Black Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding...It's a Beautiful Thing

Send your breastfeeding photos to me at info (at) mommytoo (dot) com.

Feeding Lauryn
Friday, September 21, 2007

One of my favorite things about this blog is the reader submitted breastfeeding photos. My sincerest hope is that when a black mom -- or any mom for that matter -- who is ambivalent about breastfeeding stumbles upon my blog, she sees these beautiful pictures and immediately gets inspired to feed her little one naturally. Perhaps she has never been acquainted with breastfeeding before, or heard about it and wants to try it out. Whatever the case, I hope she sees these pictures and her body and boobies scream, "Yes, I WILL breastfeed my baby!" That has always been my goal from the beginning. Always will.

I would like to share a photo of me nursing my 15 month old daughter who is now 17 months and still nursing strong! We are proud of our accomplishment even though we have had a lot of negative feedback from physicians, educators, family and friends. We have done the research and know that "breast is best."

Sylvia (husband Marius) and daughter Lauryn.

Labels: breastfed babies, breastfeeding mamas

posted by Jennifer James @ 7:47 AM,

17 Comments:

At September 21, 2007 10:52 AM, Crunchy Domestic Goddess said...: beautiful. i can't help but get the warm fuzzies whenever i see a baby so content and nourished at the breast.

amy
At September 21, 2007 11:32 AM, Brandy said...: Such a gorgeous picture. I have a few of me and Aiden and they are some of my most treasured. Thanks for sharing!
At September 21, 2007 12:37 PM, Reiza said...: What a gorgeous nursing duo!

I must say 2 things:

#1. I wish there was some way to explain just how amazing it feels to stare into your child's eyes while they're getting the very best nourishment that only you can provide. It's truly awe-inspiring and life-affirming. I knew we were going to breastfeed, but had no idea how deeply those quiet moments would effect me. I had heard that breastfeeding helped in bonding with the child, but there are moments while nursing that I felt as though I bonded with the whole universe--the millions of women who came before me, my own mother who nursed me and even a higher power.

#2. I like your goal with the pictures. I had one bfing experience when I was younger that shaped my whole idea of infant feeding. Hopefully, these gorgeous pictures will do the same for some of your readers.

I did not grow up around women who breastfed. My mother nursed me for 11 months, but I have no memories of that. As a child, all I saw were bottles. But when I was 18, we happened to be out of state visiting my cousin. She nursed her 2-year-old daughter while sitting next to me. That was the only time I ever saw a mom nursing (that I know of. I may have passed hundreds in the malls and just never realized it). Nothing spectacular or horrible happened. It was just so ordinary, but that image always stuck with me. So nursing was never abnormal. Nursing beyond the first year seemed typical.
At September 21, 2007 2:04 PM, Anonymous said...: Jen-thanks so much for including our picture in your blog. I hope it will inspire many other women to breastfeed their babies and toddlers! Your work is life-changing and, possibly, life-saving!
God bless,
Sylvia:)
At September 21, 2007 2:30 PM, Mama Bear said...: Beautiful. Just beautiful. Thanks for sharing. :)
At September 21, 2007 11:12 PM, Sarafu said...: Beautiful Pictures! Such sweet moments, they are truly a gift to both mom and baby! :)
At September 22, 2007 7:25 AM, Sinead@BreastFeedingMums said...: Such a sweet picture... both mom and baby look so contented. Beautiful.
At September 22, 2007 2:52 PM, roslynholcomb said...: Those moments were absolutely incredible. I can't remember anything better, than when he'd finish nursing and look up at me with pure love in his eyes.

The first woman I remember nursing was my SIL. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, and knew when I had kids I'd nurse as well. I don't have a picture of me nursing, but I do have one of us right after. My dh says it's the most beautiful picture he's ever seen. He refused to do the 'standard retouch' to remove my double chin. He said it'd be like touching up the Mona Lisa. Check it out on my blog.

http://web.mac.com/roslynholcomb/iWeb/Site/Blog/4D4CD455-F295-11DB-8790-0003937BDE2C.html
At September 22, 2007 7:12 PM, Anonymous said...: Simply beautiful!
-William's Mama
At September 22, 2007 11:03 PM, Alkelda the Gleeful said...: My acupuncturist told me that when she was nursing her baby (who's not such a baby anymore-- he's 5 years old), her niece would settle down next to my acupuncturist and nurse her dollies. Afterward, the niece would say, "Ouch, my nipples hurt!" Children do pick up on everything.:) I'm guessing that if the niece ever has a baby of her own, she'll breastfeed as well.
At September 23, 2007 9:58 PM, Anonymous said...: I am currently breastfeeding my 24 month old daughter. I appreciate the encouragement. Lord only knows that I NEVER get it anywhere else. Everyone feels that my 22 lb daughter is too big to still be breastfeeding./ and that I should have stopped about a year ago. I only feed her for naps or bedtime.
At September 23, 2007 11:30 PM, Kristen said...: I am new to this blog site. I am 6 1/2 months pregnant and I am debating whether to breast feed or not. Coming here and reading about all the positive experiences other Black women had is very comforting. I, too, have no memory of anyone in my family breast feeding their infants, and my experience with my now six year old left me with engored milk ducts, which is a pain I still remember, and none to fondly either:( I am, however, finding reassurance, in being 26, as opposed to being 19 with my first attempt, and having support from my husband, and mother in law. I am more convinced every day that I can do it despite my past failed attempt. That said, I would love for an experienced mother to explain why breast fed babies seem to still be at the breast for so long? Is there some added benefit in long term breast feeding? Is it harder to wean? I work outside of home, and this is the one thing I remain apprehesive about in making my decision.I would appreciate some feedback.
At September 24, 2007 2:46 PM, Gretchen said...: Aww, she is such a cuty!

I do wish I had thought to have someone take a picture of T and I, to late now, she's been weaned for over a year.

Kristen - I would strongly urge you to try again with this child. It is such a wonderfull experiance, and so much more healthy for both baby and mommy. I've been told that the health benifits continue even as the baby becomes a toddler, but I suspect the main reason is it is a beautifull bonding experiance, which is hard to give up.

As far as I know, there is no way to avoid engorgment when your milk first comes in. My recomendation, as a fellow working mom, attach your baby to one side, and the pump to the other. Then put that lovely harvested milk in the freezer to later hand to daycare.

(If you had an infection, you should talk to your doctor about ways to avoid that. That's one thing I managed to avoid, but my Mom did not.)

In my experiance, and talking with other moms, the first 2 to 4 weeks are the hardest, but if you make it to 6 weeks it's "a piece of cake" to keep going.

As for weaning, I had daycare wean her to cows milk at about 12mo (ie I stoped pumping). I weaned her from me at about 15 months.
At September 24, 2007 6:21 PM, Aly Cat 121 said...: oh wow what a lovely pic.
At September 24, 2007 10:37 PM, Elizabeth F. said...: beautiful photo!
At January 5, 2008 9:29 PM, boo2234681 said...: I have a question what's your child's weight from breastfeeding up to that age. I am asking because I am concern about my baby girl, she was born at 6"3 and now she weighs about 14 pounds and she is almost 4 months is that too much
At March 6, 2008 11:03 PM, Kristen said...: Hey I am back to thank you guys for this all the wonderful inspiration and advice I received while pregnant. We are three months into a wonderful nursing experience. We owe it to you guys and this very encouraging community at Black Breastfeeding Blog. Take Care All!