My Little Lactivists

[StoriesInTheSoil]

I have two stories about my little siblings and their newfound lactivism.

Tonight I was on an ill-fated trip to Toys R Us with my little sister (14) which I've already written about in another thread. At one point while we were there I heard this huge exasperated groan and turned around to see my sister attempting to hide the nursing covers. I told her that if they help people who otherwise wouldn't nurse their babies to even breastfeed at all, they are better than formula and she said (direct quote) "Yeah, I know I just don't think that women should ever have to feel ashamed about it, you know?" :

She's so fun.

My other story is one that my mom told me. Back story is that my step siblings were not breastfed and are now fascinated by me nursing DS. My mom (who breastfed me and my bio siblings) and I are constantly answering their questions and it seems like nursing is really becoming the "norm" to them. Apparently my little step-sister (11) went to a sleepover at her friend's house last weekend and the friend's mom has a new baby. The mom is formula feeding. We have no earthly idea exactly what my sister said to the other mom but she was apparently fixated on the bottle thing and chattered about it all the way home when my parents picked her up. While I don't think that she should be offensive in her views, I do think that this is a pretty hysterical situation.

So, those are my little lactivists. I adore them! :::

[JessicaS]

[proudmomof4]

"Yeah, I know I just don't think that women should ever have to feel ashamed about it, you know?"

Wow, that sure is something out of the mouth of a 14y old girl!

[felix23]

It is wonderful that your younger siblings are learning to see breastfeeding as the norm. :

But I do hope that you share with your sister that there are many reasons besides shame to use a nursing cover. In fact I don't know anyone who uses one because they are ashamed of nursing. I know people who cover for religious reasons. I used a cover with dd1 because she had sensory issues and could not nurse if there were any distractions at all. With dd2 I have used a blanket a couple of times because I'm too cheap to buy nursing tops and I get cold when I pull my shirt up to nurse. :

[StoriesInTheSoil]

Originally Posted by felix23

It is wonderful that your younger siblings are learning to see breastfeeding as the norm. :

But I do hope that you share with your sister that there are many reasons besides shame to use a nursing cover. In fact I don't know anyone who uses one because they are ashamed of nursing. I know people who cover for religious reasons. I used a cover with dd1 because she had sensory issues and could not nurse if there were any distractions at all. With dd2 I have used a blanket a couple of times because I'm too cheap to buy nursing tops and I get cold when I pull my shirt up to nurse. :

Oh yes, later at home we talked about the many uses for nursing covers. She said she was irritated by their marketing as a must-have baby item (lots of the teachers at her school have new babies right now) and the way that they are presented (you need to have one because people shouldn't see BFing) She is a pretty amazing and intelligent girl!