Buffy Sainte-Marie talks about her unforgettable ‘Sesame Street’ episode where she openly breastfed her baby on TV

The singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie made historical past in 1977 when she fed her toddler on Sesame Road.

The Indigenous Canadian American singer-songwriter was not doing something uncommon; she was feeding her child.

Nonetheless, the truth that she was breastfeeding him was vital as a result of breastfeeding in the USA had reached an all-time low in 1971 and was making a comeback.

Buffy Sainte-Marie singing for kids on an episode of Sesame Street
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It was much more noteworthy when she did it in public on a kids’s tv program as a result of those that oppose nursing in public typically elevate the priority, “What if kids see?”

Nonetheless, Large Chicken’s charming change with Sainte-Marie, asking her what she was doing, made the “Sesame Road” episode stand out essentially the most.

Buffy Sainte-Marie and Big Bird talking about breastfeeding on and episode of Sesame Street.
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“I’m feeding the newborn,” Sainte-Marie advised him. “See? He’s consuming milk from my breast.”

Sainte-Marie didn’t present something that could be thought of disagreeable, however she additionally didn’t have her toddler hidden beneath a blanket, in line with Upworthy.

Furthermore, whereas Large Chicken may see what was occurring, Sainte-Marie was fairly snug.

Buffy Sainte-Marie hugging a horse puppet in Sesame Street
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“Hmm… that’s a humorous technique to feed a child,” Large Chicken stated after listening to what Sainte-Marie advised him.

It’s so great to observe Sainte-Marie’s and Large Chicken’s dialog as she solutions his query with simple, sincere responses with out judgment.

It’s unbelievable that some folks nonetheless object to seeing a mom breastfeed in public 46 years after the kids’s present episode performed on TV.

Gordon and Oscar in an old, black and white photo of Sesame Street
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Regardless of waves of schooling and lobbying geared toward normalizing breastfeeding, it was not till 2018 that every one 50 states within the US had laws in place defending breastfeeding moms from violations and fines.

Some moms proceed to get criticism for feeding their kids in public slightly than hiding it.

Yahoo Life interviewed Sainte-Marie concerning the “Sesame Road” phase.

In response to her, she received pregnant through the present’s second season, introduced her child on set on a regular basis, and was breastfeeding her child off digital camera.

Then sooner or later, she inquired whether or not this system may deal with nursing.

Buffy Sainte-Marie interview with Yahoo Life
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“The rationale why I did that actually was as a result of after I awoke from delivering my child, I used to be within the hospital, and over right here on the desk was an enormous basket of stuff from some method firm. And I most well-liked to breastfeed, however the docs didn’t perceive about breastfeeding. They hadn’t discovered it.”

“It wasn’t a factor. It wasn’t controversial,” she defined. “I instructed it to the producers, who have been simply great, by the way in which. They by no means stereotyped me into being the “Sesame Road Indian.”

“We did segments on sibling rivalry, breastfeeding, multiculturalism, journey, all types of issues moreover Indigenous issues,” she concluded.

Sesame Street's Ernie, Mr. Hooper, and Bert talking
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Regardless of our progress in educating folks about breastfeeding, the CDC experiences that almost all docs nonetheless lack sufficient information and coaching within the topic.

Breastmilk is the best supply of nourishment for many infants, and it lowers the danger of varied ailments in each moms and infants.

The Dietary Pointers for Individuals, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Household Physicians, and the American School of Obstetricians and Gynecologists all advise unique breastfeeding for the primary six months or so, adopted by continued breastfeeding for one 12 months or longer whereas introducing complementary meals.

Bob McGrath and two puppets singing "in the neighborhood" on Sesame Street
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Whether or not and the way lengthy newborns are nursed depends upon a wide range of circumstances.

Physicians begin selling breastfeeding throughout being pregnant and proceed to take action all through the intrapartum and postpartum durations.

To help households in attaining their breastfeeding targets, docs ought to help and handle to breastfeed as trusted well being consultants.

Buffy receiving her Academy Award in 1983
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Nonetheless, knowledge point out that almost all physicians want extra breastfeeding info and coaching.

Correct coaching in breastfeeding can assist them get hold of the information, expertise, and confidence they should help households and promote breastfeeding-friendly insurance policies.

In the meantime, singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie turned the primary Indigenous particular person to win an Academy Award when her track, “The place We Belong,” received the Finest Unique Music in 1983, a couple of years after leaving “Sesame Road,” stated The Each day Mail.

Buffy Sainte-Marie portrate.
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She additionally co-wrote the track for the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman” with Jack Nitzsche and Will Jennings.

Greater than three a long time later, in 2015, she obtained Canada’s Polaris Music Prize for her album “Energy within the Blood.”

Furthermore, a documentary about Sainte-Marie’s life and profession, “Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On,” was launched on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition in 2022.

Watch her Yahoo Life interview concerning the great “Sesame Road” episode under: