Sometimes when I am nursing baby Alexandra, big sister Emma will find a comfy spot to relax and nurse her dolls. I've never used bottles or pacifiers with either of them, so the concept of nursing a baby to nourish and provide comfort to them is just natural to them. I was surprised and happy to see Emma teach her baby sister how to nurse a doll. It was so cute to watch her position the baby correctly and make sure that they were both comfortable, she reminded me of the lactation consultants I saw working at the hospital teaching new mamas while I was in nursing school. Lactation consultants are wonderful providing teaching and support to breastfeeding mothers. There is no doubt that we need them in society to encourage new mamas to keep on providing the best and most natural nourishment for babies and children. However, it would be wonderful for children to learn and model this natural behavior from an early age by watching their mamas and others mamas nursing their babies. They observe and copy everything we do, I realize this more each day by observing my daughters' behaviors and choices they make.
I am glad my mom nursed my brother and I and I am sure that this registered in my mind as something that mommies just do. I also spent part of my childhood years in a country that nursing on demand anywhere and with no need of covering up was the norm. With my first born, I made the mistake of thinking that I needed to cover while nursing her. We both felt so uncomfortable doing so that instead I would search for secluded quiet places to nurse her if we were in public. I wish I would have realized then that it was her right to nurse and who cares if someone is looking because it is the most natural thing to do and if it bothers them it is their own psychological and emotional problem and our quality of life should not be affected by their hang-ups.
I nurse Alexandra on demand and I do not cover up because breastfeeding is a normal nourishing act of love. I will look for a secluded quiet spot for her to nurse if she is distracted by others and cannot concentrate or relax fully, not to hide from others. Children grow up so quickly that I wholeheartedly cherish every second that I am able to cuddle, nurse, caress and look into those sweet baby eyes. It is just pure joy and I pray that many more mothers embrace this sublime act of love while teaching future generations that it is the best, normal, natural and most loving act that a mama and baby can experience together.
