On a completely non-weight loss related topic I need to express my opinions, thoughts and feelings about something that has really irked me for days now.
Saturday evening we went over to friends' place for a (not-always) monthly get together with 3 other couples. One of these couples just recently had a baby and is in the 4 week post-partum stage, she is still unsure of many things and also seems upset about her decision to formula feed rather than breast-feed. In this group I am the only one who chose to breast-feed and I am very proud, and even a little arrogant about this fact. I cannot believe how quickly people give up on breast feeding and am even more annoyed by others who go on and on about how it's just as good to FF. BUT this isn't what is what is seriously bothering about the evenings conversation...it is the use of the term "breastfeeding nazi". I have been guilty of using this term in the past but after giving it a lot of thought I realized using this term is just not appropriate. The Nazi's tortured, persecuted and murdered millions of people. People who who work in hospitals and who have jobs to encourage new mothers to breastfeed are not related in the least to this type of behaviour. Perhaps people who strongly believe in the benefits of breastfeeding may make some new moms feel overwhelmed but all they are doing is trying to make these women realize that breast is best and even if you do have initial problems nursing your baby these will diminish with time and persistance. The term Nazi can only be associated with negativity and has absolutely nothing positive about it. Breastfeeding and feeling that bf is best can only be positive and those who believe in it strongly should be called mothers who want best for their babies not Nazi's
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ugh...lost a long comment...but I agree! I hate when people call anyone but a Nazi a Nazi. It is a word that describes the most henious of people, murderers, and even the most dedicated BFing advocate does not deserve to be called such a thing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, D. I agree with you about the inappropriateness of using the term "Nazi" that way.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of breastfeeding though, Little One is showing signs of wanting to self-wean. Can I tell you how much I CRIED today? My friend had to console me during our weepy luncheon today. Little One didn't nurse today or yesterday. I am engorged, emotional, and downright sad that this day has come. She is just short of 16 months old and though I am happy that she even breastfed at all (since she's a preemie and I've been told that sometimes preemies don't latch or nurse...or sometimes have a rough go at it), I'm sad that she is growing up and that that part of her life is going to be soon in the past. :( I just blogged about it today!
I feel the same about that word ... I know after the Seinfeld episode about the Soup Nazi it became almost fashionable to use that word, but I never felt comfortable using it because of its awful connotations. And of course, BF nazi, what a weird association of words, so inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's anything wrong with being a huge advocate of BF, I myself was so distraught over the fact that neither of my kids were 100% BF only (I had to supplement both)...but it was with tremendous guilt that I had to supplement with the boy, and only after I realized he was losing weight rather than gaining, at the very crucial few weeks stage.
I agree with you that for some Moms who decide to FF without even trying to BF, it's quite lame - and I think that's just a shame for the baby (and the Mom, there's NOTHING like the bonding from BF). However, there are some people out there who are freaky obsessed and DO make FF moms feel overly guilty. Which I know you're not, but the reality is that there are some who are way over that part of the spectrum too.
Nevertheless, there are more appropriate terms to use than Nazi, that's for sure!