A Utah mom is making headlines after she pumped her breast milk while running a half-marathon.
The new mother, named Anna Young, uploaded on Sunday a picture of herself on the Facebook page Occupy Breastfeeding. In the image, Young is seen clad in her sports gear and using a pumping machine. She is currently five months postpartum. She nursed her baby girl at 4:30 in the morning and then left. The race started fifteen minutes before 7:00 am. After reaching the first eight miles she decided to pump, and immediately nursed her daughter again when she finished the half-marathon.
‘Posting this photo was an attempt to thank the breastfeeding community’
So far, her picture has received almost eight thousand likes, and most of the comments are very supportive. Young ran competitively during her high school and college years and decided that becoming a mother would not stop her from doing what she loves.
Instead, she signed up for the marathon to oblige herself to run more, and trained while pushing her baby in her stroller. Originally, Young had planned to stop for a bit and pump on the sidelines.
She did not know there was a photographer present and much less that her picture had been taken. Also, she has stated that nobody noted was she was doing, but a woman who cheered her as she passed by.
Young was surprised when she found herself later that day in the picture that was published alongside her race results.
She then decided to share it to support all those moms who are currently breastfeeding, and to honor all the breastfeeding communities that helped her when her daughter was born, especially Occupy Breastfeeding and La Leche League.
“Posting this photo was an attempt to thank the breastfeeding community and make an effort to help normalize it. Even though I was nervous about pumping during my race, I hope it helps other mothers not to be afraid to nurse their children in public. I want other moms to see that you can still take the time to do the active things you love and nurture your baby. Breastfeeding and Motherhood do not limit what I am capable of; it only enhances it” declared an ecstatic Young to the Huffington Post.
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of getting the flu, pneumonia, diarrhea, developing celiac disease, Crohn’s disease and type I diabetes. Breast milk also reduces the mother’s risk of developing obesity and postmenopausal osteoporosis, as it burns approximately 400 calories per day.
Breastfeeding also releases oxytocin, which helps the mother’s uterus contract, lessening the blood loss that frequently occurs after delivery. It also helps the uterus “shrink” to its pre-baby size.
Source: The Huffington Post