As a mother of four children I have been wondering when breastfeeding became so taboo. It started with my firstborn. I was only 17 but I was determined to provide the best for my baby. To me this meant a perfect start with breastmilk. it was easy at home where I didn't have to be concerned with covering myself but with a little practice I learned the art of modesty. Most of the time no one was the wiser, or so I thought. Then one morning, sitting in church, I was tapped gently on the shoulder. I looked aroung to find a 70-something woman telling me they had a room in the back for "that sort of thing". I wasn't exposing myself in any way but apparently it was unacceptable. I was young so I tried to oblige all those who saw breastfeeding as wrong. I would make sure to time our outings around feedings or I would pump and take along a disposable bottle. This continued through two more children. By the time I had my fourth child I was 31 years old and all modesty was long gone. I had warned my husband of my intent to breastfeed and he was totally on board. When our beautiful little girl was born she took to the breast like a pro. When we first ventured out we went to the mass retail store where my husband and I are both employed. When she began to cry, I knew she was hungry. Once I got her latched on my ten year old daughter helped to cover me appropriately. As we were walking one of my co-workers came up to admire the baby. His face quickly reddened when he realized he was getting a peek at more than just my bundle of joy. A few weeks later when we were eating out at a local fast food restaurant the baby decided that, she too, was hungry. Just as I got her settled onto my breast one of my older sons friends, also an employee, walked by to clear the tables. As he glanced down his eyes got huge and he immediately looked away. He then proceeded to to pass back and forth, washing the same table several times, until my son finally said, "dude, suit looking at my mom". On yet another occassion we had went on a family outing to the mall. I was sitting on a bench nursing the baby when an elderly man sat down behind me facing the opposite direction. Before I knew it he had managed to turn himself to stare over my shoulder. As my husband walked up he noticed my admirer and asked him if he saw something he liked. The man quickly got up and left. These are just a few of the many instances we endured. Through it all though I stand as a firm believer in breastfeeding. It provides essential antibodies at birth and optimal nutritionfor baby. Not to mention the benefits for mom such as helping to shrink the uterus to pre-pregnancy size and shedding those extra baby-pounds gained during pregnancy. I encourage every pregnant woman I meet to breastfeed or at least give it a try. After all, it is the way mother nature intended. Why else would we have been created with these monstrous, milk-producing mammaries?
