Does It Matter What Word We Use?

By On June 21, 2012 · 17 Comments

This post is part of the Breastfeeding Blog Hop hosted by The Slacker Mom and co-hosted by Happiness Redefined and me, The Gnome’s Mom. This week’s topic is “What is Breastfeeding Advocacy?“ Scroll down to see more posts or even better, link up and join the fun!

I have already written post that is absolutely perfect for this week! In it, I wrote:

I can not speak for all breastfeeding advocates, I can only speak for myself. It doesn’t matter to me whether you call it breastfeeding activism, lactivism, advocating for breastfeeding, supporting breastfeeding, or anything else. All that matters (to me) is that I feel very strongly about breastfeeding support. My goal in talking about breastfeeding is not to convince you to breastfeed.

(Read more of that post by clicking here)

My goals as a breastfeeding advocate are to inform women that breastfeeding is an option, to normalize breastfeeding in our society, to be someone who others can ask for help if they’re struggling with breastfeeding, and to inform as many people as possible that a baby’s right to eat whenever and wherever they are hungry is protected.

The way I advocate for breastfeeding is pretty simple:

I nurse my baby toddler. 

Whenever and wherever he is hungry.

I am open about my struggles. 

I am a firsthand example of how breastfeeding can be so difficult, but that it is possible to overcome challenges like insufficient glandular tissue and formula supplementation.

I support all women, no matter how they feed their babies.

Period.

What does breastfeeding advocacy mean to you? Do you advocate for breastfeeding? How? If you enjoy reading about The Gnome & his family, like us on Facebook, add us on Google+, and follow us on twitter! While you’re at it… check out our Networked Blogs box in the right sidebar!

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  • http://www.facebook.com/alesia.southwick Alesia Cheatham Southwick

    I also support breastfeeding and I am also a big advocate of doing whatever works for you. I really want to nurse all of my children, and I’ve been successful with the first two.  Thanks to a lot of help from a lactation specialist and a lot of support from my husband, I was able to nurse my daughter, who had a lot of problems the first couple of weeks that we tried to feed her.  It was seriously the scariest and most frustrating thing that I have had to deal with.  Labor and delivery was nothing compared to the feelings I had while trying to get my baby to eat and calling the hospital in the middle of the night looking for answers.  But for me, it was super worth it to be able to continue nursing her.  That isn’t always the case, though.  I have a sister-in-law and a good friend who didn’t end up breastfeeding after having problems with their kids, and for them, I think that really was the best option.  I think   that, like all other parenting decisions, the decision to breastfeed is a very individual decision.  I think the one thing that I would advocate for is better education and information so that the benefits of breastfeeding are really well-known, so that when people do make that decision, they have all the information that they need to make a well-informed decision.  Formula is great, but if it’s possible (and it works for you) breastfeeding really is the best for your baby.  It’s kind of like cloth diapering–even one cloth diaper makes a difference, and even a little while breastfeeding makes a difference, too.

  • kickassk

    I agree wholeheartedly! I will admit that it has been interesting to encounter breastfeeding stereotypes within my immediate family. My husband was totally on board with nursing our son while he was an infant. But, now that he’s 15 months, when he asks for “Boo” and tugs at my shirt, Hubs rolls his eyes and sighs. He is frustrated that his son is getting so big and still “dependent” on breastfeeding. Hubs knows that I’m going to feed our son whenever and wherever. Just wish he were on board like when DS was younger.

    • http://thegnomesmom.com Lori W

      That would be really hard. Fortunately, my husband is still supportive of me nursing our 21 month old.

  • Jenn Brooks

    This is a great post. I love that you have been open and honest about any struggles you’ve had breastfeeding. I know too many women who have given up breastfeeding when they’ve had any kind of struggle with it, often not realizing that many women have faced the same challenges, and that most of the time these things can be overcome.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Julie-Anthony-Murphy/45602676 Julie Anthony Murphy

    I love that you advocate for anyone! I too have turned into a huge breastfeeding advocate as well:-)

  • J Wermager

    I had our first child in February and even though I read many books, went to La Leche League meetings and had a very supportive husband – breastfeeding was incredibly difficult for me and my daughter. I had bleeding cracked nipples and almost gave up, but all of the benefits for mom and baby kept me going – I wanted the best for my daughter! Now nursing is a snap and I try as much as I can to encourage and support the women around me who are new mothers.

  • Maria Kiser

    I only breastfed for 3 months with my first, now 2.5. My second is due Aug 7 and I REALLY hope to do it much longer this time. My son and I never really got the hang of it and I wasn’t trying my hardest.

  • Christina Littlewood

     I agree that as women we really need to support eachother as mothers.  Its a challenging, demanding job and we want to do the very best for out kids.  I’m a huge advocate of LeLecheLeague for that reason, they are there to support mothers.  Its so nice to have a place to go once a month where I can talk about being a mom and feel like what I am doing really is important, I am growing little people!  I love to bring my 3 and a half year along, even though he weaned a year ago when I was pregnant.  I can see being around the little babies is good for his development too, it really brings out the gentleness in him.  I can’t say that I support formula feeding, because I just don’t.  But I do have friends that had supply issues and had to supplement, and they did the best they could do with what they had as we all do.  I guess I think that formula is overused, often because women don’t get the support they need in the beginning or when they have problems.  And formula companies make it their business to make it too easy and accessible for new moms to pick up the bottle.  How many of us have had samples and coupons sent to us as a “gift” in the first few weeks after baby’s birth?  Formula should be prescribed for women that truly cannot provide enough, after seeing a lactation consultant and seeing if diet, herbs, change of feeding times, and drugs work first.  Breastfeeding is important!  And there is no way that formula is “just as good as breastmilk.” 

  • Maria

    Yes, I definitely advocate for breastfeeding. I am the breastfeeding coordinator for our local WIC program and we try to support moms in doing whatever they decide is best for their families. We encourage and praise every mom for however long she chooses to breastfeed.

  • Trenessa

    I am a big advocate for breastfeeding, too. It saddens me that more women don’t at least attempt to breastfeed, even if for only a day or a week or a month. I discussed breastfeeding multiple times on my blog and was even able to help a few moms! Considering that my readership is very small, I was thrilled that I helped someone breastfeed or continue breastfeeding!

  • Queamore112

    I cannot tell you how important this kind of posting can be to mom’s just starting out breastfeeding, have trouble breastfeeding or needing encouragement to continue breastfeeding. Thanks for your words.

  • Tobi

    ugh, i rememer when I started BF my 1st it was tough because i didnt seek support and I just though oh its because of this or that. but now that I have saught out help from so manypeople on fourms this time around has been easy peesy and I too have become an advocate. its soo rewarding knowing shes growning because of me:) 

  • Hutson_98

    I’m an RN at a small rural hospital that delivers a lot of babies to young (15-19) y/o moms who did not mean to end up there having a baby.  In the last few months we have seen a few 16 and 17 year old girls become very on board with breastfeeding.  I wish there was more support in the community I live in for these young girls who are not only struggling with being a teenager but not struggling with being a mom

  • Savannah Cooper-Hughes

    I would love to become active in the LLL and help breastfeeding mothers in my community! I am definitely a breastfeeding advocate. 

  • Dani Sue

    Thank you for saying you support all women no matter how they choose to feed their babies! I have stopped using some mom forums because of the animosity toward mothers who combi feed or formula feed. I started out combi feeding due to some medical problems after birth. After 2.5 months of that I ended up completely formula feeding. It was a hard decision but one that ended up working for us. It’s nice to not feel ashamed of it.

    • http://thegnomesmom.com Lori W

      Absolutely. I am still nursing my 21 month old but I had to supplement with formula for the first 6 weeks or so. Had to, I had no choice!

  • Anradford

    Nursing my 10 month old! Such a special time together, I wouldn’t change it for the world!