‘Are you feeding him yourself?’ Yes I’m BREAST feeding lol!!
It surprises me the people that ask me this question instead of just saying ‘are you breastfeeding?’ Are we a nation of prudes or do you think people are just trying to be polite? If people can’t bring themselves to SAY it in public, it’s no wonder so many people struggle to have the confidence to do it public.
Yes I like that too, because it encompases feeding for comfort and reassurance and not just for a meal, which still seems to be quite frowned upon by some people (my mum included!). Breastfeeding is more than just milk.
Im sure I have asked mums if they are feeding their babies themselves before…not sure why I put it like that! Closer friends I would ask if they are breastfeeding and how is it going. Maybe Im prudish? It just came out like that! I also found myself using the term ‘fell pregnant’ not so long ago and someone laughed and said that was very out of date and suggested it was an unfortunate rather than a happy event. I do tend to use old fashioned terms quite a lot, just things Ive read in ld fashioned stories or things my Dad used when I was little I suppose…and he still listens to the wireless and goes to the flicks…I wouldnt read anything into these things, although its right to think about the language we use and whether it is correct.
I wouldn’t think anything of it. I don’t like the word vagina or penis. I’m not a prude I just hate the words; they sound so, so, harsh and biological! I don’t like the word breast either, I think boobs are nicer - softer, rounder, more yeilding LOL!
I’m actually not keen on the word breastfeeding. Like starchild, I think it just sounds a bit harsh and not comforting or loving. I much prefer the term nursing
Funny about Starchild’s post, here we have started calling LO’s a ‘peen’ sometimes after MamaPixie’s “Choo got a BIG peen, daddy!” post. Just to have a laugh again! Haha, it’s a very cute word, though willy is cute too (not for grown men though!)
I can’t say I’ve noticed how I or people phrase it, til now. But I’ll be taking much more notice in future.
I don’t like the term “nursing” as I just instantly think of nurses (in uniforms), and all the medical stuff like needles, disinfectants, swabbing, plasters, etc
I’m not that bothered by it - more curious about how people think/speak/feel, I think it just surprised me that two people in a short space of time asked me the question in that way. I suppose I’m quite blunt and call a spade a spade…. except when my 5 year old asked me what his testicals were called and for some god forsaken reason I answered ‘ball bags’!! Which is a term my older brother used to use.
Because I am breastfeeding at the moment my awareness about it’s acceptance in public is more hightened, so I guess I over analyse. A friend of mine called in ‘boobing’ which made me smile
I think i also ask people if they are feeding their baby themselves. I dont know why i put it that way. My DH’s family know “nursing” as cuddling. So “give the baby a nurse”, means “give the baby a cuddle/hug”. I dont like it personally, but to be honest, there’s an awful lot about my DH’s family which neither of us like!!!
Although the numbers of women breastfeeding is on the rise in this country the attitude towards this by wider society is that it should take place behind closed doors. We are still in the Victorian era when it comes to the attitudes of breastfeeding in public, it is not surprising therefore that the words we use do not reflect the magical relationship between mother and baby.
I think i also ask people if they are feeding their baby themselves. I dont know why i put it that way. My DH’s family know “nursing” as cuddling. So “give the baby a nurse”, means “give the baby a cuddle/hug”. I dont like it personally, but to be honest, there’s an awful lot about my DH’s family which neither of us like!!!
Yes, I’d forgotten why I cringe at the term ‘nursing’ and it’s because dh’s Grandma always says she’s nursing the baby, to mean cuddling, while I’ve always associated with breastfeeding - which she most certainly isn’t doing for my children! I think I say ‘feeding’ a lot actually, never thought it was prudish, just quicker!
Although the numbers of women breastfeeding is on the rise in this country the attitude towards this by wider society is that it should take place behind closed doors. We are still in the Victorian era when it comes to the attitudes of breastfeeding in public, it is not surprising therefore that the words we use do not reflect the magical relationship between mother and baby.
Yes! As a third time breastfeeder I now have the confidence to breastfeed anywhere I need to, and I do it hoping that it might just give other people a bit of encouragement not to hide away. It’s so important to lead by example. I saw a quote on Twitter recently ‘My thoughts are that if breastfeeding offends you, you are staring too hard’! To believe it should be done in privacy is associating it with something sexual, when it is afterall just feeding and eating.
