To many thoughts: Mandatory breastfeeding laws

 United Arab Emirates has recently passed a law requiring that mothers breastfeed their children for  Two years. This law then enables the mothers to be sued by their husbands if they do not breastfeed. This was passed as part of a childrens rights law - which for the most part sounds like a brilliant idea to improve the lives of children and new mothers the law includes things such as providing health care for children and new mothers, protecting children from abusive or unfit parents and sex offenders as well as punishment for people that sell tobacco to children among others things all of which sounds like a briliant idea! However a member of the committee, said "it was the right of all children to be breastfed up to the age of 2." He went on to say that if mothers were neglecting their breastfeeding duties or if "complications arose" there would be a punishment. This is the part that really does not sit right with me! While I am very pro Breastfeeding and 100% believe that breastfeeding is biologically the best way to feed a baby and fully intend to breastfeed my own baby when she is born in a couple of months time I am also very pro choice (when it comes to baby feeding!) I fully believe that taking away a mothers right to choose weather or not to breastfeed her child is fundamentally undermining her ability to mother her child and could potentially cause some real damage to their ability to bond. I 100% support encouraging mothers to breastfeed through education and practical support during their breastfeeding journey ...I wish more mothers would choose breastfeeding I wish more mothers felt like they where able to choose breastfeeding! Here in the UK there is a sad lack of education and support for mothers who choose to breastfeed. Often mothers are discouraged from breastfeeding by so called "health professionals" because of worries with slow weight gain in comparison to formula fed babies or baby wanting to feed "to often" again in comparison to formula fed babies. I myself gave up breastfeeding my first born child after only 6 weeks partly because of lack of support from those who's job it is to encourage and support mothers who breastfeed. When my second child was born, I did not feel able to try again and I have since regretted that decision and believe that it may have added a great deal towards the post natal depression I developed. I am lucky to have a husband who was entirely supportive of my decisions both times and again is supporting my desire to breastfeed our newest addition despite often being on the receiving end of many of my breast vs formula rants (and there have been many!) but a law forcing mothers to breastfeed or face being sued by their husbands - one of the few people who they should be able to rely upon to support them with any decision they make - is a really sad prospect and While I fully believe that breastfeeding has many health benefits not only for the child but for the mother also I know first hand how difficult breastfeeding really is! I know how physically and emotionally draining it can be I know the pain of a terrible latch and cracked bleeding nipples.  I know the worry of being told your baby isn't gaining weight quick enough as a first time mum I sadly did not know enough to have confidence in my ability to nurture my child or to recognise when she was content with the amount she was feeding. Breastfeeding is hard when you WANT to breastfeed I can't imagine how much worse it would be if you where being forced to! My heart aches for these mothers who don't get to choose how to parent their own children... yes in an ideal world everyone would embrace breastfeeding as the biological norm and the best way to feed and nurture a baby but realistically sometimes breastfeeding isn't possible for those who are desperate to do so! This law while no doubt based on good intentions seems flawed in so many ways the idea that a mother could be punished for complications that may arise during breastfeeding is saddening to me... as if its not difficult enough for a mother to be unable to provide such a basic need for her child.