Masochistic Mommy

In general, a baby who won’t nurse, can’t nurse. As a parent, your goal is to identify why baby can’t nurse and either remedy the problem, work around the problem, and/or preserve your milk supply until the problem remedies itself ( Kellymom 2011 ). But what if you have health professionals breathing down your neck, firing comments at you that suggest your baby is starving, that you must have postpartum depression, and that formula is necessary? You are about to read the story of how one mother unlocked the secret as to why her baby was refusing to nurse, all whilst under a torrent of bullying from health professionals and family members. “My son was born by ‘emergency’ caesarean after induction at 42 weeks, I say ‘emergency’ as I have since discovered the reason was rather dubious (I was at full dilation and pushing, they said my son was in distress - apgar of 9 indicates he wasn't) but I digress. In recovery I was helped to give him his first breastfeed, well the midwife held him...

Finding genuinely liberating children's books with a strong feminist message is like finding a snowball in hell. Such books are often lost in the flames of patriarchal sameness, where females are passive, pretty and content to be relegated to supporting roles. But fear not. My hobby as a library lurker has finally paid off! I have discovered ten more feminist children's books (ten!) Following on from  Part One  and  Part Two , here is an eclectic selection of lesser known stories, with some classics thrown in. Don’t Kiss the Frog: Princess Stories With Attitude Fiona Waters “Once upon a time...” “and they all lived happily ever after.” These spellbinding words open and close the door to that far-off land where magic and enchantment reign – but also where boringly good behaviour is always rewarded, rose-tinted glasses are firmly in place and princesses are usually simpering nincompoops, unable to think beyond the next party frock before being married off to a prince W...