Sesame Street Was Ahead of Its Time When It Came to Public Breastfeeding

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While public breastfeeding continues to make headlines, a 39-year-old clip of a woman nursing her baby on Sesame Street is making the rounds and reminding us just how natural the act really is and how it always has been.

In the clip, Buffy Sainte-Marie, the Native Canadian award-winning singer and songwriter is seen breastfeeding her son, Cody, as Big Bird observes her.

"Whatcha doing, Buffy?" Big Bird asks.

"I'm feeding my baby. See, he's drinking milk from my breast," Buffy plainly responds.

When Big Bird says it looks funny, she responds that it is natural and lots of moms do it, but that some don't. She adds that the baby enjoys it because it is "nice and warm and sweet and natural, and it's good for him . . . and I get to hug him when I do it."

The sweet scene is often considered the first nationally televised instance of a mother nursing her child. It aired at a time when formula companies were making a big push in the marketplace and doctors were trying to figure out how to explain the benefits of nursing. The show went on to show another character breastfeeding a decade later.

Take a look back at the innocence of the groundbreaking clip!