Breastfeeding in Real Life

You can look at all the gorgeous photoshopped professional pictures -- heck, you can spend the money on a photographer and do a breastfeeding session! (Actually, I highly recommend one!! I LOVE my professional breastfeeding photos.) BUT -- There is a need for TRUTH. There is a need to #NormalizeBreastfeeding. Breastfeeding is normal and natural - and the best form of nutrition for our babies, but somewhere along the decades, it became viewed as disrespectful to nurse in public places. It became discouraged to breastfeed past a certain age. It became normal to offer formula in combination with or instead of breastmilk from birth. We were being made to believe that our bodies didn't work right; that most women were failing at nourishing their children naturally - and that formula was the superhero. Not only that, but EVERYONE began viewing breasts as purely sexual. No one wanted to see a woman feeding her child with her breasts. (GOD FORBID an actual child witnessed this heinous act!)

There has been a call to action - to normalize breastfeeding again, and it has taken off. Breastfeeding is now the popular choice again. Great! Although, I hate saying that it is 'popular' because this is not some big contest! Formula is not the enemy! There is a need for formula for many families -- but there should not be some big battle between it and breastfeeding! Anyway - I digress. There is definitely a slight life change once you have a baby. (HAHA - slight) Then comes the frustration, education, learning curve, exhaustion, and love. During this time, you learn to nurse your baby. I say 'nurse' instead of breastfeed because the term nursing implies that you take care of your baby instead of just feed him from your breast. Nursing your newborn - your baby - your toddler - even your 'older than toddler' is real. The professional photos make it look like a breeze, as if you are a magic fairy mother who has life perfectly cupped in your tiny hand. But that's not true. You are a nursing mom. You may or may not have your shit together, but you are doing the best you can. This is nursing. This is nursing in REAL LIFE. (Thank you to everyone who donated pictures for this post! Thank you for sharing your real life!)