A Millennial’s Rant About Breastfeeding

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Breastfeeding : Beautiful Impressions : Taylor Rentz : Coastal Bend Moms

Breastfeeding….. It is probably one of THE MOST important jobs in the world (it certainly was before formula), and also probably one of the most forgotten and thankless jobs at the same time.

I have been in it before and I am in it now. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to Target and forgotten a bottle at home (#mom brain #sorry not sorry).

So what’s a girl to do when your screaming baby only wants one thing? Do you risk the possibility of Mastitis, or a clogged duct?  Do you sit through the pain of another let down as your TaTa’s become ever more increasingly rock like? Do you let them go hungry? Most of the time the answer is no to all of those questions. You pop the boob out, and feed the tiny creature, no matter how inconvenient. 

What is unfortunate is how many people have a problem with breastfeeding in public.

Like, it’s shocking.

Nursing in public : Beautiful Impressions : Taylor Rentz : Coastal Bend Moms

Let me let you in on a little secret: The mom at the pool who is breastfeeding her kiddo, is not simultaneously trying to steal your husband, or be inappropriate with your children, Karen.

Here’s the deal: If I can legally be there, I can breastfeed there.

No amount of whispering in the corner or direct intimidation will change that. Now, with that being said, if you, as a person, are uncomfortable with breastfeeding in public then don’t do it. That is PERFECTLY OKAY! However, don’t make someone else feel less than, because of your own insecurities.

Sigh…

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, I have a few more points (that are solely my opinion) that I would like to go over.

Breastfeeding mama : Beautiful Impressions : Taylor Rentz : Coastal Bend Moms

Firstly, we as a society should be introducing our children to breastfeeding at a young age. Why wouldn’t we? It will make our boys better fathers, and help them understand their wives or partners in the future. Our boys will learn that breasts are meant to be more than just sexual objects. We need to educate our girls on how to breastfeed. Let’s start helping them to learn early about  what a proper latch looks like and how to boost their supply or slow it down. We can help them to understand how to deal with the difficult emotions that come with breastfeeding or pumping.

These are not things to fear. We must normalize breasts.

I mean, seriously: Why is it okay for lingerie ads like Victoria Secret and other undergarment companies to throw images that leave little to nothing to the imagination, yet nursing a child in public is frowned upon?

It is silly that one is okay while the other isn’t.

Stepping down off my soapbox…

Anyway, before I sign off I want to clarify that breast IS. NOT. always best.

 Beautiful Impressions : Taylor Rentz : Coastal Bend Moms Some people don’t produce enough to sustain their child. Some people’s supply dries up due to their baby being in the NICU. Some have to go back to work. Some simply Do. Not. want to, and THAT IS OKAY. Some parents are single dads who have adopted and literally can’t breastfeed. My whole long winded point, is that fed is best y’all.

SOOOOOO, to the mama who had to stop breastfeeding so that she could go back to work, I see you. To the mom that is TOUCHED OUT because of breastfeeding, I see you. To the mom who religiously pumps and is isolated Beautiful Impressions : Taylor Rentz : Coastal Bend Momsbecause it’s hard to do that and leave your house, I see you. To the dad who feels guilty because he can’t give his new foster/adopted/biological child breast milk, I see you. To the mom who is uncomfortable breastfeeding in public I see you. To the mom who could care less about people’s opinions on her breastfeeding, I see you.

Be awesome without putting others down.

Spread love and kindness, and stay in your own lane.