Thursday, July 27, 2006

How babies eat: A disturbing lesson in biology

Apparently the cover of the latest edition of Babytalk (a free baby oriented magazine) boasts a picture of... gasp!... a nursing baby! How crude! Hard to imagine how that got by the editors when this world is so full of modestly dressed folks to whom the flashing of a breast would be unthinkable.
The editors are actually getting a bagful of mail opposing this display. I will assure you that this picture includes the view of a big-eyed baby who is obviously nursing and some flesh. To be honest, he could very well be chewing on an arm or shoulder as far as the picture reveals. But just to be safe, one woman shredded the magazine because she didn't want her 13 year old son to see it. In her view, "a breast is a breast regardless of what it's being used for." Huh? Her son could see many exciting views of the human breast (as well as other body parts) by just walking into the Gap. Or watching Paris Hilton advertise a hamburger. Or looking at the magazines at the grocery checkout stands with pictures of barely-clad celebs and articles like "How to please your lover" and "What men really want in bed". Another woman didn't want her son or her husband to even see a picture of a boob because it's such a sexual body part. I had to read that again... her husband?! I guess I'd be rather worried about the state of my marriage (or my husband's mind) if I had to censor my husband's exposure to a picture of a nursing baby. Oh, and did I mention these were folks not from Bahrain or Saudi Arabia, but from the good ol' USA.
I wonder what these people would have done had they accompanied us to the zoo. At our visit last week we saw a mother giraffe whose baby giraffe was nursing right there in public. Yep, in full view of all the toddlers and teenagers, the baby giraffe goes up to his mom's giraffe breast and eats. My 2.5 yr old said, "Oh, look, he's getting mommy milk just like baby #2!" He didn't dwell on it beyond that, because in our house breastfeeding is normal. Not kinky, not weird, just as natural as eating Cheerios. I know he would have been a lot more curious if I had quickly covered his eyes and moved on to the monkeys.
So what's the deal, America? Is it sinful to see or sinful to do? Because I am currently a nursing mother (should I blush here?), I know first hand how extremely unsexy nursing is from my vantage point. And as far as watching, just don't. If it's such a bothersome thing, don't watch, because I don't know a nursing mother who is doing it as a demonstration.
And so, to all the women fearing that their husband might run off with the first lactator (lactatress?) he sees: fear not. No normal man is going to get any sort of charge out of this kind of activity. He's not going to even be turned on unless he's eating Viagra-laced breathmints or something, and if that's the case, you've got bigger problems than can be solved on this little blog.

6 Comments:

Blogger Dim and Jana said...

Hear! Hear! You rock!!! :) As another breastfeeding mother I couldn't agree with you more. Just a side note--I breastfed in public at a funeral yesterday and I breasteed in every restaurant we go to. I don't think I should have to leave to feed my baby when the lady down the row or at another table is bottle feeding and not missing the event. Haven't had a problem yet...
PS I think you should forward your blog entry to BabyTalk.

9:13 AM  
Blogger Lisa said...

I have just one question: What would a Hot Mom do?? haha. Just have to wonder!!

2:15 PM  
Blogger jay are said...

a hot mom wouldn't cover herself at all because--let's face it---she's hot. And double meaning intended.
Excellent post!! Well-written, of course. It's ludicrous to think of any reaction to such a thing when, like you said, there are three zillion times the amount of exposed flesh at every turn. Do these same women put bags over their heads and the heads of their sons and husbands? You can't walk down a street without seeing things you'd rather just not. Or that you'd rather THEY just not. Sigh.

5:20 PM  
Blogger emilyruth said...

have i ever mentioned how much i love you?
& your brain?
& your writing skills?
& your kick butt, spot on sense of humor?

i do.

a thought to ponder...
if playboy had a picture of a nursing mother would they get as many complaints?

answer:
yes, but for opposite reasons

2:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I LOVE this post and I think you should forward it to BabyTalk, definitely! You made me laugh out loud, which is most excellent...

7:27 PM  
Blogger Rob said...

let me add my support for breastfeeding moms and my vote that it's natural, normal, and should be done more often.
people who tear up magazine covers of nursing moms are just plain confused.

3:22 PM  

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