by Becky Graham

Created on: June 30, 2009

There is no question that the healthy way to feed our families is to give them natural and organic foods. Processed products might offer easier methods of preparation, less cost, and a longer shelf life, but that doesn't make it the best choice for our family's dinner plates. As mothers, we have to be very careful about what we serve to the people in our lives that mean the most to us (i.e...our families). If this is an important issue when our children are ready for table food, why is it so difficult to understand in infancy?

There is no debate that breast milk is more beneficial than formula. Scientific studies have shown that infants who were breast fed exclusively were far less likely to become obese, have ear infections, or develop juvenile diabetes than formula fed babies, along with a slew of other nutritional facts regarding that original debate (http://www.nrdc.org/breastmilk/benefits.asp). Our bodies know what we lack in our diets, so they will take all the nutrients they can get, and put it into breast milk. That way if we are sick, or in some way destitute, our babies get the most nutritious bits we have to offer. They are able to survive even if we are not, which is the way we would have it in any other situation. We are programmed to put our children first. Breastfeeding is the purest form of motherly love that life has to offer. Why is it so hard for society to accept?

If we choose to breastfeed our babies, and choose not to do it in public, we are very limited. When we go on an errand as simple as going to the mall, for a walk around town, or even to visit co-workers, there isn't always the convenience of a microwave to warm frozen milk. Even restaurants are not permitted to warm bottles anymore due to health code regulations. So, if we are not allowed to breastfeed in public, we need to feed at home before we head out, and be very specific about how much time we are spending away from home. For those of us that had or have had infants, we know that it is not that cut and dry. There are unexpected hold ups in everyday life that do not go as we had planned. For instance, a baby's eating schedule can change at the drop of a hat, there might be a traffic delay, or our car might break down. Why should we be asked to sacrifice our infant's comfort to bring peace of mind to a close-minded stranger?

When we drive down a country road, or go to a zoo, and see a mother animal nourishing its suckling offspring, we look at that scene with the perspective of "that's what nature is all about". A woman's body is specifically designed to give birth to her children. We are designed so that our arms are placed in just the right spot to hold our children comfortably near our hearts. Our minds are designed to nurture, and our souls are designed for love. Our legs, arms, and backs have been designed to carry children who weigh half our weight to wherever they need to be. Finally, our breasts are designed to feed and nourish, so that our legacy can live on. Why does a cow caring for her infant receive more respect than a human being completing the same task?

If a mother feeding her child in a public place is wrong because it makes people uncomfortable, it is not because of the actual act of breastfeeding. It is because our breasts have been marketed as sexual stimulants. In reality, the reason breasts are stimulating, is because they are completely female. They have been designed with the same reproductive reasoning behind other feminine body parts...to attract our partners AND to multiply. Why are we having this debate?

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