"Booby Cult" and Proud: My Breastfeeding Journey, Part I

My breastfeeding journey started 15 years ago, in 2011, when my first son was born. You already know my solo story — how I had him, facing being a single mom at that time. There I was, waking up from anesthesia after my C-section, anxious to finally see and hold my baby boy. It was time to feed him, and I was still weak from surgery, with absolutely no idea how to breastfeed, or even how to properly hold my own baby.

The room was full of people — my mom, my aunts, my grandmother, the nurses — everyone telling me what to do, some gently, some not so gently. I was so nervous. Then one of my aunts took the baby and guided him straight to my nipple, and just like that — click — like flipping a switch, my son latched on and started eating.

It was a beautiful, painful moment. I cried because it hurt so badly, and I cried because I was so happy to finally hold my healthy baby boy. After that day, everything became easier. Breastfeeding my first son created a bond that can never be broken or forgotten. I treasure it forever.

Now, here I am, and my breastfeeding journey has started all over again.

The "Booby Cult"

From the very beginning of my second pregnancy, I knew I wanted to breastfeed my baby girl. I heard all the usual comments — that formula has come a long way, that my body would "pay the price," and all the rest of that speech I quietly muted, because my decision was already made.

I truly respect every mom's choice. Formula is a wonderful option — for moms who can't produce enough milk, for working moms, for moms who need the freedom of a night out, or simply for sharing feeding duties with dad so everyone can get some sleep. I mean that. But personally, I'm part of the breast milk moms.

Not long ago, someone told me, "oh, you're part of the Booby Cult." That phrase stuck with me. I mean no judgment toward anyone who feeds differently, but it's heartbreaking that I have to defend something so natural.

My baby girl is 18 months old, and guess what? I'm still breastfeeding. I know — I can already picture the reaction on so many of your faces right now, and that's okay. I get that same look from family and friends who watch my toddler walking around while I say, "okay, time to nurse."

When It Wasn't Easy

Going back to right after I gave birth, I remember the nurses coming to my house to check that my baby was gaining weight properly — and it was a hard time. I was told my milk might not be "good enough," or that maybe I wasn't producing enough. That was heartbreaking to hear. I kept thinking, that's impossible — I already breastfed my son and look how healthy he is. I felt so much distress and pressure during that period. I was even asked to consider formula, but that was never an option for me. I wanted my baby to grow up healthy, and I wanted to keep building the same bond I had with her brother.

People kept coming to me with opinions I never asked for. "Formula is fine, don't worry — look at my kid, never got sick drinking formula." Deep down, I knew my milk was good. I bought pumps, researched every option, and got a little obsessive about it, honestly — I really wanted my baby to have the benefits of breast milk for at least her first six months.

Eventually, the nurses came back, and everything checked out. My baby girl had gained the weight she needed, and then some.

18 Months Later

Now, 18 months in, we're still on this journey together, her and me. Sometimes nursing isn't even about hunger — sometimes she just wants to be close to mama, and honestly, I want to be close to her too. That's our moment. She touches my face, plays with my eyes and lips, and smiles. It's our bonding time.

I think the phrase "Booby Cult" really does describe me — I never stopped breastfeeding my daughter, no matter what anyone told me along the way. I truly believe moms need better education around breastfeeding. Yes, it hurts at first — I won't sugarcoat that. There's also the fear of not producing enough milk. But the benefits, for both baby and mom, are real.

The Benefits I've Lived — and What Research Backs Up

As a C-section mom, nursing helped my uterus contract back to size and reduced my postpartum bleeding. Breast milk carries antibodies that help babies fight off viruses and bacteria, and I can say my daughter, thank God, doesn't get sick often. I also saved real money on formula — though I traded it for plenty of sleepless nights by her side.

Beyond what I've felt firsthand, research backs up a lot of what "Booby Cult" moms experience:

• It keeps evolving with your baby. Breast milk composition actually changes as a toddler grows — between 12 and 24 months, it becomes more concentrated in protein and immune-boosting compounds, continuing to meet a toddler's changing nutritional needs even alongside solid food.

• The immune benefits don't stop at 12 months. Toddlers who continue breastfeeding tend to get sick less often, and some research even links longer breastfeeding to lower rates of obesity, diabetes, and allergies later in life.

• It protects mom too. Breastfeeding for a year or more is linked to a lower long-term risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

• It's not just physical — it's emotional. Studies suggest nursing parents report lower levels of anxiety and stress, and the physical closeness of breastfeeding supports secure attachment between mom and baby.

• No, it doesn't create "unhealthy dependence." Some of the mom-shaming around extended breastfeeding assumes it makes kids clingy — but research actually points the other way: children whose emotional needs are consistently met through nursing tend to grow into more secure, independent toddlers.

So yes, I'm still nursing. I'm proudly part of the "Booby Cult," and I don't know exactly when this chapter will end — but as long as I'm able to give my daughter both nutrition and comfort, I'll keep going.

Stay with me on this nursing journey. I'll keep sharing it with you until it comes to its natural end.

Are you in the "Booby Cult" too, or did you choose a different feeding journey? I'd love to hear your story in the comments — no judgment here, ever.