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Home › Articles › Issues for Mom › 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."


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Re: At a Loss for Words by kiannaa on 12/27/2008 07:27PM

It's funny I came across this website. Less than an hour ago, one of my sisters said to my 16-month-old, "Once you can say nurse you can't nurse anymore!" My other sister said, "That's true..." I said, "Yes she can nurse, and it's a matter of opinion, but since you're not the parents your opinion doesn't count." They were speechless. My mother always has something to say too. Most of the time I ignore her and them, and sometimes I come back with a come back like I just mentioned. LOL!

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