I have breastfeed the better half of the the last 10 years of my life. I have heard every excuse not to breastfeed. I have heard every reason why a woman should pump for public feedings or pump after age 1, or 2 or 3. I have had people place blankets over me in the middle of August with a screaming baby. I have had family and friends express their discontent with many of my choices that revolve around breastfeeding and my choice to be openly public about it.
I want to say I can understand the modest approach to breastfeeding. I can understand discretion when It comes to breastfeeding. I can even do my best to respect those that feel a woman should cover.
I won't and will never again pump and make a bottle to appease someone. But I can wear 2 shirts and attempt a cover while nursing. But if my child is fussynor crying and needs to eat and isn't having any of that, then ypur comfort is the least of my concerns. Period.
As for pictures, I share my breastfeeding journey for many reasons. One being as simple as I personally find it a beautiful bond and I do not see it as a private bond or a private moment. That's just me. Baby is eating and nursing the way God intended and using my breast for what they are designed for. It is beautiful.
But I will tell you. The main reason I share pics and stories is I know for a fact how much hearing and seeing another woman succeed can help inspire and give courage.
I failed my oldest when it comes to breastfeeding. I have up at 5 months. It was so much work. I couldn't leave the house unless I had enough bottles. I couldn't breastfeed in public cause people's glares or comment. Including my families. It eventually became a task that wore me down.
And I gave up.
I gave up because breastfeeding isnt normalized. I gave up because inwas told men cant control themselves and its my job to protecr then from possibly seeing a nip.
I had options that were easier and I choose them.
No here comes hadley. I had another choices. Formula was not an option. One reason money. One reason stubborn Hadley refused a bottle of even pumped milk. Never mind I never responded to a pump with her.
So I i
Learned discretion for my husband's benefit. I did my best. But if you have never nursed a strong willed infant. Count your sanity pieces. Cause you have more than I do.
But anyways. As my journey with Hadley continued i recieved messages of hope and inspiration that i was giving other woman during their journey. I gave woman confidence to continue breastfeeding or to leave their house.
So since Hadley I have be convicted to share my journey. To help mother's. To make breastfeeding normal. We need to teach out boys and men to be respectful. And to not sexualized a woman with a baby on her breast. We need to make pur men be held accountable if they decide to be derogatory or have inappropriate feelings about seeing a baby on a breast. That is not the baby not the mother's concern.
They only thing a baby has to worry about is nursing and a mother only shpuld be concerned with latch and nursing her baby.
There are so many other issues with breastfeeding that need to be addressed.
But a mother sharing a breastfeeding pic should not be a reason to have your panties in a wad. If you want to be involved in they nursing matter of a household here are some things that are appropriate.
Do you need more water?
Have you are recently?
Do you need anything?
If mom is struggling ask
Do you need help with the hold?
How is babes latch? Getting better?
Again
Do you need anything?
Never ask her cover up.
Never as her to go to another room.
Never ask her to be more discrete.
Never ask her to remove pics she loves.
And don't use religion to make your opinion seem more valid. Breastfeeding is not mentioned in the Bible to be hidden.
Yes modesty is but look at this.
1 Peter 3:3-4 – “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Ok so be modest.
But here is this
1 Peter 2:12 – “Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.”
1 Samuel 16:7 – “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
Yes men and people of this world mat view breast as sexual. But God is not of this world. And No breastfeeding mother is doing it for attention. Not ever.
It comes to a matter of the heart. And darlings my heart is has pure intentions when feeding my baby.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Modesty is about my intent which is judged by the Lord. Not by you.
