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Tales from the Boob: Breastfeeding Lessons
Nursing is natural. At least that was my silent mantra the first time I pulled up my shirt, unsnapped my bra cup and pulled Bella close in the family room.
My boys were formula-fed, so seeing me pull out a breast as they watched TV was a new experience. Really, who ever thought mom would be flashing the girls as they munched popcorn on movie night? Seriously.
While I felt uncomfortable emotionally, outwardly I acted as if it was a casual event.
Craig sat next to me on the couch and said, “You got my sissy?”
“Yes. She’s hungry.”
“Ohhh. Where’s her bottle?”
“She doesn’t have one.”
He seemed perplexed and then stretched to get a closer look. His gasp sounded like helium shrieking though the stretched mouth of a balloon. “Mommy, she’s eating your booboo!”
I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or grab a blanket. Instead I opted for the logical, educational approach. “Yes, this is how some babies eat.”
Craig slapped his cheeks. “They do?”
It was comical and yet disturbing – after five short years, Craig had already self-defined the purpose of breasts. Goodness, he was in for a rewrite.
“Sissy eat booboos and drink bottles?”
“No, she drinks from me.” I didn’t want to complicate the lesson with explanations of pumped milk.
As if to reiterate, Bella drooled. “That’s milk!” Craig squealed.
Indeed.
“Mommy, I want some. Can I eat your booboo too?”
Uh … I put my hand out to block him. “No. Sorry… it’s only for your sister. You have big boy milk in the ‘fridge.”
“Oh.” He was disappointed. “Wait! I know… I feed her.” Faster than I could respond, he pulled up his shirt and placed his flat, pea-sized nipple on his sister’s exposed cheek.
She squirmed under the battle of the boobs. “Hey, stop” I said. “You can’t feed her.”
He rocked back. “She can only eat you and daddy’s booboos?”
Oh boy. Nursing was natural, but it sure needed a lot of explanations. After a multitude of questions over several days, Craig seemed satisfied with his new knowledge.
It wasn’t much longer before I was comfortable flopping out nature’s bottles while chatting with the fam, eating dinner at the table, or sitting on the back porch for a little sun and watching the dogs scamper.
Craig was still interested in his sister’s nourishment process. He usually sat next to me and explained to her that boys and dads can’t feed her booboos, only mommies can. Then he would pretend to nurse, burp and clean spit up off his Buzz Lightyear doll.
On occasion he’d try to sneak-latch his toy on me. That didn’t go over well.
Eventually pretend play wasn’t enough. One morning while I was feeding Bella, Craig marched up to me and bared his chest. “Put some milk in my booboo now.”
“What?”
“You have to share.” Craig pointed to the breast his sister was nursing on and then to his flat one.
After coughing back a laugh, I said, “Baby, I can’t. It doesn’t work that way.”
“You’re not sharing!”
“I can’t …”
“That’s not fair.” He emphasized every word with a powerful stomp and then ran out of the room. A few seconds later, his bedroom door slammed shut.
“Oh Bella”, I said. “I guess it’s just you and me.”
What can I say? Nursing time is my time and hers. Everyone else can keep a shirt on.
Genevieve Hinson is a writer, wife and mom to two boys and a girl.
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alexandra, November 16, 2009
Oh, this brings back memories.
I remember my 2 yr old saying to my newborn, "sharing, you have to share..."
Poor thing.
Kathryn Nerkowitz, November 16, 2009
What a cute story ! I breastfed all four of my children, and now my daughter is a breastfeeding mother. Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to show your baby love and give him/her the perfect food. Breastmilk changes as our babies grow so that it is always the perfect nutritional composition for that stage of growth, and protects our babies from many diseases and viruses and bacterias...
Monique , November 16, 2009
This was priceless. I BF'd my son who is now 3 his little sister was born 3 weeks ago and be is having a much harder time coping with my exposed boobs. Thanks for sharing.
Kirin Loomis, November 16, 2009
The more we do it, the more normal it will be for everyone. I nursed my baby in restaurants, on trains, just wherever we were. Life goes on.
sarah, November 16, 2009
Oh, that was priceless, thanks for the laugh! My girls were 4,3,2 when their baby sister was born and I had some similar experiences. Eventually it DOES seem natural to them (and you) and you can settle in for a wonderful nursing experience. I know that some women never find it to be a rewarding time, which I find sad but I know how difficult it can be (truly, as I also bottle fed my first two.)
Suzanne, November 16, 2009
Hilarious! I spent the latter half of my 3rd pregnancy explaining to my 3 year-old son that I would be spending a lot of time nursing the new baby. I wanted him to be prepared for how time-consuming it would be. When nursing this baby did not go well, and I switched to formula, my son was very curious as to why the baby was no longer eating my boobies. It's been 3 months and he still asks why the baby has bottles and not boobies.
Jenny, November 16, 2009
This is the funniest story ever.
Hel, November 16, 2009
LOL..oh my! I never had that problem since I breastfed all my kids. It was weird at first to have my 6 and 4 year old in the same room with me as I fed the baby. But now, it's no sweat. Sometimes my son will inform me that he thinks the baby is hungry...could you whip out the booby and feed her?
Shari, November 16, 2009
lol How funny. My 3 year old granddaughter was bottle fed also and when we were watching a show with baby animals, a little monkey was nursing on his mommy. My granddaughter exclaimed "eww, she is eating her mommy" I said "that is nursing, that is how baby animals get their milk" She shivered and said "yuck!" I explained that some babies are fed that way with human mommy's too, that God made mommys able to do that" It was dropped after that and she went on playing.
Tanya, November 16, 2009
LMAO That is so so funny, it made my morning! My 4yo nursed until he was almost 3...my 2yo still nurses and occasionally the older one will ask me to squirt some of my milk into a cup for him. I figure, why not? He asks me why it's sweet like sugar...it's cute. He's getting antibodies with it, so it can't hurt him; only make his immune system stronger!
Madonna, November 16, 2009
HILARIOUS! I literally wiped tears away after I finished reading...just think how much fun it will be to re-tell these stories when he's older and friends come around :)
Elizabeth, November 17, 2009
How Funny!! I am nursing my 5 month old, and my 3 year old DD keeps pulling up her shirt and says "my nipples are too small for feeding the baby!"
Julie, November 17, 2009
I smiled through your story. I breastfed all four of my children. I have fond memories of my son (the eldest) nursing his Cabbage Patch doll (a boy, of course) while I nursed his little sister. I don't remember breastfeeding siblings being a problem for any of the older children.
Genevieve, November 18, 2009
Awww, so glad you enjoyed the post. Now my son is so used to it ... he's quit announcing to everyone, everywhere (strangers, family, friends alike) that his sissy eats his mama's booboos. Of course now she draws attention to when she's NIP by blowing LOUD raspberries while eating. Made for a great conversation at the Renn Fair this weekend.
LOL, love the comment 'my nipples are too small.'
AJ, January 1, 2010
LOL! I love it!
