Is Breastfeeding Revolutionary?
Posted March 20th, 2012 by Rachel Sarnoff
by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff
Executive Director & CEO
Healthy Child Healthy World
www.healthychild.org
I remember the first time I saw someone breastfeed. I was 27 and had just gotten married; one of my best friends had her baby the same year. We all sat around marveling at this amazing little being she had created and when he started to fuss, she fed him. It was miraculous.
A year later, I had my own baby to feed and I remembered what she told me: Put your baby on your breast the minute he is born. Even if there’s nothing coming out, keep doing it until there is.
I was lucky to have that advice, and to be able to successfully feed my son until he was a year old, and my daughters until they were each six months. I breastfed everywhere—at the market, in the park, sitting on a mall bench, even at Disneyland—without incident. Which is why it’s surprising to me how much fuss is being raised over breastfeeding today.
After Beyoncé discretely fed seven-week-old Blue Ivy in a New York restaurant, she was enthusiastically supported by breastfeeding activists, who noted that the simple act might change cultural perceptions. According to the CDC, breastfeeding is embraced by 74% of white mothers and only 54% of black mothers, despite organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending the practice for a minimum of six months.
But Beyoncé was also widely criticized by media such as “The View’s” Joy Behar, who said, “I would think twice if I were that big a star, drawing attention to myself.”
Public opinion seems to be leaning in the anti-breastfeeding direction.
In Georgia, a mother of four was forced out of church for breastfeeding—which her pastor compared to a “stripper performing,” according to the Huffington Post.
A Washington D.C. mother was accused of “indecent exposure” for breastfeeding her four-month-old in a public building, according to the Washington Post.
(She also happens to be a lawyer, and after confirming that she was protected by the Child’s Right to Nurse Human Rights Amendment Act of 2007, filed a complaint with the D.C. Office of Human Rights.)
And despite the fact that 45 states have similar laws protecting a woman’s right to nurse, reports of similar cases keep popping up, inspiring “lactivists” to stage “nurse-ins,” such as those reportedly held at more than 200 Target stores in late December.
Do you have to be an activist to breastfeed? What’s your experience? Leave a comment and let us know what you think!
P.S. Do you want to make history? Sign a petition to the FDA and join the one million others asking for labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods!
Healthy Child Healthy World is a member of the Just Label It coalition, which is a movement of concerned citizens who care about what’s in the food we eat. Nearly 1 million people have signed the petition asking the FDA to label GE foods – that’s a new record! Please sign the petition and then spread the word. Thanks!
Photo credit Vibe.com
6 Comments
March 21, 2012 at 3:17 am by VickiOur pastor told us it caused far less of a commotion if we just nursed our babies right there in the pew as soon as they needed rather than standing up and making our way out with a crying baby that drew all the attention away from the church service. We loved this minister and we had a lot of families with nursing babies in our church while he was here for many years. He was here until he retired during which time he helped us build a bigger church because of the growth of attendance. I know part of it was his loving acceptance of babies in our services. Plus all his children had been breastfed too and he completely understood what worked the best for our needs.
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March 20, 2012 at 5:11 pm by BetsyIf you are being discreet and covering up (I always had a blanket over my shoulder) I don’t see a reason for the fuss. I try to dress modestly, so why would I expose myself when out in public? Even if I did feel comfortable, as I know many women do, for civility’s sake I would not put others around me to be put in that uncomfortable position. That being said, I nursed two children until they were each almost a year old, and never had any problems with anyone, nursing anywhere I pleased in a modest, private way.
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March 20, 2012 at 2:00 pm by AnnI can’t say it enough – Breastfeeding is normal! I nursed my first child for 11 months and my second child for 15 months. I nursed anywhere and anytime they needed to be fed – in restaurants, parks, malls, stores, cars, airplanes, and church. One of the first times I ever nursed in public was the infant isle at Target! My daughter was inconsolable, and so without any props (covers, pillows, or even a chair) I just nursed her – standing in the middle of the aisle. She was happy, I was happy, and I’m sure all the other shoppers were happy to NOT have a crying baby in their midst! No big deal – breastfeeding is normal!
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March 20, 2012 at 9:18 am by EmI nursed both of my kids for over 2 years. I did it in public in NY – on the street, on teh train, in the park, in restaurants and stores. It is abhorrent that the feeding of our children is subject to the same culture wars that are being waged today. Ultimately, how everyone feeds their child is their own choice, but the science shows that breastfeeding is the best choice – heck, even the formula manufacturers have to say it – so with all of the health issues we have in our country, why on earth would anyone be against it?
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March 20, 2012 at 8:58 am by HeatherI have breastfed both my children all over NYC including on the subway. I’m still nursing my 7 month old. I’m discreet and have never had a problem. As for Target, I use their dressing rooms and no sales associate has ever told me no. I haven’t felt the need to be an activist but I would if I were asked to stop feeding my child.
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March 20, 2012 at 8:50 am by KoriI wish I could say this surprises me, but our political climate is such that anything done to diminish women is commonplace now. I breastfeed, I have no plans to wean my baby anytime soon (she is almost seven months), I nursed my last child until he self weaned at eighteen months…and while I don’t consider myself an activist, I DARE someone to tell me what I am doing is somehow wrong. You can bet I will become and activist then!
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