So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start this week's conversation about breastfeeding. Please add comments to the comments box below this story and give your own feedback and ideas. And if you have a question you'd like answered for next week, let us know.
Answer From Momʼs Councilmember Kristy O'Connor (mother of 2):
Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things a woman can do when it comes to taking care of her baby. After all, we have the equipment so put it to work. I breastfed my oldest daughter till she turned 1 year old and during that time I came across some negative reactions by strangers and even friends and family.
When my daughter was about 7 months old I was shopping at the mall and had to stop and feed her. After finding a quiet, somewhat secluded place I sat down and nursed her with a blanket over my shoulder and baby underneath. A woman approached me and scolded me for breastfeeding out in the open. She even said I should have been ashamed of myself for nursing an older child. After kindly telling her to mind her own business and not to look if it bothered her, I became so angry.
Too many women decide not to breastfeed because of reactions like this. That ignorance is not only troubling but it's at the expense of a baby's well-being. Breastfeeding has been the best choice for me and my children. Just take a look at my healthy, happy 12-week-old daughter who now weighs in at nearly 15 pounds. Now that's a baby full of love.
Answer From Momʼs Councilmember Kristin Luther (mother of 2):
I do think that breastfeeding is more beneficial than formula feeding, based on what I have both read and experienced with my own children. There is no question in my mind that children who receive breastmilk are, on the whole, healthier than formula fed peers. The composition of breastmilk makes it the perfect food for babies, and even the best formula cannot replicate the personalized antibodies that a baby receives from its mother's milk. In addition to the proven benefits for babies, nursing moms receive a number of benefits from breastfeeding as well: reduced risk of certain types of cancers, return to pre-pregnancy weight, etc.
I found the convenience of breastfeeding (you can do it anytime, anywhere, without needing to lug supplies) and the health benefits of breastfeeding (healthy kids and a return to my pre-baby weight) to be well worth the hard work it took to establish the breastfeeding relationship. And hard work it was. Both of my sons presented breastfeeding challenges that took the help of a lactation consult and sheer perseverance to work through. I wish more women knew that it is normal to struggle with breastfeeding (even if you have done it before) and that it is worth asking for help. I learned that it is possible to overcome almost any challenge that breastfeeding a baby may present.
As Americans, we are generally uncomfortable with the idea of nursing past infancy, though nursing into the first several years of life is common in other parts of the world. Even I, a staunch supporter of breastfeeding, am admittedly a little uncomfortable with the idea of nursing a child--walking and talking--and I'm not sure why. Research shows there are still benefits to breastfeeding past the age of one. Currently, I am still nursing my son, who is almost 15 months old, once a day, and I am not sure when we will stop. My older son was breastfed until 13 months. So how old is too old? For me, I think I'd like my children weaned by 18 months. But I would like to think I'm growing more open to the idea of women breastfeeding for several years beyond that.
I see no reason why women shouldn't breastfeed anywhere they need or want to in public. I nursed my children just about anywhere you can imagine and never once received a strange look or comment from anyone. I think it's courteous for women to try to use some sort of cover while breastfeeding, for the comfort of those who are uncomfortable with the idea of seeing a woman breastfeed. But perhaps that too is a part of our culture that needs some change. Breastfeeding is healthy and normal, so should a woman feel like she has to cover herself while doing so? I don't think so. I certainly found myself in situations where I forgot my "Udder Cover" or my older baby liked to play peek-a-boo with the cover during a meal, in which case I just tried to be as discrete as possible.
source: media.patch.com
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