http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/05/11/breastfeeding-and-time-magazine Comments On: Breastfeeding and Time Magazine by Charles Mudede en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Fri, 24 May 2013 06:15:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by gnot]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 09:57:39 -0700 The Stranger
http://www.snotr.com/video/293/Meeting_t…
Posted by aureolaborealis]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 12:25:18 -0700 The Stranger
http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20…
Posted by joemomma]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 07:55:22 -0700 The Stranger Posted by kdgd]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 07:18:20 -0700 The Stranger
Posted by Lissa]]> Sun, 13 May 2012 08:59:10 -0700 The Stranger
Breastfeeding the way it's done in agricultural and industrial societies - larger feedings several hours apart, often weaning, pumping, or switching to formula at a few months of age - is a lousy birth control method.

Breastfeeding the way it's done in hunter-gatherer societies - almost constant baby-mother contact, small feedings around the clock well into the toddler years - is a pretty good birth control method. Not foolproof, but not bad either.

Humans were exclusively hunter-gatherers for several million years, up until around 10,000 or so years ago. Humans were mostly hunter-gatherers for a few thousand years more. So for most of human history, we spaced our kids out and lactational amenorrhea was a major tool in that. We didn't start spacing our kids out again until 100 to 50 years ago, and it only happened because of the development of reliable artificial birth control.

In many cases there is a discussion to be had about whether Charles is just pulling stuff out of his ass, but in this particular case he has the facts right.

And maybe it's just because I'm not around kids very much, but the weirdest thing about the picture for me is that, from the size of him, I would have guessed the kid was about 5 or 6, not 3. I don't think it's any big deal if your three year old still likes the boob juice. Then again, I read the STFU Parents blog on a regular basis. Compared to some of the photographic parental overshare I've seen on that site, this one's incredibly tame.
Posted by Chelydra_serpentina]]> Sat, 12 May 2012 13:04:39 -0700 The Stranger
Breastfeeding does not stop a woman from becoming pregnant.
Posted by westello]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 21:48:20 -0700 The Stranger
Also, from experience, I would call breastfeeding a method of birth spacing, not birth control. As toddlers slowly eat more and more food and cut down on breastfeeding sessions, mom's fertility increases.
Posted by Jude Fawley]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 20:40:03 -0700 The Stranger

Posted by Brooklyn Reader]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 16:29:45 -0700 The Stranger Posted by kataan]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 16:02:29 -0700 The Stranger supposed to be uncomfortable with the image. Regardless of whether we think that breastfeeding a 3-year old is weird, it's that they are staring us in the eye, making us a part of their relationship.
Posted by Garth B]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 15:25:23 -0700 The Stranger http://mattdaviescartoon.com/2012/05/11/…
Posted by ItsAllOverNow]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 15:17:56 -0700 The Stranger

Posted by Backyard Bombardier]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 14:40:02 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Last of the Time Lords]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 14:33:53 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Charles Mudede]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 14:20:28 -0700 The Stranger "It's certainly not my place to deny them the right to get down like that, but it doesn't make it any less creepy, and it is absolutely my place to ridicule it (or, I'm making it my place)."

Well good for you that you are the self-appointed arbiter of all that is "creepy".

The only problem that this kid will have will be when people like you link him to that photo later in his life. Congratulations. If she didn't make it public then people like you wouldn't be able to tell any difference between her or her kid.

So it isn't about her actions.
It's about your comfort zone with the behavior of people you do not know.
Posted by fairly.unbalanced]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 14:14:01 -0700 The Stranger
"A part of it is saying that this is an excellent and natural form of birth control."

Charles, don't say ignorant things. A woman can EASILY get pregnant even if she is breastfeeding. Ever heard of Irish twins?

Ditto #4 - ditto, very staged and manipulative photo. Also, no one cares about her breastfeeding (it's her choice) but this is just weird.

Ditto @28 - this kid is going to be very unhappy as he gets older.

I breastfed my sons (first one until 8 months and second until 4 months) - it was wonderful and it was a loving, bonding time. But you don't have to shove your choice under someone else's nose. There are appropriate ways to do it.

Was it sexual? No, it wasn't. Your milk "lets down" and you can feel the surge but it is not anything remotely like being stimulated sexually.
Posted by westello]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:47:11 -0700 The Stranger
That goes for grandparents and other family as well: Let parents do the parenting and back off! If you don't think your grown children can properly raise a child, well, then you must not have faith in the lessons you taught your grown children, and therefore, what cause do you have to think you suddenly know how to do it the right way now?

Mothers and fathers are under tremendous pressure to not fuck their kids up, and they do not need any more pressure from external sources: They are their own worst critic. But moms and dads, take notice, you cannot avoid fucking up your kids, everybody has problems and shortcomings. Just do your best and let your kids take over their own lives as they grow older. Don't stress, your kids will be fine and you are doing a great job!

Posted by scratchmaster joe]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:29:32 -0700 The Stranger
Jesus Christ but some of you people need to grow the fuck up.
Posted by Backyard Bombardier]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:27:31 -0700 The Stranger Uh, she's hot.


Posted by balmontguy]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:19:58 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Allyn]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:17:04 -0700 The Stranger
Fuck the creepy..this is bordering on incest at that age.
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:13:29 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Anomolous]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:12:31 -0700 The Stranger Posted by gnossos]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:09:12 -0700 The Stranger Posted by JenV]]> Fri, 11 May 2012 13:08:02 -0700 The Stranger