Have you heard the term "lactavist"? To me a lactivist would be someone who is an advocate for breastfeeding and does activist work on behalf of breastfeeding. Do you think you are a lactivist? Have you heard the term before? Do you know what it means (prior to me giving a definition)?
To me that is how I would define that term too! I'd say yes (now I'm off to search for the real definition!) . :escape:
QUOTE(JicJac @ May 6 2009, 09:30 PM) [snapback]1303627[/snapback] To me that is how I would define that term too! I'd say yes (now I'm off to search for the real definition!) . :escape: Opposed to my fake definition Jackie, I think your a great lactivist. I think you have helped me personally, and I'm sure you've inspired hundreds of other twin Mommies who BF. :woman:
QUOTE(sullivanre @ May 6 2009, 08:19 PM) [snapback]1303612[/snapback] Do you think you are a lactivist? Have you heard the term before? Do you know what it means (prior to me giving a definition)? QUOTE(sullivanre @ May 6 2009, 08:33 PM) [snapback]1303635[/snapback] Opposed to my fake definition Ok, I misinterpreted what you wrote. I thought you gave what you felt was the definition and then there was some shocker definition that you were going to share with us later! :blush:
Maybe I worded it funny. I just wondered if the ladies over here thought or if they had heard the term.
Yes I have heard the term...and would like to think of my self as one! (And quite proud too!) :rotflmbo: Thanks for this fun topic!
i hadn't heard the term before, but the definition you gave was what it immediately made me think of. i don't know if i would consider myself one or not - i'm not an activist, but i do BF in public & am not shy about my desire to BF my girls into their toddlerhood. :unknw:
Yes, I've heard the term and yes I've written some letters and absolutely I'm an advocate so I meet the definition for lactavist. I think, though, that a great many people misinterpret a passion for breastfeeding rights and education for mothers free of the influence of formula companies as being a sign that you're a "BF Nazi". I'm not. Wearing a lactavist label makes me feel like I'm lumped in with the extremists and I'm not comfortable with that.
I've never heard of the term. I'm very pro-breastfeeding, more importantly, I'm pro - having the right information to make your own personal choice on how to feed your child. Do I think breastfeeding is the best start for baby and mama? For sure, for me. However, I don't ever judge anyone who makes a different choice for them. I do get super annoyed and even sad when I hear messed-up reasons why people don't choose BF or BF twins. It makes me sad that they don't have the accurate info. That's why I love this forum. We don't really have any BF-nazi's, but we're really vigilant about giving accurate info and supporting the mom's personal choice.
Lactavist here too!!! Ive heard the term through a friend I met at a LLL meeting. She always sends out emails about cool articles or videos that have to do with brestfeeding that she comes across. She titles her emails " to my lactivist sistas' , those that I know will appreciate it" I have to agree with Liesel that while I think each person has their own right to choose HOW their child is fed my biggest hurdle is those that make a choice because they werent fully informed. Honestly I have YET to meet a person who WAS fully informed and chose to willingly FF. I think accurate information and resources make a huge difference!
I heard the term in a magazine once - a woman who stood up for her right to BF in Pottery Barn Kids (I think that was the store) after an employee made her leave. She actually got a phone call from the CEO of the company who is a mom who BF her own kids. Can't remember the rest of the story, but it also had lots of ways to become a "lactavist," including nurse-ins and nurse-outs I think - nurse-ins are obviously like sit ins where you get a bunch of nursing mamas to descend upon a store or something that was outwardly anti-BFing. Nurse outs were interesting to me...just getting a group of nursing women to all go to a park or something to promote BFing awareness. Part of me thinks that would be kind of a cool experience, but the other part thinks it would be very shocking to people...I just picture a little old man falling out at the site of so many bared breasts! Anyway, I don't know if I am one...I'm still a little shy about vocalizing because I hate to offend people who didn't/couldn't BF, plus I've already told you I'm a total coward about admitting that I may (gasp) BF past a year!! Not very active IMO. I am the BF support person for my moms group, though, so I guess I'm a little bit lactavist!
I don't know if I'd call myself a lactavist - mainly because I'm a lazy bum! But I love hanging out in this forum and chatting with other nursing moms I meet at the park. Also, I don't advertise that we're still nursing, but if someone asks, I'm happy to talk about it. And as pps said, it does bother me when I hear all the misinformation people get about BFing.
I agree w/ Liesel. I'm very pro-breastfeeding, and I'm always sad when people don't give it a chance. I think it's the best thing for babies, all things equal. And I hate that people think it's gross or weird to BF past 6 mo or a year. But I also think that for various reasons, it's not necessarily the right answer for everyone. And while I believe that women shouldn't be relegated to the bathrooms to nurse their children, I think it's responsible to try to be relatively modest when NIP. If anyone asks for advice or seems to need it, I'm happy to offer it (especially after nursing 5 kids, including twins), but I probably wouldn't go to a nurse-in or post pictures of me BFing somewhere, etc.
Something about the word lactivist strikes me as funny (ha ha funny), but I can't really pinpoint why. I think it's just one of those words that grate on me, like "moist" or "panties." So I never claim to be a lactivist, because I just can't picture myself saying it out loud. And while I don't participate in any kind of nurse-ins or harangue people about breastfeeding, I also don't hesitate to BF my girls in public, and I will talk about BFing to anyone who seems remotely interested. So I guess for all intents and purposes I'm a lactivist
I've not heard the term before. If I were to give a definition, it would be similar to yours. Though I am very pro-breastfeeding, I wouldn't say I'm a lactavist. I am pretty non-confrontational and shy ... so I don't often voice my opinions strongly in public.
QUOTE(MeldieB @ May 7 2009, 05:33 PM) [snapback]1305086[/snapback] I've not heard the term before. If I were to give a definition, it would be similar to yours. me too. I guess I w uld say I am a lavtavist. I am very pro-BF'ing adn am not known for keeping my POV quiet. :blush:
I hadn't heard that term. I wouldn't say I necessarily am a lactavist, but I would like to be given the opportunity. I strongly support a woman's right to BF however long wherever she wants. I wish that there was more information out there about breastfeeding and more support for breastfeeding moms (& dads!).
Rachel is this part of your research???? I also really agree with Leisel, so many people out there don't have all the information. I certainly wouldn't describe myself as a lactavist--I don't think I'd heard the term before I saw this yesterday. But I do try to let people know about my situation because I'm surprised to find it myself seemingly alone in it. I bf for 15 months, and my daughters also recieved 2-5 bottles of formula during that entire time, 3 being the typical amount. I'm sad to hear mothers quit breastfeeding because they weren't able (or sometimes willing) to do it exclusively. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. I like to pop in here from time to time and point that out.
QUOTE(Meximeli @ May 8 2009, 11:32 AM) [snapback]1305675[/snapback] Rachel is this part of your research???? Not really I was just curious about what other people thought. To me everything in this forum is lactavism because it's helping Mom's nurse their babies and hopefully educating people in the process.
Never heard the term, although it was easy for me to define when I saw it. I haven't organized any sit-ins or anything, but I have spoken out about BF to my SILs and many friends or even strangers, trying to encourage them along. I try not to be a nazi about it, but I am passionate about it. I do not bare my breasts in public and I try to be discreet, but I also do not go to the backroom or even go undercover <_< . I am not sure how nursing twins is going to go though and I am SOOOO glad for this forum!!!
QUOTE(Meximeli @ May 8 2009, 11:32 AM) [snapback]1305675[/snapback] Rachel is this part of your research???? I also really agree with Leisel, so many people out there don't have all the information. I certainly wouldn't describe myself as a lactavist--I don't think I'd heard the term before I saw this yesterday. But I do try to let people know about my situation because I'm surprised to find it myself seemingly alone in it. I bf for 15 months, and my daughters also recieved 2-5 bottles of formula during that entire time, 3 being the typical amount. I'm sad to hear mothers quit breastfeeding because they weren't able (or sometimes willing) to do it exclusively. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. I like to pop in here from time to time and point that out. I agree with the feeling that it has to be all or nothing. I wouldn't call myself a lactavist, because I am a strong believer in doing what works for you. I give my babies 3 bottles of formula a day, and that works for us.
I never expected to be a lactivist, but I think it's hard to not be one when you breastfeed for an extended period of time. I was fortunate enough to nurse my second daughter for over two years until she self-weaned. It seemed like for the first 6 months, a lot of people supported my decision to breastfeed, but as time passed most of the support from family and friends fell away and was replaced by criticism. It also became more of an issue to nurse in public, even though I am always extremely discrete, and I found myself feeling like I needed to become an advocate. At times it was about education because most people really don't know that there are benefits that extend past the first few months and other times it was just because I refused to let people treat nursing my child as something that was obscene or disgusting, especially if comments were made in front of my older daughter. My twins aren't here yet, and I'm already amazed by the number of people who assume that I'll just use bottles. I may very well need to supplement and that's fine, but I think it's sad that there is a general assumption that multiples means you can't nurse.
I'm a breastfeeding mum, but I don't think I'd describe myself as a lactivist. I do bf in public, discretely. I do believe breast is best, but I'm not anti formula. I don't judge any mother who chooses to bottle feed their babies.
