In spite of the knowledge on breastfeeding which scientists and health professionals have accumulated throughout the 20th century, early weaning continues being an important cause of increasing child morbidity and mortality. From 1980 onwards, public policies were established to stimulate breastfeeding, mainly in underdeveloped countries. However, women, who are the main subjects in the breastfeeding process, often are not heard at the time of breastfeeding. This article presents some reflections on breastfeeding, focusing on women's sexuality and their reproductive rights and analyzes the representations of woman/mother/fostress that were constructed in Western culture in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. This reflection is aimed at health professionals who work with women in the pregnancy-puerperal cycle, to allow them to understand these women and support them in their decisions on the breastfeeding process.
Breast feeding; Sexuality; Women's rights