Did you receive your January/ February issue of Mothering? I did and I can’t help but feel immensely encouraged and happy about life. Although I’m a little partial, I have always loved the sense of community and mothering love Mothering magazine exudes. It’s such a treat for all of us.
It’s been awhile since I blogged last. I often do a disappearing act when life gets in the way. I’ve been thinking of ways to create some sort of community with all of you, my dear readers. Getting constant feedback from you helps me keep going as it takes immense time and dedication to hunt down historic breastfeeding photos. I also often think about how all of this work could easily translate into a Ph.D. Maybe one day. But I am always encouraged by communication with readers.
What do you think? How do you think we can all stay more connected? You with me and me with you? I’d love to create a blogroll of readers’ blogs so I can visit and read about what’s going on in your life. If you have a blog and read here regularly, please leave a comment with your URL.
Think about it. I’d love to create some type of community with those of you who read regularly. It will help me keep digging for photos and it will also help me meet more of you, not just in the comments.
I found this photo recently and think it’s one of the most beautiful photographs I’ve seen in the two years since I’ve been discovering these black and white photos online.
Here is a French women nursing her baby in Rouen in April 1946. The father of the baby was an American GI.
© 2009 Mothering Magazine
Have you seen this article? It’s fascinating!
http://www.historytoday.com/MainArticle.aspx?m=33033&amid=30259576
That’s fascinating. Thank you very much for sharing. The article contained a lot of clues that will help me find more pictures. I find it’s the little clues like dates and acts that lead me to a lot of these photographs.
It is indeed amazing that if given the chance breastfeeding would have been usurped by the bottle. Luckily, mothers fought the formula industry. Sadly, a lot of the damage has already been done. I’m glad that mothers are still fighting for their right to breastfeed.
I love your site. And that photo is beautiful. Did you notice, tho, that she had 2 bottles next to her? I wonder what was in those bottles. perhaps water or juice, or maybe she supplemented with formula? Maybe they aren’t even hers.
Perhaps a message board would help with a community of readers.
I’m so glad you love the site. I enjoy everything about blogging about historic breastfeeding.
I did notice the bottles. What’s interesting is that she opted to breastfeed as oppose to use the bottles. I forgot to mention that she is in a Rouen nursery. I can’t determine what those bottles are for — for teaching purposes if a mom wanted to use formula, or for her because she supplemented. I can’t piece it together. We’ll probably never know.
Thank you for reading.
i read regularly! i love this blog:)
I read regularly too! i have a MA in history so i can relate to how much work it is digging up these pictures.. I’ll do whatever I can to keep you motivated!
I read regularly, too. I wish there were more spaces on the web for moms of color who breastfeed. It seems we have even more obstacles to breastfeeding than the myriad ones faced by ALL moms. I find it difficult to even find news about breastfeeding in minority communities, even though I know women of color DO breastfeed!
http://blacktating.blogspot.com
I just started reading. I’m hooked on the photos you’ve found!
I’m late coming in here, but wanted to let you know how delighted I was to find this blog. Since giving birth to my now-11-month-old daughter, I have grown passionate about breastfeeding. The other day I learned that my grandmother nursed my father, a boomer who grew up in rural Kansas, until he was in kindergarten. I found this information delightful and intriguing, and as a writer, began wondering to myself if it wouldn’t be worth trying to chronicle the history of breastfeeding. My only disappointment in finding this site is finding that someone else already is tackling the project. Anyway, keep up the good work!
I’m enjoying your blog too! I noticed the bottles on the table but also noticed there is another infant lying on the table next to her (wrapped in the blanket, with his/her head and hand showing). I wonder if this is a maternity ward of some sort or if there were twins and that was why the bottles were there. It’s such an intriguing picture! Thanks for posting these.
I love what you have going on here. I am a history nut a birth and breastfeeding activist as well as a breastfeeding mother of two. These photos that you are finding are amazing! It is so interesting to see breastfeeding through history, to look at where we have come from and where we are today. I read your blog all the time. I would love to be a part of a community that you are creating! Thank you for doing this, it’s amazing!
I love what you have going on here. I am a history nut, a birth and breastfeeding activist, as well as a breastfeeding mother of two. These photos that you are finding are amazing! It is so interesting to see breastfeeding through history, to look at where we have come from and where we are today. I read your blog all the time. I would love to be a part of a community that you are creating! Thank you for doing this, it’s amazing!
I love your work and love reading your blog. I’m just chomping at the bit to read your sure-to-be-forthcoming book.
You can read my blog here. I actually just posted quickly to start a discussion on those huge nursing covers that seem to be all the rage lately (those tarps promise to free women, but in reality, it’s reinforcing that women aren’t ’supposed’ to be nursing in public.)
Love the blog – please keep looking for photos! I teach a breastfeeding class and the photos are inspirational to me too.
I’ve really been enjoying all of the pictures you’ve found, love your blog, please keep it going! I’m all for everything breastfeeding (even have my own store selling nursing clothing
)
Anyway, this is my blog
http://www.megannielsen.com
Store