"That is disgusting. This is a public space and you are exposing yourself. You should be ashamed." These are words that every mother does not want to hear, and they should not have to hear. I may not be a mother myself, but I have seen many posts, heard many conversations, and witnessed a few cases of a mother just trying to nurse her little one getting discriminated against. Then the solutions the anti-breastfeeding person has are just ludicrous. This is a very difficult subject, but I fully support letting a woman breastfeed her baby whenever she needs to.
Before I go into details on why I support it, let me just point out this map:
The map above shows where it is legal or illegal to nurse in public from a 2014 study. Notice how all states except one, Idaho, allow for breastfeeding in public. If this is the case, then why is there so much hate? There are many answers to this question. People believe it is public indecency, they believe it should be done in private, and they think it could confuse their children.
What is my belief? My belief is that people are viewing breasts too sexually. The definition of the word breast has nothing sexual about it at all. All a breast does is produce milk during and after a woman's pregnancy for their baby. I see it as a free and easy way to feed a young child. It does not require a mom to have to carry around bottles and they are not spending a ton of money on formula. Overall it is just better for mom and baby.
As a pre-nursing major, I know the benefits that breastfeeding can have on a baby and a mother, and it's not just the bond a mother and a baby create. The baby can actually acquire normal biota and antibodies to diseases the mother has previously faced. Formula can not give a baby that type of protection. "A mother can just pump the milk." That is true, but then she would have to worry about it spoiling, spilling, or getting cold. It is just easier a mother to latch the baby on and let it nurse. Besides, who wants to pay these prices for formula?
(Side note: I am well aware some mothers are unable to breastfeed for many reasons and may have to pay these prices. I am bringing this up to show non supporters how this can add up. A newborn that weighs six pounds is recommended to drink 15 ounces of formula in a 24 hour period. Imagine how much it will accumulate as they get bigger.)
If someone were to breastfeed in public, a person could get the complaint of exposing herself. "They make covers for that reason you know." Women know that. They could use a blanket, a jacket, or even buy a cover. Not only is it breaking a mom's opportunity to bond with her baby, but some babies just refuse to be covered while nursing, and I do not blame them. How would you feel eating like this:
If you don't like that, then what makes you think a baby would?
If they are not told to cover up then the other answer is this: "nurse in the bathroom." I have heard a waiter tell a mother, not exactly in that way, that she had to finish nursing in the bathroom. First of all, the bathroom is unsanitary. Why anyone would ever wish for another human to eat where they relieve themselves is beyond me. There are facilities that do have places mothers can nurse in peace. Malls and amusement parks have stepped up their game and rather than forcing mom and baby to deal with smelly bathrooms or an ignorant passersby.
This is a step in the right direction, especially for mothers who may be shy about breastfeeding in the public eye. I get it: not every mom is going to be comfortable nursing in public, but she shouldn't feel like she shouldn't be able to if she's not at home.
I believe that this can become a social norm if a society tried hard enough. There have been sit-ins held to try and normalize breastfeeding in public around the world. Personally, I think the best bet we have is to show children that there is nothing sexual about it. Some parents may be uncomfortable with the idea, but it can help the future generation not be as uncomfortable, if not at all, with the idea of breastfeeding in public. Education is the best thing anyone can do if we want to make this pandemic go away.
In conclusion, breastfeeding may be a subject not many like to talk about, but it is a mother's right to be able to feed her baby without shame. I am not asking anyone to change their beliefs, but please just take these points into consideration because you never know when your viewpoint might change.
