http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names What Everyone's Talking About Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:57:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64324 Natalie Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:16:01 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64324 The thing that disturbed me the most was the mum saying "I think the child should decide when to give up breastfeeding" and when the girls were asked when they would give it up they replied "Never". NEVER. "The will not be breastfeeding when they go to college, or get married". How about when the go to high school? When they buy their first car? Have sleepovers? Thank god my mum was normal. The thing that disturbed me the most was the mum saying “I think the child should decide when to give up breastfeeding” and when the girls were asked when they would give it up they replied “Never”. NEVER.
“The will not be breastfeeding when they go to college, or get married”. How about when the go to high school? When they buy their first car? Have sleepovers?
Thank god my mum was normal.

]]> http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64323 Amy Sheaves Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:52:57 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64323 There's nothing like a debate on breastfeeding to get the blood boiling! Looking forward to the nature/nurture debate! There’s nothing like a debate on breastfeeding to get the blood boiling!
Looking forward to the nature/nurture debate!

]]> http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64322 clare Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:15:01 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64322 my friend is living in England, and she said that b/f is not nearly as big there as it is here, it's very common for people to find it disgusting or even incestuous!! I doubt that this documentary did anything to change that. That family is very odd. my friend is living in England, and she said that b/f is not nearly as big there as it is here, it’s very common for people to find it disgusting or even incestuous!! I doubt that this documentary did anything to change that. That family is very odd.

]]> http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64321 Nikoleta Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:26:49 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64321 I don't disagree with your argument, however the research on what is normal in terms of breastfeeding still isn't conslusive. For starters, it was done in a context where the "natural weaning age" is affected by societal views such as those expressed here. Also, considering "normal" according to you and google is anywhere up to 7 years, why on earth would you go to a doctor at age 4? There are real, researched implications of talking later than usual, pls tell me, what are the implications of weaning later? The US AAP (Academy of pediatricians) states as part of their statement of policy on brastfeeding that BF is NOT detrimental to a child's psychological development at any age. I actually looked it up on their site - it is quite definite in its stance. Also, we're mammals, so it makes sense to compare our *mammalian* characteristics, ie breastfeeding. We don't hunt for prey anymore, so it doesn't make sense to compare fur coats or tusks. Pls don't confuse the argument. I don’t disagree with your argument, however the research on what is normal in terms of breastfeeding still isn’t conslusive. For starters, it was done in a context where the “natural weaning age” is affected by societal views such as those expressed here.
Also, considering “normal” according to you and google is anywhere up to 7 years, why on earth would you go to a doctor at age 4? There are real, researched implications of talking later than usual, pls tell me, what are the implications of weaning later?
The US AAP (Academy of pediatricians) states as part of their statement of policy on brastfeeding that BF is NOT detrimental to a child’s psychological development at any age. I actually looked it up on their site – it is quite definite in its stance.
Also, we’re mammals, so it makes sense to compare our *mammalian* characteristics, ie breastfeeding. We don’t hunt for prey anymore, so it doesn’t make sense to compare fur coats or tusks. Pls don’t confuse the argument.

]]> http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64320 Cerry Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:15:05 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64320 Nikoleta, I'm not going to dispute the fact that weaning, like walking, talking, sitting or any other developmental stage has a natural age (oh, and since I'm feeling bitchy today, "natural biological" is kind of tautological). However, if your baby is a couple of months older than the upper limit on the "normal" age for walking, talking or sitting, and still isn't doing so, you'd probably take them to the doctor, because your biological concern as a mother suggests something might be wrong. Google tells me that although research of other mammals suggests that anywhere between 9 months and 7 years is an acceptable age for weaning, most human children will naturally wean themselves between 3 and 4 years. And really, human children are a much better indication of this than apes/elephants/lions or any other animal (as Zoe pointed out, people are differnt to other animals. Yes, we're mammals, but we don't have a full coat of fur/a trunk and tusks/claws and teeth for ripping meat of a carcass). So if your child hasn't weaned themself by about 4 and a half, then logically, you should be taking them to the doctor, just to make sure everything's alright. After all, if your baby hasn't started teething at 8 or 9 months (once again, based on google), you'd probably be getting it checked out. This woman is still breastfeeding a kid at nearly 8 years old, which is nearly DOUBLE the average natural weaning age of a human baby. I'd say that at this point, even though breast milk is full of nutrients, the fact that most kids decided half a lifetime ago that they'd get them elsewhere, nature doesn't really intend said nutrients to be coming from breast milk any longer. Also, you said yourself that certain hormones start wearing off between feeds at about 3 months...maybe that's biology suggesting that we shouldn't be breastfeeding as much after that. Not that we should stop at 3 months, but maybe cut back a little. As you said, you can't escape your biology. However, if one argues it right, one can use the inescapable biology to prove pretty much anything they want. Especially if they don't mind coming off as bitchy and a little childish. Now, I'm off to have some pizza and a glass of milo. My biology is telling me that's what I need for lunch, so it's gotta be good for me, right? Nikoleta, I’m not going to dispute the fact that weaning, like walking, talking, sitting or any other developmental stage has a natural age (oh, and since I’m feeling bitchy today, “natural biological” is kind of tautological). However, if your baby is a couple of months older than the upper limit on the “normal” age for walking, talking or sitting, and still isn’t doing so, you’d probably take them to the doctor, because your biological concern as a mother suggests something might be wrong.
Google tells me that although research of other mammals suggests that anywhere between 9 months and 7 years is an acceptable age for weaning, most human children will naturally wean themselves between 3 and 4 years. And really, human children are a much better indication of this than apes/elephants/lions or any other animal (as Zoe pointed out, people are differnt to other animals. Yes, we’re mammals, but we don’t have a full coat of fur/a trunk and tusks/claws and teeth for ripping meat of a carcass). So if your child hasn’t weaned themself by about 4 and a half, then logically, you should be taking them to the doctor, just to make sure everything’s alright. After all, if your baby hasn’t started teething at 8 or 9 months (once again, based on google), you’d probably be getting it checked out.
This woman is still breastfeeding a kid at nearly 8 years old, which is nearly DOUBLE the average natural weaning age of a human baby. I’d say that at this point, even though breast milk is full of nutrients, the fact that most kids decided half a lifetime ago that they’d get them elsewhere, nature doesn’t really intend said nutrients to be coming from breast milk any longer.
Also, you said yourself that certain hormones start wearing off between feeds at about 3 months…maybe that’s biology suggesting that we shouldn’t be breastfeeding as much after that. Not that we should stop at 3 months, but maybe cut back a little.
As you said, you can’t escape your biology. However, if one argues it right, one can use the inescapable biology to prove pretty much anything they want. Especially if they don’t mind coming off as bitchy and a little childish.
Now, I’m off to have some pizza and a glass of milo. My biology is telling me that’s what I need for lunch, so it’s gotta be good for me, right?

]]> http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64319 Nikoleta Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:55:32 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64319 At some point, you don't NEED apples for nutrition. You can get everything that is in apples you can get from other foods. Is that a reason for not eating apples? Luey, check the ABA website. Sopme of the natural weaning age research has been done by an... gasp... anthropologist... Kathryn Dettwyler. Were you aware of the protective effect breastfeeding has on bone loss in the long term? Zoe... you can get angry all you like, but, like it or not, you ARE a mammal and as such there is a natural biological age for weaning... just like there is for learning to walk, sit, talk... or do these not apply to you? And if we insist on stepping outside the biologically defined norms, we take upon ourselves the risks that come with it... a case in point being the delaying of parenthood and the associated rise in breast cancer, birth defects and the need for ART. Assisted reproduction technologies. You can't escape your biology, you can't. I am equally tired of people using fallacious arguments. I am a scientist. At some point, you don’t NEED apples for nutrition. You can get everything that is in apples you can get from other foods. Is that a reason for not eating apples?
Luey, check the ABA website. Sopme of the natural weaning age research has been done by an… gasp… anthropologist… Kathryn Dettwyler. Were you aware of the protective effect breastfeeding has on bone loss in the long term?
Zoe… you can get angry all you like, but, like it or not, you ARE a mammal and as such there is a natural biological age for weaning… just like there is for learning to walk, sit, talk… or do these not apply to you? And if we insist on stepping outside the biologically defined norms, we take upon ourselves the risks that come with it… a case in point being the delaying of parenthood and the associated rise in breast cancer, birth defects and the need for ART. Assisted reproduction technologies. You can’t escape your biology, you can’t.
I am equally tired of people using fallacious arguments. I am a scientist.

]]> http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64318 Luey Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:33:35 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64318 Oh, and since I just can't resist, saying something is "full of nutrition" doesn't make sense. Every food is "full of nutrition". The statements about breastmilk not being for nutrition is because at some point, it's not neccessary for nutrition. It has other merits - bonding, contraception, etc. Nobody meant that the breastmilk suddenly stopped providing nutrition. Oh, and since I just can’t resist, saying something is “full of nutrition” doesn’t make sense. Every food is “full of nutrition”. The statements about breastmilk not being for nutrition is because at some point, it’s not neccessary for nutrition. It has other merits – bonding, contraception, etc. Nobody meant that the breastmilk suddenly stopped providing nutrition.

]]> http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64317 Luey Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:28:49 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64317 Nikoleta, I'd love to see your sources for that info, as some of it contradicts research I've done on the same subject. I'm an anthropologist who specializes in bone loss, which can be caused by both pregnancy and childbirth, so I'm not just asking to be snippy - I'd really like to know! Nikoleta, I’d love to see your sources for that info, as some of it contradicts research I’ve done on the same subject. I’m an anthropologist who specializes in bone loss, which can be caused by both pregnancy and childbirth, so I’m not just asking to be snippy – I’d really like to know!

]]> http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64316 JLo Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:44:03 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64316 Yeah, I would like to be open minded and say, it's like all things with parenting- we are all going to have our own ideas about what is right and wrong for our kids, and all aim to do what is in the best interests of the child. However, i honestly can't get my head around how this is really in the best interest of these kids. I (like a couple of other people here) think this is more about mum's needs than the kids and their will be negative repercussions for kids at this age from their peers if they continue to breast feed through primary school. Yeah, I would like to be open minded and say, it’s like all things with parenting- we are all going to have our own ideas about what is right and wrong for our kids, and all aim to do what is in the best interests of the child. However, i honestly can’t get my head around how this is really in the best interest of these kids. I (like a couple of other people here) think this is more about mum’s needs than the kids and their will be negative repercussions for kids at this age from their peers if they continue to breast feed through primary school.

]]> http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64315 Kelly@SHE-POWER Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:02:40 +0000 http://www.mamamia.com.au/weblog/2008/12/they-talk-to-my-breasts-and-draw-pictures-of-them-and-give-them-names.html#comment-64315 I wouldn't do it and it definitely raises my ick factor, but it's also a personal parenting choice that isn't abusive so I don't really see how its any of my business. The Little Britain skit is funny though. Kelly I wouldn’t do it and it definitely raises my ick factor, but it’s also a personal parenting choice that isn’t abusive so I don’t really see how its any of my business.
The Little Britain skit is funny though.
Kelly

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