Controversy
and a song in a wood with the baby
How has it come to this, that it is now controversial to say that only women can breastfeed?
The following is a very long winded way of telling you about a song and also linking it to a significant political (yes, I'll call it political) event recently in England…. The "transing" of breastfeeding (thank you to my wonderful friend and mentor
for this excellent word which I have borrowed from an article she wrote. (along the lines of the “transing of midwifery”)Read on if you want to know the controversy.
OR
Scroll down if you just want to hear the music.
This time 4 years ago we were still in the thick of the “covid” nonsense. I was living on the edge of the western-most border of Sherwood Forest, spending literally hours and sometimes days wandering about in the woods and up and down the undulating hillocks that cover most of that area (sadly now Forestry Commission land but still beautiful and holding ancestral ties nonetheless).
For we ARE our land. The remains of our ancestors lay buried somewhere under the soil and their souls inhibit the very spaces that we live in. Many of the old stories are lost to time and might never be recovered. But all around us the imprint of our forefathers and mothers lives on. What would they make of this modern world?
I always felt a strong connection to this wood and would walk here with my dog for hours when the occasion arose.
In the autumn it was the absolute BEST place for looking at fairy toadstools (fly agaric - you know the ones made famous by the reindeer for eating them). I used to stand in awe at these and just soak in the energy. No need to touch nor taste them. Just being in their presence was enough.
This woodland was magical in all seasons. At the very start of lockdown I was out looking for my son’s lost ferret who had escaped (these animals are masters of escape and disguise). Here’s another ramble about the woods and about Jack, the ferret.
Much time has passed now and I no longer go there in those woods.
One of the last times was with my baby boy and the dogs (we had gained an extra hound since lockdown).
I was a tad melancholy that day as I was really feeling alone. I do empathise with new mothers, especially when you have little to no support around you. But, oh how I did love that wander! I put my little 14 month old Robin in the back carrier and off we trudged up the long narrow incline to an out-crop that, at one time, would’ve looked out upon the whole of the valley and right down to Lord Byron’s home at the abbey.
I sat beneath my favourite tree (one of the many birch trees on the top there) and sang.
Half-way through as I sang Robin wanted milk and so I paused the recording. (You probably cannot even tell on this video at all unless you are a staunch folkie and know all the words).
Its one of those songs that’s great for a melancholy day. And that’s how I was feeling to be quite honest. Exactly the same as this time when I sang it (also in the same woods, just a little farther down on the main path). And at that time I was also feeling EVERY. SINGLE. WORD.
A couple of years after that first video and now with baby and dogs in tow I was getting over a difficult time (Baby in hospital for a month having open heart surgery at 6 months old, as well as other things).
Because of being born with a heart issue, breastfeeding had proved challenging. So I reached out to a support group that I had known about for years called the La Leche League. They used to be an amazing charity who would give advice to help you with any breastfeeding challenges.
The volunteer breastfeeding counsellor at the end of the phone had been so, soooooo very amazing and little Robin ended up feeding quite well indeed given the circumstances - he also had formula in a bottle. Now almost three years old he’s just weaned himself. (My older children did similar when they were ready and gradually stopped in their own time).
I’ve always thought very highly of the LLL, even becoming a paid member and attending the toddler meetings back in the day with my older children (yes, its quite normal for a toddler to still have their mother’s milk even though we rarely see that now. I think because mothers are told that 6 months is the norm and to get formula then).
But look at what has happened recently:
for a comprehensive overview this video is a brilliant watch
A local leader Ruth Lewis who I know from back in those early days was featured in the Telegraph above.
Anyway that is enough to keep you going for now. Next instalment will be about some music that my sister and I are releasing next week.
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I'm a folk singer based in Nottingham, England and also known as The Bread Witch for my Community Bread Baking project 🍞🥖
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If you appreciate my work/music perhaps you'll consider buying me a coffee (or 3!) ☕☕☕☕ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/EatBakeSing
Many thanks! 🤗
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Have a look at https://eatbakesing.co.uk/ for all social media links and information about forthcoming events and courses
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More folk music by The Russell Sisters (harp and voice) at https://youtu.be/W2ns1-KZg8U
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Album coming soon....
Errr...what's wrong with being a feminist?
Sounds like you care about women, women's lives, women's rights. = you are a feminist.