Monthly Archives: March 2014

Public Breastfeeding; Should It, Could It, Would It?

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SNL News Skit

As of late, the topic of public breastfeeding has been debated by the media. This is primarily due to the recent posts on instagram by models Gisele Bundchen (http://instagram.com/p/hvz4wzntH_/) and Nicole Ashley (http://instagram.com/p/kcqcGpKR8k/) . Both are working, breastfeeding, models who decided to make their acts of breastfeeding public via instagram. Both received strong backlash. Now, there are a few things I would like to address while speaking on this topic. I will try my very best to remain unbiased and unopinionated.

Now that I got that little disclaimer out the way, I’ll first speak about Gisele’s now infamous photo. The media roared when the post was made on instagram; comments both praising and scolding the mother poured into her comment section. Conversation then blew up, and overshadowed all other backlash, when people started to claim that the photo lacked realism. This factor is what caused me to raise my eyebrow, do we want breastfeeding to be glamorized? I always believed that acts that are glamorize are acts that the public, especially our youth, will attempt to repeat. This leads me to Nicole’s post; majority of her negative comments were solely scolding her. Mind you, her photo is much more realistic in regards to the average woman (those without glam squads). This made me ask the million dollar question, what is the real issue here? Many say it’s race, others say it’s the circumstance, and some say its the way the photo was taken. Nicole Ashley is of color, the photo was taken with a low resolution camera, she is dressed in an average maxi dress, and she claims to be on the go while breastfeeding her son. What is the variable that makes people’s remarks and opinions so different in comparison to Gisele?

Many are arguing that Nicole’s picture is necessary and needed for African Americans to see. This opinion is based on a study produced by the CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5911a2.htm#tab1) that, in conclusion, states that the American average of women who attempt breastfeeding is 73.4 percent. Black Americans, however, were proven to attempt breastfeeding at the dramatically decreased percentage of 54.4 percent. The alleged cause for the lack of attempted breastfeeding amongst Black Americans is due to the failure of these women seeing mothers that look like them breastfeeding. This then leads me to ask, should women breastfeed publicly? If they do, could breasts be seen as body parts with meaningful purposes, rather than sexual aspects of women? Say public breastfeeding becomes an everyday norm, should women cover themselves?Should women do such an intimate act in public? Would the act cause damage to a youthful audience?

Lotus Births and Delayed Cutting of the Cord

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Lotus Births and Delayed Cutting of the Cord

A lotus birth is the constant attachment of both the umbilical and placenta until it naturally dries and detaches. As of late, this practice has come into the light of the media and is up for question. Is cutting the cord traumatic for newborns?

I personally do not find it to be a mandatory practice; I do however, firmly believe in the delay of cutting the cord.My primary reason being that infants who are detached from their umbilical cord immediately are losing 1/3 of their blood. The remaining blood is within the placenta and cord. My second, but no less important, reason is that it delays the separation between parent and newborn. Therefore, enabling time for precious and important skin to skin contact. My concern with lotus births, are hygiene and safety. Both seem like they are managable, however, things happen. I have this fear of the placenta and baby somehow heading in different directions ending in a painful separation. In regards to hygiene, this is a case by case concern. What some consider clean is not the same or someone else; and I would hate for an innocent newborn to have to suffer due to a lack of judgement. The umbilical cord and placenta are organs, they decay, have odors, and more importantly, are high maintenance they are not something to take lightly.

What are your thoughts on Lotus births?

What is Becoming Earthside

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I have started this post at least 10 times. Each time trying to get the perfect words to come rushing out of my fingers to enable you to feel the passion I feel about Becoming Earthside.  BE is more than just a website, more than me pushing merchandise and services on you, but a community I am determined to build. Not only as women, but as families, a community is needed to have judge-free, open, educated conversations about pregnancy, delivery, postpartum care, and even abortion, miscarriage and stillbirths. In today’s world we are overwhelmed with information that we sometimes forget what matters; and what matters is being! Stop dwelling, stressing, and over contemplating. You must have trust and faith in your journey.

The early beginnings of Becoming Earthside started when I became educated in the procedure of giving birth in a hospital. My newfound awareness of both the comforts and personal horrors that occur behind sterile doors lead me to the decision that I wanted to make some changes. I wanted to stress the idea of just being, and having that trust in ourselves. This is why my main concern is educating, supporting, and simply being there for you. Having that confidence in ourselves is the power we need, and I’m dedicated to instilling that power in anyone and everyone beginning a new Earthside journey.