The Primary Function of Boobs

Now that my boobs are smaller, saggy, no longer as abundant with milk as before, and forever scarred from pregnancy (they say the boobs sag not because of breastfeeding but pregnancy) I'll probably live off the rest of my life lamenting the fact that my boobs were once perky. And I can at least look back on today and know that my daughter, at 10 months of age, at least knows what the boobs are really there for, other than just for viewing pleasure.

I was in the Raffles City Shopping Centre baby room for Sophia's diaper change an hour or so after lunch. Actually, I'd gone to use the breastfeeding room but it was occupied so I thought I'd change Sophie's diaper and hang around till the room was available.

A group of Japanese moms were in the baby room too, feeding their respective babies and toddlers. A local mom and her sleeping toddler were occupying much of the cushioned bench right by the glass panels facing the mall.

My little monster couldn't wait to stretch her legs and was standing up on the diaper change station even before I could get her pants off, happily bouncing away and moving around while holding onto the sides of the cubicle. One of the women asked how old she was and I said a little over 10 months. To which they all oohed and aahed, amazed that she was standing and so active for her age (I was oozing pride from every millimetre of my body). Since Sophie had been in her stroller for almost half a day I decided to let her just get her limbs into action so I stood watch while she moved around. Besides, the breastfeeding room was still occupied.

The next thing I knew, some Singaporean woman barged in to the baby room and asked if the breastfeeding room was occupied and for how long more. One of the japanese women replied that her friend was in there, after which her friend remarked that she'd be out soon. As quick as she had come into the baby room, the woman was in the breastfeeding room in the next minute, plugging her breastpump into the electrical outlet and the unit chugging away.

To be fair, she did ask if anyone else wanted to use the room before she went in. I thought she was referring to the Japanese women. But like always, that window of opportunity slipped through my fingers because I was too blur. Still wondering if I should just breastfeed Sophie in the baby room itself, not two minutes later an expat came in with her baby and looked at the breastfeeding room, after which, she just positioned the only adult chair in the room away from the glass panel. She was going to breastfeed right then and there, no waiting. Well, another window of opportunity just pphhsssed by my fingers.

I figured that I'd just find another room somewhere and feed Sophie or wait till later. I moved to put her in the sling since she didn't want the stroller. The moment her face moved within inches of my boob, she started clutching the neckline of my dress and exclaiming, "nen-nen, nen-nennnn, NENN-NEENNNNNNN!!!" Hell hath no clawing fingers and louder voice than a baby who's bent on getting her milk NOW.

I wasn't going to deal with a yelling and screaming Sophie out in the mall. On normal days she's already loud, let alone when she's yelling and screaming from frustration or indignation at being denied something she wants.

I didn't even need to think twice but went straight for the bench the sleeping toddler was lying on. It was big enough for the both of us, although allowing for too much of a view into the baby room (who makes a baby room with glass panels that allow for full view into the room?). What to do but to position Sophie's stroller to give me a sliver of privacy from the mall and proceed to hike my dress up (what the hell was I thinking, to wear a dress? Luckily I had on my presentable panties) and feed her.

I don't remember my boobs ever having been such in demand before. Or that so many mothers needed to use the breastfeeding room at the same time. On a weekday.

There's always a first time, right?