I don't see any problems with the picture, Those that created the scene must not have been breastfed by their mothers! I really don't get it why people behave like that!

Debra

I agree that that breastfeeding is best. I also think Dr\'s and other health care professionals are too quick to say a woman has a problem and can\'t do it. Breastfeeding is not easy in the beginning. You doubt yourself and your ability to feed your infant. BUT our bodies were MADE to do this! Not enough women trust themselves to do it. Your wife may be one of the few who truly can not breastfeed. The actual number is something like 2% who truly can not. She may also been on the losing end of bad medical advice!

... for the comment about formula. Yes, breastfeeding is absolutly the best and there are advantages to it, however, there are situations (like my wife with our daughter) where she was physically unable to breastfeed. Our daughter is smart (already smarter than I am and she\'s only three :p ), active, happy, and totally healthy. And she was on formula for most of her infancy. We will see what happens with our next child (due in March) and both my wife and I hope she will be able to breastfeed, however, if it turns out that she can\'t, I have no problem with formula. I am a little tired of the guilt trip our culture lays on moms who use formula. Sometimes, it\'s the only option.
Sorry to rant on, but it\'s kind of a sore spot for me.

When we left the farm, we began the drift away from the natural events of life - reproduction, nursing, dying and death. Now all of these are hush hush. Young women are confused, men (and perhaps women)are absurdly offended, all because we try to hide the most normal and natural functions of human behavior as if they were a source of shame or ridicule. Baby formula wasn\'t devised to improve infant health (it actually interferes with a baby\'s acquisition of immunity to its environment). Baby formula was developed to allow mothers who should be nursing to feel good about keeping their breasts hidden from public view. Mothers, nurse your babies. If we can see a woman\'s breast in prime time, we can see a woman ensuring the health of her growing infant by feeding it the way it was intended to be fed - from the breast.

LOL at the KFC comment! :)

MY RESPONSE after 26 straight months as a nursing mom: We just don\'t see enough breastfeeding in our culture. That\'s why it looks weird. I thought it was totally weird until I became a nursing mother myself...because I\'d never seen a mom nursing.

Before I breastfed, I probably would have noticed the boob first in that picture. Now, though, I see the look of love and adoration and happiness in that baby\'s eyes. It is a beautiful picture. Makes me teary, actually.

MY SOMEWHAT MORE RADICAL RESPONSE:
If our society can just freakin\' relax enough to see the big picture, then breasts can be ALL of these things: sexy, nurturing, attractive, practical.

Sex, procreation, and nurturing offspring are all part of the sexual life of adults. It\'s all a big circle of life that we\'re privileged to participate in.

I\'m not saying it\'s exactly sexy to breastfeed a baby or child. Really, it\'s anything but. And, honestly, the first few months of breastfeeding can interfere with sex. Mom gets very possessive of those things because, during that time, they are serving a higher purpose. (And if you can find the energy for sex during those sleepless times, then I admire you. We didn\'t.)

I can tell you the hormones involved are all the same. And the rush of relaxation and nurturing love that come with the milk letdown is caused by the same hormonal release that happens with orgasm.

No, you DON\'T get orgasms from breastfeeding. You do get a similar feeling of warmth, love, and relaxation afterwards, though. It\'s a great stress reliever.

That\'s nature rewarding the mom for taking good care of the offspring. Baby\'s happy and fed and (often) asleep now. Mom\'s happy, more relaxed, and feeling more loving towards what can be a demanding, trying little person. And dads? You life is easier when your mom-baby pair are happy.

All because of those thingies that make our dresses and bikinis and shirts fit great, too. Cool, huh? I think so.

Sorry to wax on and on. Guess I\'m feeling philosophical about it this morning. But it would be great if people realized it\'s not a madonna-whore, nurturing OR sexy thing. It\'s the whole spectrum. And that\'s amazing.