28/365 Normalizing Breastfeeding

Three years ago, while pregnant with my first child, I was very ignorant to the topic of breastfeeding. But today, as I cuddle my baby girl and give her what I believe to be the best that I can possibly give, I feel empowered. I can’t help but share with the world something so important to me. It’s a sad society we live in; where feeding your child is considered inappropriate by many but women can go wearing practically nothing to a beach, a club, or anywhere else for that matter. Lets be real, when a woman is nursing her child in public, you can almost always see nothing. Most of the times I had fed either of my children in public, no one even knew. Because what I was doing was cradling my baby lovingly.

I have done an obsessive amount of research on breastfeeding and breast milk over the last three years. But I can’t help but be some mesmerized. Our bodies as women make this miracle liquid that can literally fight disease. The more I look into it and the more I learn, I can’t help but be so blown away by how cool breast milk is. Okay if you’re someone who doesn’t have children you may be cringing as you read this. But I encourage you before I go on to be open minded. Try your best to read with a clean slate. Forget what society and the western world has taught you about what is normal and just look at the facts.

Breastfeeding is natural and healthy. Our bodies, as women, are perfectly designed to make milk for our babies. A blend of everything a baby needs. Something that formula manufacturers cannot match no matter how hard they try. Breastmilk is biological and cannot be copied. It is full of antibodies that your baby needs while he or she is still working on building their own immune system. Helping them to fight the cold, the flu and other viruses that their tiny bodies aren’t ready for. There are literally dozens of other reasons that breastfeeding is natural and healthy but since this is my first real breastfeeding post, I’ll leave it for another day.

Breastfeeding is good for mom. Breastfeeding gives you a better fight against breast, ovarian and other forms of cancer as well as helping your body to heal faster after childbirth. The moment a child latches to the breast, the natural oxytocin is released that helps your uterus to contract back. And for all of you ladies out there who like to burn that fat and want to be back in that little dress… you burn upwards of 500 calories PER DAY for sitting on the couch. You heard me. Burn that fat!

Breastfeeding is bonding. A baby is such a fragile creature. Nursing creates a safe place. Your baby goes from living inside your womb where it is safe, they know your smell and they can hear your heartbeat. Breastfeeding brings them out into the world back back into that safe place. They can still know your smell, and the sound of your heartbeat, they are warm and then they get liquid gold.

If we don’t talk about breastfeeding more often and more than that, if we don’t nurse out children like it is NOT taboo then it will never be normal. A baby deserves to eat the best food for them in public. A mother shouldn’t have to fear what people think because her baby needs her, and one of the worst of all… feed her baby on a TOILET!! Of all places.

If you are nursing your child and feel like people may shun you or think inappropriately of you when you have to nurse in a public place; park, mall, restaurant, you should know that in Canada you have the right to feed your baby. You can not be asked to leave or cover up, it is your legal right. The person asking you to leave or cover is the one being inappropriate. Your baby needs you and you are doing the right thing.