Whats really wrong with full term "extended" breastfeeding

In my last post I was expressing my frustration of the reaction I receive in public nursing my four month old. Then the TIME magazine cover happend. I don't care as much about the front cover, or even whats inside the article as much as the opinions that everyone obviously had on the subject. I am reading thread after thread with horrid comments even moms and pro-breastfeeding people had nasty things to say. I had no idea that so much of the public has this mind set.I am even more passionate about advocating the education of breast feeding. This has really set a fire in me.

The real problem with extended breast feeding is actually the people who are against it. They have uneducated, stubborn, and ludicrous opinions on the subject. Google all of the sudden and all the information on the Internet is "not credible" while their years of parenting experience suddenly can discount thousands of years worth of human nature, scientific proof, as well as the support of many doctors. I also saw a few people just spew idiotic breastfeeding horror-folklore tales of addicted children, and sexually perverse mothers who like it. No one can tell you anything is wrong with extended breast feeding except people whose opinions are based on the fact that a child is using a part of a mother that they have sexual connotation towards so it makes them generally uncomfortable. So then comes feelings of disgust because our society is hyper sexual and puts so much emphasis towards breasts in the context of being sexy. And who loses? The babies of the mothers who will never even try to breastfeed because of societies close minded views.

The other thing is that most of these parents have had kids who have had extended binkies useage and then think extended nursing is an unhealthy attachment. WHAT?! It is a fake plastic nipple, that has health consequences NOT benefits, that is addictive, and just plain nasty in excess. Breastfeeding can be for comfort at those ages but still benefits the development of the mouth/teeth, is nutritious, and creates a healthy bond between mother and baby. Most people are allergic to cows milk and don't know it, the hormones in alot of it have shown to make girls go into puberty early. Their are so many health concerns with milk, while nothing but benefits with breast milk.Who cares if the baby can ask for it? When the baby cries because it pooped itself is it ready use the toilet instead?  It's called baby steps for a reason. Babies have teeth anywhere from birth- 12 months old, and some start solids anywhere from 3 months (wouldn't recommend it) to 9 months. Alot of babies can sign or ask for milk in the first 5 to 12 months.A fan of ours said she liked to refer to extended breastfeedig as full term breastfeeding because extended implies that you are drawing it out and lengthening it, which isn't true at all.We should be referring to it more as full term breastfeeding rather than extended.(a fan suggested this and I love it) The World Health Organization(WHO) recommends from 2-3 and beyond as child and mother see fit. The AAP sucks and I wont cite them ever. The world average for natural weaning is 4.5 years old.


 Lastly, the mothers of the extended breastfeeding toddlers, ARE ready for it to be over when it happens. I assure you that. They are ready for their bodies to be theirs again, they will miss it but not for perverted or over bearing reasons, but because of the benefits and happiness it brought the child. Breastfeeding isn't for the mother or for fun, it is for the child and we know that. Attachment parenting is about not forcing our children to or from us. Its about gentle, loving non controlling parenting, giving the child what he instinctively wants, which is his mother to listen to his needs.

P.S.- Michael Jordan was breastfed until 3 years old, so fuck off. I am pretty sure he is fine, obviously.

                                               A couple attachment parenting "experts"





Breast is best ( when you're in covered up in a bathroom alone and the baby isnt too old)

Kagomae and I

I planned on using a cover, I really did. But then here I was with my hours old sweetie when we were going to have our first visitor (a male) I was nursing her for the second time, i was using a nursing pillow and tried to use a cover. I put it on for a whole five seconds and felt like a freaking circus tent. This isn't a sideshow it is my little girl nursing! I decided right there that this was a beautiful natural thing and other people are going to deal with it. Fast forward 4 months later, dozens of mean looks, ONE nice comment, and one rude DMV employee ( whom will never say anything to a nursing mother again, I went hormonal on her) and pounds and pounds of chunky happy baby later and were still going strong.

I will admit I get sick of the glaring jerk offs, but I sadly admit I used to be them! I have only two distinct memories of women nursing my whole life. One was when I was a kid, and I feel like if my mother had taken a moment to talk about why she was doing that and that it wasn't gross then I would have had a lifetime of different thoughts about it. The second time i was waitressing and i wasn't grossed out, i just remember thinking the kid was too old. Blah, I hate that I was so uninformed my whole life and with my first child. But now I'm an advocate for breastfeeding acceptance.
Breastfeeding grosses people out (Americans mostly) Why though? We are a hyper sexual culture whose media forms our sexuality in a big way. Breasts being sexually attractive is a learned behavior not human instinct. Countries like Bali are good examples. They are not sexual organs!  Some people like feet, yet we don't all wear socks with flip flops and gag when we see a painted toe.

So, how to deal with the sheer ignorance and meanness of peoples reactions to nursing in public( or in your home, god forbid)Everyone says smile and continue nursing but what I want to do is say "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU GLARING AT?!" or  "I bet you use that mouth of yours in a sexual context, yet I still see it flapping a -freakin' -way" I think I need to take the middle ground and just be prepared and stop and talk to people about why it makes them uncomfortable. I yelled at that lady at the DMV, but her opinion didn't change, now she just knows the laws and is probably scared to ever try that again. So thats a good thing, but maybe I should have informed her a little so she had a new paradigm of thought about it. I feel for women who feel self conscious and will never breastfeed in fear of societies reaction. I feel for women that feel that they HAVE to use a cover, as it is a choice not a requirement. I want people to know that breast is best even when its in public and whats not best is feeling shunned and ridiculed.

On a final note, I am far more disgusted at the large amounts of dead flesh and milk from other animals in your cart than my  little one getting the nutrition she needs. And you don't see me barking and glaring(or judging) at your family!
Remember that your forming peoples opinions and reactions by exposing them to a little bit of nature and that the more people that see it, the more babies that might get 'the good stuff' :)