Oh no, you didn't say... what?

So there are those of you that are reading this who consider yourselves to "know" me quiet well.  Then there are the rest of you.  To the first group of you, this post will not surprise... to the rest, well good luck!

Thank you to my sorority sister for the inspiration for this post.  I love her as if she were my own sister.  She and I have always been able to argue our continuing differences of opinion over lunch and/or a jazzercise session.  She's an attorney now, but I've always been able to hold my own with her.  She is beautiful, insightful and a strong woman.  I want her and a handful of others by my side if my life ever depends on an argument.  It's not like I've never addressed this subject before, but she brought it up "post blog world" for me.   Here's how.

Yesterday she posted this on her facebook.  http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/51017 with the caption of "This is why people hate seeing women breast feed in public."

FER REAL?  I felt my blood pressure rise, and my heart pound.  I HAD to respond.  Like seriously, my fingers would not even allow me to sit on them to keep silent.

It's not what my friend said that upset me as much as the caption of the picture and the fact that someone actually took this photo and posted it to the people of walmart website.  As if to categorize this action of perfectly normal people and behavior in with the same as well, the rest.  I'm sick.  The pictures that are removed on a daily basis from Facebook that women have posted of them breastfeeding their child and this picture can be posted on the above website and it's ACCEPTED.  Here's a fb site http://www.facebook.com/events/228835587202033/ if you're interested in learning more about this.

The other problem I have about this shared site is the caption below the picture.  There's the problem, we allow men who are; by nature, visually aroused and quiet frankly dislike any threat to full frontal exposure of women, to weigh in on the subject.  Now, if you ask my husband (or probably any other husband of a nursing mom) he will tell you nursing our child is no threat to him.  That is because he's a very happily married man.  My child nursing on my breast is not interfering with his sexual pleasures.   The trouble is, the man who is obviously giving is immature and SELFISH opinion is only looking out for his own jollies.  These men (and women frankly) are guilty of oversexualizing breast feeding.

But see, that's not what breastfeeding is for.  God made breast for two reasons.  The first, to satisfy and arouse a woman's husband.  This purpose is meant for a husband and wife.  I know many of you can understand what I am saying without blabbing on about another subject.  The second reason for breast is to feed your child.  GOD made this type of food, PERFECT!  GOD did.  It's the most natural and PERFECT way to feed a child.

When I see a woman breastfeeding her child, I think of how PERFECT it is.  It's beautiful.  Reading the caption of the picture in question I can say that "adding the child to the mix makes this a beautiful and perfect gift to the mother and baby, not to mention those who take the liberty to view and ultimately weight in."

This should be why people LOVE to see breastfeeding in public.

Lack of breastfeeding has proven to be a major public health problem.  From the tiniest infants to the oldest breastfeeding mom, all are benefiting tremendously from breast milk.  From decreasing the risk of premature infants getting necrotizing entercolitis to decreasing cancer risks.  This stuff is truly PERFECT.  No wonder they call it liquid gold!  By the way, Texas Children's Hospital is one of the first NICU nurseries in the world that is 100% human milk... that makes me wanna cry.  Anyway, other benefits of breastmilk besides the amazing bond developed between momma and baby are decreased risk for developing pneumonia, asthma, gastritis and later in life obesity.  That last one... it's BIG.  Obesity is a co-morbidity to so many health problems; such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer (two of these are top reasons for death in the United States).  Here's another website for the benefits of breastfeeding.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/

So others may argue, "Yea, I'm not against breastfeeding your infant.  So long as it's not in public or a toddler or at the dinner table or..."

Fools...

That's like saying, "I can understand you may want to eat corn, but just don't do it in front of me and whatever you do, if you are over the age of 13 you are no longer allowed to eat corn because 13 year olds offend me when you eat corn."  How ridiculous does that sound?

Now, I understand mothers who may want to "cover up" or blend in while nursing in public.  When Missy was younger, I was one of them.  I haven't a problem with "covering up," trouble is... Missy did.  She wanted to be part of the world while eating.  She didn't want to stop exploring and experiencing life while eating.  She certainly didn't want to be smothered by an apron in the dead of the hot Houston summers. So SHE boycotted the "cover up."  As far as being discrete; well, I don't announce I'm breastfeeding and I am conscious to display as little skin as possible (mostly because I have a lot more "skin" than some people).  But, I refuse to be so discrete as to hop on into the bathroom or even seek out those ever convenient "nursing mom's rooms."  It's my right to feed my child in the vegetable isle if it's necessary for my child.  Just the same as it's my right to eat skittles in the vegetable isle of walmart, if that's what my tummy deems necessary.  Did you know this definition of discrete?  http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/discrete Kind of sad that some people ask us to set ourselves apart from others just to feed our little bits.

My final point.  Who watched the last Victoria Secret fashion show on prime time T.V.?  When was the last time you were blessed with the opportunity to see someone's hairy butt crack when they bent over? How many times have others been able to fully describe your thong or underwear because it's been seen on the outside of your pants?  Is someone is willing to take a "stand" against something that benefits society as much as breastfeeding does, but doesn't see the demise that these things are causing on society.  Aren't we going in the wrong direction?  Isn't is shameful of what society has come to expect and accept from us women.

By normalizing and accepting nursing in public, perhaps more mothers might nurse their children.  By more mothers nursing their children, perhaps the public health spectrum will improve.  Plus, babies will be smarter and healthier, and we may even decrease the child abuse incidence as well, but that's for another day.

I'll leave you all with the World Health Organization's stand on the subject.  In case you were wondering.

http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/

"Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Virtually all mothers can breastfeed, provided they have accurate information, and the support of their family, the health care system and society at large.

Colostrum, the yellowish, sticky breast milk produced at the end of pregnancy, is recommended by WHO as the perfect food for the newborn, and feeding should be initiated within the first hour after birth.

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond."