Whip That Titty Out!

(Photo Courtesy: The International Breastfeeding Symbol Blog)

Dear Diary,

My grandmother was very ladylike.  Even when she didn’t step foot outside of her house, her hair was freshly curled and her makeup was neatly applied.  Every Sunday, she sat next to my grandfather in the third row of First Baptist Church of Penn Hills, daintily fanned herself during the sermon and dug into her purse for peppermints to pass to my sister and I.   She never raised her voice, let alone used inappropriate language. So, her words one day came as quite a surprise to the entire family.

My nephew, who was born 8 pounds and 4 ounces, had doubled his weight in a month.  He was  being particularly fussy and was hungry as usual.  I assume my sister was taking her time to breastfeed him, since he probably finished a meal moments before.  My grandmother then yelled out words we never knew were in her vocabulary, “Whip that titty out, and feed your baby!”

Although funny, her words ring true!  As a breastfeeding mommy, I’m not afraid to whip it out.  Of course, I do so discreetly.  (Once, while working as a television host, I was on assignment in Honduras.  While at a beauty pageant, an attractive young woman in the audience, whipped it out for all to see and nursed her child.  Now, I’m all for public displays of feeding, but this was still surprising, since Americans don’t embrace breastfeeding to such an extent.  My videographer didn’t know what to do —he wanted to lust after this woman, but the baby clinging to her breast made it impossible to do!)

When I decided to nurse, I ordered an apron like cover.  Best investment ever!  You don’t have to fight to keep your baby still and the blanket in place.  It covers your child (and your hooters) and has a wire rimmed opening, where you can peak down to see if your baby is latching on correctly, or breathing—something something a first time mom checks on often.

I’ve used it to nurse Baby C at restaurants, museums, parks and parties (well, I did step into the computer room to do so at a birthday bash). I don’t want to make someone uncomfortable, but also don’t want people to make me uncomfortable.  In a way, I wish someone would say something.  Guess I shouldn’t be confrontational now that I’m a mom!

I’ve received mixed reactions when people find out I breastfed my daughter.  Women mostly spoke out against nursing, which was disturbing.  Men were typically all for anything that involves breasts!  Some moms have told me a list of reasons why they won’t do it.  They want to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes.  They don’t have time, since they have other children.  They have to return to work.  One even told me she wanted to smoke weed.  I can’t knock her, at least she gave it up during the pregnancy.  Some even said it was gross.

Gross?  Really? When you think about someone sucking your breast, you usually connect that image to sex.  But come on now, this is your baby not your celebrity crush!  Breastfeeding is indeed intimate, but in a totally different way.  It creates a bond.  You hold your child close, giving him/her a sense of security and unconditional love.  As a mom, I feel empowered.  I am doing my part to ensure my baby is healthy and well nourished.  She’s starting out life ahead of the game.  My milk will give her a stronger immune system, less gas, fewer allergies, less of chance for childhood obesity, less risk for SIDS and even a higher IQ!

Plus, breastfeeding helps you get your sexy back.  During the ten months I breastfed, I’ve lost 50 pounds (that includes the pounds lost during delivery).  I’m not 20 pounds lighter than I was pre-pregnancy, which is what I weighed in high school 15 years ago.  One of the above moms, who said she didn’t breastfeed because she wanted to drink and smoke again, said it didn’t even look like I had a new baby and was shocked to find out nursing was my weight loss secret.  It’s like the new Slim Fast.   I would much rather pump Madela than pump iron at the gym!

In addition to bonding and shedding pounds, it’s convenient.  Being that I love to sleep and slept through half of my pregnancy, rolling over and scooping my daughter out of a bassinet versus fixing formula in the kitchen, was much more accommodating to my sleep schedule.  Nursing was economical as well.  Breast milk is free!  And it saves you about a thousand dollars once you add up all of your trips to the grocery store for formula.  A thousand dollars is a thousand dollars.  (That’s something my mother always says no matter what the amount.  If there’s a coupon for two bucks and I forget to use it, she’ll say two dollars is two dollars!)

Back to the boob.  I must admit.  Breastfeeding was scary at first.  In the hospital, I didn’t produce a lot of colostrum, and one pediatrician recommended giving the baby formula (didn’t choose that doctor as my baby’s primary provider!) I also heard horror stories of engorged breasts and sore nipples.  After talking to a lactation consultant, she eased my fears and taught me various techniques.  Although those techniques go out the door at 3 a.m. when I opt to prop myself up on a pillow and doze in and out of consciousness as my infant eats.  At the end of the day, she’s not hungry!

Every woman is different.  Some fill up like water balloons, and others never go up a cup size.  But they all can provide enough milk for their children.  Like breasts, babies are unique as well and create a supply and demand system.  Fortunately, I don’t have any bad breastfeeding experiences to share.  A tube of lanolin cured the sore nipples that only occurred in the first month or two.  I bought lots of other things that “seemed” to be must-haves—like hydrogel pads— but those were a bit messy and didn’t really work.  Oh, I did have one not-so-nice experience.  I went to a party and had to hand express in the bathroom.  That’s better than a friend whose boobs leaked at a wedding reception.  Overall, I enjoy nursing.  It gives me a special feeling that only I can provide this thing to my child.

Now, I’m not anti-formula feeding.  I understand that breastfeeding is a choice, and sometimes it’s not even that, because there are those who can’t do it at all.  Formula also provides Vitamin D, something I have to supplement.  (Check out Carlson’s Baby vitamin D drops. The other ones made my daughter gag.) I just want to positively promote nursing, since it gets a bad wrap at times.

In closing, remember, the law is on your side!  You can’t get kicked out of a public place for feeding your baby.  So, go ahead.  Like my Grandma Gert said, Whip that titty out!

Diary of a First Time Mom wants to know where you breastfeed your baby in public.  Has anyone approached you and asked you to leave?  Do other customers look at you strange?  Have you received praise from strangers for nursing your infant?