Today, October 10th, is the Great Virtual Breast Fest. What on earth is that, you may ask?

Well, recently, Bill Maher equated breastfeeding in public to masturbating in public. Um, what?! Facebook has removed pictures that women have posted of themselves, nursing their babies. They will, however, allow pro-anorexia groups and even pedophiles. Breastfeeding, however, is verboten. Lovely.

I don't understand this obsession with breasts and with making breastfeeding out to be something obscene, something that should be done in a toilet or under a blanket or hey, how about you just don't leave the house while you're breastfeeding that kid because I might see a bit of skin while I'm scarfing down my wings at Hooters. People are totally ridiculous on the subject.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least the first six months of a baby's life.

"Studies on infants provide evidence that breastfeeding can decrease the incidence or severity of conditions such as diarrhea, ear infections and bacterial meningitis. Some studies also suggest that breastfeeding may offer protection against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), diabetes, obesity and asthma among others. (Emphasis mine.)

Research indicates that breastfeeding can reduce a mother's risk of several medical conditions, including ovarian and breast cancer, and possibly a decreased risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis in the postmenopausal period. Increased breastfeeding also has the potential for decreasing annual health costs in the U.S. by $3.6 billion and decreasing parental employee absenteeism, the environmental burden for disposal of formula cans and bottles, and energy demands for production and transport of formula." (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics website )

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for a baby's first six months of life and nutritionally safe and complimentary foods in addition to continued breastfeeding,. until a child is two years old.

Now, none of these studies say that breastfeeding will prevent diabetes or SIDS or any of the other protections, but they might. Besides, breasts are meant to feed babies. In addition to all the health benefits nursing has, it's free. It produces zero waste, unlike formula and bottles. There is no energy used to heat anything. It's a win/win situation for everyone.

I'm not knocking women who bottle-feed their kids - that is not what this little diatribe is about. Many women don't want to nurse their kids. Many women lack the support at home or at work and many women are embarrassed by the thought of it. I find it sad that society has turned breasts into an exclusively sexual object, but I'm not going to condemn anyone who bottle-feeds. Yes, I'll always urge breastfeeding. Always. But as long as your child is being fed, I am not going to get in your face about anything. I'm not a lactivist.

Given that breastfeeding promotes so many good things, shouldn't people just let mothers nurse? We don't want to sit around shirtless, being obnoxious about it. We just want to feed our kids.