UAE and mandatory breast feeding

Re: UAE and mandatory breast feeding

• Shoegal36 member

  February 2014

  coffeeandbooks said:

  Did you guys hear about how the UAE made breast feeding mandatory for two years?
  
  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/07/uae-law-mothers-breastfeed-first-two-years
  
  The choice not to breast feed for me was very complicated but I have to admit one reason I did not breastfeed was because of the pressure to do so.  
  
  Curious to know what people think about mandated breastfeeding and the pressure to breast feed in the US..
  

  I think mandated breastfeeding is ridiculous and all of the pressure is in fact turning people off from breastfeeding. Basically, doing the opposite of what is intended. 

  
  

  That being said, I think that the choice to breastfeed should be about what is best for you, your baby and your family. It's a personal decision and breast is NOT always best for everyone (or even a possibility in many cases). I could care less how anyone chooses to feed their child, but I do think choosing not to do it out of spite or to prove a point is kind of silly. I hear it from friends and see it all the time on my FB newsfeed...people "taking a stand" against the pressure to breastfeed. I dunno...I think people should just do what they want and stop caring so much what others think. 

             

  
  

     

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• coffeeandbooks member

  February 2014 edited February 2014

  @scormier ...sorry if I was unclear I didn't take a "stand" or not breastfeed out of spite.  Please.
  As I said, the decision not to breastfeed was complicated and for me the pressure to breastfeed was a deterrent not a help.  For me breastfeeding is a personal decision, and being coerced into or talked into breastfeeding by friends and family and even the medical community felt invasive and was one factor for me in not wanting to breastfeed. 
  

  

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• Shoegal36 member

  February 2014 edited February 2014

  coffeeandbooks said:

  @scormier ...sorry if I was unclear I didn't take a "stand" or not breastfeed out of spite.  Please.
  As I said, the decision not to breastfeed was complicated and for me the pressure to breastfeed was a deterrent not a help.  For me breastfeeding is a personal decision, and being coerced into or talked into breastfeeding by friends and family and even the medical community felt invasive and was one factor for me in not wanting to breastfeed. 
  

  Oh, I wasn't talking about you when I said "taking a stand". That's why I said "my friends and my FB newsfeed." 

  
  

  But, as you said...the pressure is a deterrent not a help. That's my point. All of the pressure is doing the opposite of it's intention, and making people not want to breastfeed. Or at least be a factor in why they choose not to. 

  
  ETA oh, and my quoting you in bold was just in reference to me saying that the pressure is doing the opposite and making people not want to breastfeed. I can see how you would take that the wrong way. Also, my SN just changed so I'm sorry to confuse!

  
  

             

  
  

     

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• MeeksandMads member

  February 2014

  I'm with Shank on this one. I never felt any pressure, and actually appreciated that there were lactation consultants standing ready at the hospital because breast feeding is not a super easy thing to do in those early days... I would never endorse mandatory breast feeding, but I do wish more people would feel okay about giving it a shot. I'm not a huge fan of people deciding before they try it that it won't work. And I don't mind if that pisses some people off. But as to what works for families, as long as you are feeding your baby with love, that is what matters. Formula or breast milk, it is a personal choice.

  

  My little bug, Madeline. Born June 2, 2013.

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• MeeksandMads member

  February 2014

  Also, I actually felt a lot more pressure from some old school relatives to STOP breast feeding, as they associate it with women nt being empowered and also very wrongly with it being something you only do if you can't afford formula.
  
  People on both sides of the issue can be obnoxious

  

  My little bug, Madeline. Born June 2, 2013.

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• Shoegal36 member

  February 2014

  I definitely didn't get any pressure. I actually got discouraged by family..."we won't be able to feed her, we won't be able to babysit, you know it really hurts, right? you know it's hard, right?"
  
  I've said this before but I feel like women put a lot of pressure on themselves, and sometime takes comments personally when they aren't intended that way.
  
  
  

             

  
  

     

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• JoJo716 member

  February 2014

  @spankingshank I get the same as well! It bums me out because I feel like it has been such an accomplishment and no one else really cares. Let me tell you, you are amazing for making it through everything!

   

  

   

  

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• coffeeandbooks member

  February 2014

  The attitude I encountered, was "of course" you are going to breast feed. Just like there could be no question about it. No conversation, just like yeah you'd be derelict not to.

  

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• DiFazette member

  February 2014

  I prefer government (of any place) stay the F out of my personal business. If this is the same article I read recently (sorry, haven't read the link yet)... They would provide wet nurses to those who couldn't BF. Are you kidding me? I would lose my shit, and likely my citizenship.

  
  
       
  
  
  

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• Boo0512 member

  February 2014

  I'm very pro-breastfeeding but understand that it doesn't work for everyone's lifestyle. If I weren't a SAHM/WFHM I don't think I would have made it this far.
  
  In general, I think this law is ridiculous, even outside of taking away personal choices, there are so many problems with this. It could seriously affect the health of a baby (not gaining enough, dehydration etc) and mental health of a mother. It is also (in my opinion) an unrealistic amount of time. The entire law is crazypants but 2 years? Wow.
  
  Is formula going to be illegal?? Brain does not compute.
  

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• Shoegal36 member

  February 2014

  KateRN08 said:

  I felt an immense pressure to breastfeed. At my hospital there are signs everywhere that says breast is best and that is ingrained in my training as an OB nurse. I felt like a huge failure when she couldn't transfer milk and she was admitted to hospital. I struggle with it to this day. I don't care if that makes sensitive. I loved nursing her and I am still sad I didn't get to make that decision. It wasn't a choice for me. My choice was to breastfeed but Either my baby was going to starve to death or I give her the bottle. Obviously I gave her the bottle. I think it is a horrible law. A wet nurse wouldn't have helped us, I have lots of milk. What are women supposed to do in that case?

  This is kind of unrelated, but I just wanted to say, that when I read your posts on the topic...I feel bad because I think you are too hard on yourself. I totally understand the disappointment, but there wasn't anything you could do about it...and she still got your breast milk. I think it's amazing that you are still EPing and you need to give yourself more credit!

  It's a tough thing to keep up and I'd never have the dedication to do it. 

             

  
  

     

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• Schell2013 member

  February 2014

  I don't think anyone should be forced to do anything against their will. It's just not right IMO. Period.

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• snowgirl427 member

  February 2014

  I EBF. I do believe there is validity about BM being best... However, I whole heartedly am against mandating it.
  
  

   
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• Lolalipsy member

  February 2014

  I can't even take the article seriously.  It's like people think up laws and ways to make their lives more difficult.  

  
  

  
  
  

  

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• coffeeandbooks member

  February 2014

  Shoegal36 said:

  
  

  ETA oh, and my quoting you in bold was just in reference to me saying that the pressure is doing the opposite and making people not want to breastfeed. I can see how you would take that the wrong way. Also, my SN just changed so I'm sorry to confuse!

  
  
  

  no worries, @shoegal36, I probably got a little defensive there...I guess it is still a sore point for me.  But, yeah, you are exactly right, the pressure totally has the opposite of the intended effect. 
  

  

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