« Taking some leave | Main | Grantly Dick-Read and the foundations of hypnobirthing »

Breastfeeding and world peace

Several months ago, I was asked by a Brazilian friend if I would help with the English translation for a video they were making to promote breastfeeding. The project was a joint effort between various Government Departments and support organisations and they had recruited a number of women, including some well-known personalities to convey the benefits of breastfeeding.

Having sent off the prepared script, I was keen to see the finished product, since I had no idea of the visuals that went with the story. In due course the video arrived and I have now had a moment to play it. It is a delightful film, full of babies nursing contentedly while their mothers explain their reasons for breastfeeding and the benefit it bestows on themselves and their children. I was particularly taken by the message, delivered unequivocally in a gentle, caring manner, that breastfeeding babies contributes to world peace, through helping babies experience a loving, nurturing relationship at the beginning of their lives.

This thought, of the link between early mothering and calmer, more peaceful adults is not new (Michel Odent has spoken of this in his many books) but it is the first time I have seen it used to underline the benefits of breastfeeding. Perhaps some film makers don’t want to “tread on any toes” of the bottle feeding mothers, or perhaps we just don’t think about the longer term benefits of the close intimate relationship that is an essential and automatic ingredient of the mother/baby nursing couple.

It is great that the Brazilians have tacked this one - perhaps we should take a leaf from their book and move away from all the daunting, technical “you must get the baby latched correctly” breastfeeding videos and instead look towards motivating mothers through exploring the wider implications of this gift to their babies.

Posted by andrea at July 24, 2004 10:06 AM

Post a comment