August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month!

Breastfeeding is, unfortunately, a controversial issue in our society. In Illinois, there are laws to protect women so they are able to nurse in public- which seems utterly ridiculous to me, because why would you need to legislate such a basic action, need?

So, even though I'm not a mother, here's a few things I've been reading and listening to about breastfeeding lately:

The La Leche League is a great resource. They are an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. I've been listening to their podcasts (available on iTunes), which are really informative, not only about breastfeeding but natural parenting.

Ban The Bags is a national campaign to stop formula company marketing in maternity hospitals.

Mommy Too! has a Black Breastfeeding Blog with a really great resource and blog roll page.


I have yet to find any Asian or Latina-specific breastfeeding resources, but this was something I was just browsing around a bit for. Unfortunately, most websites go on the assumption that you're white, middle class and that your family is heteronormative. If anyone has links for all of us outside those boxes, please share!


...I also found this great little writeup...

Human Milk is Green
Ecologically speaking...

It's a natural, renewable resource and is all the baby needs for the first six months of life.

It requires no resources for packaging, shipping or disposal.

No precious energy is wasted producing artificial baby milk and related products.

No land needs to be deforested for pasture or crop production.*

It does not create pollution from the manufacturing of human milk substitutes, bottles, nipples and cans.

It helps space babies by suppressing fertility in the mother.


*I'd also add, since there is no vegan formula available in the usa, no female cows are raped ("artificially inseminated") only to have their calves taken from them after birth. The male calves get turned into veal while the female cows suffer the same fate as their mothers until they are eventually killed to become hamburger meat. Go vegan!