Mommy NIP

Well, it is World Breastfeeding Week, so I thought I would dedicate a blog post to the way my baby has gotten food for the last five months of his life.

My sister noticed the badge on the right hand side of my blog and decided to comment when she saw me nursing Cameron at a friend’s house the other day.  When I breastfeed, I do use a nursing cover, but apparently she assumed my nursing-in-public badge meant that I went “topless all the time”.

For me, I dress my blog with that badge because I am a confident nurser.  I am confident that I am doing the right thing for my baby and for myself by breastfeeding Cameron.  I am confident that my baby should be able to eat when he is hungry – even if we are out in public.  I am confident that I can still sit with company and carry on a conversation while providing nutrition for my son.

I love breastfeeding.  I really do.  Before I was even pregnant, I would literally dream of breastfeeding my future baby or I would have nightmares about not being able to.  I knew that I would want to nurse my newborn and I so looked forward to bonding with him in that special way that only a mother can do.

When Cameron was born?  I was disappointed.

I was disappointed because breastfeeding was nothing like I had envisioned it to be.

Breastfeeding hurt.  Cracked nipples hurt.  Leaking milk was annoying.  Having to structure my day around Cameron’s feeding schedule was difficult.  Being sequestered into a dark and quiet room while we were with company was lonely.

But, I stuck with it, and I am so glad that I did.

I now look forward to snuggling up close with my son, warm skin against warm skin.  Meal time and bed time are the only times Cam wants to be cradled in my arms anymore.  When we nurse, we’re so close.  Our eyes meet, and together we live.  I am being Cameron’s Mom.  I am doing everything I can to help my baby live to be a strong and healthy beautiful boy.  And Cameron – he is my baby.  He is relies on my very being, my very essence to survive.

Breastfeeding isn’t easy.  And sometimes, it isn’t even possible.  I fully support Moms who bottle feed.  But for me, nursing is such an integral part of my relationship with my baby.  It is beautiful and natural and wonderful and right and loving.

I urge everyone who breastfeeds to be confident about it.  Embrace the beauty of this special and unique relationship that you share with your child.

I urge everyone who doesn’t breastfeed to support those who do.  Accept women who choose to nurse in private and those who choose to nurse in public, whether covered or uncovered.  Recognize that these babies are doing nothing more than eating a meal, just like you do.  Understand that women’s bodies are beautiful and sexual, but they are also natural.  It is easy to fear nursing in public, and without an attitude change from everybody, the fear will remain and the confidence will be harder and harder to come by.

**NIP stands for Nursing (or Nurses) in Public**