by Kimberly Flanagan
It’s bad enough that breastfeeding is hard on its own and when I say hard on its own, I speak about the fact that some women actually struggle to breastfeed, it hurts and your breasts grow to a size that you never thought possible (Last one isn’t always so bad) and let’s not forget about the leaking from your nipples and the pain when you don’t manage to feed your baby on time. And speak about time, it’s so time-consuming to feed your baby but you do it because it’s such a precious joy to share.
It’s a lot to deal with.
Making it even more difficult for a woman to do it where and when she can is just unacceptable. I don’t believe that the question is whether or not breastfeeding in public is right or wrong. I think the question that should be asked is why does a breastfeeding mother make you uncomfortable?
I remember when I had my first child, I couldn’t breastfeed, it just wasn’t working. My daughter couldn’t latch on properly and no milk was coming out. I eventually gave up and put her on a bottle. That’s a very difficult thing to do. You feel as if you’re failing as a mother. With my second child, it was also a struggle, even though he breastfed, most days, I used a breast pump to get the milk out most of the time. I think he breastfed for 3 months on and off until I finally put him on a bottle as well.
It was a difficult decision to make but I felt happy that I at least got the experience to breastfeeding, even though it was for a short period of time.
I’ve read many articles about people complaining about women feeding their babies in public and suggesting that we feed our babies in the toilets. IMAGINE!!!
How twisted must your mindset be to suggest that??
Before I get too emotional about this topic, let me share some perspective from other breastfeeding moms:
Sadie Jo Young:
“I did feed in public! It was tougher with my 1st one because I’m pretty modest and not trying to have all my business out for everyone to see ya know! But I learned to cover where little showed. Definitely not going to hide/cover my baby completely because it gets entirely too hot under all that!! So definitely not doing that! And I also think it’s ridiculous that mothers are asked to do so! As a woman, I am modest and don’t want you to see or look at me in that way! It’s simply just a natural way of feeding my baby! Nothing more!”
Debbie:
“The first 4 maybe 5 months into it I covered up like a nun! Then I had to realize I’m doing too much to please others when this is natural! So I slowly got out of my insecurity to it. With my son, I pulled it out wherever. Who gon stop me? ? Plus hubs was my biggest supporter. I was 100% comfortable by then”
Tonice:
“I have no problem with moms breastfeeding WHEREVER their child gets hungry, restaurant, football game, movie, in the middle of the mall. Breastfeeding is NOT a sexual event and for anyone bothered by a mom nursing her child, that speaks volumes to me you should do more research. There is no need for a mother to be embarrassed about nursing her child nor should she be condemned or subjected to ridicule because she so chooses. Women on the beach with thongs on or bathing suits in general, show more than a nursing mom.”
So you see? Instead of giving a breastfeeding mom grief about feeding her baby in public because you don’t want to see the most natural thing in the world or because you (as a man or woman, because let’s be honest, women give hate just as much as men do) have sexualized the act of breastfeeding or for any other reason, all I have to say to you is:
GET OVER IT!
