#normalizenursing

From the second you become pregnant it is presumed that it is ok to talk about everything.  EVERYTHING.  Don't get me wrong, after giving birth with at least 8 people in the same room staring at my vagina I'm a little more laid back, but that doesn't make it right.  

You wouldn't ask your male colleague if his ankles were swelling, would you?  Or if his balls had become more sensitive?  Did he have a baby on purpose?  You get my point.

The audacity of peoples questions really threw me for a loop, and somehow continues to do so as I bring my little bundle out into the world with me.  Yes, I breastfeed.  No, I do not plan on baptizing and christening my child.  Yes, she will be vaccinated.  No, I haven't started saving for her college tuition yet.  She is two months, give me a break!

Scratch that..give us all a break.  My main motivation for writing this is to touch on the topic of breastfeeding.  Im a huge fan of the #normalizebreastfeeding movement for multiple reasons.  I breastfeed my baby, and I should be comfortable to do so wherever I please.  My little girl is hungry and my tits are leaking..and you want me to hide?  Breastfeeding is one of the most natural, beautiful things that we as women can do.  Why should we have to censor ourselves?

As wonderful and gratifying as it may be, its not easy.  Im sure some women are pros, but I am not one of them and you may not be either.  One of my breasts produces 4x the milk of the other.  They are lopsided non stop and its quite uncomfortable.  I get anxiety about hind milk and I'm scared to put lotion on even though they itch like crazy!  Latching was really hard for us and though we have gotten better..this shit is straight up tricky y’all.

It is by NO MEANS ok to ask a stranger, or really any woman at all in my opinion, if they are breastfeeding.  Are they feeding you?  No?  Then fuck off.  I have had random women in the grocery store ask me about my milk makers and while I kindly smile and reassure them I'm doing what they think is best, I'm doing it for me and my daughter.  There are so many issues you can have when it comes to breastfeeding and there is absolutely no room for judgement.  I believe in breastfeeding for MY daughter and thats all that matters.  Whether you choose to not breastfeed or it just didn't work out (which happens ALL the time) I support your choice.  This motherhood thing is rough and with judgments being thrown at us non-stop, the last thing we need to be chastised over is what we intend to do with our boobs. 

By: Alexis Barrett

Breastfeeding has picked up a lot of support over the years. Amazing right? I know. We are normalizing in it the US. Women are even meeting in public to breastfeed together to support the movement. Even more amazing. 

I am currently breastfeeding my youngest and when he is hungry I feed him. I don’t pack a cover because he doesn’t like one, I don’t pump milk and bring it because he won’t take a bottle. I certainly don’t sit in public and let my child cry in hunger. I feed him. Yes with my boob. 

There have been more and more polls on Facebook on local news channels asking the public if it’s okay for a mother to breastfeed in public. I started reading some answers and let me just tell you I was fuming. Here are just a few.

“Covered up yes”

“These people are so desperate for any kind of attention that they don't care how moronic they seem to everyone else. I understand feeding your baby, but be a decent human being and try to cover up a little. Otherwise head outside and do like the rest of the animals.“

“She just wants attention and drama. Big deal, cover up for teen kids.”

My thought on these replies:

My son hates, absolutely hates being covered up. H e pushes it off, and kicks it and eventually screams at me if i continue to make unwanted efforts. Also I will not move from where I am sitting, go in a dirty public bathroom and feed my child, nor will I go outside in the cold and rainy weather. 

Another thing, there is a law protecting mother who breastfeed in public. You can not ask a mother to leave a store, or restaurant, or school for feeding her hungry baby. So why is this still a question. 

Me not covering up is not hurting anyone and it defiantly isn’t showing disrespect to those around me.

If you think that breastfeeding in public is immoral, taboo, wrong, disrespectful, or anything related. Check yourself. A mother has the option to cover up. Covers were not made for mothers to cover up, they were made for a mother who wants to cover or has a baby who gets easily distracted in public place and has trouble latching on when there is so much going on around them.