That sounds like a whole lot'a BS to me. Xenophobia with a twist to suit the purposes of LLL.

What would be the agenda of LLL?

LLL are to breast feeding what Pro-life are to anti-abortion... HTH

should you also sterilise your boobs?

Awwww...hehe, there is never enough how-to in case of nursing, at least for some moms. I try to push for privacy and discretion to avoid wrath, hence the group, but it seems people want it all out here.

Dirty boy.

I see zero agenda, in fact. The only thing is to make more healthier babies. Which is also WHO agenda. I have met one LLL here and the approach was hesslich, it is true, patronizing and not knowledgeable at all, uuuugh. But, hey, there are other people, LLL un registered midwives and, my savior, that super awesome Portugues nurse aid who everybody sneered at in my local maternity ward, they called her to me as like weird foreigners flock together to help me with nursing, and you know what, she did. Sans un mot. I am still floored and hope she makes it to the head nurse one day.

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"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

it's a serious question!

are you telling me boobs can't get bacteria on them?

MC and Carrie - you are welcome. This is the nature of a Forum - threads go where they want to go, and that is great. The OP can try and 'limit' responses to what they'd like - but ....

Carrie, I had C section for my first due to a sideways breech - and I managed to breastfeed fine. The contractions which naturally occur when breastfeeding (natures way of pulling all those muscles back in place) can be a bit painful in the first few days- but slow, deep breathing helps. I knew those contractions were doing a good job of getting me back into shape- so it was OK. My daughter also had a C-section due to breech- and she was also able to BF, but needed quite a bit of support at first from my friend from LLL (she asked for her to come and help). Of course entirely your choice, but I hope you get the help and support so you can give it a chance. If it is not for you - absolutely fine.

Carlos - it is really below the belt to say my post is setting one culture (mine) against others. Nothing of the sort, and you know this I am sure. Some of the example given have nothing against culture but about the recent sexualisation of breasts as against their 'normal' function (which does not mean breast can't play a sexual role as well). I lived in a town with a very large immigrant population, and the cases I stated are based on day to day observations with some groups. Some of those cases were tragic, and the women desperate to breastfeed and keep control of their babies. You don't know me, but I can assure you I do not have a racist bone in my body. A GP friend of mine also had women in tears and depression due to pressure to bottle feed their babies.

It's very easy for us to think that 'choice' is just that- but it isn't that simple- and day to day observations by relevant staff and support helpers cannot be ignored.

BTW the La Leche League helpers give their time entirely free of charge, and are available day in, day out, week-ends, nights- and only work with those who ASK for help- they don't go knocking on doors of new mums to 'push' their (free) services. They also attend regular courses in their own time, paying their own transport to far away places- incredible people really.

No. I'm questioning how serious you are. Boobs already have bacteria on them. In fact we are all covered in bacteria, all of the time (with rare exceptions). The difference is that bottles don't produce antibodies or immunoglobulins - breasts do, and in the normal run of things do not need sterilising.

Next question?

...and I never said (nor thought) you did. Neither did I say your friends did. I just said they might have particularly strong opinions about breast feeding and thus might have biased perceptions about what is or is not a real issue, and how that might be or might not be linked to the culture of the mother/MIL. You said this was based in a particular area of high immigrant populations? Yes, well in that case, how did it compare to areas where there isn't a high immigrant population? Or is it just supposition on the part of your LLL friend and the midwife?

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Never let right or wrong get in the way of a good opinion

Sterilizing boob...Actually, showers are fine, baby's mouth is well synchronized with the bacteria on boob, in fact when there isn't enough boob action, and little mouth does not "clean it" often enough, it gets infected with mastitis, etc., cracked nipples, you name it. Personal hygiene is always important, but humans are made to have this cohabiting baby's mouth on boob thing going on. So, no, you don't sterilize your boob. You sterilize man made stuff, since formula can be a breeding ground for bacteria very fast (we were told never to premake anything, always made fresh, no fridge storage of formula, etc.), so can be bottles or pumps left sitting with residues (either ff or bm) for a while, in room temps, or warmer, in buggies or baby beds.

I totally get Odile's hint on cultures pushing against mom's choice, be it nursing, or, breastfeeding. As I wrote, it can be really tough for moms in my culture should they decide to formula feed, too. So, it is not just nursing being pushed on folks, formula being pushed on folks, it can be a whole mess of things. Women are known to be sensitive in this time, so society can reap the benefits and push. My triplet friend told me one thing, never let them push you into stuff. Everyone is aware of either prego girl/new mom being very infuence-able, it is the nerves, her own expectations, her guy hating the lower libido when nursing, or maternity ward wanting to have a measurable feeds, there are so many things pushing on girls, it is uncanny. Choice of mom, important thing.

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"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

This happens with specific groups and not with others, and very well observed. So no, it does not happen in Surrey, for instance. Although the sexual breasts are not for feeding might- and I am happy to say I haven't got the exact facts and am making assumptions here.

LLL are indeed VERY much pro breast feeding, but as said, they do not go stalking women in maternity wards, or knock on the door of woment who've just had a baby. Women phone them directly and ask for support, help, advice- and THEN, and only THEN, LLL volunteers will go and see women to help. Some of these women often ask to be seen outside the home due to pressure not to breastfeed- and are often terrified and in tears.

I have encountered both in the UK and in the US the fright of women to actually consider one's chest to be made to feed little infants. It was pretty strange.

and if you don't have a baby, well, i guess there are a few guys out there willing to sacrifice their free time to help out

Was that a serious observation or another of your serious questions?

keep up, it wasn't a question.

Aaaaarrrghhhhh.....

Ok, stop watching Me, myself and Irene. It.Does.Not.Happen.In.Real.Life. If you don't have a baby, you don't need to have anyone "cleaning" your chest.

I think Phil is overdue for a spanking.