At a Loss for Words

Comebacks to Confront Breastfeeding Ignorance

By Shel Franco

Picture this: A young mother and her baby hunker down for a feeding at a family event. Despite the fact that Mom is very discreet in getting Baby latched on, some folks in the room are obviously uncomfortable. They start cracking jokes about nursing, acting as if the mother and baby aren't even in the room. Finally, a relative directs her comments at the now flush and embarrassed mom. "Are you going to let her do that once she starts kindergarten?" she says. The rest of the room erupts with sneers and laughter.

Sound familiar? It might. Many breastfeeding moms find themselves fending off rude comments about breastfeeding. Unfortunately, some moms are at a loss for words to combat these nasty remarks, so we're taking the liberty of offering you some advice.

The decision to breastfeed is often met with blank stares and foreboding stories about past nursing failures. In the early days, that disbelief is bound to turn into incredulous stares at the site of a breastfeeding baby. When the rude comments begin, turn to these comebacks by iParenting Expert Advisor Karen Zeretzke, IBCLC:

When you are asked: "How can you stand to breastfeed?"
Answer: "How can you not?"

When you are asked: "Doesn't it bother you to have a baby hanging off your breasts?"
Answer: "Seems to me that's why they are there."

Newborns eat a lot. Breastfed newborns eat even more. Breast milk is the proper food for a baby, so it is digested properly quickly and easily. But our formula-feeding society doesn't seem to view this as a benefit. How can you answer obnoxious questions about how often and how much your baby eats? Zeretzke offers this advice:

When you are asked: "Didn't you just nurse that baby?"
Answer: "Hmmm, she must have forgotten already."

When you are asked: "Are you sure he is getting enough to eat?"
Answer: "What goes in one end comes out the other."

Breastfeeding in public is always good for a few glares. Occasionally, those giving the glares feel compelled to make their disgust known. Breastfeed.com community member, Shara Ward, points out that non-breastfeeding children can be downright foul when eating in public, "...as their 2-year-old throws his ketchup on the floor for the third time!" Ward offers this advice:

When you are told: "You shouldn't breastfeed in public."
Reply with: "You really shouldn't feed your kids in public either."

Want to see more?

• Not True! Some Breastfeeding Myths
• The Social Myths of Breastfeeding
• Mothers Helping Mothers: La Leche League International
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!