Last night, Modern Family actress Julie Bowen appeared on Lopez Tonight, and allowed Lopez to show a picture of her beautiful twin babies tandem nursing. It's rare enough in our culture to see any pictures of breastfeeding at all. But to see a photo of two babies nursing at once - perhaps unprecedented. I am always heartened when a celebrity - with their ability to reach and influence millions of people - makes a public statement in support of attachment parenting and natural family living. I love to imagine all the women (and their partners!) expecting twins that saw that tandem nursing was possible.
I also love to imagine all the men and women that were embarrassed, made uncomfortable, and even outraged to see such a public display of breastfeeding. Even if people experienced these negative emotions - they still were exposed to the image and idea of breastfeeding. The more that people are exposed to the idea, the more comfortable they will get with women breastfeeding in public. And that's the bottom line.
Whether you nurse discreetly under a cover - or are like me and are a brazen pull-down-the-neckline-of-whatever-shirt-you're-wearing kind of nurser - let all of us nursing mamas band together and nurse our babes proudly, whenever, wherever we are. We may not have the platform that Julie Bowen does, but we can (and do) reach many people each time we sit down to nurse.
Yeah !!!! That's really cool to hear about the public photo!!! Breastfeeding is here to stay...
ReplyDeleteWhy do you assume that men and woman were embarrassed and uncomfortable? From watching the clip Julie was getting uncomfortable and wanting the picture to be off the screen already. It seems that you think that most people who are non attachment parenting have bad thoughts about those who breastfeed, etc. From reading your posts you come off as you are all good, and the rest of the world who may think/do differently are bad. It seems very condensing & hypocritical.
ReplyDeleteAnon, your statement that I think that people who don't bf think negatively about women who do, I think there's a large contingent of them, yes - I mean, read the comments on any article about breastfeeding in public. The comments are hateful and like to shame women who bf. If you, personally, embrace bf and women who do so in public, then that is wonderful and I/we appreciate your support! I am aware, also, that I am an advocate, and that my advocacy will come off to those who don't share my beliefs as judgmental, condescending or what have you. That's okay with me, because first, I judge practices, not people, and because second, advocacy will always offend some.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I'm a bf mama, and nurse in public whenever my baby needs, but I've been thinking about this issue differently lately. I think we need to change the focus from moms having the right to bf, to BABIES having the right to EAT. It's as fundamental as that. My child nursing is not about me, it's about my child. And, while you can engage in an argument about it with me, there's just no argument with a baby!!
ReplyDeleteI thought that video clip on the late night show was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing with them. I loved to see her openness and joy she had when talking about her babies and the love she puts into nursing her sons. I also loved how she was trying to let the video guy know that her boobs had been center stage long enough and needed to come off the screen. As a nursing mama myself I feed my son where ever we are, when ever he needs it. When I'm around my family or friends I don't cover up but when I'm in public I just put a light shall over my son for some privacy. I think it's totally up to the individual. I think the best way to get through to people is to show by example and come from understanding. People who talk so badly about BF are just uneducated about it and as you know, we can't get through to people if they feel judged.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katherine, it's not about us, it's about those wonderful little babies who deserve to have mama's breast when their little tummies call for it.