Did you know that this week (August 1-7) is World Breastfeeding Week? As a mom who has breastfed all three of her daughters, and still am breastfeeding two of them, breastfeeding is obviously important to me. Zoelle and I nursed for 2 years, 8 months, and 8 days before she weaned naturally and all on her own. I was proud. Proud of myself as that is a huge accomplishment, but mostly proud of her and that she was able to make the decision on her own without pressure from me or others around her. A lesson we could all learn from couldn't we?
Anyway, I wanted to commemorate World Breastfeeding Week in some way and somehow. I could easily post a picture of me breastfeeding any of my three girls, but I don't think that will change the general attitude of disgust people have towards breastfeeding. In fact, it may only increase it. However, I recently came across an article that made me really think. I love when articles do that, but this one made me think to the extreme. It's controversial. Yet, I believe so very true. Why don't you check out the article yourself and then come back and share your thoughts with me.
As a fellow Christian, I have never once thought of breastfeeding in this way. This article really opened my eyes. In fact, each week in church because one of my daughters is bound to be hungry, I have to leave the service, make my way to the nursing moms room and nurse my daughter. This means I am bound to miss the sermon as someone is going to be talking in the nursing moms room. I remember when I had Zoelle I felt that it wasn't right. Why should I be shuffled off to some room on the other side of church only to do what is completely natural? Why can I not sit in church fully clothed, and fully covered and nurse? I suppose I could, but then I would receive the definite stink eye from many.
Now as I said, I know this is controversial. I'm not out to create controversy, but rather to make people think and broaden our narrow views in our little box of the world. I am all for modesty, but what about self control for a man who sees a woman breastfeeding. Is he not to keep his thoughts clean and pure? Why is it that I must be the one to remove myself from doing a perfectly natural thing in public because someone (man or woman) thinks it is wrong?
I'm not sure I have the answers to those questions. Instead I just have a lot of thoughts going through my head and I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject! So go read the article and come back here and let me know what you think!
About Me
- Vanessa
- Hi! I'm Vanessa! Wife to handsome hubby Chris. Mom to three little girls whom I adore. I'm passionate about life, adoption, photography, missions, music, singing, and reading. Often described as effervescent, I march to the beat of my own drum and I'm ok with that. Come follow along with me through the laughter and tears of learning how to parent three girls, how to deal with the challenges of adoption, and the interesting stories that life may bring our way.
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I once read somewhere that women living during the Victorian area had to keep their ankles covered, but it was just fine for them to nurse in public. I love nursing my little man, and haven't had too many problems with it in public. The only real comments I every got were from my sister-in-law, but I think now she's now used to it. I think nursing in public is one of those things that if more people did it than it wouldn't really be as much of an issue. People in other countries talk about how oversexualized breasts have become in our country. Now I'm all for modesty (in fact maybe more so than alot of people), but maybe as nursing mamas it is our job to not hide in the shadows as if nursing is a bad thing or a dirty act, but to show others that it is a very natural God-designed way to feed and nuture one's baby.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting about the Victorian area. My sister who has traveled the world always talks about how women openly breastfeed everywhere in the world except in the US. It's odd that the US has created breastfeeding to be this bad thing. I can't help but wonder if Christians are contributing to sexualizing the breasts, rather than making them a natural part of who we are as women. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! :)
ReplyDeleteWasn't Megan's article beautiful? It's so obvious that she thinks deeply about these topics...and I'm so glad she is part of the blogging community.
ReplyDeleteI nurse my babies everywhere, even in church...but I use a nursing cover (because that's what I feel most comfortable doing...not because everyone should do that).
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
Stephanie, I found the article through your Tuesday Tours. It was such a beautiful, eye opening article! She really does think deeply and expresses her opinion so nicely.
ReplyDeleteI have a question for you, when you nurse during church with a cover, do people still look at you funny? Do you get the feeling you are still being judged? I nurse everywhere with a cover, but where we live is a very conservative area and I believe many would look at me with a judgemental attitude if I was to nurse in church rather than use the nursing moms room. :( I don't know what to do honestly. I am torn. Just wanted to hear your thoughts on it! :)
I am very modest and will not breastfeed in public. I even have a hard time in front of friends & family (except in front of my husband and teenage daughters). Breastfeeding my baby is a beautiful experience, but for me it is very private. This is what I choose and I will continue to breastfeed because I feel it is best for my baby. (I should also say that it was one of the most painful things to deal with postpartum).......but I'm not giving up!
ReplyDeleteStacy-Thanks so much for sharing. I was super nervous with my first to breastfeed in public. With each girl, it has gotten easier. However, when someone stares at me, or worse yet avoids looking at me fully covered breastfeeding, it makes it almost more uncomfortable for me. Glad that you will continue on as it really is a beautiful experience! :)
ReplyDelete