Before you read this post, please go over to The Mule and have a look at the huge list of women and their photos. There are older women, younger women, curvy women, slim women, blondes, brunettes and even blue-haired women, women with one child, women with more, women with degrees, blogs, their own business, stay-at-home-Mums, and volunteers.
With the furore on extended breastfeeding recently caused by the photo on the front of TIME magazine, The Mule has brought together all kinds of women, normal, every day women, some of whom feel the need to harbour a secret from their nearest and dearest.
They ALL have or still do breastfeed their toddlers.
When you scroll through you might recognise me doing my best (not very good) Playboy Bunny impression.
Such an inspiring post especially the stories where breastfeeding has helped Mums coping with bereavement and also special needs children. It really helped me when I started to doubt if I was doing the right thing in continuing to breastfeed Pooh Bear. When you are surrounded by a society which believes that you should stop once they get teeth, start eating solids, can walk, talk, and verbally ask for a feed, it is hard not to be influenced whether it’s what you believe is the right thing or not.
The World Health Organisation recommends that you breastfeed for at least two years. This recommendation is for women living in the western world NOT in Third World countries.
Women are sexualised every day in the media. Topless modelling is seen as normal and we have forgotten that actually, women’s breasts’ primary function is to nurture their young. It is not seen as normal to have walking, talking toddler with a mouthful of teeth suckling from their mother but it is perfectly acceptable for children to see topless women in tabloid papers every day of the week. Until we stop viewing the female of the species as sexual objects before anything else, breastfeeding babies and children of any age will never be the norm. I’m not sure whether posting me wearing bunny ears helps show that women can be confident, sexy AND breastfeed or if it further fuels the point that society has a skewed view of women???
I met a family today who when I mentioned breastfeeding to them, replied
“He’s a bit too big for that now!” and “we’d have to pull his teeth out first!”
Judging by their son’s wobbly toddle, I’d say he can’t have been much older than a year and perhaps the same age as my 15 month Milk Monster and I laughed along with them. I wasn’t offended by their comments, they had their own ideas of ‘normal’ and perhaps I should have told them that I still feed my toddler and that it’s completely natural to breastfeed babies with teeth.
As with most choices nowadays, there is always someone quick to judge due to ignorance. It doesn’t matter how long you breastfeed for or if you do it at all as long as you make an informed decision and are happy that you were able to raise your children the best way for you and them.
KellyMom has a great article about feeding toddlers and the website has a wealth of information on this topic and all other breastfeeding topics.
This post was part of the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt which took place during June 2012. The Grand Prize Draw and the chance to win a pair of Mamma Pads are now closed.
The winner of the Mamma Pads has been drawn and contacted.
I am pleased to have joined up with Theraline and offer one lucky blog reader the chance to win a pair of Mamma Pads. Mamma Pads are reusable, silicone breast pads which means that if you leak at night, you can ditch the nursing bra as they stop the milk flow.
No more wet patches!!! :D
To enter this giveaway (and add another entry to the Grand Prize), please comment below telling me if you have enjoyed taking part in the Scavenger Hunt and if there was anything new you learnt about breastfeeding.
For an extra entry, please tweet ” #Win a pair of Mamma Pads with @Scattymumofboys @TheralineUK and @KeepBritainBF Scavenger Hunt http://wp.me/p1Mski-ph ”
and leave an extra comment below.
You have until midnight on Wednesday 4th July to enter this competition which is only open to UK residents. The winner will be drawn using Random.Org and notified on Thursday 5th July.
You might like to pop over to these lovely blogger’s and see what they have written as part of the Scavenger Hunt for National Breastfeeding Awareness week…
Where Roots and Wings Entwine (Bumps 2 Babies)
Dispelling Breastfeeding Myths
You can win a Carriwell Nursing Bra in the Grand Prize!
