Thanks free2beme.
If you can believe it, I had to chat with my Mum again this morning. She was feeding DS breakfast (ham and a mix of berries...completely ok!) and was saying he was a good boy for eating so much.
While nowhere nearly as damaging as deterring breastfeeding, I can see how eating disorders start with that sort of subtle messaging: good= eats lots, bad = doesn't eat what the adult wants. My mother is an obese nurse who expresses love with food, and I struggled (and still do) with listening to my satiety cues, so I know first-hand the unintentional effects of gentle force-feeding. So I suggested she say, "It's so good you're an adventurous eater!" or "Good for you for tasting everything!"
I addressed it gently and she said, "but he needs nourishment!", as though:
A) Breastfeeding provides no nourishment;
B) He isn't offered a wide variety of nutritious foods throughout the day.
Arg! It just goes to show that you have to be vigilant, even in families that are purportedly pro-breastfeeding. I know her heart is in the right place, but it frustrates me nonetheless.
Thanks for listening to my gripe.
