Nursing Nowadays

All day long I yearn to write, but as soon as the baby gets to bed at night I only have enough energy to shovel in some food and fall asleep. It's no wonder I can't lose the rest of the baby weight. What little free time I do come across, I DON'T want to be working out or sitting in front of a computer screen. I think of things all throughout the day that I'd like to bring here, but I never do. Can pregnancy brain last forever? I might have that rare case. I'm still as scatterbrained as the day is long.

All I know is that I have the cutest baby that I've ever seen.

And I can't believe we have a use for a high chair already. My boy is growing up!

Since my mommy brain is full of mommy topics, I'm afraid that's what you get to hear about tonight. Fair warning, men...you might want to exit the premisis for this post. I'm about to talk about breastfeeding.

I tried formula earlier this week. I wanted to take K Baby's reflux problem into my own hands and try to aid with his fussiness. Who knows if the latter was altered because Baby K is sick so he's a little fussy regardless. I don't know that it helped his reflux anyway. I DO know that he spits up less when given formula. Still, I can't justify spending the money AND losing the benefits of breast milk all because Mama is more comfortable not getting puked on every other minute or two. When he spits up now, it doesn't seem to bother him so I guess I'll just keep nursing him. I was surprised that he took to the formula without any problems. It was nice to have to feed him less because I didn't feel like I was living by the clock anymore. I have, however, spaced out his breast feedings to three hours instead of two now so I'm feeling a little more like a human being and a little less like the family cow.

We have also added rice cereal now. He does pretty good with it. I'm only giving it to him at night via a spoon. I wonder if I should add a morning feeding of it, too? And while I'm at it, where's the flippin' manual for this kid anyway? I could use one most days.

Let's get back to breastfeeding, though. I don't want to cause a stir or malicious bickering on the subject, but I would like to hear your thoughts on this:

The Target Nurse In

Did you all hear about this? Apparently a Texas woman needed to feed her child so she sat down in a low traffic area of the store and let her baby nurse. She claims that she was harrassed by Target employees and asked to relocate to a dressing room. You can read the rest by clicking the above link.

My opinion?

I'm back and forth on the matter.

Obviously, I support breast feeding a child especially when their screaming is influencing the gloriousness that is a Target shopping trip. The question becomes whether it should be allowed in public areas. I'm ALL about less government and I completely agree that this woman shouldn't have to answer to someone else as to when and where it's appropriate to feed her child. If a baby is hungry, you feed him (or her). It should probably be that simple, but it's not.

My personal preference is to use a cover if I have to feed in public, but I would prefer to avoid the scenario all together. Typically if I'm out shopping, I'll excuse myself to my car if Baby K needs to nurse. More often than that, I bring a bottle of expressed breast milk to tide my little man over while we're running errands. My feelings toward the matter have changed dramatically over the years and especially now that I'm actually a mother. I used to feel extremely uncomfortable when I saw someone feeding their little one, but I was young and the whole idea was foreign to me. As I got older, I began to entertain the idea of breastfeeding my children, but never in public spaces. Now, I feed K when he needs it using a cover if I must be around other people. My comfort level has changed and I recognize that. But I also recognize that it doesn't mean that everyone else's have changed, too. I know people are uncomfortable being around this very natural way of providing nutrients to young infants. Especially men. I see their looks even when they accidently walk by the car I'm in and see my cover (or the little feet peeking out of it). I see how creeped out people are. I get it. I used to be them.

But I have no problem with other ladies nursing in public. If you're that comfortable with your bod and your baby, go for it. I just can't do it. There's something in me that flips my lid every time Baby K even remotely tugs at whatever is covering him. I'm a little nutso. My nervous system goes all out of whack.