01/08/2026
“Most people in American culture will not see a baby nursing at the breast until it is their own baby nursing at their own breast for the first time.”
So why does this matter?
This matters because breastfeeding is often treated as private, hidden, or even taboo—rather than a normal biological process. When people grow up without seeing breastfeeding modeled, it can feel unfamiliar, awkward, or intimidating when it’s their turn. That lack of exposure contributes to unrealistic expectations, self-doubt, and the idea that feeding struggles mean failure.
Breastfeeding is often described as “natural,” but it is only about 10% instinct and 90% learned behavior. It is a skill that develops through a lifetime of exposures and experiences—watching others feed, hearing conversations, receiving guidance, and being supported. When those exposures are missing, parents are left to learn a complex skill in isolation, during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.
Visibility builds confidence. Normalizing breastfeeding in our communities helps parents recognize what’s typical, seek support sooner, and feel less alone in their feeding journeys. When we see it, we understand it. When we normalize it, we support it.
Scelza B. A. (2025). Social Learning is critical to breastfeeding success: Evidence from rural Namibian pastoralists. Evolution, medicine, and public health, 13(1), 344-554
doi: 10.1093/emph/eoaf030
