Boobing

My rant about breastfeeding.

Soon after my son was born I was nursing him under a nursing blanket in my step-mom's living room. So I wouldn't be disturbed, my youngest sister Carly  warned one of the guys in the house that I was in there "boobing". I had never heard breastfeeding called boobing, but like a lot of things Carly says, it was awesome. Boobing is now a verb I use as often as I can.

I have breastfed both of my children. I know that this is not something that every mom can, wants or chooses to; medical issues (for both the mom and baby), work, comfort (or lack of...pain), milk supply, time, patience, and personal preference all come into play. For me though, I am glad I have been able to do it for both of my kids. It allowed me to feel an indescribable connection to my babies and saved us a ton of money. Formula prices are insane! Also, there are many health benefits of breastfeeding that extend not only to the baby, but to the mother as well.


Here's the thing, I keep reading, hearing, and seeing negative, borderline hateful attitudes towards breastfeeding. I guess I am feeling a little defensive. No, I am not one of those "popping out a boob in public" kind of mothers, but I do breastfeed discreetly in public when the need arises and not so discreetly in my own home. For me discreetly is sitting  somewhere clean and comfortable with my baby under a nursing blanket. Occasionally it is walking around the store or park with him under a nursing blanket.  Babies eat on demand, it would be cruel to make a baby wait to eat. However, those "pop out of boob in public moms" are entitled to do so under the law.


On facebook recently someone posted, "No offense, but if women have the right to whip out the boobs wherever they want to feed their kids because it is natural; I'm going to start whipping out my d*** and pissing wherever I want because that’s natural too... ". Ok buddy, sure, no offense taken, but you just compared the milk I feed my infant child to your piss. Also we are not spraying our milk around everywhere, we are feeding it to our children. And it breast milk is a form of nourishment, it is not a way of eliminating waste.

A couple years ago when I was still  nursing my daughter someone asked me honestly if I was worried that she would end up being a lesbian. WHAT!? Seriously that was one of the craziest things I have ever heard. Is that a thing? Do people worry about that? In our culture breasts are constructed almost completely as sexual objects. This is not their primary function. Infants have no idea that breasts are thought of as sexy. Their first instinct, after breathing, from the moment they are born is "I need to be boobing". They immediately start rooting their head around looking for the breast. Infants have a suckling reflex that develops in the womb. All this is so amazing to me. Our bodies have been designed so perfectly; women not only have the ability to grow a baby in their womb, but to provide their sole source of nourishment throughout infancy. How is this gross?

I also heard someone say recently something along the lines of;  "I am not against women breastfeeding, but there is no reason to do it in public. They (moms) can stay at home, plan better, or go to a restroom to nurse". Staying at home is not an option. The World Health Organization suggests that infants be breastfed for at least six months. So my baby and I are supposed to stay inside for the entire time? No exposure to the outside world. No walks to the park? No trips to the grocery store? Complete isolation until I am done nursing? Or what? I can go somewhere like a restroom to nurse. Try eating your lunch in a restroom for six months and get back to me on that. Gross. And plan better? All the plans in the world are no match for an infants unpredictability. Trust me on this, I am a serial planner; queen of making lists and schedule, and my kiddos are always testing my emergency preparedness skills.

Its just sad to me. We live in a pretty progressive place and time. Why do people have to act like middle school boys when it comes to breasts? (huh huh, she said breasts). Actually, maybe it is fitting. After all, this is stuff we learn in sixth grade science; humans are mammals, breasts are mammary glands used to nourish our offspring. Nothing perverted or sexual going on there. If it grosses you out turn your head. No one is making you (or wants you to) look anyways. Wierdo.