Pardon my language, but what the fuck is wrong with these people?
Millions in Texas have lost everything; they are crammed into shelters, wet, dirty, hungry. They are desperately trying to comfort and care for small children ripped from their routine with no idea when anyone can go back to their homes or if there is anything to go back to. Lactivists, observing this tragedy, have decided that this is the perfect time to … GLOAT.
Consider this abomination from La Leche League International:
Flooding? Power Outage?
Breastfeeding is perfect for all kinds of weather and can save you from having to go to the store during a flood or dangerous wind conditions. When power and water supplies are impacted in an emergency, breastfeeding can be a lifesaver.
Or how about this lie packed gem from a Facebook page set up specifically to “protect” breastfeeding during Harvey?
Actually stress CAN cause milk supply to drop precipitously. So can limited access to food and water.
Moreover, women running for their lives don’t have time to breastfeed continuously and may — shocking I know — have other children as well as disabled or elderly relatives they need to provide for as well.
[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]In the midst of tragedy, lactivists have decided that this is the perfect time to gloat.[/pullquote]
The motto of the Facebook page is S.A.F.E.: Support, Assess, Feed, Empower.
Pardon my language again, but have they lost their fucking minds? In the midst of a natural disaster, the priorities should be Rescue, Feed, Shelter. It doesn’t matter how babies are fed in a natural disaster, only that they ARE fed.
What are lactivists trying to accomplish?
It isn’t feeding babies. Babies that are aren’t being breastfed and currently starving for lack of formula can’t get breastmilk since breastfeeding isn’t a faucet you can turn on and off at will. It isn’t protecting breastfed babies whose mothers have experienced a decrease in supply because of the extraordinary stress of life threatening events since they don’t have access to anything that could help them increase their supply. And it isn’t protecting breastfed babies who are doing well with exclusive breastfeeding since they don’t need any help.
The folks at LLL and Safely Fed USA are gloating, imagining that their babies would be protected from hunger during a natural disaster. It’s the equivalent — in heartlessness and self-absorption — of boat manufacturers chiding those who are drowning for lack of a boat: Boats are perfect for hurricanes and can save you from having to be rescued by others. In the midst of this hurricane don’t you wish you had a boat?
And pardon my language one more time, but what the fuck is wrong with the folks at the American Academy of Pediatrics?
They’ve given us this piece of garbage.
Pro tip: The middle of a natural disaster is not the time to wax poetic about the virtues of breastfeeding. Pediatricians should not be supporting breastfeeding; they should be supporting babies.
Advocate for optimal feeding options for orphaned infants, including HIV- donor milk.
Have the folks at AAP lost their collective minds? When people are drowning in the streets, there is no way they can access donor milk. It’s the equivalent of insisting that starving older children an adults should restrict themselves to organic food or not eat all while homeless.
… Powered formula is a last resort.
Bullshit! Powdered formula prepared with clean water is equally effective as breastmilk in keeping babies in disaster areas alive.
Lactivists, LLL and the AAP should be ashamed of themselves!
Here’s a thought: if lactivists are so concerned about babies being deprived of breastmilk during Harvey, why don’t they head down to Houston area shelters and breastfeed as many babies as you can.
Male or not currently lactating female? Learn to lactate. No doubt you could do it if you try hard enough.
Oh, right. You’re not interested in sacrificing to help others, just gloating in the face of those experiencing tragedy.
