This post was written as part of The Breastfeeding Cafe's Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today's post is about mothering through breastfeeding. Please read the other blogs in today's carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 18th through the 31st!
To me the term breastfeeding does a slight injustice to all that breastfeeding actually encompasses. I think the term nursing is such a better fit. If you look up the word nurse in the dictionary this is what you'll find:
–verb
1.
to tend or minister to in sickness, infirmity, etc.
2.
to try to cure (an ailment) by taking care of oneself: to nurse a cold.
3.
to look after carefully so as to promote growth, development, etc.; foster; cherish: to nurse one's meager talents.
4.
to treat or handle with adroit care in order to further one's own interests: to nurse one's nest egg.
5.
to use, consume, or dispense very slowly or carefully: He nursed the one drink all evening.
6.
to keep steadily in mind or memory: He nursed a grudge against me all the rest of his life.
7.
to suckle (an infant).
8.
to feed and tend in infancy.
9.
to bring up, train, or nurture.
10.
to clasp or handle carefully or fondly: to nurse a plate of food on one's lap.
To me, nursing really says it. Mothering through breastfeeding is not just feeding one's child, but bringing up, handling carefully, treating with care, promoting growth and development, and taking care of. Breastfeeding my babies has allowed me to get to know them and their needs.
Exclusive breastfeeding requires a mother to always be close to her baby. To me, this is how nature intended it and just feels right. I have had plenty of people question why I don't want girls nights out or even alone time in the early months but for me I enjoy the connection.
Breastfeeding, or shall we say nursing, has allowed me to be the mother I want to be. A connected mother who knows, nurtures, and cares fondly for her children.
Here are more posts by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.
- Claire @ The Adventures of Lactating Girl—Mothering in Second Place
- Sylko @ Chaotic Mama—Breastfeeding Carnival: Mothering
- Lexi @ Life As A Mommy—Breastfeeding for Me
- Timbra @ Bosoms & Babes—The Mother I never thought I'd Be
- Shelly @ Lousy Mom—Breastfeeding taught me I'm a lousy mom
- Natasha @ naturalurbanmama—Mothering through Brestfeeding:as Mother Nature intended
- Renee @ Just the 5 of us!—Nursing says it best
- Kaitlin Rose @ Bring Birth Home—Nurturing the (Nursing) Mother
- Kate @ KateIsFun—Breastfeeding and Mothering
- Emily @ Baby Dickey—How breastfeeding has shaped my role as a mother
- And of course the guest poster on the Breastfeeding Cafe’s Blog today is Katherine Anderson—Mothering Defined by Nursing
4 comments:
oooh, i so like this, especially because sometimes there is controversy over saying "nursing" or "breastfeeding". . . but i think NURSING goes beyond the stage of just "feeding". . .love this one!!!
oooh... I'm so inadvertently good at controversy :P glad you like it T!
I was the same way, I didn't "need" time away from my baby. I liked being mommy, and nursing is a special part of that. :)
I hadn't ever thought of the difference between the terms nursing and breastfeeding. Nursing is definitely a better definition!
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