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August 03, 2006

Breastfeeding Art X

“The Audrey Samsara Triptych” © Amy Jenkins 2004

This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2006 series.

Posted by TulipGirl  |  09:44 PM|  TrackBack (0)  |   Words

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Hey, my wife and I breastfed our boys (she is still breast feeding our youngest), but we both thought the girl in the picture was way, way too old to be breastfeeding. The artist isn't one of those creepy lactation supporters who lets their kids breastfeed until their 14, is she?

By the way, was it appropriate for me to be commenting on this seeing that the picture has nudity and all? It didn't make me stumble or anything. Just wondering.

Fred

Posted by: Fred Butler at August 4, 2006 11:19 PM

Hi, Fred! Glad you came by. As you alluded to, moms and babies do best with breastfeeding when they have support of daddies. *grin*

How old do you think the girl in the picture is? If I were to guess (not having girls, it's harder to gauge) I'd say betwee 20 mos - 28 mos.

One of the key reasons to breastfeed is the health of the child. The World Health Organization recommendation is: "[I]nfants should be exclusively breastfed(1) for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health(2). Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond."

My first two children were weaned prematurely, related to misinformation, low milk supply, and lack of support for getting to the root of the problems. My next two were nursed past a year, thankfully. My youngest was nursed well into toddlerhood, which was a conscious health choice, due to our moving to Ukraine and breastfeeding being one of the best ways to keep a toddler's immune system strong in a new environment.

Now, if the picture showed a 5 y/o, I'd understand the squeamishness. . . But a toddler? While not every child is nursed into toddlerhood, it is another aspect of breastfeeding that I'd like to see normalized within our culture.

Posted by: TulipGirl at August 5, 2006 10:09 AM

Yeah, breastfeeding past a year is more normal than we in the industrialized West really know. Too bad too. :( I always look at my (relatively) strapping 83 yo Dad for proof that breastfeeding into the 3rd year is a good thing.

Posted by: Camille at August 5, 2006 09:07 PM