Archive for the “Lactivism” Category
“Tootees”
Natalie can’t pronounce the “kah” sound, so she calls cookies “tootees.” Here she is having (mommy)milk and a “tootee”….what a delicious combination!!
Adventures in NIPing
NIP = Nursing in Public
Since Natalie was born, I’ve never had a big problem nursing in front of people. I started breastfeeding in front of family and close friends right away, and before long, I was nursing in restaurants and on airplanes. My friend Jodi helped me get comfortable pretty early on while we were shopping with Natalie in tow (Natalie was about 2 weeks at the time). We were in a maternity boutique in PA and I anticipated Natalie being hungry soon. Rather than get in the car and have to stop half-way home, I said I was going to ask the store clerk if she minded me feeding the baby before we left. Hearing this, Jodi pointed out that I had the right to nurse my child and that I didn’t need “permission.” Right on.
Frankly, when Natalie is crying from hunger, my concern is getting her fed—in those moments I couldn’t care less about accidentally flashing someone, although I try to be discrete. I hope I’m successful at least most of the time.
Natalie and I have been going for walks in Veteran’s Park with some other Moms and babies from our breastfeeding group. Natalie has yet to make through an entire walk without needing to stop and nurse—even if I’ve just fed her before-hand. So I’ve gotten used to nursing her on park benches. All the benches in Veteran’s Park are in groups of three. The last time we were there, I was just about to lift up my shirt when an elderly gentleman sat down on the bench next to mine. Since Natalie was quite hysterical there wasn’t much I could do besides feed her. Luckily, either the guy was trying to be respectful or he was just very sleepy but he just sat there with his eyes closed the whole time. I was in the clear until Natalie started making very loud and obvious slurping and sucking noises as she nursed! Oy vey…
My hope is that as breastfeeding is encouraged more and more, people will start nursing in public more often, nursing will become more mainstream overall and Natalie will not understand what the big deal is when she has children.