Replies to '10/07 The Latest Debates'

Quote From: bravatime

The subject of BF is very important in my life right now b/c I just had a baby.  Learning to BF is not easy, thus I'm very reluctant to be out in public right now.  I'm reluctant b/c I feel like there is not a great deal of support for BF in public.  I'm afraid of offending people, even though I know that I am merely providing nourishment to my new baby.  I was disappointed with the show b/c I thought Dr. Phil would promote education on the subject and thus provide enlightment on both sides of the issue.  Instead, both sides were adamant about their positions without providing the reasons why they were so passionate about their feelings.  The woman who was against BF in public never did say what it was about BF that was so unappealing and the other woman did not take the opportunity to explain the many reasons why women BF.  If Dr. Phil would have probed further, and an explanation was provided about the many benefits of BF, its support among the medical community, and its support world-wide, then perhaps more people would understand why people like myself choose to BF and wouldn't be so put-off when they see a child being nourished by his/her mother's breast.  People keep referring to women "exposing" themselves-- the word seems inappropriate b/c women are not trying to be exhibitionists (in fact, I doubt most women want their breasts being sexualized by strangers while they are trying to focus on the well-being of their child).  However, there are logistics to BF, which I am acutely aware of as I'm learning to BF my son.  People need to be educated that BF does not come naturally to all, or even most, women.  Logistically, there is a latch-on that needs to be learned, there are positions that need to be learned, etc-- so sometimes I am not able to be as discreet as I would like to be b/c otherwise I would not be BF correctly.  So, especially for the sake of us newbies at BF and our newborns,  I suggest Dr. Phil do another show on this that does actually promote education, and thus tolerance, on the subject.

Quote From: bravatime

The subject of BF is very important in my life right now b/c I just had a baby.  Learning to BF is not easy, thus I'm very reluctant to be out in public right now.  I'm reluctant b/c I feel like there is not a great deal of support for BF in public.  I'm afraid of offending people, even though I know that I am merely providing nourishment to my new baby.  I was disappointed with the show b/c I thought Dr. Phil would promote education on the subject and thus provide enlightment on both sides of the issue.  Instead, both sides were adamant about their positions without providing the reasons why they were so passionate about their feelings.  The woman who was against BF in public never did say what it was about BF that was so unappealing and the other woman did not take the opportunity to explain the many reasons why women BF.  If Dr. Phil would have probed further, and an explanation was provided about the many benefits of BF, its support among the medical community, and its support world-wide, then perhaps more people would understand why people like myself choose to BF and wouldn't be so put-off when they see a child being nourished by his/her mother's breast.  People keep referring to women "exposing" themselves-- the word seems inappropriate b/c women are not trying to be exhibitionists (in fact, I doubt most women want their breasts being sexualized by strangers while they are trying to focus on the well-being of their child).  However, there are logistics to BF, which I am acutely aware of as I'm learning to BF my son.  People need to be educated that BF does not come naturally to all, or even most, women.  Logistically, there is a latch-on that needs to be learned, there are positions that need to be learned, etc-- so sometimes I am not able to be as discreet as I would like to be b/c otherwise I would not be BF correctly.  So, especially for the sake of us newbies at BF and our newborns,  I suggest Dr. Phil do another show on this that does actually promote education, and thus tolerance, on the subject.