lactivist (noun)
As far as feeding is concerned, 21st century women are strongly encouraged to breastfeed their babies, and the 1960s bottle-feeding revolution has been eclipsed by the philosophy that 'breast is best'.
Those women who have problems with women's right to breastfeed should beware of the lactivist. This word is a blend of lactation and activist used since the late nineties to refer to people who actively promote breastfeeding, sometimes through the distribution of t-shirts with slogans such as 'formula is for suckers' and 'mummy milk rocks'.
Lactivists are also likely to support the modern trend of co-sleeping, a practice in which babies and young children sleep in a bed with one or both parents. Co-sleeping, as we all know, is controversial. Proponents argue that it promotes bonding, facilitates breast-feeding and, perhaps most importantly to anyone who knows what it's like to deal with a baby in the middle of the night, lets the parents get more sleep. Others argue that it is dangerous for the child and increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Whilst researching the word lactivist, I came across the site www.lactivist.co.uk
The Mum who started the site comments..." I started selling pro-breastfeeding t-shirts after someone asked me when I was going to get my small baby off breastmilk on to"proper" milk! I went home and made my son a tiny t-shirt that promoted breastfeeding by saying "I am a tit man" and people stopped me in the street to find out where I got it from."
Who says Breastfeeding Mums are humourless?
The Urban Dictionary quotes :
A lactivist is a lactation activist: someone who considers him/herself an advocate for breastfeeding, whether or not s/he's nursed. Lactivism comes in many forms: choosing to breastfeed, choosing to breastfeed for an extended period of time, choosing to breastfeed in public, choosing to smile at a breastfeeding woman, encouraging other women to breastfeed, educating the public on the benefits of breastfeeding, lobbying for pro-breastfeeding legislation, etc. Maybe you're already a lactivist, and didn't know it.
November 8 2006
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Afterthoughts.....
I'm clearly a lactivist though I wasn't aware until today that such a label existed. My own three daughters were all breastfed for between 15 and 18 months. 'Breast is Best' by Penny Stanway became my bible and even though I'd never done anything like it before, my midwife actually asked me to talk about being a successful breastfeeder at her ante-natal classes. Yes it was a bit painful to start, yes I had mastitis once or twice, yes I had leaky boobs but to me there was never any other option. The convenience of being able to feed anywhere and always having food with me (!), the closeness, the naturalness....I genuinely didn't just breastfeed because breastmilk is the best milk...I did it because it seemed so right. One of the saddest days of my life, was the night I gave my youngest daughter her last feed....
Kathryn C, Editor |
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