The Accidental Lactivist
I’ve been smiling over the nurse-in aimed at Barbara Walters ever since I heard about it. Honestly, I used to think the lactivists were insane. What, I wondered, was so doggone frigging special about feeding a baby at the breast that it would compel one to this sort of public display?
Now I know.
Personally, I don’t nurse in public much because Sadie never got the trick of being discreet (though it isn’t entirely her fault, as I am rather (ahem) generously endowed, which makes graceful breastfeeding much more difficult). I tend to be a homebody anyway, so it hasn’t been an issue. I find, though, that my sympathies lie with mothers who do NIP. Once upon a time, I couldn’t understand why some mothers wouldn’t--oh, and I was sure they wouldn’t--cover that up with a blanket at least. Now I’m nursing an eight month old baby, and let me tell you, she doesn’t even like my shirt being down near her face when she’s nursing, let alone actually being covered. It would be quite literally impossible for me to nurse her that way.
And so what?
Feeding babies is what they’re for. I sympathize with Walters in that in her generation it simply wasn’t done, but it’s well past time for folks to get comfortable with it. Even if, I daresay, it isn’t particularly discreet. I do what I can, but the odd flash of nipple happens. I’m feeding my baby.
Deal with it.
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