Breastfeeding Nazis
In a post on Pointlessly Hypertechnical about rude airline stewardesses, (and lets face it, who doesn’t have an “airline hell” story) this comment appeared:
Anonymous said…
The percentage of women that cannot medically breastfeed is miniscule. I find that most women just can’t be bothered and you seem like the type. If a child is adopted the mom can choose to induce lactation. Anyone can choose to breastfeed if they try hard enough. There are so many resources out there available to moms that there really is no excuse not to unless your breasts are broken or have fallen off.
Most women are too caught up in themselves to stick with breastfeeding. It’s hard work at times but it’s the best thing you can give your child.
As for the 4 ounces, anticipate the needs of your child. If it’s medically necessary for YOUR child to have 4 ounces of water then it’s in your best interest to travel with a measuring cup.
Our children were not breastfed for reasons that are between my wife and I, so to tell me or anyone else who didn’t breastfeed their children that they “can’t be bothered,” have “no excuse not to,” and are “too caught up in themselves” is offensive and narrow minded.
Even though the comment was not directed at me, I don’t care for the preachy attitude on a personal subject. I don’t like to be told how to raise my children, nor do I appreciate the implication that because we bottle fed, we are nothing more than selfish, lazy, good for nothing parents who apparently abused our kids by denying them breast milk.
If “anonymous” actually does have children, one can only hope that the apple does fall far from the tree for their sake. It can’t be easy being raised by a nazi.
July 9th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
I am honored that you devoted a whole post to me.
It seems that I’ve hit a button.
It’s ok to admit your guilt over giving your child something sub-par.
According to the World Health Organization formula is fourth best for human babies.
Good job with giving your child crap in a can.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Freakin tit nazis, not satisfied with doing their own thing, they have to push their beliefs on everyone else. These kind of people are what is wrong with the world today. The rabid hatred of all that think differently than themselves is how all things bad begin. If I see another kid walk up to some tit nazi and ask for a drink and pop under the shirt for some nipple time I think I will puke. One has to wonder what kind of bizarre adult a six year old breast feeder will become. Do what you will but stay the hell out of my life and keep your child rearing techniques to yourself.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Nemo - Can we all have a link to address you directly? Peoria Illinoisan (as well as Pointlessly Hypertechnical) has a lovely blog and I sure would hate to see any more of his space and monitoring time taken up with his opinions being attacked. I am sure there will be a large response and I think it would be most appropriate to direct it to you.
Thank you in advance,
Katie
http://katearch1978.blogpeoria.com/
July 9th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Nemo, your premise is fine.. but if you think that your bullying manner is going to encourage more women to breastfeed you are severely misguided.
I think that many women fail to successfully breastfeed because here in the US we lack the support structure that is common in other cultures. In Central America for instance, women breastfeed because they must or their child may likely die. Generations of Sisters, Aunts, Mothers, friends all bond together and offer the new mother encouragement, instruction and support until both mother and child “get it”. Here, if a woman struggles, she often must make an appointment at OSF breastfeeding clinic and pay the fees for instruction in a clinical setting. Breastfeeding is just not the loving, nurturing activity that it should be. Your propensity to judge, shame and malign these Mothers only exasperates the problem. I really hope you rethink your strategy if promoting breastfeeding is truly your agenda.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:28 am
You know, when I red the post yesterday on PH’s blog… I did not think anything of it, other than “wow, I have been there, done that”. There were no comments when I read it yesterday, and I went on with my otherwise boring day. Now after reading this and all the venom spewed by the nipple nazi, I am in awe. I cannot believe that there are people in this world that are so completely judgemental about an extremely personal thing.
I am the mother of a nearly 8 year old girl. In all of her 3 years at school, she has missed a total of 1.5 days due to illness (and I am pretty sure that the .5 day was a big fake out). I can count on my one hand the number of times I have had to miss work since she was BORN due to her being sick. She is healthy, happy, 50th percentile for height & weight and is very smart. And guess what? She was formula fed!!! Holy crap on a cracker, she was not connected to my boob for 4 years, and you know what… she is just fine.
I did try to breast feed in the hospital. And she was starving! She could not latch on and that was that. The nipple nazis at the hospital had me feeding her out of a little cup so that she would not get nipple confusion. It was on the recommendation of a PEDIATRICIAN that I start bottle feeding her to get rid of the jaundice that she was born with. So take your santimonius, sweeping judgements and stick them where the sun don’t shine (and I don’t mean between your boobs)
July 10th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Using the terms like Tit Nazi and Nipple Nazis will make it hard for anyone to appreciate your points. Fighting extremist opionions with extremist name calling doesn’t really do much. As with many things “To each their own” and Live and let live” really seems like the best course. You shouldn’t get bent out of shape over nursing children any more than they should get bent out of shape over formula fed babies.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:39 am
When Anonymous Nemo responded to me on Hypertechnical’s blog “PI, Someone has to tell her. Come to think of it she probably already knows it and suffers a bit of guilt.” she made it personal. I don’t stand for personal attacks on my family. Under the circumstances, I think Julie’s response is perfectly appropriate.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Thanks PI!
July 10th, 2007 at 10:00 am
While I very much disagree with “Nemo” in both substance and style, I agree with BeanCounter that lowering the quality of discourse doesn’t help.
I have been a parent for fewer than four years. But in that short time I have been amazed and at times overwhelmed over the multitude of parenting issues that become the subject of intense and sometimes fanatical debate.
I wish both sides of these arguments (be it breast feeding, day care, immunizations, time-outs, circumcision, potty training, etc…) realize that when they engage in hateful speech, they minimize the value of their argument.
I would like to think that good parents are able to synthisize a lot of information and come to the decision they feel is best for their child.
Ironically, I feel this post is in vain, because those who take the extreme are not likely to be willing to present their information in a rational way.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Let me start by stating that I am a self-described liberal mother who resides in Madison WI. I am, as you would guess, pro-breastfeeding. I even subscribe to “Mothering” the “natural parenting magazine”. Madison has easy access to lactations consultants, La Leche League, among other support groups. But, I cannot for one second stand behind this self-righteous woman (aka “tit nazi”). I am appalled when some breastfeeding activists take WAY more time criticizing and demeaning mothers who do not breastfeed than show support and understanding towards a peer. Breastfeeding is not a black and white issue! It’s funny that these people want open-mindedness on this issue but choose to be so close-minded about it. Preaching intolerance is far more destructive to our children and society than feeding your baby formula.
The moment we found out we were pregnant we thought we were going to breastfeed. But then our baby was born and I was not producing milk. So we pumped, fed him through a tube under a nipple shield to get him used to breastfeeding. We went to lactation consultants, I took prescribed (and awful tasting) herbal supplements, and I pumped some more. Finally my milk arrived but my son, whose lips had yet to touch a bottle, refused to latch onto the nipple. We went to the lactation consultant again, and again and again…. And finally after over a month of struggling with him, the nipple shields, different positions, feeding him with a tube, and pumping 24 hours a day, the consultant gave us a bottle. She said, “Your baby’s health is more important than you breastfeeding. He needs to eat and you all need to sleep. Keep trying to get him to breastfeed, but most importantly, love your baby and feed your baby”. So that was that. I felt defeated at first. Like a failure. I still tried on occasion to no success and still pumped 8-10 times a day until my maternity leave was up, so he would be eating predominately breast milk.
Our baby is now over 5 months old, he is a happy and healthy. Our pro-breastfeeding pediatrician applauded our efforts and told us that we have done all we could. I now only pump 2-3 times a day, but it’s not much overall. He is now eating a little solid food, but mostly formula. And I REFUSE to feel guilty because he does so! And I REFUSE to belittle anyone for their decisions on this topic. Everyone has their own story to tell and until you walk a mile in their shoes, you have no right to make such broad sweeping comments on the subject.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
All I’m hearing are a bunch of excuses.
I’m glad you’re all able to rationalize your poor choices.
I mean formula has been shown to have rat hair.
ewww….just ewww.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
p.s. I’m glad that such an unknown entity like myself was able to push your buttons.
Guilt is an amazing thing.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Nemo, I hope you find the help you need to deal with your rage issues. Until you come to grips with what is really bothering you I am sure it is impacting the health and well-being of your children. I’ll pray for them. [hugs]
ps. no buttons pushed here
July 10th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Wow. What a contentious debate; I think it has more to do with the judgmental nature of “Nemo” than actually breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding.
99.99% of parents want to do what’s best for their child and what’s best for one family might not be for another… I just don’t see how that is so hard to comprehend. I breastfed my children but find myself disagreeing with Nemo’s pugilistic stance and lack of compassion.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Girl… great post! I love that your lactation consultant was compassionate and supportive throughout your ordeal! You go girl… you have a lot more stamina that I would have ever had! You deserve a medal (as do all mothers, bio, or adoptive.)
Nemo… whatever. I too will pray for you and your children. It must be a terrible burden to walk around with so much venom. Peace.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Ok, ENOUGH of this Titnazi thing. There may still be some REAL Nazis (not the fake wannabees out there now) that could find this highly offensive to their beliefs and now may require psychological counseling. *heavy sigh*
For those who don’t get it, the above is a joke. It is called sarcasm.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
“She is healthy, happy, 50th percentile for height & weight and is very smart. And guess what? She was formula fed!!!”
Eyebrows was primarily formula fed because despite the best boob-related intentions in the world, Eyebrows’s mom did not produce adequate milk to prevent Eyebrows from starving.
Eyebrows is now a professor of philosophy. Among other things.
It’s a damn good thing that my IQ was lowered by all that evil, evil, starvation-preventing formula or else Eyebrows would probably be exploding Nemo’s head with the power of her boob-fed-only mind from here.
Eyebrows also blames formula for making her speak of herself in the 3rd person.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
This is so funny watching you all get your panties in a twist.
Thanks for the laughs.
I sure touched a HUGE ASS nerve with you bunch.
If you are ALL so proud and so secure in your decision to give your children the fourth best option then why the HELL are you rationalizing it to some stranger on the net.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
[...] post was prompted by a discussion on breastfeeding over at PI’s blog, which in turn was inspired by commentary on this post at Pointlessly Hypertechnical. There are [...]
July 10th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Nemo is a man who hates women. Probably had “Mom” issues. No doubt in my mind. No woman talks that way. I suggest we put this puppy to rest and let him move on to other boards. I hope some day he can make peace with his demons.
July 10th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Oh, by the way, I’ll bet my bottom dollar this is the same guy who posted as a woman over on Billy’s blog about all the “tubbies at the race for the cure”. PI and PP should compare cookie codes.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
I’m 100% woman.
Mother of two exclusively breastfed angels.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:31 am
Diane, I think you might be on to something.
July 11th, 2007 at 7:49 am
yeah, Nemo, well we’ll never know will we because you choose to be cowardly anonymous. If you felt really secure in your position and delivery you’d proudly proclaim your identity.
July 11th, 2007 at 7:50 am
I’m done.
July 11th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I’m not going to create a blog just to have a discussion with you people.
Keep the laughs coming. I love all this attention.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
chicken-shit nemo
July 11th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Nemo, I never gave my babies a single drop of formula, and never would have unless I had no other choice (and then I would have, with no guilt). Both my children nursed on demand and weaned when they were good and ready (and they were both past the age of 3 when that happened). Furthermore, I was involved in numerous organizations offering breastfeeding information and support in years past. Does my breastfeeding history meet with your approval? Now, for the reason I’m writing: Your posts sicken me. People like you make others think that all breastfeeding promoters are “breastfeeding nazis” and I resent that. I would love for every mother to do her very best to breastfeed. In a perfect world, nearly every mother would have the desire to nurse and the support of society to help her do it. You’re not helping us get to a perfect world. You’re part of the problem. Go stuff a bottle in your mouth, please. I’m glad your babies were fed the perfect milk. I’m sorry they’re being raised by a hater.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Nemo, you said:
“If you are ALL so proud and so secure in your decision to give your children the fourth best option then why the HELL are you rationalizing it to some stranger on the net.”
The reason women feel compelled to respond to posts like yours is to provide a balance to the supreme ignorance of breastfeeding matters that people such as yourself display. The mere fact that you believe that all women can breastfeed, if only they would try hard enough, tells me just how ignorant you are. Those women aren’t trying to educate YOU - your mind is closed tighter than a fish’s bum after all - they’re posting for the benefit of other women who may be experiencing very real issues with breastfeeding.
You really are quite full of yourself, arent you.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I’ve happened upon this blog by accident and cannot believe that it has been usurped by “Nemo” who is the best advert for formula ever. A parent and a woman? I really hope not.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:10 am
People like Nemo are hysterics who have nothing better to do in their lives than to stick their nose into other people’s personal affairs. It just makes them feel superior and makes them feel like they are somehow saving the world from doom or something! It is really pathetic!
People like her should open their eyes and see what’s around them instead of siting some irrelevant and dubious info they have seen in some propaganda website like “formula is the 4th best food”!! What are the 2nd and 3rd best foods according to your sources, Nemo?!! LOL
The apparent fact for everyone who is willing to see is that even though breast milk has been shown to be better than formula but by no means formula has been proven to be dangerous or risky by any means! Formula is actually is an unbelievable blessing of the modern age for which we should all be thankful. No one has ever died or even got demonstrably harmed because his or her mother fed him formula! (don’t site for me now the cases when the parents mixed the powder with contaminated water. That was because of the water and not because of the formula if your logical faculties still work well enough to grasp that obvious point, Nemo!!)
But I have heard of many babies who died because of malnutrition due to their mother’s inadequate breast milk or simply because their mother died or got very ill and couldn’t be with them and nurse them. In old times, prior to the advent of this modern life-saver i.e. formula milk this scenario was very common for many unfortunate babies. My own grandmother’s niece almost died because of it. She was born in a remote village in rural Iran about 80 or so years ago and her mother (my grandmother’s sister) died of excessive bleeding during labor(also one of the “wonderful” side-effects of the so-called “non-medical” “all natural” home birth which is now so romanticized amongst some green moms!) It was winter and very cold in their mountainous region and there were no lactating women in that area so one of the men of the household had to risk his life and go on horseback to a neighboring village and find some lactating woman who could feed the baby before she starves to death. Luckily he succeeded. But two people (the man and the lactating woman from the neighboring village) had to risk their lives and it was simply luck that they didn’t get there too late. Many kids starved since their mother never had enough milk or were severely malnourished and easily got sick and perished. Some poor mothers had to resort to animal milk to try to give their babies this one last chance at getting enough nutrition and many times the babies’ sensitive stomach could not handle it and they also had to perish. It is a myth that all women just successfully nursed their babies in old times prior to formula and that the so-called family structure was helping them and solving all the lactating and non-lactating problems that now we face today! In 3rd world countries such as Iran (where I come from) till this days in rural areas where women don’t have access to formula sometimes babies die because their mothers don’t have enough milk to answer for all their nutritional needs.
How ever bottle-fed babies time and time again show that they are fine and they thrive and gain healthy wait and grow to be normal adults just like their breast-fed peers. I am not denying that if a mother is healthy and has enough milk and has the opportunity to be near her baby all the time it is better to breast-feed, but the difference is really not that big to justify such venomous attacks and guilt-trips that bottle-feeding mother are being subjected to! And in many cases they are even saving their babies life by bottle feeding them since it simply save them from starvation! So I think the breast feeding fanatics better find another hill to die on figuratively speaking. This issue doesn’t deserve the amount of energy and zeal that they are spending on and there are more life-threatening and earth-shaking issues in the word that we should focus on. To put it simply “Get a life girls!!”
August 18th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Breastfeeding nazis are disgusting. Judge, judge, judge - that is all they do. There are lots of women who have either no breastmilk OR inadequate supply of breastmilk. For them, formula may be the only option, especially if they can’t afford to buy another woman’s breastmilk.
BF Nazis - please shut up and get a life. One that doesn’t revolve around your tits.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Also, if your child is 7 or 8 years old already, its time to start thinking about weaning him. Seriously.