My Ode to Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding our second son for a Mother's Day portrait.
Beautiful photo by Dolly Stang of twelve16 Photography. 

I should add the disclaimer that this is more of a straightforward declaration than an ode. Too sleepy to ode. Haha!

Breastfeeding is good.

This post is just a personal praise to God for the glory of breastfeeding, and since this is the beginning of World Breastfeeding Week 2014, I felt this was more down my alley than a public latch-on event to educate/inform/encourage. I am a big fan of breastfeeding, one of the most challenging AND rewarding aspects of mothering to this point in my journey. This is a small part of MY perspective and experience, without placing judgment or expectations on anyone else. Breastfeeding is super-cool; communicating about it is a way I can connect with others -- like-minded, curious, or not.

We each have our "thing(s)", and breastfeeding is one of mine. Our first son will be 4 in October. I breastfed him until he was 34+ months old, until he was ready to stop, and I was 7 months pregnant. Our younger son is almost 8 months old, and we are enjoying the same bond. Unless circumstances out of my control prevent it, I adhere to the World Health Organization's recommendation of breastfeeding a child until at least two years of age. After that, I believe the breastfeeding relationship should continue as long as it is mutually desirable to mother and child, with sensitivity to the child's transitional abilities. I am convinced of the brain development benefits, lifelong health benefits, as well as the (very important) emotional ones.

Thanks to my mom for breastfeeding me. :)

Breastfeeding success is owed in large part to my husband, who supports my sometimes-sleepless and always-neurotic self with great affection and constant encouragement. Thank you, my love, for helping me do my thing and bless our babies in mind, body, and spirit.

Breastfeeding helps my body heal from pregnancy and birth; and since my maternal grandmother passed from breast cancer long before I was born, I also appreciate the research that shows breastfeeding reduces my risks of having breast cancer.

Here are some cool facts about breastfeeding, based on research. This came from the World Breastfeeding Week's website. I think educating women in poverty statuses, as well as offering emotional support, could improve a lot of health conditions that people feel are out of their control. When my babies are grown and more independent, I hope to be more helpful in this area. And I have had so much extra milk with both boys (thankfully, friends have used it to feed their babies during medical issues), I entertain the idea of nurturing orphans. Lord-willing, one day. In some way. 

Thank you, God, for making my female body to feed my babies. I am amazed by You.