In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I want to talk about baby feeding. To me, baby feeding and breastfeeding are the same thing. Me, feeding my baby.
I love breastfeeding LJ. It’s one of my favorite things about being his mom. I need him just as much as he needs me.
breastfeeding in public (without a cover!)
I feel very fortunate that I’ve had success with breastfeeding. Lincoln latched right away, and we’re almost 10 months into our journey. It still blows my mind that I can feed my baby (and keep him alive) with my boobs. I had some new mom struggles – LJ sounding like a seal while eating, oversupply, a few trips to the Breastfeeding Support Group at the hospital, and my fair share of homemade lactation cookies – but we kind of click. And it’s a beautiful, wonderful (breastfeeding) relationship.
Breastfeeding is easy (and by easy, I mean I can do it anywhere, anytime). If we’re out to lunch and LJ is hungry, I can feed him. At the mall, yep, I feed him there too. On an airplane. On a train. In the car (parked, of course). Whole Foods. Museum. Library. Church. You get the point. If my baby is hungry, I’m going to feed him. And when he’s hungry but I’m not with him, I pump (a lot) so he can continue to have breast milk. I pump when I drive. I pump when I’m pumping gas. I pump in hotel lobbies. I breastfeed and I pump, so my little guy can eat.
I never realized how {controversial} breastfeeding was, until I had my own. Sure, when I was 16 years old I wondered why a mom would feed her baby without a cover. Boobs?! I don’t want to see those. But I was just a kid. I didn’t know any better. Moms telling other moms to cover up, to stop feeding their baby in public, to go to the bathroom. Well, moms, you should know better. We need to support each other! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read the Starbucks story here.
{final thoughts}
My plan is to breastfeed for a least one year, and longer if LJ wants to keep going. I don’t want to put a hard date on anything. I’m going to miss it, but feel so thankful for the time I was able to spend with LJ during this crazy, cool ride.
Happy World Breastfeeding Week. I hope I can use my journey to help normalize breastfeeding (even if in a very, very small way). Whether you breastfeed in public, at home, or in a cave, I hope we can support moms who want to feed their baby whenever and however they choose.
where’s the craziest place you’ve fed your baby?
note: I realize that not all moms can breastfeed – or want to breastfeed – their babies. this post is not intended to offended or make anyone feel bad. breastfeeding (and in public) is a choice. as long as your baby is healthy and striving, you are a rockstar, no matter how you feed your baby.
Great post Melody! I love breastfeeding my baby because it makes me feel like he needs me as much as I need him by me. I also just made a batch of lactation cookies. Thank you for the recipe!
Breastfeeding is the hardest and the best thing all at the same time. The first 3 weeks I thought I could not keep going, it was so painful. I am very lucky that the hospital in Fredericksburg offers a free weekly breastfeeding support group held by a lactation consultant. This kept me going and now breastfeeding is so easy!
gorgeous breastfeeding photos – love them!!! i love breastfeeding my baby, too!!
I’ll answer this just for fun! The craziest place I have ever pumped was in my Hummvee while in the field as a Platoon Leader!!! Had to pump and dump that 🙁 – craziest place I ever breastfed was probably at an Army football game 🙂 in the freezing cold!
I’ve breastfeed and pumped in a lot of places! The most recent crazy place was in our bathroom at our home while sitting on a moving box, as I had to be on the premises while we had contractors working in the other rooms.
I wouldn’t say I have nursed in too many crazy places but cool places. Behind the WW11 Memorial in DC was very cool. On the beach is always fun. Worst was standing up inside a very posh restaurant’s restroom(clean but standing up) Why don’t they put chairs in restrooms! My baby is a distracted eater and likes to eat in quiet.
I love this! Your photos are beautiful.
I don’t have children, but I did live in my friends basement apartment as she delivered her second and I got used to breastfeeding (being around it) pretty quick.
I think its beautiful, and I hope that one day I get to experience it for myself!
I love that you can do this! I so wish that I had the option to breastfeed. I pray one day that God allows me to do that!! What an amazing bonding time!