Gen Y not breastfeeding
I'm not sure if you have had a chance to read the article posted on News.com.au about Generation Y's being embarrassed to breastfeed in public. The Queensland University of Technology did an online survey about breastfeeding, 114 men and 182 women between the ages of 18-29 responded.
The results of the survey indicated that most men and women did not want their baby to be breastfed in public as they would feel embarrassed to do so and that 75% of men and women felt it is unlikely that their child would be exclusively breastfed for more than 6 months.
Professor Russell-Bennett said that only 18% of infants in Australia are being exclusively breastfed for 6 months, despite the recommendations from the World Health Organisation.
The study showed that gen y's do not understand the benefits of breastfeeding and that most felt bottle feeding was easier.
When I first read this article I was shocked and felt a little angry to be honest. But after thinking about it for a little while I realised that before I fell pregnant and actually gave birth I probably would have produced the same survey results.
What I found more aggravating than the survey results was actually the comment s of most people underneath the article. Many mums, dads and obviously people who aren't parents had lots of negative comments about women who breastfeeding in public...and of course there were some positive ones.
I think as mums we have to do what we feel comfortable with and what is right for our babies and toddlers. As you know I think breastfeeding in public is fantastic, it's protected by law and it's going to normalise breastfeeding. So please, if you feel comfortable with it, do breastfeed in public doing so will help change all these false perceptions.
Here is the link to the article by the way news.com.au. I'd love to hear your thoughts and post them on my blog so please email them to me at Lorraine@the-essence-of-breastfeeding.com.
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