I love breastfeeding. I wish every mother had the opportunity to have a beautiful nursing relationship and enjoy this as much as I do. I think it could happen more often with better support and better education, and I've really tried to make myself a role model for younger women in my family and women around me in my day to day life.
My family is not terribly supportive of breastfeeding, and they don't understand why it is so important to me. When we were getting ready to go visit for Christmas, my dh says "You're going to nurse in front of all of them, aren't you?" And I said, "If he wants to eat with the rest of us, he can." And his reply was, "Just don't make a scene." Kind of pissed me off.
While we were there, I did nurse the baby several times in front of all of my family. I did it quietly, discreetly, and did my best to show everyone how normal this was and how easy it can be. I saw my 13yr old niece watching me closely during the whole thing. Later she came and started a conversation with me about it, and I talked to her at length about the benefits and why I enjoy the relationship. And I think maybe I planted a seed there.
And all that really reinforced for me what a difference we can make by just being present, by quietly and calmly doing what we do without hoopla and a big production, by showing those around us just how right and normal this is. And I thought I'd share it with you all cause I thought you'd understand.
My family is not terribly supportive of breastfeeding, and they don't understand why it is so important to me. When we were getting ready to go visit for Christmas, my dh says "You're going to nurse in front of all of them, aren't you?" And I said, "If he wants to eat with the rest of us, he can." And his reply was, "Just don't make a scene." Kind of pissed me off.
While we were there, I did nurse the baby several times in front of all of my family. I did it quietly, discreetly, and did my best to show everyone how normal this was and how easy it can be. I saw my 13yr old niece watching me closely during the whole thing. Later she came and started a conversation with me about it, and I talked to her at length about the benefits and why I enjoy the relationship. And I think maybe I planted a seed there.
And all that really reinforced for me what a difference we can make by just being present, by quietly and calmly doing what we do without hoopla and a big production, by showing those around us just how right and normal this is. And I thought I'd share it with you all cause I thought you'd understand.
