Breastfeeding in the land of Ghengis Khan

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

I just LOVED this article -so I thought I'd share.
I just couldn't help thinking......what if all we thought we knew about babies, breastfeeding and parenting was just.....wrong....


~ Peaceful Parenting ~: Breastfeeding in the Land of Genghis Khan

[lauren22]

wow that has just so inspired me wowowowowow I think this article is incredible! I hope one day my breastfeeding journey can be as sucessful but how amazing is that? I love the idea that they can share it in such an amazing enviroment.

[Amaunet]

Great article Barb - thanks for posting it!

LOL on the breatsmilk at work! A breastfeeding mother I work with puts her cows milk (for her coffee) in a baby bottle so no one will "borrow" any - cos they aren't completely sure it isn't EBM! I guess that wouldn't work in Mongolia!

[Glamourcide]

What a lovely article, Barb. Thankyou so much for posting it
I admit that at this point, my 'education' on breastfeeding is not yet complete - I am still somewhat uncomfortable with the idea of 'extended' breastfeeding and do not yet see myself doing it, but I am well aware that my feelings on that are due to our society's hang-ups and I hope that the more I read stories like this mother's, the more I will be able to embrace the idea of breastfeeding my own child (for the record, I have nothing but respect for women who do breastfeed their kids for so long, I think it's great - I just don't yet see myself being able to do it because of the pressure from those around me who are less educated) for the first few years of her life instead of just months. I really do hope and pray that one day our society will be just as comfortable, accepting and encouraging of breastfeeding mothers and children as those in Mongolia. Fantastic to see people not just being 'tolerant', but embracing the benefits that breastmilk gives to everybody, not just infants!

As for the 'lazy mother's secret weapon' - my oath it is!! I can't imagine going back to bottles after having it so easy with BFing! Even DH can't believe how placid and easily settled Squirtle is when he compares her to Munchkin at the same age. I personally put it down to BFing - boobie fixes *everything* for her, from a cat scratch to the exhaustion she feels after a long, hard day out and about. I feel a lot more free being able to just pop her in the car to go out without having to prepare and cart around bottles all day

Thanks again for this article, Barb. BB has been an absolutely invaluable resource for so many aspects of parenting, and breastfeeding is definitely right up there on my list of 'things I couldn't have accomplished without BB'! This article and others like it enable me to embrace one of nature's most perfect designs and helps affirm that I'm doing the best thing for my baby and I.

[canadianmummy]

Thank you so much for sharing that. I found that very interesting. Makes me want to have a second child so I can confidently bf in public as I was so uncomfortable with it with DS.

[rufalina]

Sensational article. Thanks Barb for sharing that. Make you stop and think.

[STARRYSKY]

Thankyou for posting this truly inspirational article Barb!

Like Glamourcide said, If not for BB and the wonderful people like yourself, continually re affirming the "normalcy" of breastfeeding, I dont think I would be nearly as confident about it as I am.

Thankyou x

[Jennifer13]

I guess the attitude of the Mongolian society is the reason why

In 2005, according to UNICEF, 82 percent of children in Mongolia continued to breastfeed at 12 to 15 months, and 65 percent were still doing so at 20 to 23 months.

I long for the day when everyone would say this:

The value of breastmilk is so celebrated, so firmly entrenched in their culture, that it's not considered something that's only for babies.

Why oh why can't we celebrate breastfeeding (and by extension, motherhood and bonding with our children) in the same way in our so-called 'developed' nation??

I hope you don't mind, Barb, but I'd like to add this thread to my signature.

[tk1999]

Gorgeous article... from now on I will be proud when lazy mum is bantied around!

[Indadhanu]

Tsetsgee had a different approach. At the first murmur of discord, she would lift her shirt and start waving her boobs around enthusiastically, calling out, "Come here, baby, look what mama's got for you!" Her son would look up from the toys to the bull's-eyes of his mother's breasts and invariably toddle over

Sounds like what I do when Jazz gets cranky at bedtime LMAO!

[Jennifer13]

I like the image of all the mums sitting around doing the same thing and the grandmas getting involved as well if necessary!

That would be a mothers group to see!

[MantaRay]

I love this article.

Jen, that image reminds me of bfing DS2 in a local village in Vanuatu. All the local women gathered around me and one of them lifted my T-shirt away from DS's head. I couldn't communicate verbally with these women but I felt like a part of their community - their support was palpable and the simple act of bfing was viewed as the natural part of life that it is. I am still not sure why she lifted the T-shirt - whether it was to see DS better or to show me that I don't have to hide what I'm doing - I'm not sure. But either way that is my favourite bfing experience. Bfing in public should always be like that!!

[HotI]

I missed this article the first time. Thanks for posting.

[boomba]

I love this article..I showed DH and he said so you want to move to Mongolia I said sure if it means feeding in peace

[tan32]

Thank you so much Barb and Jen,
I was pointed in the direction of this article just when i needed it the most.
I now know its ok for lachlan and I to continue our breastfeeding journey.

Thank you thank you thankyou

[Shanti]

Beautiful article. I love it!! I wish Australians were more like the Mongolians.... amazing culture!! So supportive of breastfeeding Mum's.

[lilprecious75]

Mongolians are wonderful people so I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article.
My family has been blessed by some wonderful Mongolians thanks to my father welcoming an amazing Mongolian young man into the family as an exchange student about 5 years ago (I think) when he was in year 12. After he finished his year at the local high school he decided to apply (and was accepted) to the private University in the town I grew up in. Though he began to live on campus he was (and is) still very much a part of my family.

Mongolians are WONDERFUL with children - Tamir has a beautiful relationship with my eldest son, though he has only met him three times. Last year, when I was in the states alone with James for one month, I had the pleasure of meeting two of Tamir's friends. I got some much needed "me" time as the three of them whisked James away and entertained him for hours.

I was shocked when they came to me at one point to inform me that James had done a poo. As I jumped up to do what needed to be done they laughed and said they had already cleaned him up and taken care of everything, they just wanted me to know he had done it. I was amazed. Not many Australians (I don't think anyway) would change a toddler's nappy voluntarily when they hardly know the child or the mother.

I would LOVE to experience such an open and accepting response to breastfeeding, extended breastfeeding, and baby care in general, as seems to be the norm in Mongolia! We have a LOT to learn from other countries.

I was interrupted halfway through reading this article as Jeremy woke and as I sat on the lounge and fed him I marveled at him and at the wonder of babies in general.

Thanks Barb for posting this article and reminding us what is truly important when it comes to our babies. They will grow up entirely too fast (and our society wants to speed that process even more) so thanks for reminding us to enjoy them while they are little and so vulnerable and needy! I needed that today!!