It’s been quite a while since I have
thought about newborns, maternity leave and breastfeeding. I think personally I
have intentionally pushed it all in the “completed” file in my memory.
I can whole heartily say that I have absolutely
no desire whatsoever to go down that road again. However lately I have been
thinking about how lucky I was to have both my girls in Australia.
My first impression when I first arrived
here to New York about breastfeeding was it was something you did in private.
Unlike myself who openly breastfed at Centennial Park after doing a run or
sitting in a Cafe at Bondi having a coffee. Breast feeding or nursing as they
call it here is not as accepted in public as it is back home. I do feel that
here women would like to see changes however at the moment it’s something you
do discreetly as to not “offend”.
I am no mother earth actually far from it
however I do believe fundamentally mothers should have the choice to birth and
feed their babies in any manner they feel is best for them.
It is a very hot topic here and one that
every mother feel passionately about.
I also am so sad at the fact that generally
women here have to return to work after just 6 weeks post birth. My daughters
Pre-K assistant had her second baby and had to be back in the classroom six
weeks later. I felt awful as I know I could not have left my babies at 6 weeks.
Here she is taking care of my child while her newborn is being taken care of by
someone else.
Its really given me an admiration of
mothers here in the USA.
I am also so grateful that as a mother I
have always had the choice to either work or not.
