Strollerderby

Are you kidding?  I'm not so much offended as surprised.... I've breastfed four kids and it never hurt (except for the times I became engorged due to being late getting home to whichever baby, but that had nothing to do with nipples.)  I do think it's irresponsible to "scare" women who have not even tried it yet.  Is this a US product?  I've never heard of it.... I guess if one used a big glop of lotion, the baby would be so put-off s/he wouldn't nurse at all, thereby eliminating the torn nipple problem.

It can be uncomfortable...but seriously.  I've not heard of Garmastan lotion (I can't use lotions with lanolin in them - talk about hurt, lanolin makes my skin blister over, thankfully discovered before starting breastfeeding!).  

hahaha! i love it! thats hilarious. i'de try the lotion, heck.

I had MAJOR latching issues with my first born, so yes, it hurts, and BAD. But I do think the ad makes breastfeeding look scary. Especially since the baby is not a newborn in the photo, it makes it seem like breastfeeding hurts FOREVER, and I don't know anyone who had pain issues with a baby that age.

BUT... will it sway someone who has never tried it? Hard to say... I, personally, wouldn't NOT breastfeed after seeing the ad.

I agree, it makes breastfeeding look scary and dangerous. Anything that puts women off breastfeeding is a bad thing. Also, it promotes ignorance. If breastfeeding is hurting, steps need to be taken to alleviate that, at least a consultation with a doctor or lactation consultant. There could be latch problems, infection, mastitis, things that won't be solved by a lotion.

Finally, to me it makes breastfeeding seem like an unnatural, bothersome chore. Not a good message to promote.

I'm a nursing mom of an almost 1 year old. Torn nipples hurt. And, that's what it feels like. I don't think the advertisers were being irresponsible.

And, for people to say that breastfeeding doesn't hurt has obviously not experienced thrust, mastisis, torn nipples, etc. (All of which I've experienced at one point or another w/ one or both of my kids).

I agree w/ Shannon (pp above) that steps should be taken w/ a doctor or LC. Hopefully, there's a disclaimer on the page.

The pro-BF crowd has painted a false picture of the reality of breastfeeding. For some of us, it hurts a lot and we end up with nipples that look like chopped hamburger meat and no LC can "fix the latch". This a a reality of breastfeeding that people need to know about and be prepared for.

Amen to the above. In my experience breastfeeding hurt like hell, especially in the first month. It felt like my nipples were on fire. Everytime I read some trite piece of advice like "if you are doing it right, it shouldn't hurt at all" I felt like hitting someone.  I was, and still am, pro-BF (and ended up feeding for 18 months!) but people need to acknowledge that yes, it can be painful, even if you are doing it right.

I don't think this ad is anymore offensive and prone to turning  women off of breastfeeding than people who are always babbling on about how breastfeeding never hurts so if it does then the mother is obviously totally to blame because she is either doing something wrong or letting the baby do something wrong or not spending the time or money getting the help she should to correct her own stupidity.  I mean it is okay to scare women who are having problems into thinking they are incompetent and incapable of breast feeding by saying saying breastfeeding is all wonderful and lovely all the time and anyone who doesn't experience it as such is just wrong either in thought or deed, but if you are the slightest bit negative, or realistic, about what can and does happen with breastfeeding then no, no, no! That must never be.