakes my heart what is happening in the birth/breastfeeding world. LLL was such a wonderful part of my childhood and beyond. We made life long friendships. In my adulthood I am dedicated to helping mothers through these phases of life. Knowing how harmful this language is just makes my heart sink. I can not begin to understand how so many women who should know better fell for this BS. 😢 Thank you for this article. The importance of mothers milk straight from the tap is not talked about enough. 💖💖💖
Writing from Africa where I still support MOTHERS and BABIES and FAMILIES though I no longer call myself a LLL leader. Being white and American gives them the time and privilege to waste the ressources of so many committed volunteer mothers. Black people are still mistreated, latino people are still mistreated, mothers are still traumatised at birth, babies are still routinely given formula in maternity wards... But none of that is important in the name of inclusive language! (AKA white privilege). Not missing you guys, but so sorry for the mammas not getting support when they could (sigh).
Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip
That started at this New York airport
Aboard this tiny jet.
.
Gates was a mighty molesting man,
A gimper sick and queer.
Five pederasts took flight that day
For a three hour screw, a three hour screw.
.
The pedos started getting rough,
The tiny kid was tossed,
If not for the courage of the Disney crew
The Lolita would be lost, the Lolita would be lost.
.
The jet touched down on the shore of this secret tropic isle
With Jeffrey
And Brunel too,
The Microsoft billionaire and his wife,
The movie stars
Paul Pelosi and Ghislai-anne
Here on Epstein's Isle.
“And what about mothers?” Well said.
LucyLeader, your post moved me to the core.
The most powerful ‘weapon’ LLL had to protect mothers and babies against harmful breastmilk substitutes, and their multibillion marketing strategies, was science. LLL became so effective at supporting mothers and babies because it was backed up by evidence-based information.
Now LLLUS is demolishing six decades of hard, compassionate, sustainable work.
How can they sleep at night?
Because they’re never ever wrong about anything.
Also, I’m rather bothered by the number of moms that come to me and don’t know they don’t have to pump in order to breastfeed - and their relief is palpable when I tell them this. Our society (mostly social media) has made them believe their bodies are not capable to producing milk simply by breastfeeding. Of course, there are situations where pumping is necessary to establish and/or maintain supply. But for a mother who is breastfeeding exclusively without issue, pumping typically just adds more stress.
Brilliant article . What’s becoming clear to me after 30 years as a midwife is that the relationship of breast feeding is as much a part of the experience as is feeding the baby why has it taken me so long to articulate that with confidence though ? . I was with a mum who gave birth recently who was adopted and didn’t seem to notice her babies feeding cues and said she was going to pump so dad could feed too . I was confronting and said this wasn’t ideal for baby or her but I didn’t mention intimacy and relationship which is central and which is generally unspoken and which mothers who breastfeed love about it and yet which she may not understand on a body level if she was removed from her mum . . Instead we get diverted by the details which whilst extremely relevant are easier to dismiss if you are already ambivalent I think .
I watched the Sarah Everard programme last night and it upsets me so much when mothers are removed and parents added in where feeding is concerned . Men have no place in breast feeding whatsoever.
Yes. This new mother wasn't mothered by her birth mother so has missed out on that foundational relationship and now this is what she knows, which is really sad for her and her baby. Some mothers who were adopted as babies use their own experience of motherhood to in a way try and connect with their babies with the intimacy that they missed out on. But they may need support, information and encouragement to do this as it is a new sensation that can also feel overwhelming and scary. Dads are important in the lives of babies, but not as food providers. Their roles are different, which is why it is never appropriate to use the word "parent" in relation to babies. For babies, parents are in no way interchangeable Lego bricks (and no baby should be created with the purpose of being handed over to physiological strangers who have bought them).
Why does the term “human milk” sound so...dehumanizing?
Because this is exactly what it is. Breastfeeding is a relationship and human milk is a product. Anyone can human milk feed a baby (as long as some woman has put in her labor to produce it), but a mother/baby dyad forms a relationship that not only endures for a lifetime, it is also a foundational social contract.
Great post. Whenever I see moms questioning chestfeeding and other “inclusive” terms, they are immediately given condescending answers and essentially told to sit down and shut up.
I appreciate the thoughts on breastfeeding versus giving human milk via bottle. It’s not uncommon to see posts that say “pumping is breastfeeding!” But I do think that’s incorrect. It’s not to make people feel bad if they are exclusively pumping. But it’s not accurate.
Pumping is most certainly not breastfeeding; pumping is pumping. Which if it's the only way to give your baby your milk is better than the other alternatives, but all the research is very clear: the optimizing benefits of breastfeeding are only fully available to women and their babies who breastfeed.
And what the ^&%$ is going on when women who come to LLL for breastfeeding support are instead given a compelled speech lesson instead?
It’s crazy and so backwards.
I'm curious as to how this happened, the shift. Probably individual personalities involved. I know from speaking to women of a certain age, who would all identify as feminists, that they "just want everyone to be happy". That approach results in women losing out, but they don't seem to get that.
Lucy leader you should eat a bag of dicks. Your article is filled with opinions, not facts. This is your way of spreading your hate into the world. LLL has been harmful to people who are not white stay at home moms for a long time. You are going against LLL rules by posting things. Please leave LLL and the world of lactation bc there is enough inequity there already. You can’t even be brave enough to reveal your true identity. You’re a coward with a keyboard smh
Wow! Please do tell us how your hateful post illuminates breastfeeding support, and minorities??
Surely you can see how an argument that starts with “you should eat a bag of dicks” cannot be taken seriously by anyone.
Those “white ladies” that founded LLL have helped mothers all over the world, 80 countries (most of these countries are non-white).
It is sad enough that mothers are socially isolated when they insist on breastfeeding, when they give their child the best start in life, against all odds. This traps them at home, with no financial independence. I would suggest that you take your hatred and direct it to a system, a government, who does not protect or support the right to breastfeed of any mothers.
This is a sad state of affairs, and mothers of every race, every nationality, every ethnic group, are the victims.
I would fact-check Lucy’s article if I were you. You might learn a thing or two.
Best wishes.
Haha! I just realized that you wrote an anonymous post and called Lucy a coward for not signing her name. Oh, you would be hilarious... if not for your potty mouth.
Quiet now. The adults are talking.