I hope everyone has an open mind and is ready for a NOVEL! lol
Okay, so I have seen this all over facebook as well as on here.....the cover of TIMES magazine showing a picture of a very pretty woman breastfeeding her 3 year old son.
My first thought? "Why is he standing on a chair......how silly!"
Seriously, I breastfed my 18 month old and would HAPPILY still be breastfeeding him if I hadn't had severe supply issues due to PCOS. Despite my best efforts, I dried up and he pretty much weaned around a year (although he still latches occasionally for comfort). However, I never put him on a chair and then said, "Okay Shane!!! Time for boobies!!" or something of the sorts.
Breastfeeding was our cuddle time, it was super special and I miss it very much.
But enough about me....
Back to the article- I have not read it yet (but will once I buy the magazine) but as I am sure people have realized, it includes information about extended breastfeeding (also known as full-term breastfeeding) This is when you allow a child to nurse into their late toddler or school-age years. Most women who do this, believe in both the emotional and physical benefits of allowing a child to self-wean.
What I think most people do not understand, is that the process of weaning begins around 6 months, when solid food is first introduced. As solid food in increased, breastfeeding decreases. The part that most people don't understand is that this is naturally a VERY SLOW PROCESS and is usually not fully complete until the age of 3, 4 or 5...sometimes even older.
Now, as I am sure everyone is fully aware, we live in an extremely OVER SEXUALIZED society....one where breasts=sex and not food...which when you think about it is absurd. Does a cows udders=sex to you? Cause they have the same basic function. Now, I have no problem with people using breasts for sexual pleasure, (as long as we can remember their original purpose) dont get me wrong! I just think we need to remember the actual purpose of a breast!
The comments I have seen in regards to the breastfeeding TIMES cover are sad and disturbing. Come on guys, while TIMES attempted to make breastfeeding sexual by placing this boy is an such odd position, breastfeeding itself is NO more sexual if you are feeding a 3 week old or 3 year old. Either way, you are bonding, emotionally supporting and nourishing your child.
What I also think many people miss, is that by three, most children are barley nursing. They are far into the process of weaning and eat plenty of full, solid meals. They most likely nurse once a day on average or even less. This nursing session is more about the comfort and closeness at this age, however the milk DOES have benefits. NO, I am not saying it provides the main nutrition a child needs....but that is NOT it's only purpose.
1. It helps to support a healthy immune system as it still passes a mothers immunities to her child. A child's immune system is NOT fully developed until they are older. Breastmilk also has both antiviral and antibiotic type properties. It can actually help clear up illnesses faster and help to prevent children from getting sick in the first place.
2. It has been shown to increase IQ.
3. The actual compensation of breastmilk changes as a child gets older to help support them at this specific age.
4. Breastfeeding helps the mother as well. The LONGER a mother breastfeeds, the lower her risk of all FEMALE CANCERS as well as
Osteoporosis....go figure? I guess doing what our bodies are designed to do helps us more than we thought! And, did you know that a substance in breastmilk actually contains cancer-fighting-ingredients? If you don't believe me, do a little research- there were some articles published in health magazines (or somewhere-I dont remember) a few months back.
I am sure there are benefits to extended breastfeeding, but I can't remember them at this moment. lol
So, in conclusion, my take on the TIMES breastfeeding cover, is "YAY for spreading extended breastfeeding awareness. NAY for putting mom and child in such a strange position." And yes, if I was able to still breastfeed my little man, I would happily breastfeed him at three....why wouldn't I?
I will end this with a couple of links, please consider reading and/or watching. :-)
This is a great little blog about this same topic- read it...its funny.. :-D
http://jasongood.net/365/2012/05/from-breasts-to-boobs-and-ba...This is an informative blog also on the subject
http://mothering.com/all-things-mothering/baby-2/breastfeedin...This is one of my favorite videos on youtube- please consider watching...it is informative...PLUS...I like the music choices!!! :-D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdEN8nKWA4E
On a side note, you said you breastfed and that you have PCOS. What medication(s) for the PCOS were you taking while breastfeeding? Having PCOS is one of the reasons I'm still not sure whether I will breastfeed or not.
Why so many noise about a natural way to feed a baby?
Who are the main characters in these cases? Mother and child.
When I had my first child I said, whatever happens, I will breastfeed my baby. About 10 years, is the sum of entire time I nursed my four children. They never used pacifier, they did not over estimat a Ted bear or a blanket. Today, they are adults. They are intelligent, healthy, confident, thoughtful and kind persons. None uses alcohol or drugs, neither cigarettes. And they're not over weight! Most of those ''virtues'' achieved due to breastfeeding; time to show my maternal love and affection for them, sacred time.
Today they love each other, are best friends!
No, I'm not saying I did a good job. I only did what nature made me for do! I obeied the natural laws.
By the way...
No matter if it criticizes policies or not, no matter if shows Clooney/Obama, or whatever.
If many American think breastfeeding in public offensive. To me, as a mother, I think this cover of Time is very offensive to all those thoughtful mothers who breastfeed their babies.
Ddisrespect; bad joke; debauch.
But as long as or man seems to enjoy Sucking your milk whenhe thinks it's his turnROFL!! ;)
...and as long as his nibbling still turns you on...
All of that has to be part of the equation :)
wot about the substance of the other 100
And as I stated, by 6 MONTHS, children are typically eating solid foods. With each increase in solids, there is a decrease in breastfeeding. As the child gets older, it goes onto three solid meals a day along with snacks. At this point nursing has greatly decreased and will only continue to decrease. The addition of more interest in outside activities, typically leads to nursing being only 3 times a day (depending on the child) usually before sleeping and when a child first wakes up, to two times a day, then to one time a day until the child stops completely.
This is the natural way weaning works...as it does with all other mammals. They start eating solids, increase solids, decrease nursing, increase activities, decrease nursing until they completely stop.
I also don't believe I said we should breastfeed from our mothers our whole live because it "prevents" cancer. Actually what I said is that a benefit of breastfeeding (in general) is that is has cancer KILLING ingredients...which I find AMAZING! There are properties in a mothers milk that K...
And as I stated, by 6 MONTHS, children are typically eating solid foods. With each increase in solids, there is a decrease in breastfeeding. As the child gets older, it goes onto three solid meals a day along with snacks. At this point nursing has greatly decreased and will only continue to decrease. The addition of more interest in outside activities, typically leads to nursing being only 3 times a day (depending on the child) usually before sleeping and when a child first wakes up, to two times a day, then to one time a day until the child stops completely.
This is the natural way weaning works...as it does with all other mammals. They start eating solids, increase solids, decrease nursing, increase activities, decrease nursing until they completely stop.
I also don't believe I said we should breastfeed from our mothers our whole live because it "prevents" cancer. Actually what I said is that a benefit of breastfeeding (in general) is that is has cancer KILLING ingredients...which I find AMAZING! There are properties in a mothers milk that KILL cancer..... There are doctors trying to figure how to use this to benefit the health of our society as a whole. And FYI, I have heard of both children and adults who have cancer drinking both colostrum and regular breastmilk in an attempt to fight it. You might think it is weird, but I think it is incredible.
I have no issue with your opinion- you may believe what you want. All I did was state facts as well as my opinions and experiences
And by the way, my mother practiced self weaning with myself and my siblings. We all weaned in our time, when we were ready, She guided us in the direction she wanted by discouraging feedings when possible and encouraging activities to distract us when possible, but she did not force us to stop.
All of us have grown up into independent, intelligent adults, with good, goals and bright futures. My sister has a managerial position in a large company. My brother has a research position at Harvard University. Me, well, I while I am very intelligent, I chose not to go to college right after high school. I did return and am now working on double majoring in special education and speech therapy. I currently have a 4.0 average. None of us were hurt by extended breastfeeding. We don't have "mommy issues" although we do love our mother greatly. We are also all, in general, very healthy. Are we perfect? No...of course not. Bu then again, who is?
Time isn't run by idiots. They knew this would cause a controversy and people would talk about it and, more importantly, people would buy the magazine.