Dear lactivist moms,
I know you are very passionate about breastfeeding and would like all women (and men!) to be able to breastfeed. I know you want to rescue the world and think the way to achieve global peace is through boobs. But what’s with the judgment? What’s with the patronizing pity? What’s with always plotting how to make more women breastfeed as if the world depended on it?
First, you had the idea that formula should be closed up, sending the message that formula-feeding is shameful and evil. Not only are you shaming moms who couldn’t or wouldn’t breastfeed, but you also make them beg for food for their babies.
Then, you had the idea that women could be somehow bribed into nursing their babies, because you obviously must be thinking that a woman would never willingly breastfeed unless she was offered money for it.
What’s next then, I am asking you? Will you come to houses of formula-feeding women, hide their formula and beat them with your lactating breasts until they change their minds? Will you burn formula at midnight, singing chants to the Big Boob? Will you be handing cards to formula-feeding moms with: “Dear mom, your boobs are all that matter to me” written on them? What will it be?
I don’t know and I don’t care. I care about breastfeeding and think it is a brilliant way to feed babies. I support it wholeheartedly. I have devoted more years than I am willing to admit to feeding my babies with my milk.
But if one day you’ll find yourself in need of rescuing the world again with some crazy action to raise breastfeeding rates, don’t ask me to join. I’ll be busy laughing and joking with other moms, no matter how they feed their babies. I support breastfeeding. But more importantly, I support choices. And I can’t support you.
Yours truly,
A Breastfeeding Mom