Of Babes and Boobs: Reflections on Breastfeeding

If you're reading this, chances are you have breasts. Or boobs. Or whatever you want to call them.  It's also pretty likely that before you had kids, you didn't think too much about breastfeeding.  Your breasts were something you admired, or maybe reviled.  You dressed them up.  Then undressed them.  They were part of your sexuality.

At least that's how it was for me.  Until I got pregnant, I really didn't give much thought to the fact that my breasts could actually serve a purpose-- feeding a baby.  So breastfeeding was a novelty, and, as I soon discovered, it wasn't all that easy.  There were leaks and aches.  Awkward bras.  Feedings at 3 a.m.  Even an occasionally bewildered husband.  But don't get me wrong.  It wasn't all bad.  There were moments of sheer bliss.  Moments when it all came together, and our son fell asleep in a milk induced stupor.

That's just a little bit of my story, and I'm sure you have one, too.  Whether you loved or hated breastfeeding, whether you did it for one day, one week, one year, or even longer, breastfeeding probably made quite an impression.  That's why we're all focusing on babes and boobs today.  Be sure to check out Silicon Valley Moms Blog, New York City Moms Blog, Chicago Moms Blog and DC Metro Moms Blog for our different takes on "the milky way." New posts will be going up on all four sites throughout the day, as we dedicate today to breastfeeding.....

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Andi Silverman is the author of the new book, Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner's Guide to Breastfeeding. She also runs the blog Mama Knows Breast and blogs at the New York City Moms Blog.