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Why is breastfeeding upside down offensive?

Written by
January 27, 2012
Be Smart
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Dear Reader,

Yesterday our lovely Pip Lincolne wrote about a friend’s Facebook posting that caused a breastfeeding controversy (how did those two words ever find each other?). Here’s a little of what Pip wrote:

This image caused a furor on said friend’s Facebook page. For posting the image of the nude head-standy lady breastfeeding, my friend was called a Nazi, a pedophile, a hippy, a communist and a coward. The image was reported and Facebook removed it quick smart. Hmm. Not cool.  My friend is lovely. These comments are crazy-mean.  Facebook, WTF?

We  support women breastfeeding in a fashion they are are most comfortable. Or not if they can’t. And whether you use a breastfeeding scarf, or you do a headstand, breastfeeding is a mother’s choice.

justb. was surprised (not really) about the backlash Lexi experienced after posting the photo on her FB page and so asked her to share her story with you all in the hope of understanding why the image below is deemed offensive.

Edit : A commenter has led us to this amazing yoga mumma! Scroll down to read her comment : or visit her here!

Breastfeeding

How I Became the Poster Child for Communist-Hippy-Feminist-Nazi-Lactivists

By Lexi Kentmann, Potty Mouth Mama 

I never intended to court controversy over “that” image.

To begin with – it’s not even my image to court controversy over. I found it when I was kicking about on the interwebs.

I just loved it. I loved the lushness of it – and the woman with the knock-out body, practicing yoga, a headstand no less, and breastfeeding. It was a juxtaposition I just had to love. It was endearing, funny – and it captured those special – and intimate moments you share with your children that no one else is usually privy to. It kind of felt like a privilege that the photo had been shared at all.

And of course, being the mad blogger, mad Facebooker, mad Tweeter; I uploaded it to my blog’s Facebook page.

When I gave birth to my first child, over six years ago, I struggled to breastfeed. The hospital was useless, and unhelpful – beyond grabbing my baby’s head and thrusting it to my breast, they weren’t forthcoming with help. It was a stressful time, and I vividly remember being discharged – still unable to attach properly, and that moment walking in my front door holding this newborn.

I had an epiphany.

I had to ensure this wee babe survived. It was up to me and it was terrifying.

I muddled along with nipple shields, which are great, but which I hated, and grew incredibly tired and stressed. I got mastitis. I felt that grey cloud descend on me.

And then I had my second epiphany.

If no one is going to be forthcoming with help – such as the hospital, I have to seek it out myself. By this time it had been suggested that I supplement feed with formula. I didn’t really want to, and experienced those first pangs of mother’s guilt.

Breastfeeding made sense to me. It was the ultimate in fast-food for a baby. And I hate sterilising stuff – so it was a no-brainer for me.

So I sought out a lactation consultant.

The lactation consultant was amazing. And patient. And gentle. And she listened to me. Not once did she forcefully shove my baby’s head at great speed onto my breast. Finally it all began to click. I weaned off the nipple shields. Feeding improved dramatically. The grey cloud got blown away.

Like many, I assumed that breastfeeding would be a natural progression – I thought to myself: apparently some people have trouble with breastfeeding, but no, not me, it will be a snap. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Which brings me back to the photo. That wonderful image of a woman doing what all women do – multi-tasking. And while I thought constructing a sandwich one-handed, talking to my mum with the phone tucked under my chin, and breastfeeding my baby simultaneously was some kind of feat Circus Oz would want to tap, this woman is quietly doing what she does. Breastfeeding and yoga-ing in her backyard stark naked.

For posting it I got name-called like you wouldn’t believe and someone threatened to report me to the AFP. Between you and me – I think they have bigger cases to crack than rapping me over the knuckles for loving a photo of a naked lady upside down breastfeeding.

I am a passionate advocate for breastfeeding. I don’t believe it should be hidden away, in a separate room, in the public toilets or under a cloth (because I can’t wrangle a cloth while I’m trying to breastfeed – it gets too complicated – props to those who can manage it – I just can’t). Whether you choose to, can or can’t breast feed, it’s a natural, everyday, sometimes mundane, sometimes beautiful part of life.

 

  • Melissa

    I love it, i never had much help at the Hospital either, but muddled through it and ended up feeding my first born for 15mths. I love the photo it is just beautiful!!! I have alwats fed in public and was never ashamed of feeding my baby, i could never manage covers either it was just something that got in the way of me being able to see my baby and my baby seeing me!!!!!!!!!! I was at my home town in the RSL Club and a friend of my mum asked if i was going to go to the toilets to feed her and I said to her would you go to the toilet to have your dinner, she said NO so I said to her why sould my baby have to???????

    • http://sarahbrydenbrown.com sarah bryden-brown

      If we want to ban anything (I would like to ban the word ban) it should be babies being fed in bathrooms! Great response, Melissa.

  • fashionadjacent

    Women are beautiful. Babies are beautiful. Breastfeeding is beautiful. Yoga is beautiful.

    She’s angled so you can’t really see any “rude bits”.. I don’t get what the big deal is with this. I think it’s a gorgeous, amazing photograph.

    I am truly struggling to see what’s offensive about this picture.

    • http://sarahbrydenbrown.com sarah bryden-brown

      Me too! It’s inspirational for so many reasons which is why Lexi was drawn to it in the first place, I guess. As my mum always said, if you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything at all.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=719371802 roslynrussell

    Lexi, my hubby is in the AFP and he thinks the picture is great! :) Like you, I had lots of trouble with my first bub, but I got there in the end with perseverance and support. Not everyone can make breastfeeding work and that is cool too. And like you, I cannot wrangle a cloth so I am a public feeder and I have never been met with anything but positivity, so I’ve been lucky! Thanks for sharing the photo, the majority of us loved it!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1308400193 lisapearce

    When I saw this photo my first thought was, as the old saying goes ” so easy you can do it standing on your head!” My second thought was “now that’s multitasking” and my final thought was “I wish my body looked that good so soon after birth!”. Not once did a negative thought pop into my head. I think some people need to just move on…..

    • http://sarahbrydenbrown.com sarah bryden-brown

      You are priceless. Those three comments are exactly what this picture is saying to us! Thank you :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1308400193 lisapearce

    :)

  • Christine

    My response to friends when they have opposed me breastfeeding in public was “Would you eat your lunch in a toilet”, to which they would reply “No”, “then why should my baby”.

    When I saw this image on FB I was blown away, look at that women’s body and how at ease the child is. I even wished I could do that. I never once thought it was offensive nor did I think others would have such a strong response to this beautiful image. Thanks for the blog post.

    • http://sarahbrydenbrown.com sarah bryden-brown

      I wish I could do that. I wish I could be that. I’m so glad Lexi shared her story, too.

  • Thatspaceinbtwn

    I think it is a divine picture and I dont understand peoples uncomfortableness with nudity involving your OWN kids…I agree with the shoved on boob breastfeeding tips for new mums..I remember walking down the street at midnight with a 6 day old after heading to emergency on a public holiday with mastitis and a bunch of midwives so unwilling to just show me a teency bit of compassion. As she got older and I got more relaxed i found that feeding her while having a warm bath with her made life easier…what a lovely bond we had in that getting to know you time. Shame on the people that made such vile comments!

    • http://sarahbrydenbrown.com sarah bryden-brown

      Shame is right. I love your warm bath tip for breastfeeding. Thanks!

  • carly

    as a new mum, I went private for the sole reason that I would have a longer stay in hospital and could learn to breast feed. People put pressure on women to breastfeed but in many cases they don’t receive enough training and services. They quit when they hit a bump in the road, and I almost did too. I was lucky and had an amazing group of midwives and lactation consultants to help me and now its really easy and my little star is thriving.

    For the photo, I think some people can not see past a naked body to actually SEE the picture. The photo is beautiful and I would love to be able to handstand like that lady, and have the confidence and body to handstand naked!!

    • http://sarahbrydenbrown.com sarah bryden-brown

      I agree Carly! I also know so many women who struggled with breastfeeding believing it was a “natural” process and they should just know how to do it. But as we all come to learn, it’s a skill that needs to be learnt. Delivering that lesson with compassion and patience is far more likely to see the mum and baby succeed. And then more women would do handstands as a result, right!

  • Julie

    It is a beautiful picture of a lovely, healthy woman and her baby doing what comes naturally. One would have to wonder about a person who thought there was something improper about this.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      I think that’s what we’re all wondering about here!

  • Eliza

    I don’t have children yet. However the “yet” in that statement is used very literally; I intend on having children. I’m 21 now but even as a teenager when all my friends were saying “eww, I’m not having kids” I was saying “Nothing can stop me from having children”. It is a certainty in my mind that I will be a mother, even if I cannot have “my own” I will adopt or foster a child / children. Likewise there is no doubt in my mind that if I am able to I will breastfeed any child I give birth to.
    My hope is that I can go along my path making choices over issues such as breastfeeding for me and my family without being judged by people who have done it differently. I would like to think that this isn’t an unreasonable hope. Unfortunately it is.
    Why is it that in our society women (in particular) judge other women so harshly over their life choices? To have children or not to have children. To start a family early in life or later down the track. To become pregnant, adopt, have IVF treatment or have a surrogate parent. To return to work quickly, take maternity leave or be a full time mum for however long. To breastfeed or formula feed for however long you can or wish. These are choices, or sometimes necessary actions, everybody makes according to their situation, needs, culture and moral standing. It does not mean that someone who made a decision or took a path different to your own made the wrong one. Just one more suited to them and their family.
    We accept that we are all different, we make different choices, have different personalities, different strengths and weaknesses and different financial, social and cultural situations. The society we live in (for the most part) understands that these differences, plus many more, contribute to the decisions you make and life you lead. People accept that others either choose or are given different education pathways, different jobs, to live in different places or to have different views on things. Why is it different with issues of family? I have no answer for that except that it makes me sad that it is so.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      I wish that our ideal world was a reality. Until then we just need to keep talking and sharing our views and working towards a non-judgey outcome.

    • Louise

      Eliza….. you may like to know it is also possible to lactate to feed adoptive babies if you are committed enough….. ABA has information on that very thing

      <3 Louise

  • http://www.facebook.com/hailey1 haileymurray

    I love this photo. I also struggled with breastfeeding at first which I think everyone does to some degree but with my mothers support and the local community nurses help plus my will to give my son the best start I could, I made it through the first few months of pain. I then feed my first for 2 years, my second for 18 months, third for 12 months and I’m still feeding my fourth now at 16 months. I just wish I could do that pose while I’d had mastitis (as I’ve had it many times) as it would be great to get their bottom lip over the lump to help drain it. It’s sad that there are still so many people with such a negative attitude towards life.
    Thanks for sharing :)

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Love it! The yoga pose that helps with mastitis – now would be nature in action.

  • Angela

    I love the picture. To me it speaks of the strength and confidence of the woman. Confidence to be photographed naked while standing on her head, the strength of her body to give birth to a new life and to be able to stand on her head! The focus and discipline she must have to be able to hold this pose speak not only of her physical strength, but also her mental strength, while to be breast feeding at the same time shows the nurturing love of a mother and well as a mother’s ability to multitask. I don’t understand why an image of a woman feeding her baby is deemed offensive, while most pop music videos reduce the female form to nothing more than a sexual object and everyone’s okay with it. I loved reading Pip’s article yesterday and I loved reading everyone’s comments. Even though I’m not a mother (although I hope to be one day), just reading everyone’s stories and thoughts actually made me feel stronger as a woman and more in awe of how amazing our bodies are in all their natural (and not sexualised) glory. Thank you Sarah, Pip and Lexi for writing about this issue and thanks to all the inspiring ladies who have shared their stories – you are all totes amazing!

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      And YOU will be an amazing mother. YOU will. x

  • Name

    babies are very opportunistic and unabashed when it comes to boobs, I know this first hand :)

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Heeheee … that they are, that they are!

  • Carolyn

    Lexi.. the blog response episode you have endured is a worthy inclusion case book study in contemporary content and communication, and I’m guessing maybe a cross-roads for you as a content producer? You posted from an authentic mind set, intending to joyfully share an awesome image of an iconic moment between mother and child. Instead of appreciation you received rage and I’m thinking the justB ladies offered for your story to be posted in their environment to provide a contrast experience using exactly the same image. Looking at the image and thinking about the negative response my first thought is, if the same subject was set in a studio on a white paper cyclorama and shot in grainy black and white analogue film would the image have produced the same outraged response? I guess I’m wondering which part of the image was confronting: the subject or the setting, the mother and child engaged in an intimate relationship moment or that the moment was captured outdoors in the open? My guess is, if the subject was captured in the studio and then delivered to an arts audience there would be deep appreciation and no objection. In much the same way the outdoors image presented to the joy filled parent community of justB will probably receive the kind of response more in keeping with your intent to share a wonderful, healthy, awesomely athletic approach to parenting! Personally, I look at this image and think this could be the 60′s in a field at Glastonbury or San Francisco, when the when the baby boom generation were showing delight in their freedom to live very differently to their parents. But this shot is not an objection. It is not a performance with an audience. It is a moment in a relationship between the mother, the child and the person who shot the photo. All very comfortable and relaxed and not the first time the baby has enjoyed a feed while mum is keeping healthy. What an astoundingly free and open way to begin a relationship for life. How could any wish for them anything but the best, that all of lives challenges be viewed from this relaxed, healthy and natural perspective. And then, maybe move on to think about all the benefits we derive from privacy in our own home where we are free live life the way we choose.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      I think you’re on to something here … would a studio setting for this pose have brought about so much negativity? I think not too.

  • http://3-men-and-a-lady.blogspot.com/ tessagrosvenor

    this photo is fun! If I had a big backyard, I would do this too!! xx

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      Go Tessa!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=631075682 isabelpavlich-miles

    I honestly cannot get my head around all the backlash that such a stunning picture has created. You don’t find any backlash towards men urinating in public. You won’t find someone hurling abuse or bullying someone that throws a cigarette butt in to the gutter. But yet, in today’s society women cop abuse and bullying for feeding their child in a public place, doing something which is one of the most natural acts of all, using our breasts for the purpose in which they were provided to us.
    Sometimes the wrongness of this world overwhelms me but on the other hand the community which amazing people create to combat these horrible things also overwhelms me with happiness.
    Ladies, keep up the amazing work and freely feed your babies. I look forward to the day in which I become a mother and am able (hopefully) to participate in such a wonderful experience.

    • http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson

      It’s just crazy stuff and I hope you can day can too!

  • Mia

    I have NO problem with this photo at all – in fact I think its a wonderful celebration of a natural and amazing thing! To be able to successfully breastfeed at all is an accomplishment, let alone like that! As a mother of 2, I struggled for weeks to establish bf with my first and even had to ask a friend to ‘borrow’ some milk as I just couldn’t get anything into my wee baby! Lucky I had such GREAT support from friends fam and partner. GO girl to this amazing woman and her lucky babe.

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Aw YES! Breastfeeding can be HARD. Sometimes it’s easy, but sometimes it’s just NOT. Well done YOU for finding ways to make it work for you. Sore nipples are a force to be reckoned with, as is mastitis. Ouch.

      She is an amazing lady, isn’t she? I think you are pretty amazing in the perseverance stakes too!

  • Helen

    I love this pic, but when I tried to replicate the position last night, by standing on my head naked when my one-year-old wanted a feed, he headbutted me and then bit my arm. Believe me, it’s not as easy as it looks. But we need lots more breastfeeding photos, of all sorts, everywhere, till everyone realises how normal, natural and necessary it is.

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      It REALLY is all those things, Helen! And other n words like ‘Nice’ ‘Nuzzly’ ‘Nurturing’ ‘Nipply’ ‘Nippy (sometimes!)’ and ‘Nourishing’ !

  • DagmarBleasdale

    I posted the same picture as a response to Facebook taking down the Leaky B@@b breastfeeding support Facebook page and FB’s continued practice of taking down breastfeeding pictures.

    Here is my post, and anybody is welcome to still add their breastfeeding pictures!

    http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2011/05/take-that-facebook-beautiful-breastfeeding-photos/

    Here is part of my post:

    “I don’t believe in making a spectacle our of yourself when you are nursing in public, but I also believe in the right to nurse in public as long as both mom and child desire.

    If you don’t want to see a mom nursing, please be courteous and leave and allow that moms to feed her child. Don’t make her feel bad for feeding her child the way nature intended it. Be the adult and let the need of a baby trump your feeling of maybe being a little uncomfortable. That mom doesn’t mean to offend you; she is just responding to her child’s cry for food.”

    Dagmar
    Dagmar’s momsense
    @DagmarBleasdale

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Yes. If you are not comfortable watching a mother feed her baby, then avert your eyes… or leave. Let babies eat. Let mums feed their babies. It seems so simple, doesn’t it?! And if you are offended by images of babies being breast fed, quickly click away/look away. It’s okay to feel confronted, but it’s not okay to impose your own issues/boob insecurities on others! Thanks for your comment, Dagmar!

  • Bianca

    Pish posh, rock out with your boobies out!
    xB

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Bam! I agree. Boobs… they are rad. Yes. Chest is best!

  • Elizabeth

    Great photo, I love it. I breastfeed my 3 kids and I only have 2 photos. I am especially sad that I don’t have 1 of me feeding my twins, which I twin fed for 16 months. There should be more photos like this to show how natural breastfeeding is

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Aw. I wish you had those photos too, Elizabeth! That’s amazing that you managed to feed twins! Girl power!! x

  • Elly

    I was given an emergency caesar, had lots of trouble getting baby to attach, she lost 15% of her birthweight. I was exhausted and so was my hungry baby. Her little voice was hoarse from crying. I was sent home, in tears, with grazed bleeding nipples, a starving baby, formular and my milk had not come in. Lucky for me I had a proactive sister who had gone out a bought me a breast pump so at least while I was in agony I could keep producing milk. I dreaded each feed. I expressed bloody milk. And then the maternal and child health nurse gave me nipple shields. And everything changed. We both gained confidence, baby found her favourite position to feed (it wasn’t the football hold, go figure)

    Breastfeeding is my favourite thing now. My 6 month old daughter is thriving, she laughs and touches my face and hair. She stretches out and stops to turn and gaze at her dad, flashes my nipples in public. I have big boobs, so there is nothing discrete about breastfeeding for me. I could care less. There is nothing sexy about it, its food, she’s eating, duh!

    I have had it suggested to me that I feed in the toilet. I have been called a ‘Smother’ (I didn’t even know that was a thing) and I’ve cleared rooms with the mere adjustment of my bra.

    So feed your babies, hold them like football if you like to. Feed them from a bottle if you need to. And if you can, feed them upside down in the nuddie. Just do it!!

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      I like it that your cute baby wants to be a football. I like it that your cute baby is so HAPPY and passes the time looking about and having fun while she feeds. I like it that it’s all so enjoyable for your little family. I think that’s what it’s all about. Nothing nudie rudie about that. Just LUNCH time, DINNER time, SNACK time, FUN time, BOOBIE time! xx

  • CloudLoveBaby

    When I feed my daughter in public the thing I am most self conscious about is not getting my boobs out, it’s having to bare my tummy! I don’t care who sees my boobs (or who takes offence – I take offence to you taking offence!) because I’m not doing it for their viewing pleasure, I’m doing it cause my small peep is hungry! Breast is best. Not, Breast is only.

  • CloudLoveBaby

    PS – That mum is a show off. Who can stand on their head like that? Is it photoshopped do you think?

    ;)

    (aaand to be clear, I’m kidding, ‘k?)

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Hah! She is amazing, isn’t she?! xx

  • Von

    I think it’s great Lexi has opened up this dialogue and conversation. The world needs these things.

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      I agree with you, Von. Thank goodness for gals like Lexi. This stuff is basic HUMAN RIGHTS! It’s not women’s business… it is everyone’s business! As in everyone’s business to get used to it and realize that a woman feeding her baby (nude or not!) is not offensive! It is, in fact, quite lovely and useful.

  • Melissa

    Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful and natural things in the world. Surely there are more important things in the world to get worked up about than a photo of a woman breastfeeding while doing a head stand!

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      YOU. ARE. RIGHT! I think there are lots of things to be outraged about : the famine in East Africa, for instance! Let’s be glad we can actually feed our babies here and our lives are full of plenty! Thank you Melissa!!!! You are right!

  • Wanda

    My boys are now adults, but I can tell you I faced a lot of prejudice when I breastfeed in public. One woman asked the manager to tell me to leave a reastuatance I was sitting in a back corner and purposely asked for that table when we went there rather than sitting in the center of the restaurant. I was being discreet.
    Another woman told me to do “that” meaning breast feed in the bathroom, not the in the mall. My response was “How would you like to eat your lunch in the restroom? I mean consider all the germs in there.” She just gave me a dirty look. Another person chewed me out for breastfeeding in public. I just continued to do what I knew was the right thing for both my boys. I also told them that it was better for children to have breast milk than formula and then simply focused on my child.
    Breast feeding was the only way babies were fed for hundreds of years, and people were even paid to be wet nurses when the mothers could not breast feed themselves or died in child birth. It is natural and in my opinion beautiful.
    I love the picture and support your right to post it on FB and anywhere else. People today are too wrapped up in things to really appreciate true beauty. Funny though that it is okay to watch half naked women dance around on music videos and such.

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      People are so crazy! I mean, you are feeding your beautiful baby! In the way that nature intended! And you are lucky that you are able to! And we should all support that, not ask you to hide away! Sheesh. People are nuts! Thank you for sharing your experience… it sounds like breastfeeding worked out GREAT for you and your boys (despite the nasty people making you feel unwelcome!) xx

  • http://www.facebook.com/mandywill mandywilliamson

    FANTASTIC photo, beautiful. It actually made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and want to go and hug my scrumptious two and a half year old. My ultimate goal this year is to be able to do a handstand like that (not with the suckling babe, unfortunately my breastfeeding days are behind me)

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Aw. Someone else guessed that the baby might have just crawled up to its mumma and latched on.. That sounds completely natural to me! Cute and lovely, methinks! xx

  • http://www.facebook.com/mandywill mandywilliamson

    Also, does anyone know who the woman is? I have a feeling it’s an awesome yoga teacher I had a few years ago…

    • http://www.facebook.com/mandywill mandywilliamson

      …’it’s'?! Oh my god. I meant she. SHE’s! :)

      • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

        I am not sure who she is! I am sure someone will pipe up if they know her!

  • A Daft Scots Lass

    Amen Sista!

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Praise the boob! x

  • Sixty Second Parent

    I love the image. Babies see a breast and just go ahead and eat. I think those people were just jealous that they couldn’t stand on their heads.

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      Maybe if they stood on their heads, more blood would get to their brains and they wouldn’t be so silly!

  • Alison

    The only thing that is wrong here is the small minded responses some people had to the photo. Facebook should be ashamed of itself for being so riduclous about breastfeeeding photos. Why is it acceptable to let our daughters post pics of themselves in provocative poses wearing their underwear but not acceptable to look at this amazing photo which literally celebrates life, babies and motherhood…..

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      You are utterly and completely correct. It’s ridiculous. Perhaps Mark Zuckerberg has some issues with his mum? x

  • http://www.facebook.com/heidi.cahir heidicahir

    I am always so suprised, and in this case angered, by the amount of disgust and outrage directed at breastfeeding Mums. It seems ludicrous that this level of outrage can exist for something so natural, yet I at my local milkbar there is hardcore porn sold on a stand right next to the lolly counter. It seems that, everywhere I go, it is ok to show sexualised and marketable images of women, but natural, nurturing images are somehow offensive.
    I want my daughter to grow up seeing breastfeeding and mothering as beautiful and valueable. To be proud of and accepting of her body, for what it can do, not just for how it looks or appeals to men.

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      I feel the same, Heidi. It’s a SICK double standard. We really do need to make sure that we see more images of breastfeeding, not less. It’s so odd that boobs are thought of as sexy first, and useful/nurturing last by some. Let the babies have the boobs, I say!

  • ally

    Yay for you Lexi – breastfeeding is natural, beautiful and should be encouraged and supported by all

    • http://www.meetmeatmikes.com Pip Lincolne

      YES! Huge super yay for Lexi! Look at all the amazing comments in support of Mums! Go Lex!

  • Breast feeding yoga mama

    ALoha! Thank you all for your beautiful voices! I found the photo here and wanted to share my original post about the photo.

    http://daughterofthesun77.blogspot.com/2011/04/naia-and-i-doing-our-daily-yoga.html

    SO much love to all of you amazing breast feeding mamas!!
    * please give credit if you see this photo elsewhere! Aloha! xx amy

  • Sarah

    I saw this on Pinterest and honestly my only thought was that it was funny, made me chuckle I didn’t read any of this other stuff into it. I thought that maybe Mum was doing a yoga shoot and bub wondered up and had lunch. Haha all caught on film.
    It amused me as a funny moment now I’m looking at it guessing it was probably not accidental but either way it’s kinda cute and funny.
    I couldn’t breast feed, I pumped to a bottle for over 3 months getting only enough milk for one bottle every 3 to 4 days. I’d had consultants and doctors and friends try to help, took drugs to try and increase milk supply. I wish I’d been able to do what this mum can.
    It’s so silly that society has an issue with breast feeding, I can’t wait till we all get over it and it’s as it should be so common place that no one batters an eye!
    In saying that, on a selfish note, if you see a Mum bottle feeding a newborn, please think twice before you stare, shake your head or make a comment aloud or under your breath. Believe me I heard every quietly muttered comment (many I think people thought I couldn’t hear) about my ‘selfish’ ‘lazy’ ‘unhealthy’ ‘bad’ choice and I honestly didn’t need the extra guilt, trust me I felt guilty enough without society confirming my fears. I ended up only feeding in public if I really had no choice as it was so horrible.
    I long for the day when we support each other better!
    This pic does not offend me!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1599503946 sylviadavey

    i just dont understand.

    a) what the big deal is over this image i find it fascinating.

    b) women as well as men getting upset over it -women we have all seen boobs most of us have or will breastfeed in public and as for men if the mere mention of boobs or slightest glimpse of a boob gets you excited gain some control

    c) those that choose to breastfeed are made to feel perverse in some way or that they are a freak show oddity to be stared at, or made to feel shunned and unwelcome and unclean. ironically those that use a bottle whether it be expressed milk or formula in that bottle those bottle mothers are made to feel those same things. made to feel wrong and dirty and alienated and freakish. quite simply we cant win. if you are a breastfeeder you get alienated if you are a bottle mum you get alienated, we should stop worrying about what is best, formula and or boobs, right side up or upside down and concern ourselves with 4 simple things a) is baby happy b) is baby healthy c) are the parents happy d) are the parents healthy. my view is as long as the baby is getting fed enough and is as well as can be expected who cares if it is boob milk or formula milk, take the pressure off, cut some slack. who knows maybe if we reduce the pressuring, alienating, demeaning things we say and or do to parents maybe there will be less post natal depression or in the very least less severe post natal depression occurring. just because it is not how you would do it doesn’t make it wrong, you don’t know the full story as to why she feeds with a boob and not a bottle or a bottle and not a boob all you know and need to know is she is feeding her baby! i had a lot of pain and trouble and personal problems when i was breastfeeding and stopped breastfeeding for my sake and my kids’. people have often said what about the bond that forms when breastfeeding and all i can say is i actually felt closer and better with my child when i started to bottle feed. i was in less pain, i was no longer dreading my child wanting to be fed, i was more comfortable with my child and myself, i was able to get help with my personal problems, i was able to be a mum.

    my point… maybe we need new posters saying something like ….who cares if she is right side up or upside down, breast feeding or bottle feeding so long as that baby is happy and so is mum.

  • Name Guest

    The only thing of concern to me in this picture is that the woman has no pubic hair.

    • Direwolf53

      Expand the photo and take a closer look. Not that it matters, but she does indeed have a neatly trimmed swath of pubic hair.

  • Breastfeeding yoga mama…

    Hahaha… Oh I have pubic hair… Which is the reason I have heard the image is being taken down. I guess if you look really hard, you can see it. :) aloha! Xx

    • Direwolf53

      As a nudist, this photo blesses me on several levels. And yes, I can see the “landing strip.” If it bothers anyone, you can always wax it away and repost the photo…LOL!

  • Mum of 4

    I’ll admit at first I went wow! But to be honest it is so typical of breastfeeding mums, juggling everything. I’ve breastfed all 4 of my babes and yes I’ve had my fair share of mastitis during this 10 year episode of my life. Yes it is hard at first and thank goodness you found a wonderful consultant which helped you on your way.

    Breastfeeding rocks and the longer the better. Yes there are people out there who too have difficulty doing it but giving it a try is great!

    Enjoy your baby!

  • http://www.facebook.com/mandywill mandywilliamson

    That’s exactly what it looks like! I loved breastfeeding and it’s high up on the list of what I miss about the bubby stage.

  • Aviator

    I have no problem with women breastfeeding. It’s normal and natural. I don’t care if women chose to use a blanket (or anything to cover up) or not & I have no problem with breast feeding photos on Facebook either. I don’t want to see full on nudity on Facebook though. Had she been doing that with pants on, wouldn’t bother me. But if u can post a photo like that, why can’t everyone post nudes?

    • Kate

      Aviator shame on you , u want to post porn. This is not porn, this is Ancient Vedic Tradition dating 10′s of thousands years back to Punjab India. Dirty people see porn in innocence. 1st learn Kundalini then you will understand, google Yogi Bhajan, you may yet discover true happiness.

  • Dawn

    I love it. That is all!

  • Momma Jorje

    I have loved the yoga nursing pic since the first time I saw it. I actually just Googled it to share with a friend and found this page. It is a beautiful image!

    • http://www.justbaustralia.com.au/ Pip @ JustB

      It really is, isn’t it?! Boobs doing what boobs are meant to do! xx