It always throws me into disarray when a government announcement results in a flurry of blogposts just as I was about to submit the months politics round-up. Sometimes I pick them up the following month, but the business of vouchers for breastfeeding has taken up my twitter and blog feed so completely today that I have binned my first draft and started again!
BritMums very own Jennifer Howze was on Sky News this morning talking about this issue. You can watch her excellent appearance here. And a number of you had already blogged by lunchtime, you can read their posts (and mine) by following the links below.
- Me! I blogged about a few grumbles, including this topic.
- Instinctive Mum – Incentivised Breastfeeding.
- Head In Book – Milking It.
- Tattooed Mummy – Breastfeeding On Demand……The Demand of £200
- The Motherhood – Breastfeeding: Vouchers aren’t the answer.
- Chelsea Mamma – A New Breastfeeding Debate
- Mum Of Three World – Paid to breastfeed?
If I have missed your thoughts on it please leave a comment or link up your post at the bottom of this one.
It has to be said, I haven’t seen many condoning the idea. Perhaps one way to get the government to come up with more sensible approaches to women’s issues is to see more women MPs. Glosswatch writes an excellent piece looking at just this. I think it was Tony Benn who mooted the idea of each constituency being represented by two MPs one male, one female – I would love to see such an equal balance.
Last month saw many teachers going on strike. I know for many parents this creates childcare problems, but this post by Emma and Three highlights that teachers really do have your children’s long term interests at heart. And The Laughing Owls also feels that she is striking for both her own and your children’s benefit.
Finally a quick round-up of other political and thought provoking posts this month:-
Mums The Word discusses art and wealth. Do poor artists create the most interesting work?
Damson Lane guest posted on Custard and Crumble about the ‘Can Women Really Have It All?’ debate.
Kate On Thin Ice explains why she won’t be wearing a poppy this year.
Looking For Blue Sky with her thoughts on the Irish budget.
That’s me done for now, see you in the month of baubles and tinsel.
About Sonya Cisco
Sonya Cisco is a 42 year old mum of three from Dorset. She spent 15 years playing in bands at various festivals and insalubrious locations throughout Britain and Europe. These days she is more of a home bod hence the title of her blog 'The Ramblings of a Formerly Rock'n'Roll Mum' , but she can still be persuaded to strap that bass guitar back on for special occasions. Has an opinion on everything, but always open to discussion. Likes biscuits a little bit too much.
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Mummygadgetgeek
Monday 18th of November 2013
I wrote about this, from a bit of a different perspective. I don't necessarily think it's a bad idea:
http://mummyisagadgetgeek.co.uk/breastfeeding/200-for-breastfeeding-why-not/
Jude
Sunday 17th of November 2013
Great round up. Bit late but here's my take on the breastfeeding vouchers thang http://makemeanearthmother.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/the-post-when-i-piss-off-all.html
Katie
Saturday 16th of November 2013
I can't say that I think essentially paying people to breastfeed their own children is encouraging good morals. I think there are other ways to encourage breastfeeding if it's so important. I was a shy breastfeeder, but now I am slightly ashamed at my over discretion. If I had been more open, proud and unashamed, perhaps that could have encouraged someone else, just as if I had seen more women around me feeling and feeding confidently, it would have made me feel more at ease doing it myself. Anyways- I rambled on about it here:http://katie-randomnest.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/cash-cows.html
Luci - Mother.Wife.Me
Friday 15th of November 2013
Oh the subject of giving vouchers to mothers as an incentive to breastfeed, it's so ridiculous... I hadn't planned to post the day that news came out, but it just kept going round in my head until I had to splurge my thoughts out in a post... http://www.motherwifeme.com/breastfeeding-vouchers-what-udder-rubbish/
sarah
Thursday 14th of November 2013
I havent blogged about this, think i might. But i do have a different view of it because i work and have worked since 2001 in SCBU where breastfeeding can really make a difference to a baby. We see it as medicine. I also work in a hospital where the go home rate for breastfeeding mums is really low. This is a lot to do with the age of our mums, we have a large number of young mums who regardless of education or training can occassionally just NOT EVER entertain the idea of BF. However they are very image driven and perhaps offering the money would make girls like this actually consider BF for a while?
My issue with it isnt actually whether or not it will work in getting women to breastfeed because actually im sure it will but my thoughts are more along the lines of 'can't this money be spent somewhere better?'
We have a safe and very good alternative to breastmilk. We have the means of sterilising and we have safe water...so do we need to bribe those who don't want to breastfeed?
Maybe a few midwives?