Smrt Lernins

I don’t usually “mix causes” (as La Leche League calls it, speaking of causes) on this blog. I tend to keep it relatively topical. When it comes to this topic, however, I think it’s time to speak up.

I feel strongly about the importance, nay, the necessity of breastfeeding. I have breastfed all three of my children, including Babypie, who is still going strong at 8 1/2 months. In fact, my cumulative time spent breastfeeding is over five years at this point! I’ve overcome a handful of struggles, but mostly, my path to breastfeeding has been pretty easy. I grew up in a family where breastfeeding was just how you fed your babies. I never considered any other way. I have birthed and raised my children surrounded by people who believe babies should be breastfed, and that support has allowed me to feed my children in the way nature (and, if you’re religiously minded, God) intended. Breastfeeding your children is a physiologically, biologically, psychologically normal thing to do. In breast milk are the keys to unlocking many aspects of the body’s normal growth and development. Why would I do anything else, short of dire medical necessity?

Not every woman has the support I had. Many of them are raised in formula-normative homes and know little about breastfeeding. Misconceptions, social pressure, and outright lies persist. Husbands, family, and friends put pressure on women to stop breastfeeding early, or to not start at all. Women pass misinformation along to each other. Doctors and nurses are woefully ignorant about the realities of how human lactation works. Formula companies have millions and millions of dollars to dump into advertising. They have, successfully, waged a campaign devoted to making breastfeeding seem irrelevant, frumpy, vaguely primitive, and somewhat shameful and embarrassing (make sure you cover up with one of those tents “hooter hiders”). On the other hand, breastfeeding doesn’t exactly have corporate sponsorship. There’s very little money to be made off successful breastfeeding, beyond pumps for working moms (usually a one time purchase) and a few inexpensive fripperies that can make breastfeeding a little more convenient, but aren’t at all necessary for most women. Breastfeeding isn’t big business with big businesses ad budget.

That’s why I’m here today stumping for the Best for Babes Foundation, a non-profit organization that is devoted to changing the perception of breastfeeding. They want to “market, brand, and mainstream” breastfeeding as something that is healthy, empowering, normal, and even hip. They do this through educating women about institutional and cultural “booby traps”, offering positive images of breastfeeding role-models (no frumps stuck at home wearing oversized button-up shirts here!), tips on finding breastfeeding-supportive care providers, and more. They also very honestly acknowledge the potential pitfalls of an advertising campaign for breastfeeding.

I’m trying to do my part, through spreading the word, and you can help, too. On the right hand side of Smrt Lernins, you’ll see a little rectangular box advertising Best for Babes. Click on that box (or on this link) and you’ll be take to a page explaining how you can help Best for Babes run its ad campaign. You can also follow @BestforBabes on Twitter and join their cause on Facebook. While you’re at it, why not check out the awesome website, PhD in Parenting, a supporter of Best for Babes and a great resource for parents.

Now back to your regularly scheduled smrt lernins.