The breastfeeding culture

I needed friends who could talk about latch and thrush nipples and what to do when the baby lifts my shirt in a restaurant. Finally, I found other moms who were interested in all things nursing. Let’s call it my breastfeeding tribe.Is breastfeeding a sub-culture within our society?

By Times ColonistNovember 10, 2007

Special to the Times ColonistI was lonely after I gave birth to my first son, Alex. While my girlfriends spent their days at the office and their nights eating out and dancing at clubs, I spent day and night attached to a voracious baby, nipple to mouth.I needed friends who could talk about latch and thrush nipples and what to do when the baby lifts my shirt in a restaurant. Finally, I found other moms who were interested in all things nursing. Let’s call it my breastfeeding tribe.“I’ve been calling it a club,” says Sonya Chandler, 32. Chandler is a nurse, city councillor and mother to three-month-old Penelope-Rose. “I think that club revolves around parenting, and in that club are a lot of sub-clubs … I think breastfeeding is one of them.” Is breastfeeding a sub-culture within our society, though? Anthropologist Dr. Lisa Mitchell has some reservations about that idea. Mitchell, 48, is an associate professor of cultural anthropology at the University of Victoria and a mother of two.“To me to call it a culture is to imply that it is something different and far-out from what Canadian women are doing regularly,” Mitchell says. Most Canadian mothers try to breastfeed nowadays, she points out.“It is a very short leap then to think, ‘Well, if you belong to that culture, everybody within it shares the same ideas and that it’s a very homogenous,’” she says. “And I don’t believe that to be the case about breastfeeding.”Mitchell does say there can be a social or group aspect among breastfeeding mothers. “Women who do breastfeed often depend upon like-minded friends and family for support,” she says. “It speaks to the social aspect of breastfeeding.”Over my years in the tribe, I’ve observed a shared vocabulary, with words such as latch (the hold baby’s mouth has on the nipple, but I used to think that word only applied to the closure of a gate). It was often like learning a whole new language. “Language is not simply utilitarian and descriptive,” Mitchell says. “We use it to say things about who we are, both personally and as groups.”Kyrie Smith says she and her 10-month-old son, Abhainn Kula, spend a lot of time around other breastfeeding pairs. Smith, 21, says she didn’t think about the new language at first.“I guess everything changed,” she says. “All the language is different when you suddenly become a parent. It was so shocking.” Smith says she wants to change the culture of parenting, to make it less about buying things and more about supporting breastfeeding.“We (need to) get together in small groups and communities of mothers,” she says, “hosting mom and baby support groups, that’s how we should go about doing it.”The mom and baby group is another part of tribe behaviour, most famously represented in the breastfeeding institution La Leche League. There are also traditions such as the annual Quintessence Breastfeeding Challenge. Once a year, moms gather in a large group and breastfeed at the same time. I attended Victoria’s challenge with my 14-month-old daughter. We were surrounded by a swirl of baby slings and hipster strollers. Many babies were wearing T-shirts proclaiming, “I heart boobies!” or “Warning: Boob magnet.” This can only be described as the tribe’s home turf. Terri Foggitt, 27, was there, her seven-month-old son Carter wriggling against her shoulder. Written across the front of her tank top: “Breast Milk, Always on Tap.” The back read “Milk Maiden.”Foggitt’s best experience with the breastfeeding tribe makes her cry.“I had a breast reduction and I have a little bit of problem supplying enough breast milk for my son, because of that,” she says. “I ran into some weight problems with him. My sister-in-law is breastfeeding her one-year-old son and she breastfed my boy for me.”She wipes her eyes and adds, “That’s something that I’m really proud of, to know there are women still willing to do things like that and support breastfeeding.”Sonya Chandler says she enjoys being with other breastfeeding moms. But she says she noticed something disquieting at the breastfeeding challenge.“There were a lot of the same people, meaning lots of middle-class, educated, white people,” she says. “I didn’t see a lot of high-risk people who were under-supported, less educated and in poverty there. But they are breastfeeding as well.”Chandler says the ability to hang out with other moms and talk breastfeeding shop might be another middle-class luxury.“I’m not specializing in coping,” she says. “I’m not specializing in feeding myself and my other children.”

Got Milk? No? Get cookies!!

Anyone that knows me is aware that I am very pro breastfeeding and most also know that I had a lot of struggles with breastfeeding which lead to a lot of reading, a lot of research and a lot of advice from professionals (both accredited and practical experienced). In the end I was able to continue a breastfeeding relationship with my youngest son for a year, I would have liked longer but a year was a great accomplishment for us and one to be proud of.

To make a long story short my breastfeeding struggles came down to what we believed to be quality of milk and my son was not getting the nutrients he required. In order to increase my volume and hopefully provide him with more nutrients I sought the advice of an amazing doctor, Dr. Jack Newman as well as conversations with local breastfeeding professionals and my family doctor I was armed with some great ways to increase milk supply and continue to nurse my beautiful baby boy. I believe breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural and amazing thing. It provides your baby with the best possible food as well as antibodies and vitamins. Breastfeeding doesn't come easy to everyone and for some woman (through breast reductions, adoption or other factors) it is not a possibility without intervention of some amazing products and herbs. My youngest and last child is now three so I am past this stage in my life, however I recently told you about the amazing birth I witnessed and that friend is now struggling with her own breastfeeding experience which has brought a lot of this back to me. When she called me the other day looking for advice I was happy to give her whatever help she needed as well as bake 9 dozen Lactation cookies last night!! I would like to share my experience with as many woman as possible, so here it is.

Herbs and Medications that increase milk production - Domperidone and Fenugreek

Devices that can prove helpful with breastfeeding (if you are not having troubles breastfeeding you should avoid the use of these items as you and your baby could become relient on them)

Supplemental Nursing System (SNS) - This product is an amazing devices that allows you to supplement your breastmilk with previously pumped or donated milk or formula while breastfeeding. It is great for those women that like me had milk but the nutritional value was in question or do not have enough milk and can not increase the volume through previously tried methods or have adopted their child but still wish to experience nursing.

Nipple Shield - This product is used for a number of reasons though my experience with it and my recommendation for its use is for the purpose of thrush. If you and/or your baby do contract thrush I recomend the use of a nipple shield while nursing until you are able to clear up the thrush. A problem I had and is fairly common with thrush is that you and your baby will pass it back and forth making it almost impossible to clear up. If you use a nipple shield while your nursing you can elimanate this until you are both free of thrush.

Lactation Cookies!! - This is by far the best prescription you can recieve. These cookies are super yummy and aid in the produciton of milk due to the content of Flax meal and Brewers yeast. The recomendation is 4 per day.

There are many more products, herbs, medication and advice available then listed here. The information I have provided is based on my personal breastfeeding experience, If you are having trouble with breastfeeding please be sure to consult your doctor and the La Leche League in your area for guidance. I also recommend consulting Dr. Jack Newman.