My Fairy BreastMother

For the past year, I have been viewed as a food source. My nursing baby eyed me in times of hunger in ways I have never been eyed before. However, the feast is just about over. I am almost finished weaning my baby now. We’re down to one feeding a day. My feelings are mixed….Surprise ( these tea cup boobies provided sustenance to another living being for a year??)….sadness ( She doesn’t need me the way she used to.)…..joy ( Thank God she doesn’t need me the way she used to!) ...mild panic ( they didn't shrink, did they?)

It has been quite the experience and I have a few ladies I need to thank…

The Breast Nazi who taught my Breastfeeding class when I was pregnant deserves a nod. “It is simply unacceptable to nurse a baby in a bathroom,” she snarled with disgust. “The more we nurse openly, the more accepted it will be.” Although, I did agree with the theory, I simply didn’t want my boobies to be soldiers in a political agenda. I just wanted to figure out how to nurse my baby. “Position please!” she barked as she walked around checking that we were positioning our ( covered) breasts correctly. In the end, she did give me some food for thought. But, at the time, her frosty demeanor made me run in the other direction in search for a lactation consultant with a softer touch.

Then, I found her….She flew into my hospital room with her fluffy angel wings widespread and calmly showed me the way…. My Fairy Breast Mother…. She lowered my anxiety, calmed my worries, and sat with me patiently. Maybe it was the drugs from the C-section, but I could have sworn there was a glowing light surrounding her and a harp playing softly while she spoke.

“ Nurture the mother and the mother will nurture the child,” she said while pouring me Breastfeeding Tea. (http://www.tealand.com/MothersMilk.asp)

She disappeared into thin air as quickly as she came, returning to Breast Fairy Heaven. But, she left me with words of wisdom. “Trust your instincts. Relax. Put nursing first. Do as little housework as possible. And if you ever need me, click your breasts together…( little joke) “ Common sense, I know. But, sometimes common sense is not so common.

“So, how much did we pay her to tell ya to relax?”

Don’t worry, ladies, He didn’t ask that question a second time.

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/

In the wild, if one interrupts a lactating mother...

I came across this blog that details a woman's experience while breastfeeding in her seat at the back of a plane. She was asked to "please cover up." I know, some may think it is the "decent" thing to do. I know I personally was a big 'cover upper' when it came to nursing my babies, but this made me think...Why is nursing considered indecent? Why is it OK to shame a nursing mother... to embarass her? Strong negative emotions can inhibit milk production. ( at least for me it did). So, I don't think it is a stretch to say this flight attendant needed a good swipe across the face from this mother's claws.

In the wild, if one interrupts a lactating mother, they get eaten.

I am a nursing mom. Hear me roar.

http://badladies.blogspot.com/2008/09/under-blanket.html