Breastfeeding in Public

Everyone seems to have an opinion on this particular subject--usually at one end of the spectrum or the other.  Recently, I had the great pleasure of reading a very hilarious rant about this very thing.  The rant came to be after a friend witnessed a fellow church-goer breastfeeding her 2-year-old during the service, right in the church pew. This friend posted a Facebook status about the appropriateness of breastfeeding in church.  The thread very quickly became a debate about the legality of breastfeeding in public...and the fur started flying.  Of course, I have an opinion about this.

First of all, I would like to point out that most people realize that breastfeeding is the best thing for babies.  They haven't chosen not to breast feed because they are unaware of the benefits.  Whatever the reason they opted for formula, it was an important reason to them.  Pointing out that breast milk can lessen allergies and strengthen the immune system probably isn't going to change their mind--the same way that telling me how "gross" you think breastfeeding is, isn't going to convince me to stop.

As much as I support breastfeeding, I am no crusader for the cause.  Just because I do it, doesn't mean that I am running for president of La Leche League.  I am aware that it is legal to breastfeed my daughter anywhere that I am permitted to have her.  I have nursed my daughter in public.  I always choose to (attempt to) cover myself.  My daughter is currently 3 months old.  I can guarantee you I will not be breastfeeding her in public--covered or uncovered--when she is 2 years old.  I have many reasons for this--reason #1 being that I intend to wean her before that point.  Yes, I know the AAP and the WHO recommend breastfeeding until 2...they recommend it if it is mutually desirable, and I do not desire to breastfeed that long.

Breastfeeding is hard work.  Seriously.  Sore nipples are no joke--and my kid doesn't even have teeth yet.  Breastfeeding and working?  I should get an effing award for this.  Pumping sucks.  It doesn't allow my supply to respond to Macy's demand.  It's not as effective at maintaining my supply as nursing.  I never realized how much bonding I was going to do with my pump instead of my baby.  Sometimes I think she prefers a bottle to a breast, but I won't get started down that road or I risk having a crying spell over being such a terrible mother.  It's hard, people.

If, by some long-shot chance, my daughter is not weaned by the time she is 2, I will still not choose to nurse her in public.  By that age, there are other ways to meet her nutritional needs.  Solid foods are introduced by 6 months at the latest, and many babies are weaned around one year of age.  After that point, I really do feel that it becomes inappropriate to breastfeed in public.  If you want to keep doing it, do it at home.  Maybe it is a great bonding experience for you and your baby--there are other ways to bond though.  And there are most definitely other ways to feed your child.  I think too many people try to stand up to The Man by exercising their right to whip out their boobies in public--which I will never understand.  I have stretch marks... on my boobies.  And they will never be perky again.  I'm not interested in showing them to any looky-loo who happens to be in my vicinity just because it is legal for me to do so...despite my love of stickin' it to The Man.

I guess what I'm getting at is, just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should....legal does not equal appropriate.  Now someone help me down from this soap box!

Bragging

Ii has been difficult to find time to blog over the last 5 weeks.  It has been difficult to find time to do lots of things--laundry, sleep, shave my legs, relax, eat.  I spend most of my day trying to keep my 5-week-old awake, lest she stay up until midnight every night.  It's been frustrating.  And lonely.  VERY lonely.

I can't believe it has already been 5 weeks since Macy was born.  She's such a good baby.  She rarely cries, and she lets me sleep in until 9:00 most mornings.  She isn't sleeping through the night yet, but she is finally adjusting to being on a schedule.  She is such a happy baby.  I look at her, and I can't believe how beautiful she is, or how much I love her.  I also can't believe I made her.  She is amazing.

Other than entertaining an infant all day, I have also been working on this:

Yes, friends, that is all breast milk.  This picture doesn't do justice to the amount of breast milk I have in my freezer right now.  This is where I really start bragging.  Please bear in mind that I spend a lot of time on the verge of tears because of my current life situation.  Being a single parent to a newborn is hard.  I'm the breadwinner, and the house wife, but there is no husband to come home from work at the end of the day.  Thus, I have to find happiness somewhere.  So, as you all read this and become irritated, pissed off, or jealous, please keep in mind what I have gone through in order to achieve this lifetime goal:  I can eat whatever I want and still lose 2 pounds a week.  I'm not even kidding.  Macy is 5 weeks old, and I have already lost 30 pounds since she was born.  I'm serious about this being a lifetime goal.  At one time, I was that girl who eats whatever she wants and stays thin...but it was when I was 12.  I've struggled with weight most of my adult life.  My new metabolism makes all of this shit seem a little bit more worth it.  Obviously, Macy makes it worth it too, but you know what I mean.

Oh, I am also currently wearing a size 40D bra...some would think I should be excited, but I could really do without these gigantic jugs.  Even after I drop the last 10 pounds of baby weight, I won't be able to wear my regular shirts again--my hooters are too big.

Am I the only one who appreciates the irony that my gigantic jugs are both helping me lose weight AND preventing me from wearing smaller clothes?