The super mom of the year award goes a half-marathoner who pumped her breast milk in the middle of a race.
Yes, you read that correctly. Anna Young pulled out her breast pump last Saturday and got to pumping, all while moving along and keeping pace with other runners.
No big deal or anything.
The Utah mother told Babble she signed up for the 21.1-kilometre event before she even knew she was pregnant.
Having run competitively in school, Young decided to keep her spot in the race. She thought it would prompt her to commit to running regularly, seeing it as an opportunity to share her passion with her daughter.
She trained with her now five-month-old daughter, running while pushing her in a stroller.
Utah mom, Anna Young, smiles with her daughter after finishing a half-marathon. (Photo: Courtesy of Anna Young)
The day of the race, Young brought her pump because she was unsure of how long it would take her to finish the race. Her body was used to her daughter's feeding schedule.
When she was ready to pump at about 13 kilometres in, Young was pleased with her progress and kept walking. That's when a photographer snapped a photo, according to Babble.
"I didn't think anyone could tell what I was doing," she told HuffPost Canada. "But one of the other women in the race turned around and cheered for me because she saw and knew exactly what I was doing."
She said she fed her daughter before leaving the house and after she crossed the finish line.
"I want other moms to see that you can still take time to do the active things you love and nurture your baby."
Young told HuffPost Canada she an her daughter had a rocky start breastfeeding.
"I was in an immense amount of pain, my daughter was gaining weight very slowly and never seemed satisfied after feedings," she said. That's when she sought support from breastfeeding support groups.
Because of the help and encouragement she received, Young decided to share the photo on Occupy Breastfeeding's Facebook page as a thank you to the community.
It was her way of trying to chip away at the stigma attached to breastfeeding.
"I want other moms to see that you can still take time to do the active things you love and nurture your baby," Young said.
Also on HuffPost
