I have something to say about breastfeeding, but its not what you think. This Jordan Family is a breastfeeding family. We support it on a train. We support it on a plane. We support it here. We support it there. We support breastfeeding everywhere. Covered. Uncovered. Over your shirt. Under your shirt. Doesnt matter. We support it. I am a breastfeeding mother. Yes, still at 2.5 years old, though much less often. My husband is on my side. My toddler is on my side. Biology, science, the law - all on my side. Other babies. Other breastfeeding families. Other people who just support breastfeeding in general are on my side. But you know who I want on my side? You. You who have probably seen my pictures, and read the articles Ive posted. You may scoff, and thats ok. American standards have led you to believe that its gross. Or that it should only be done in private. That it is an intimate moment to be shared between mother and child exclusively. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. So, how do I go about gaining support for breastfeeding families? I suggest it, thats how. I suggest it by posting those pictures and articles. I suggest it by nursing in public (aka NIP). Like an advertisement for a hamburger, I plant the seed in someones mind - Hey, I might give that a try. I might want to know what thats all about. Should I hide myself because some see it as offensive and waste the opportunity to educate or empower someone? No, I simply cannot do that. My first and most important reason for breastfeeding was and is to give my son what I think to be the best start to life. Health benefits for myself come second (yes ladies and gentlemen, there ARE health benefits for moms!). My third reason is to normalize breastfeeding. The reason I do not hide myself, the reason I breastfeed proudly and without shame (or a cover) is to make this wonderful thing the first option, the normal option. Of course, theres also the fact that Finn wouldnt let me use a cover if our lives depended on it... BUT, and heres the kicker, THIS is what you will not believe you are reading on MY page... these militant, quick to action, look at us, we have rights and were gonna shove them in your face groups that stage nurse-ins at the drop of a hat are giving breastfeeding families a bad name. Nothing will be gained from you staging a nurse-in tomorrow if you were discriminated against today. Nurse-ins are peaceful protests and can be a good tool in showing a company that we will be heard and showing them that there is support for us. But AFTER the company has been made aware of the situation and given adequate time to respond appropriately. Yes, we participated in a nurse-in at our local Hollister, but this was only AFTER they refused to issue an apology to the nursing mother that they treated so wrongly. In the past two days I have read about two nurse-ins that should never have even happened. One was at Wal-Mart - who was more than happy to issue an apology to the mother AND to release a statement supporting breastfeeding mothers. Instead of give them that opportunity the mother got her local breastfeeding group to sit in the aisles of the store. This does nothing but further frustrations towards us. There are better ways to go about this. Work with the company and ask them to donate to the local La Leche League USA or Human Milk 4 Human Babies Global Network bank; have them order Breastfeeding Family Friendly Business stickers and place them in the store; provide them with information to help them better train their staff.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 17:14:49 +0000
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