Breastfeeding - is it normal?

I have been alternately delighted and outraged that the sight of Beyoncé breastfeeding her child in public recently has been headline news. Delighted, because it may help other women, perhaps particularly young mothers, to make the decision to breastfeed their child. Outraged, because really, why on earth should it be news that a mammal is feeding its child with its own milk? That’s what being a mammal means.

How is it, that in our supposedly advanced society, we have reached a stage where we think it “better” or more “convenient” (have you tried sterilising a bottle at 2am with a screaming baby in the other hand?) to feed our offspring synthesised milk in plastic bottles, and then, as soon as they’re one year old, feed them milk from another animal entirely, when our own bodies produce the perfect baby food? Human breastmilk is absolutely, completely and utterly designed to nurture a human baby. It’s not rocket science! It’s produced by the mother to meet the needs of her young. It’s the right temperature, the right consistency, the right blend of nutrients – I could go on ad infinitum.

So yes, well done Beyoncé: I’m really pleased you’re doing this, and I wish many women will be spurred on by your example. But I wish even more than it was so normal it wasn’t deemed worthy of comment.