Consuela over at Afrogeek Mom and Dad has a verrrrrry intriguing post today. She argues that breastfeeding is a tool of the patriarchy. Now, breastfeeding itself is just biology, but the way people look at breastfeeding very well could be a tool of the patriarchy, I’d have to stop and consider that for some time.

What Consuela says that I take issue with is this:

Breastfeeding is hard and exhausting. It is also, often, isolating and
lonely. Breastfeeding makes going back to work full time more difficult
than it otherwise might be. It makes getting a full night’s sleep
nearly impossible. It places the care of an infant squarely and
necessarily on the shoulders of the mother.

Now, I’ve formula fed and I’ve breastfed.  Both have their benefits, but I found breastfeeding to be far and above better than formula feeding.  The first six weeks, breastfeeding was hard and exhausting, yes, but after that first rough six weeks, it was a breeze. The first six weeks with my formula fed baby wasn’t a cakewalk, either, so I think it’s at least partly an adjustment period.

The place where breastfeeding really was great was when I figured out how to nurse laying down. Our babies always sleep with us, anyway, so when I was nursing and the baby would wake up in the middle of the night, I’d just roll over and nurse, half asleep. It’s the ultimate lazy parenting tool.

What I do agree with is that breastfeeding can make it harder to go back to work. First, everyone in my family never wanted to babysit because, "What if the baby wants to nurse?" Even if I had pumped bottles, they would be totally leery because everyone was of the opinion that the baby would decide they want me, and only me.

If I had managed to find decent babysitting, pumping could be a problem as well. I was a terrible pumper, never being able to get more than a couple of ounces at a time. Even that took a very long time. 2 fifteen minute breaks and a half hour for lunch just would not be enough. Perhaps this is where the "tool of the patriarchy" comes in.

At any rate, go read Consuela’s post, it is thought provoking, even if you disagree.

[Photo Credit: Margo]