Soapbox: Nurse Here. Now.

Mamacita's SOAP-BOX

I guess you could say I have become somewhat of a lactivist. Lactivist meaning: lactation activist. I am an advocate for women's rights to breastfeed her child(ren) in public; wherever she may be. Keep reading if you want to see how I am making a difference in the life of my son - and everyone else I encourage to breastfeed or keep breastfeeding.

Most people I know would say "breast is best" when addressing an infant. That perception changes here in the States once the tyke is walking and for sure talking. Research shows, however, that extended nursing - that is nursing past one year of age, is very beneficial and encouraged by the World Health Organization (WHO). "Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. A recent review of evidence has shown that, on a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants. Thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond. Breastmilk is the natural first food for babies, it provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one-third during the second year of life."http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-health/NUTRITION/infant_exclusive.htm

In the second year (12-23 months), 448 mL of breastmilk provides:
29% of energy requirements
43% of protein requirements
36% of calcium requirements
75% of vitamin A requirements
76% of folate requirements
94% of vitamin B12 requirements
60% of vitamin C requirements -- Dewey 2001

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html has more links of interest to me.

If you're still reading, BLESS YOU!!! Don't stop now but keep reading as there is more! The research is astounding when listing all of the benefits both to mother and child for continued nursing. Please, join my in protecting breastfeeding nation wide. http://www.lalecheleague.org/promote.html has information on how to support, encourage and protect breastfeeding. You might be surprised to hear that in some states it it against the law to breastfeed in public! Help change these ridiculous views that only the USA has!!!

I am a nursing mom.

I am an intelligent, independent woman.
I don't need to be told how I can make others
more comfortable when I nurse my baby.
I don't feel responsible for the comfort of the general public.
I am responsible first to my family, my children. No more patronizing, shame-inducing discussions about what kind of cover-up works best to hide breastfeeding or how to make
onlookers more comfortable.

I deserve to be supported when I do what is right for my baby, not told I need
to hide it or cover it up or take it elsewhere.

That's what Nurse Here Now is all about:
Empowering breastfeeding moms to nurse wherever we are, whenever our babies need it, in spite of the fact that our culture would like to pressure us into thinking it is a shameful and impolite act. We know that breastfeeding is not a shameful act that should be hidden, it is a normal everyday parenting activity, and we are passing this message on to all nursing mothers.

We won't allow "peer pressure" from society to change our thought and behavior and cause us shame and embarrassment. We will do what is best for our babies and ourselves. We will reject the pressure to make breastfeeding invisible, we will reject the oversexed idea that breastfeeding uses "private parts", we will reject the disapproval and let it roll off our backs like water off a duck. We will empower ourselves to reject adopting the inaccurate views of our culture.

We know better.
We will nurse. Here. Now.
Wherever and whenever that may be.

http://www.nurseherenow.com/default.php

Thank you for reading my views on extended nursing. Yes, my son "asks" for it and yes, he will be 2 years old very soon... and your point is??? I will wean when my son is ready - not when others deem appropriate.