Image from The Royal College of Psychiatrists
I had a rather.. odd conversation with a single mother of one last weekend. It went something like this:
Me: I'm still breastfeeding.
Single Mother: What?! You're still BREASTFEEDING?!!
Me: *stunned by her outburst* Uh.. Yes.
Single Mother: *slaps her forehead* Oh.. my.. gosh..
Me: Why? What's wrong with that??
Single Mother: No. So, when you breastfeed, tak sakit ke? (touching her abdomen area)
Me: Sakit? No! Why would it be sakit??
Single Mother: No. I mean, you're still young.
Me: I'm sorry, but I don't think I get your point!!
Single Mother: No. I mean, a lot of doctors are not really encouraging breastfeeding nowadays.
Me: *dumbfounded* Huh?! What nonsense! Breast milk IS the best milk for babies. What are you talking about?!
Single Mother: I know giving your own milk will make your baby more obedient, but giving them plain water is good enough.
Me: (starting to lose all means of interest in continuing the conversation) I have to go now.
Mind you, she's a lovely person. But after speaking to her, I had a feeling that something's amiss. So I asked around, and yes, it turns out that she's not quite 'right', due to postpartum depression. The father of her child left her when she was pregnant. Kesian :(
