Thanks to Hazel, the question of whether or not to breastfeed my own babies never even popped into my mind. Breastfeeding was such a normal part of my upbringing that it was just a given. [On a side note: Thanks to that upbringing, I was also keenly aware of how the formula marketing machine operated, and found it fascinating to witness firsthand. The free samples in the hospital bag. The free can of formula sent to my door two weeks after my first baby’s birth, during the vulnerable sleep-deprived stage when you’ll try anything to get a little shut-eye and breastfeeding hasn’t become second-nature yet. Brilliant.]
Thanks to Hazel, my kids have all gotten the full benefits of breastfeeding from birth through their toddler years. Thanks to Hazel, I’ve never had any hang-ups with nursing in public. Thanks to Hazel, I had a mom who knew what to do when my babies weren’t latching properly, or when I had a clogged milk duct, or when I was looking for a good nursing bra. Thanks to Hazel, I was able to pump milk to help feed my newborn adopted nephew his first year while also nursing my own baby.
Thanks to Hazel, my grandkids most likely will be breastfed, too.
You never know what influence you’ll have on the people around you. I’m sure Hazel didn’t set out to change my mom’s life, or mine, or my kids and grandkids. But I am so grateful to this woman for the simple act of nursing her baby in front of my mom. I wonder if nursing my babies in public over the years has helped normalize breastfeeding for someone else. I hope so. That seems like the perfect way to pay forward the gift that Hazel the New Zealander gave my family.
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