Blessing for Breastfeeding

woman breastfeeding baby under a tree

This is a blessing I wrote while breastfeeding my son at work. I was struck by a sudden need to say a brakhah, but the only one I could think of was Asher Yatzar, which honors the body’s miraculous workings, but in a different way. So I ended up writing this blessing.

This blessing is loosely based on Asher Yatzar, but with an emphasis on the feminine aspects of the Divine, as well as some additions from the liturgy of the baby naming ceremony.


Setting a kavannah (intention):

As I have used this blessing, I have found that it helps me slow down and appreciate the sublime experience of feeding my child, easing the compulsion to “multitask.” If you choose to use this blessing, I encourage you to use it as an opportunity to stop and spiritually “recharge” and “recenter” for the duration of the nursing session.  

The Blessing
(said immediately after the baby latches)

Blessed are You ShaddaiEloheinu, Mother of all worlds
Who has formed us with wisdom
And has created within us passages and openings
Which are the font of sustenance and life
May it be Your will that the milk of my breasts be for a blessing, for health and for peace
Give this little one happiness, success, wisdom of the heart, love of Creation, and resistance to wrongdoing
For this little one will one day grow
And lead us in peace to a world flowing with milk and honey, speedily and in our days

Conclusion
(said after the nursing session ends, while burping)

Blessed are You, Yah, who nurses all flesh

Brukhah at shaddai eloheynu em ha'olamim
​Asher yatzrah otanu b'hokhmah
u'v'ratah banu n'kavim n'kavim khaloolim khaloolim
​sh'hem ma'ayan va'mazon v'ha'khayyim
​y'hi ratzon milfanekha sh'khalav shaddai yiyeh livrakhah livrioot v'la'shalom
​t'ni l'katan(na) zeh (zo) osher hatzlakhah lev ahavat ha'briot v'yirat het
(ki zeh (zo) hakatan(na) gadol(ah) yiyeh (tiyeh
​tolikheynu b'shalom l'eretz zavat halav u'd'vash bimheyrah b'yameynu

Brukhah at yah ha'meyneket l'khol basar

 בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ שָׁדַי אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֵם הָעוֹלָמִים

אֲשֶׁר יָצְרָה אוֹתָנוּ בְּחָכְמָה

וּבָרְאָה בָּנוּ נְקָבִים נְקָבִים חֲלוּלִים חֲלוּלִים

שֶׁהֵם מַעיָן הַמָּזוֹן וְהָחַיִּים

יְהִי רְצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁחָלָב שָׁדַי יִהְיֶה לִבְרָכָה לִבְרִיאוּת וְלַשָּׁלוֹם

תְּנִי לַקָּטָן (קְטַנָּה) זֶה (זוֹ) אֹשֶׁר הַצְלָחָה חָכְמַת לֵב אַהֲבַת הַבְּרִיאוֹת וְיִרְאַת חֵטְא

כִּי זֶה (זוֹ) הַקָּטָן (הַקְּטַנָּה) גָּדוֹל (גְּדוֹלָה) יִהְיֶה (תִהְיֶה)

תוֹלִיכֵינוּ בְּשָׁלוֹם לְאֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ

בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ הַמֵּינֶקֶת לְכֹל בַּשָּׂר

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