tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260283401409623537.post1666403327825666892..comments2021-05-10T17:48:27.310-07:00Comments on Combat Boots & Pointe Shoes: Would it be good for me?Mama Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312816675472641719noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260283401409623537.post-56460005638805974102013-02-07T07:31:32.836-08:002013-02-07T07:31:32.836-08:00Well, I am late coming to this conversation but wi...Well, I am late coming to this conversation but will comment anyway. I agree and disagree with some of the points made by both the blogger and commenter. And I bring my own opinions and knowledge to the table. It is too lengthy and late to get into all that. The one point I would like to make is that there is plenty of room for all of our views. <br /><br />Hurray for us! Hurray for our determination to help other women and their children. Hurray for all the various experiences that have shaped our views. And here is to future growth. I look back at how my views have changed as I have learned and been exposed to other thinking. I am grateful to all those who have been willing to share their differences of opinion in a kind, teaching way. I have benefited greatly, and hopefully I was able to expand their thinking as well. <br /><br />I would encourage the blogger in her pursuit. Although the commenter describes the view of a segment of lactation specialists and community, she certainly does not have the whole picture. There is more than plenty of room for other types of views and experiences. To the blogger I would say, be prepared to have your views greatly expanded if you indeed decide to pursue a career in lactation. <br /><br />As for the irregular hours, there are both advantages and disadvantages. For me, the flexibility in hours made it easier when my children were young (most of the time). Only you could decide what is wisdom for your own situation. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8260283401409623537.post-61303846899143913462013-01-21T19:18:56.524-08:002013-01-21T19:18:56.524-08:00I think that you should definitely do what makes y...I think that you should definitely do what makes you happy, but it depends on what you want to get out of the experience! I know multiple certified lactation consultants (one who is also a Doula) and the work is very irregular unless you are full time hired somewhere (although you can teach classes at community centers, etc. on a volunteer basis if you are not looking for money out of it.) but I think you will find A LOT of resistance in the lactation consultant community of your peers with many of your views. I think you will have to ask yourself if being liked by your peers is important or not, because I actually don't know a single lactation consultant that advocates for covering, private nursing, or anything other than everywhere and anywhere nursing, and the belief that publicly nursing benefits everyone in a community. If you maintain and talk about how you feel, (although your beliefs are perfectly valid for you) it is very likely you would not be recommended to people by other consultants, and that you would not enjoy some of the backlash you would get from the experience (and Riley's nursing problems would likely become a way for people to make arguments against your experience, regardless of the unkindness of the argument.) <br /><br />Nursing is honestly not really sacred bonding time for most women, it is about the health and feeding of a child, and although you may have flashes of staring into your little one's eyes and feeling overjoyed over what you have to offer them, most of the time it's just another thing you are doing in your day, and that is perfectly right and normal. I think elevating nursing onto the alter of sacredness won't connect with the vast majority of nursing women (especially non religious ones) and it really is mostly about being practical and raising your baby to it's greatest potential. Privacy and covering are entirely in the realm of individual conviction, and should not be advocated for by the lactation consultant, so maybe your views would never come up, but since you have SUCH STRONG views, it may be quite difficult to be neutral. <br /><br />For me personally, I never covered beyond my shirt, my kids didn't like being covered, I didn't like not being able to look down easily at my baby, and I nursed in public out of convenience, (and as an advocate for women.) The US is one of the only cultures in the world who shame women for what their breasts are designed to do, and I honestly feel like I had the obligation to show women's bodies are not for sex and porn. It's not like I was flashing nudity everywhere and anywhere, but if you had wanted to stare long enough to catch a glimpse of something, you probably could have, but since I am not the thought police, it certainly never hurt me or my child if someone was perving on me. (Certainly not anymore than I am hurt anyway in my everyday life; I have large breasts and am fairly thin, I actually get jostled and bumped into, and sexually assaulted, etc. far more as a non-nursing person then I ever did as a public nurser, and that's in completely modest, and never showing cleavage or tight clothing. NOT that my clothing should ever effect whether or not I get assaulted.) Culture has to change, and if I can be part of that though embracing women's bodies as non sexual objects, I feel like it is my responsibility to do so!<br /><br />As an aside, have you thought about becoming a nutritionist or speech therapist? I think you have a tremendous amount of empathy and understanding with all you have been through trying to get Riley healthy, and happy, and I bet other mothers would love to benefit from that experience since you have walked many miles in those shoes. cathgracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06330268803225641465noreply@blogger.com