Earth Baby on Breastfeeding

by Ophélia Martin-Weber

05.15.16 Editor’s Note: Today, this author is 17 years old and while much of her perspective remains essentially the same, she has matured in her views as well. This young lady now articulates that for her, just seeing breastfeeding so often from her mom, family friends, and on social media, makes it seem like no big deal and just what you do when you have a baby. Though she doesn’t intend to have children for a long time yet and is passionately pursuing a professional career in ballet, Ophélia has expressed that should she have children she fully intends to breastfeed… like it’s just what you do.

To learn more about what Ophélia is doing today, go here where she shares her latest adventures and is currently seeking crowd support in reaching her body positivity goals in dance.

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For our WBW blog carnival on “Perspectives: Breastfeeding From Every Angle” we are pleased to host guest posts from various contributors. Today we are honored to share a guest post from Earth Baby, sharing her perspective on breastfeeding as the 11 year old girl, oldest of 5 sisters, all breastfed.

Jessica (The Leaky B@@b) breastfeeding Earth Baby in the hospital November 1998


I don’t remember being breastfed, but I know that I was.

I am not a professional when it comes to breastfeeding, at least not since I was a baby and I don’t remember that, but I do know some things about breastfeeding: it feeds the baby; it keeps them healthy; you don’t need to hide to breastfeed, it’s natural; it gets moms closer to their babies and helps the babies to know their mom. Last week I learned that the boobies can change temperature if the baby is too hot or too cold. The mothers need to eat a lot (not to make themselves fat) to produce milk; and we all know that babies love their mommy’s milk!

I am happy that my mom is breastfeeding but will I want to breastfeed my own children? Right now I think I would but I am not sure if I will approve of it when I am older. But I think I will. The reasons why I would breastfeed are because it is safe. It is healthy for the child and the mother. In other words, why did God make breasts? Is it for men to admire them? No way! It would let the babies have a chance to trust us. I think I will breastfeed my babies because God made us to do so, so when they are close to me they can trust me.

Earth Baby and her mommy, 1999

Babies being healthy and happy makes me feel happy. They are chubby, cheerful, and sweet after being fed. Feeding your babies can help soothe them if they are troubled, or to get smiles. The best part of breastfeeding is…cuddling! I’m not sure if it is true but whenever my mom breastfeeds, they seem to be snuggled close together. I love that.
Earth Baby, a chubby, happy, breastfed baby, June 1999


Some people don’t feel comfortable with moms breastfeeding in public or around them. But I think they don’t realize that they were once breastfed. I feel completely comfortable that my mom or myself, when I am grown up, can breastfeed anywhere, around anyone, or anyplace. My mom breastfed me and has breastfed four other children ever since I was born. I don’t mind, I had to be there when my mom breastfed my sisters. I am used to it. 

There is this question that has been stuck in my head for a while, what would I do if my husband didn’t agree with me breastfeeding? I would tell him that it is important to do it and I will not hide from him or public. We decided that we wanted children. I was pregnant for nine months. I did it, not him. I gave birth to our child, he didn’t, even if he helped me. I did all of the hard work of bringing a child to us. Then I would say to him that I get to decide what to feed our child because I gave birth to her/him and it is my body. If he disagreed with me and told me what to do, I would tell him, “we need to keep our baby healthy. You like to get smiles from our child. She/He smiles after I nurse her/him and you like it.” Then I would give him the baby and walk away but when she/he cries he’d want me to come back to breastfeed her/him and I would tell my husband he made a good choice.

The author today, 11 years old.


I have had my times where I am scared when my mom breastfeeds in public. I feel like I might be mocked for breastfeeding when I was a baby. I am also scared that after if someone points out my mom breastfeeding they will have a little fight with my mother and that then she will give up and I don’t know what to do. My little sister needs her breastmilk. I’m scared it will also happen to me, that people will judge me that I shouldn’t breastfeed my baby someday in public.

It seems a little strange that my developing breasts are going to be bigger, full of milk with a nipple and a baby on top of it someday. I really don’t want to have big or little boobs when the time comes, just something just right for breastfeeding. 

Earth Baby

Comments

  1. this is amazing…i must say i loved the whole thing, but what really stuck out was your writing skills…i know adults who couldn't put there thoughts together that well. Earth Baby, you are an awesome young woman and I hope my daughters(hope to have some, but just have a son now :)) are as open and honest as you have been. thanks for sharing 🙂

  2. scarredbutlucky says

    This is really beautifully written Earth Baby. You have obviously given a lot of thought to breastfeeding, and I believe you have your Mom to thank for a lot of your knowledge. I wish there were more girls your age educated as you are about what's right for babies. Keep on writing =)

  3. Maybe Earth Baby should guest post more often! Well written, and great points about "why" the whole way through. I too am very impressed!

  4. Beautiful post! You are very insightful for an 11-year-old. Your mom should be incredibly proud of you (I'm sure she is)!

  5. What a wonderfully written piece, Earth Baby! I had very similar views when I was 11, and I'm happy to say that I'm now happily nursing my twin boys. My husband, who was unsure about nursing at first, now sees the importance and magic of it. Keep up your writing and maybe someday we can read your blog!

  6. Beautiful! I agree, you are very insightful, particularly for your age! I love your honesty! And, don't worry, I don't believe that you will fall in love with someone who wouldn't see breastfeeding as the wonderful, natural thing that it is.

  7. This Rocks. You are a really cool young lady! I liked reading your thoughts. I think you will have wonderful support when it comes time for you to breatsfeed. Keep writing! You did a good job. (You to mom, raising a smart, beatuiful girl.)

  8. dohiyi mama says

    Earth Baby, you're a beautiful, knowledgeable young woman. 🙂 Beautifully written.

    Jess – My goodness, you look SO young in those pictures! Still a teenager? (I am but in my after birth pictures I look like an exhausted old woman, haha.)

  9. This just made me tear up! Beautiful! My daughters (and son) have all seen me breast feed their younger siblings and I hope that I have done as good of a job educating them as your mom has done! You're beautiful and very well spoken, and your mom must be proud!

  10. wonderful post girl. I'm so proud of how well written this is, and I'm so happy to know such a smart, sophisticated 11 year old.

  11. Beautiful and very well written. Great job!

  12. I got married young, I was 20 when Earth Baby was born.

    Earth Baby says thank you for all your compliments, she loves the encouraging words and has already expressed an interest in writing for TLB again. I'm sure we will be hearing from her before too long.

    The Storyteller, sitting with Earth Baby and I as we read your comments says thanks for encouraging her sister! She will be bringing something to TLB very soon as well.

    Thanks again, I'm really proud of Earth Baby's writing (and this isn't her best), her interest and love for her family as well as other subjects and her incredible zest for life and learning. I learned a lot about her through this post and I'm so grateful she is my daughter.

  13. Dionna @ Code Name: Mama says

    I *love* the perspective of a young woman raised around breastfeeding. These words are exactly how I hope my own son feels someday because he is being raised to know how normal and healthy breastfeeding is. Thank you for writing this!

  14. Cherry Jam says

    Thank you, Earth baby! it is lovely to see your perspective. If more girls / young women thought things through as clearly and carefully as you do, and had the same strength of conviction as you do, we would have no worries about the next generation of breastfeeding mothers. A beautiful piece written by a beautiful girl who is already making her mark on the world and improving it. Thank you.

  15. Awwww, <3 this post! I hope one day my daughters will be articulate little lactivists like this. 🙂

  16. delightfulpregnancy says

    Oh my word…is this really written by an 11 year old?! I only wish I was that eloquent and insightful when I was 11! Holy cow. So beautifully written, Earth Baby!

    Just know that when a child is raised in a home where pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding are viewed as normal, it has a profound impact on your beliefs as you enter womanhood! (And same goes for boys turning into men, of course.)

  17. In my opinion, breastfeeding is one of the most sweetest, beautiful and connecting experiences that you could ever share with your baby. Breastfeeding is by no means gross or dirty in any way and that women are allowed (not to mention, legally) to feed their children whenever or wherever she feels the need to.
    Baby Feeding

  18. Great post, I'm very proud of you!

  19. I hope my children will appreciate breastfeeding someday as you do now. Well written and hope to read your stuff again in the future!

  20. OK, precious Earth Baby, you have me all choked up. I am so glad my Yasmeen has made friends with the likes of you! Other than you, I don't think she has any friends her age who have the experience that you have and wow, you are just a joy. You have written your feelings beautifully! I loved every moment of this reading. I hope you continue to write as you grow up.

  21. Very cleaver for an 11yr old. You will be a great Mom… Jayne Radke

  22. Enjoy Birth says

    This was really beautifully written. I love everything you said. Especially what you said at the end.

    It seems a little strange that my developing breasts are going to be bigger, full of milk with a nipple and a baby on top of it someday. I really don’t want to have big or little boobs when the time comes, just something just right for breastfeeding.

    YES! That is what they are for. 🙂

  23. From Earth Baby:

    Thanks for the comments I enjoyed reading through them with my mom. Your comments made me proud of myself. Hopefully I'll write another post next month. Thank you!

    – Earth Baby

  24. Nicole Montgomery says

    I hope in 11 years my daughter can be as amazing as Earth Baby. Beautiful post!

  25. Well said!

  26. Fabulous post! Well spoken little girl! I don't think she's going to have any trouble convincing future Daddy to let her feed her babies, lol.

  27. Oh, that's BEAUTIFUL!! What nice thoughts and deep honesty, Earth Baby!

  28. Brought tears! Simply perfect put!! I really admire this young aspiring writer! You go Girl!!!

  29. Earth Baby – well done! I loved reading your thoughts and perspective on breastfeeding. When I had my first baby I hadn’t given it much thought – I had never learned about breastfeeding. But like you said, it’s so normal and induces such happiness in both mom and baby, I loved it right away! You are an incredible young lady with excellent writing skills!

  30. Wow, this is very well written Earth Baby! Such a great article 🙂

  31. Earth Baby,
    Very eloquent post!
    I’m so glad that girls like you and like my oldest daughter (age 7) are learning about breastfeeding at a young age. I was never breastfed and didn’t know anything about it until I was an adult!
    My hope is that YOUR daughters will breastfeed without ever worrying about defending that their choice.

  32. Earth Baby,

    You are so beautiful, your words brought tears to my eyes. Being a mommy to 3 young girls, I hope one day my girls will have the confidence to speak so openly and freely about birth and breastfeeding. You are a beautiful young woman and will one day be an amazing, beautiful mommy. You mom should be (and is) so proud of you. I hope you’ll make another guest post soon!
    Peace and love <3

  33. This is seriously beautiful!!! I hope to see Earth Baby post more often!

  34. So much of this stuck out to me. So many amazing points that we, as nursing mothers, don’t always think of. The tears are just falling down my cheeks. You are one lucky girl, Earth Baby. I hope that my babies will be as insighful as you someday.

    — “I really don’t want to have big or little boobs when the time comes, just something just right for breastfeeding.” — Just beautiful!

  35. This is just am amazing story!

  36. Us adults with all our education and experience sure could not have said it any better! It’s so perfect coming from her in her young perspective. Thank you so much for sharing this with us!

  37. Earth Baby, you are wise beyond your years. I can tell that your Mom is so proud of you and you should be proud of yourself too! You are a wonderful writer and obviously a very brilliant and intuitive girl. I hope to read more posts from you in the future! Keep writing! 🙂

  38. How very honest, sweet, and revealing this is that even an 11-year-old can see the contrast between the very real normalcy and beauty of breastfeeding, and our society’s unreasonable stigma on NIP.

    Great post, Earth Baby!

  39. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Earth Baby!! I enjoyed reading your article very much, and hope you come back to guest post again! 🙂

  40. You are so beautiful and articulate just like your mama. A beautiful post, and many of us appreciate it greatly.

  41. What a wonderful insight! Hopefully by the time you have babies things will be a lot different thanks to people like your momma!

  42. Rae's Mamma says

    Just beautiful!

  43. Wow – that made me a bit teary – sooo sweet. I love this bit: The best part of breastfeeding is…cuddling! I’m not sure if it is true but whenever my mom breastfeeds, they seem to be snuggled close together. I love that.
    I would love the opportunity to share my breastfeeding journey with my baby girl when she hits puberty – but alas I’ll be beyond child bearing years then.

  44. Earth Baby, I’m a bit older than you, with two breastfed babies of my own, but I am the oldest of six breastfed kids, so we have that in common! I never really even considered that I wouldn’t breastfeed, so it is a very good thing to be exposed to breastfeeding and become comfortable with it from an early age!

  45. Nice job Mama. That’s quite a young lady you’re raising there.

Trackbacks

  1. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Erin Calderon and Devon, The Leaky B@@b. The Leaky B@@b said: Earth Baby on #Breastfeeding- another post I'm incredibly proud of but didn't write, my 11YO did http://bit.ly/h0b8fy + pics of me at 20. […]