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The many revolutions of the 20th century
Published in Nadia Maria Filippini, Clelia Boscolo, Pregnancy, Delivery, Childbirth, 2020
Above all, the stain of impurity, with its secular rituals, has been removed from new mothers. However, in many contexts, breastfeeding in public remains taboo, as it is still judged to be unseemly and even forbidden in various public places, even in the absence of laws to that effect, while, in Great Britain, the Equality Act (2010) allows a woman to breastfeed in public.168
The role of primary care and the GP in supporting breastfeeding
Published in Amy Brown, Wendy Jones, A Guide to Supporting Breastfeeding for the Medical Profession, 2019
When mothers, particularly first-time mothers, venture out after the birth of a baby, the concern about breastfeeding in public can be a real issue for some. A practice can do much to support mothers to breastfeed outside the home. A simple gesture of posters in the waiting room or on your waiting-room screens advising ‘you are welcome to breastfeed here’ can go a long way. Posters can be easily printed off from the Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative website.
Breastfeeding: a natural phenomenon or a cultural construct?
Published in Chang Amy, Caroline Squire, The Social Context of Birth, 2017
In recent years the reproductive body has been a focus of attention in the disciplines of anthropology and sociology. The medicalisation of childbirth has been widely debated (e.g. Davis-Floyd 2001, Devries, et al. 2001, van Teijlingen 2005, Henley-Einion 2009), where childbirth has been defined as a ‘problem’ that needs to be controlled by experts and monitored by technology. Turner (1992) suggests that medicine, law and religion are preoccupied by the regulation of the body. In the UK there has been debate about protecting breastfeeding practices by law. Scotland is the only country in the UK to pass a law allowing women the right to breastfeed in public (Scottish Parliament 2005). In the USA there have been legal cases involving breastfeeding, such as the effect of breastfeeding on custody and visitation rights, the right to breastfeed at work and breastfeeding in public places. Consequently, breastfeeding legislation in many states of the USA has been developed in order to promote and encourage breastfeeding (Vance 2005).
Breastfeeding within the circle of motherhood, restriction, and patriarchy: A qualitative study
Published in Health Care for Women International, 2023
Kamuran Özdil, Aslıhan Çatıker, Gizem Deniz Bulucu Büyüksoy
Societies with a positive attitude toward breastfeeding support the behavior of women (Komodiki et al., 2014). A study in Canada reported that, although breastfeeding in public is supported by law, it is not approved by some people (Russell & Ali, 2017). In a study in Ethiopia, women stated that they are not ashamed of breastfeeding in public, but their spouses did not support them in this regard (Gebremariam et al., 2020). In the present study, some participants stated that they were ashamed of breastfeeding their baby in crowded places or with anyone other than their husbands around. Factors such as the fact that the female body is considered private has led participants to seek a private place to breastfeed their babies. Conversely, although motherhood and breastfeeding are considered a sacred and miraculous event and are defined as God’s gift, the fact that breastfeeding is seen as a shameful act is a social contradiction. A study in Africa reported that women who receive strong family support and have a husband with a positive attitude toward breastfeeding in public have a better breastfeeding behavior in public. Women who express that they need to cover their breasts during breastfeeding perceive breastfeeding in public as an unacceptable act (Boatemaa, 2016). In the present study, some participants stated that their husbands hindered breastfeeding in crowded places because they were jealous. Some participants stated that they could not breastfeed their babies in crowded places because the female body is perceived as a sexual object and its appearance is considered shameful by society and a sin by religion.
The cardiovascular benefits of breastfeeding to mothers
Published in Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy, 2022
Lena Tschiderer, Peter Willeit, Sanne A. E. Peters
The benefits of breastfeeding for infants are widely known. However, the positive impacts of lactation on breastfeeding mothers are communicated to a lesser extent. A recent national survey in the United States revealed that only 38.5% of women are aware that breastfeeding is related to a decreased risk for breast cancer [18]. Improving communication strategies of beneficial aspects of breastfeeding not only for the child but also for the mother may increase rates of breastfeeding initiation and improve duration of breastfeeding. However, the reason why many mothers decide not to breastfeed or discontinue breastfeeding is not always intertwined with not willing to breastfeed [19]. In fact, many other determinants are linked to lactation behavior. For instance, opinions of close persons influence breastfeeding behavior such as experiences of relatives or attitudes of the mother’s partner [19]. Moreover, some women encounter negative experiences while breastfeeding in public places [19]. Another important factor is a woman’s work situation. No or short maternity leave and multifaceted pressure often lead to non-initiation or early discontinuation of breastfeeding [19].
Failure to Feed: Women’s Experiences of Breastfeeding and the Implications for Health Promotion Practice
Published in Women's Reproductive Health, 2021
Lauren N. Harrison, Alexandra Chin, Elena Neiterman
This sense of pride was shared by other women in our study, such as Leanne, a 36-year-old mother of three. On the topic of breastfeeding in public, she said, “I usually cover [myself], but I do feel proud actually.” This was echoed by others, such as Alicia, a 30-year-old mother of two, who said that she found breastfeeding “somewhat empowering.” Other women shared similar experiences of personal satisfaction. For instance, Mindy, a 34-year-old mother of two, said:Nursing my babies makes me feel, I don’t know, that’s just what we’re born to do, I don’t know, I know it sounds a little bit of cliché, but it makes you feel like a mom, because in my idea of a mom, it’s part of it, nurturing your child.