• Home
  • Parenting
    • Motherhood
      • Relationships
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby (0-1 years)
      • Breastfeeding
    • Toddler (2-5 years)
      • Potty Training
    • Kid (6-9 years)
    • Tween (10-12 years)
    • Teen (13-18 years)
  • Hygge
  • Creative
    • LEGO
    • Perler Beads
    • Wreaths
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall/ Autumn
  • Life Style
    • Pets
    • Financial Life
    • Our Life
    • Reviews
  • Health
    • Heart
    • Narcolepsy
    • Special Needs
  • Meet Tove Maren
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Statement
  • Shop
    • Best Selling Shirts
    • Sarcastic Shirts
    • Sleep Humor Shirts
    • Heart Mom Shirts
    • All MITN Shirts
    • Hygge & Happiness Books
    • Book Club Worthy Books
    • Parenting Books
    • LEGO Gifts

Mama In The Now

Boy Mom Life With Humor and Hygge

I use cookies on this site to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze traffic. I also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. Privacy & Cookie Policy

Marvelous Mammary Memories, by Hanne C.

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • X
  • Threads

There are affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations.

There are affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations.

Welcome to Marvelous Mammary Memories! These stories are shared by breastfeeding moms, who like myself wish to spread the word to new moms that breastfeeding can have its challenges, but it is worth practicing, seeking help, asking for support and looking for answers.We all know the benefits of breastfeeding, but we do not instinctively know how to successfully breastfeed. We need help, advice, support and guidance – even if it is our second, third or fourth baby. 

I would love to share with you my mom’s breastfeeding story from the 70s. It is interesting to see the progress that has been made over the past 40 (yikes) years. When you have read this article, please comment if you were you breastfed or formula fed as a child. Would you have breastfed under in the 70s, based on my mom’s experiences?

Real Breastfeeding Stories From Real Moms - Trials & Triumphs!

Real Breastfeeding Stories From Real Moms – Trials & Triumphs!

Dear Tove,

Your blog has inspired me to share with you some of my experiences with breastfeeding back in the 70’s in the USA when you and your sister were born.
Your sister Sonja was born in August 1970 at the Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. As you can imagine your father and I were very excited, anticipating the birth of our first child. Being Danish I never even considered whether to breastfeed or not, it was just second nature to any Danish woman at that time.

Back then, in the USA you were not allowed to have your baby with you in your hospital room. All the babies were in the nursery in their little basinets. There were 22 babies in the nursery when Sonja was born, and they were all on formula. The nurses did not even ask whether you wanted to breastfeed or not. I am sure you can imagine how I completely upset their daily routine by asking to breastfeed my baby, and even to have her brought to my room during the night, so I could feed her. The nurses had to confer with the doctors whether this was possible, and in the end they gave in – or rather I did not give up.

I was very lucky that Sonja was a good eater, because I only had her for about 20 minutes at each feeding, and I had no guidance at all from anybody. Being she was our first baby, I was in the hospital for almost a week, so the odds were not very good, but we made it. You can imagine how many hours I spent staring at her through the window to the nursery.

When we got home from the hospital, it all started all over again. My in-laws were appalled that I even considered breastfeeding, it was so OLD-COUNTRY, and mostly in their view it was indecent. Therefore, every time we were invited to their house, when breastfeeding I had to sit in a bedroom by myself with the curtains drawn, out of sight. At our house though, our rules applied. I breastfed discreetly in front of whoever was present.
I breastfed Sonja until she was two years old, at which time she was ready to move on.

In January 1974 you came along and it started all over. You were born at the Oakland County Hospital in Warren, Michigan. Nothing much had changed by then, except I was even more assertive in my demands to breastfeed my child and also to have you brought to me at night. Once we got home from the hospital, nothing had changed; at our house we did what was right for us and our family. At my in-law’s they still set the rules. I never breastfed in public in America, only when I visited Denmark.

You nursed until you were approx. 10 mos., at which time I had a severe kidney infection and the antibiotics ruined you digestive system, so I had to stop – I was devastated, but luckily you seemed to thrive nonetheless, for which I was grateful.

I am so proud of you and Sonja both of you having breastfed your children seemingly without any problems. Sonja had an easier time back in Denmark, I do not think she encountered any social issues, but it seems to me that you have had your challenges in the USA. Breastfeeding in the USA has come a long ways since 1970, but there is still a ways to go before breastfeeding your child wherever and whenever is considered natural by all. You are setting a good example and being a super role model for your contemporaries.

However, to my dismay, voices are popping up here in Denmark, demanding that breastfeeding in restaurants and cafés is banned. Below is an article from a Danish newspaper regarding an incident at a Danish café and a protest staged to promote breastfeeding.

Your blog made me reminisce and inspired me to share my thoughts and memories with you and Sonja.
Mostly I wanted to let you know how proud I am of both of you.

Love Mor

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Hundreds of Danish mothers have held a breastfeeding protest outside Copenhagen’s City Hall after customers at a cafe told a woman suckling her baby in public that it was disgusting.
Monday’s protest was organized to promote public breastfeeding by mother Trine Maria Larsen, who says she was approached by customers at the cafe. She told the Politiken daily that some had likened public breastfeeding to “going to the toilet while eating.”
Public breastfeeding in Nordic countries is common, but Larsen, a Danish blogger, says there have been growing complaints about breastfeeding at restaurants and cafes, and she organized the event to urge them not to ban it on their premises.
Danish medical officials recommend that mothers breastfeed their babies for at least six months.

 

Filed Under: Breastfeeding Tagged With: Breastfeeding, family, live in the now, Marvelous Mammary Memories

Comments

  1. ashley says

    December 24, 2013 at 10:59 AM

    I don’t think anyone I know in my age group was breastfed – the first time I was exposed to nursing was when my aunt had my cousin – I was 6, and it fascinated me. Ever since then, I knew that was how I was going to feed my kids! I have nursed everywhere I have been with my kids – in airports, on planes, at disneyworld, in restaurants…. I would not be afraid to stand up for myself/child if needed, but was never questioned

    • Mama in the Now says

      December 25, 2013 at 11:51 PM

      Ashley – I love to hear about moms who were influenced to breastfeed by friends or other relatives. It goes to show you how great of an impact you can have on someone else – especially on children. I also have nursed in public without ever receiving any negative comments. I don’t use a cover, but in most situations I will have a blanket strategically ready to cover – in case someone stares a little too long. But feeding my hungry child always comes first.

      • ashley says

        December 26, 2013 at 7:37 AM

        I so agree. I used a blanket when I first started, but quickly realized it was more discreet without one – and the baby covers everything pretty well! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas!

  2. Danielle says

    August 4, 2014 at 12:20 PM

    I breastfed all 3 of my babies, my first 2 were premature so I was pumping around the clock… My youngest, and my only daughter was born at 37 weeks and was the first baby I could put to the breast. I was overjoyed!!! She nursed until she was 20 months old when she self weaned. I love and miss it soooooo much. I nursed her anywhere and everywhere. At my son’s birthday party, I was in my living room having conversations with a bunch of my guests while pumping ( baby was sleeping and I was engorged) when my husband’s friend came inside… He started talking to me and didn’t even notice; that was until I had to switch sides 😀 . He starts yelling ” BOOBS!!! I JUST SAW YOUR BOOBS!!” I looked at him and laughed hysterically, his wife looked at him and says ” You see mine all the time, shes been pumping the entire conversation and you just noticed.” He went outside and looked at my husband and says ” I just saw your wife’s boobs!” My husband, knowing what I was doing because its what I have always done turns to him and say ” Yeah, everyone has.” Than laughs and tells him its natural, that’s what a woman’s breasts are made for and etc etc. The friend says ” I know all that but it caught me by surprise! I wasn’t expecting her to be doing that when I walked in.” My fond memories lol

    • Mama in the Now says

      August 4, 2014 at 3:17 PM

      OMG – that is awesome – what a wonderful husband you have. I love it – and what a great response he had to his friend. Pumping and breastfeeding would be so much harder without a supportive partner. Your’s sounds wonderful!!! Thanks for sharing that funny story!

I am a Danish American mom of four boys parenting with heart, humor and hygge. Join me on this crazy ride. You will laugh more than you’d expect!

Don't Miss Out! Subscribe to the newsletter for all the latest

STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST TO HELP YOU PARENT WITH HEART AND HUMOR WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Search This Blog

Must-Read Posts!

How to get creative with Perler beads, Hama beads and melty beads. How to use Perler beads. Creative Perler ideas for preschoolers, toddlers and kids of all ages. Perler bead inspiration. Perler bead ideas. Perler bead patterns. #PerlerBeads #PerlerBeadPatterns #PerlerIdeas #PerlerBeadCrafts #MamaintheNow
Letter to the mom sitting across from me. A heartfelt letter to a fellow medical mom. As we raise our special needs kids we will find a common bond like this in most waiting rooms.
Put together the perfect care package for families in the hospital. Cheer up a medical mom. Show kindness towards families in the hospital with these care package ideas. #CarePackage #SpecialNeeds #CarePackageIdeas #SpecialNeedsFamilies #Kindness #MamaintheNow
Little known things to do at LEGOLAND. Two LEGOLAND insiders gave me the scoop on the hidden gems within the park. Tips, tricks and awesome fun things to do in the LEGOLAND parks.
The ultimate (expert) Disney Cruise packing list, from a veteran Disney-cruiser and mother of four boys. Don't leave home without these all too important items that you probably haven't thought to pack! #Disney #DisneyCruise #DisneyCruisePackingList #CruisePackingList #PackingList #DisneyCruiseTips #mamainthenow
elf on the shelf ideas
Tove Maren Stakkestad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Privacy Policy and Disclosure Statement

Please read our full Disclosure Statement and Privacy Policy. As an Amazon Associate, I could earn from qualifying purchases. This site uses partner links from other advertising partners.
Copyright ©2025, Mama In The Now. All Rights Reserved. Design by Pixel Me Designs
 

Loading Comments...