Elisa Di Tullio Marie Charlotte Gschwandtner
Whichever path you choose, you will be a good mom!
Charlotte, of German origin, talks about her experience as a mother of two children, focusing in particular on the theme of breastfeeding. Two very different experiences marked by the difficulties of facing with serenity a path that can put up obstacles that are difficult to face without the support of competent and at the same time empathic people.
From Charlotte's story emerges the need to accept the mother's point of view without putting too much emphasis on breastfeeding as a natural and therefore spontaneous gesture. The presumed naturalness of breastfeeding, if accepted as such, seems to suggest the idea that everything is spontaneous and easy. But this is not the case and the pressures on a mother can lead to the breaking of the balance necessary to establish the necessary climate for breastfeeding.
The text "Breastfeeding is natural. It is a gesture of love" stands out on the posters that invite new mothers to take this path. "But if you don't succeed what does it mean?" Charlotte asks, adding that "we are not only nature, we are also culture and civilization", a complex stratification that requires paths as close as possible to the sensitivity and ways through which each woman and family mature their parenting experience.
Video table of contents
- The breastfeeding experience in the first two children, a difficult path.
- The support of health facilities was essential to be able to breastfeed.
- The expectations regarding breastfeeding and too much pressure on the mother.
- The first child's experience of breastfeeding affected the desire of the second child.
- The pain is removed from the narratives: it was a surprise.
- I arrived unprepared to breastfeed my first child.
- I was supported by my family, by the network of friends and for the second daughter by the Counseling Center: two different supports.
- Breastfeeding if it works is nice but the bottle for me was just as good if we talk about aesthetics!
- Breastfeeding in public: it hasn't been easy for me, I'm always looking for a more private seat. It is an intimate act between us.
- Powdered milk, thank goodness!
- "Breastfeeding is natural. It is a gesture of love": but what if you can't? We are not only nature but a mix of nature and culture!
- If there was a need, I would also breastfeed a baby from another mother.
- I would like to feed my daughter but I would have no problem granting this gesture to someone else.
- My job and the right to breastfeed: families are not protected enough.
- The end of breastfeeding.
- To a new mom: whatever road you take, you will be a good mom!
Interview information
Country: IT
Region: Piemonte
City: Novara
Marie Charlotte Gschwandtner
Date of birth: 11-03-1981
City: Germania
School: University
Profession: Self-employed
Languages: Italiano
Document by: Luca Ghiardo
Video by: Luca Ghiardo, Davide Porporato
Created: 14-09-2022
Questo video fa parte del seguente archivio
Breastfeeding: forms and practices of humanity
Breastfeeding: forms and practices of humanity
Breastfeeding is unanimously recognized by the main world health authorities as a fundamental health protection in the short, medium and long term for both the baby and the mother, offering biological, nutritional, emotional, relational and economic benefits.
The most important international scientific societies recommend giving the baby only breast milk for the first six months of life and subsequently accompanying the introduction of other foods with breastfeeding at least for the entire first year of the baby's life, but also up to two years and over if mother and child so wish.
This archive contains some testimonies of mothers and midwives aimed at deepening this theme by offering points of view anchored to individual experiences and sensitivities.
