Secret Sisterhood

I felt a bond the other tonight with a woman I had only known for about one minute. My family and I were at church when a lovely lady came over to admire baby Sam (who can resist). As she made sweet faces at Sam, I boasted about what a good baby he is and how I can take him anywhere. She smiled and asked if I was breastfeeding. When I replied yes there was a twinkle of passion in her eye and I instantly knew she had breastfed as well. We talked for a long time and talked as if we had known each other for years. I could say anything to her about breastfeeding, my breasts, sore nipples, you name it, and was amazed how easy it was to share something so intimate with someone I hardly knew. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and really didn’t want it to end. It was like she knew what I was going to say before it was ever said. It has been at least 15 to 20 years since she has breastfeed a child, but that didn’t matter, she was able to talk about this sacred dance between her and her babies as if they were not grown, but infants in need of her supply. I ate up all the advice she was willing to give and left the exchange feeling good about motherhood, good about breastfeeding, and great about myself. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to talk about it, or how I really needed to share the small triumphs I have experienced while breastfeeding with an interested ear.

Since Sam has blessed my life, I have had some very wonderful random conversations with Moms I know and Moms I have never met before about breastfeeding. Each time I speak with a breastfeeding Mom I am amazed at their willingness to share personal experiences and listen intently to mine. It is like I have uncovered a secret sisterhood and I am proud to be a member. I have not been to a La Leche meeting yet, but I think I just realized the importance of them. So…see you there!


You can find a meeting near you by visiting:  http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html