My Daughters Will Breastfeed When They Become Mamas

I know my daughters will breastfeed when they become Mamas.  There is no doubt. 

When I breastfed my first daughter, it was until she was one year old.  She remembers this five years later.

When I brought our younger daughter home from the hospital, my older daughter would sit next to us, asking about breastfeeding.  She tried several times to breastfeed a baby doll, looking over occasionally at us and readjusting the doll.  She was 3 at the time.

She asked why I breastfed them both and I told her my own personal reasons for it, "This way, Mama loses weight faster and more safely while you two grow to be stronger, healthier, and smarter.  This is why women have breasts.  Did you know that only a few years ago, if you couldn't breastfeed a baby, the only other thing you could do was hire someone else to if you could because there were no bottles or formula?"

I knew my older daughter understood that breastfeeding was a fact of life because most Mamas I knew breastfed and did so openly in our playgroups.  But I didn't realize to what extent she and my toddler would make the best advocates for breastfeeding, until...

We were at Bristol Renaissance Faire watching the very funny Maxx and Mauldron Show.  Sir Mauldron said he felt a welling in his breast.  I and the audience laughed as Sir Maxx gave him an odd look.

"Whaaat?!  That means your milk is coming in and breasts are for mommies to breastfeed their babies with!  Boys can't do that!", shouted my older daughter.

Meanwhile, my toddler started bouncing around chanting "Bah-bah!  Bah-bah!  Mommy, Bah-bah!" and cackling like crazy while clapping her hands.  I had weaned her about 6 months ago and she still remembers nursing.

I hung my head in uncontrollable laughter and embarrassment.  I've met enough people who feel extremely negatively toward breastfeeding, both men and women. 


The mom a couple seats down from me looked at us seriously and said "That is awesome.  She's right.  Good job, Mom!"

The crowd laughed.  Sir Maxx and Sir Mauldron laughed.  And you could tell by the crowd that there was an overwhelming majority of adults there who supported breastfeeding. 

While my older daughter doesn't like boys at all beyond friends, thinks kissing is gross, wants to be able to make her own money when she grows up, and is scared of labor, I know that if they choose to become Mamas, when the time comes she and her younger sister will breastfeed.  And support others who choose to as well.

Na razie...



Helpful Links: 
Le Leche League International
World Health Organization, Breastfeeding
WIC Breastfeeding (Main Page) 
American Academy of Pediatrics, Breastfeeding