Breastfeeding Issues

I followed a link to this photo montage in celebration of the first year of breastfeeding. One of the captions read something about the act of breastfeeding helping the woman to heal from past sexual abuse. It immediately occurred to me that this was another great reason to breastfeed.

I have heard women say that they chose not to breastfeed because it's gross or inappropriate or that their breasts are only for their husbands.

I was sexually abused as a child and spent much of my life feeling awkward or vulnerable in my own body. Now, three breastfed baby relationships later, I realize that I have a much more comfortable and practical body image. Breastfeeding literally healed me from that uncomfortableness with my body and the cultural sexualization of the breasts.

Women who avoid breastfeeding because of sexual issues miss the opportunity to heal those issues.