Breast is Best!

I just wanted to take the opportunity to wish all of you a Happy World Breastfeeding Day! Technically, it was yesterday, but what are you going to do?

I guess I was an advocate for breastfeeding before it was ever an option for me - attending a political "nurse-in" as a supporter and in solidarity when I was on the Hill (Go political moms!) and always being vocally supportive of women who breastfeed in public (would you want to eat in the bathroom?). I consider it a woman's issue and get very angry, very quickly when people get squeamish about breasts or breastfeeding. It's fine to objectify women and their bodies for your own enjoyment, plastering their scantily clad, cleavage-heaving flesh on the front of every magazine, poster, billboard, and television ad. But when a boob is doing what it was created for - a beautiful, life-giving act - THEN we act prudish?? Give me a break. My body is not gross. It's awesome.

But as I became pregnant myself, I was lucky to be surrounded with some wonderful women in my life and was lucky to read some wonderful books during pregnancy that helped me understand how crucial it is for the physical, emotional, and psychological health of your baby (not to mention mom).

I never realized how hard it would be - and it has been harder than I thought. It was difficult in the beginning, and we've had some hiccups here and there along the way. It's demanding on mothers' bodies, their time, and their psyches. They are biologically "on the hook," as I say, for round the clock feedings, and neither your body nor your time are your own. (There are infinitely more benefits than there are drawbacks, but I'll save that for another post)

But I was very, very lucky to have great resources to depend on. I am so grateful for the lactation consultants during my hospital stay, as well as at their weekly breastfeeding support group thereafter. I'm grateful for Allison and her willingness to talk me through any challenges or worries I faced. I'm grateful for my family and friends - all of them - who have accepted our nursing whenever and wherever we need to do that. I would have done it anyway, but I appreciate your support! :o)

So I won't lecture anyone today - despite my many rants, that's not really my style (well, I'll rant about formula companies and their deceptive advertising practices, but I don't rant about women and their choices). I will just congratulate all the women out there who have been able to breastfeed, who have made the best possible choice for their babies, and who have sacrificed their bodies in order to do so. I would encourage any of you who have the opportunity to do it, and to reach out for all the available resources to help you get through the tough times (and there will be tough times!). Find a nursing support group, use the lactation consultants provided by the hospital, find a La Leche League near you, read all you can, and call me if you need anything!! If I don't know, I'll call Allison!

I'm proud that Cora and I are still going strong, almost 14 months in. And I commit myself to continuing to fight to make sure it's easy for women everywhere to make the same choice - whether that's advocating for lactation rooms in the workplace, choosing to nurse in public so that other women don't have to feel ashamed, or whatever else it might take until we support nursing moms everywhere and we can all see women's bodies as the beautiful and nourishing vessels they were created to be.