The Boobs Are Out...

The "momosphere" is all a-buzz with breastfeeding issues.


I first read Sara's excellent post over at Suburban Oblivion in response to Bill Maher's comments that likened Breastfeeding to Masterbation. Excellent post and gives good reason to say away from Bill Maher (if you need one).


Then, Izzy's Mom put me on to the fact that Facebook is banning breastfeeding pictures, yet allows blatantly pornographic pictures to be posted and has groups that support eating disorders -- I'm talking about "pro-anorexia" groups.


Both of them are well worth the read, as are all the other journals that link to them, so go have a read of them when you've got the time.


I don't really consider myself a "lactavitst," but when I was breastfeeding my kids, I just did it. I'm sure all of the people in my town have seen my breasts. For one thing, when my child was hungry and needed to be fed, he needed to be fed NOW. For another thing, not everyone has "breast feeding rooms" available. So when I was at Costco, I found a chair and whipped out the boob.


I didn't always feel this way. When we lived in Australia, we had some very good friends (well we still are friends, we just don't talk so much anymore) that had a little girl. Leanne was breastfeeding and, at first, it did make me a bit uncomfortable when she would breastfeed in front of me. There. I said it. I used to be uncomfortable with breastfeeding BEFORE I had kids.


I remember one day Leann and I were talking and I was asking her about breastfeeding and breastfeeding in public and she said to me, "I don't care. If it makes someone uncomfortable, that's their issue, not mine. I just don't care, I'm going to breastfeed no matter if if makes them uncomfortable or not."


Those words changed my attitude. She was exactly right. I was uncomfortable around breastfeeding because I'd never been exposed to it. The more I was exposed, the less uncomfortable I was. In Australia and Europe, it's not uncommon to see mother's breastfeeding in public. It's accepted, it's common and it's encouraged.


Like I said, when I was breastfeeding Sam, Leann's words stayed with me. Most times, when he needed to be fed, I would feed him where ever I was. There were times when I went someplace private, for various reasons, but I decided that breastfeeding was best for my child and that is what I was going to do. And when he was hungry, I fed him.


Anyway, Kristen at Motherhood Unsensored has put out a call to "deactivate" your Facebook account, so that's what I've done. No more Facebook and their annoying emails and applications for me!


Lastly, go check out this awesome post at Mojo of a Moma. It's an excellent post that truly points out the contradiction we have in our society -- it's okay for advertisers to objectify women to sell their product, but not okay for mothers to feed their children in public.