Disclaimer:
Just me ranting about the way breastfeeding is viewed in today's world. In no way am I stating that I'm against formula feeding, every Mom needs to do what they think is best and I completely support that 100%!
While on Yahoo this morning checking my email I saw this article on the opening page. Reading this article has stirred inside me a whirlwind of emotions. It's not the article itself that upsets me, in fact in my opinion it sounds like Lylah M, the woman who wrote the article is a supporter of breastfeeding, but it's the fact that breastfeeding is such a controversial topic in today's society, that's what blows my mind!
As a breastfeeding Mother and a woman I am outraged that there are people out there that look at breastfeeding as disgusting, sexual, and only something that should be done in private. Are you kidding me? All breastfeeding simply is, is feeding your baby, that's it! I just don't understand how anyone could look at that as inappropriate and even go as far as harass and condemn a nursing Mother in public.
What blows my mind even more is that this county is obsessed with sex and nudity, everyday we are bombarded with sexual images, on the computer and the tv, in magazines, ads, movies, school, and etc, ect. It's just ridiculous to me that, that's perfectly fine and ok but a woman breastfeeding her child, doing the most loving, innocent, natural thing she could be doing with her breasts is looked at as disgusting and inappropriate! I'm truly saddened by the values of this country.
As for what I think about breastfeeding on Sesame Street, I say yes bring it back! We don't need to make a big show about it but it should be shown and normalized just like bottle feeding is!!
end of rant!
Hey there. My sister in law breast feed all 4 of her children. I support her as well all the other woman who BF. How I feel is if a woman is unable to breast feed (like my own mother, her sister who couldn't produce enough and my best friend) then they need to do what is best. My grandmother (my dads mom) 50-60 years ago couldn't BF any of her kids and refuse to give her kids maunfunafed milk so she fed then goat milk in Cuba. Thankfully she had access to fresh milk everyday. I hate when people look at my sister in law weird if we were at a restaurant & she decides to sit further away to breast feed her baby. She respectfully moved herself & had a blanket cover to chest so her breast are not exposed at all. Yes she could have went to the bathroom but who wants to breast feed standing up or on a stall? People are just stupid. I think of those who look at it sexual shouldnt have kids. What would they think when they are in labor or their other half is watching their child come out? Will they think something sexual then? Breast feeding is natural and so is falling in love, getting angry, having sex, getting pregnant and giving birth. Some people are just more mature than others, I guess. I've never looked down at my sister in law even back when I was 10 year old when she had her first child. As long ad the BF is private & not bothering any one (eating or reading a book) it is fun especially if the woman covers herself well. I know it's natural but if I glance over at a woman with her baby & it she is overally exposed; she can fix that. I lost my baby but I produce a lot of milk. After I gave birth I literally was milking my breast. I never did it in public but when ever I had the chance I did.
ReplyDeleteNicole, I am so sorry for your loss, I honestly cant imagine the pain you have gone through. Thank you so much for sharing your story! I agree with you I also think these people who are against breastfeeding in public are just very ignorant. It makes me sad because being a Mom and learning to breastfeed is hard enough, we don't need people to make us feel awful for choosing to feed our baby in public.
DeleteNot it is fun* I meant to say it is okay. Stupid iPhone autocorrect -__-
ReplyDeleteThank you for your write up!
ReplyDeleteWe would love for you to link to the original article and the petition!
http://boobietime.blogspot.com/2011/12/not-exactly-wordless-wednesday.html
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/bring-breastfeeding-back-to-sesame-street/
Thank you
Lani, thanks so much for stopping by! I would love to link the original article in a post, thanks so much sending it to me. Also I do have a link to the petition in my side bar but I will put it in a post as well!
DeleteHello, I've just clicked away and landed here! I am a huge supporter of breastfeeding, still going with my two year old and it's something I'm proud of, but I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I pretty much stopped feeding her in public after she turned one. People think it is weird to feed a child once they start walking. But I think it's weird to give a child an artificial version of something we make perfectly. (Unless you have no other choice, of course.) Anyway, I didn't know they used to breastfeed on sesame street - how awesome is that! Let's definitely bring it back!! Kellie xx
ReplyDeleteWell I am so glad you stopped by! That is amazing that you are still nursing your 2 year old, I hope to do the same thing! I am also nervous to breastfeed Chloe in public once she reaches around 1 years old, I have heard from several people that people are even ruder to you the older your baby gets. I just think that is ridiculous and so sad, why do people feel that babies should grow up so quickly and be able to do everything on their on at the age of 1. I'll just never understand.
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