Monday, May 21, 2012

Breastfeeding in Public

As far as my stance goes with breastfeeding in public, it should be a non-issue, there is nothing sexual or malicious about breastfeeding, God designed breasts to nourish the young. Albeit, a very natural thing, often its a social and cultural issue.

Some people are just disingenuously put off by it, they would even go as far as shaming the mother breastfeeding her child. Hey people, you can't force a baby not to feed if its hungry on the fly. A baby has to feed when it needs to. Its priority numero uno for any mom. Breastfeeding can't always be put off conveniently. Worrying if someone is offended or not at the sight of breasts is the least of any mother's worries. If you're appalled and offended at the sight of a mother feeding her child, then it's your problem if you are, not the mother's. The considerate and adult thing to do is go about your business. No need to fuss over breastfeeding.

I've seen people do worse and very obscene things in public, but breastfeeding is not one of them. Breastfeeding is also as natural as eating. Eating is something we do in public all the time, but we don't get stared at or castigated for it. 



Personally, I don't mind if I was to breastfeed in public, if my baby needs it. Sure I would feel uncomfortable and I would cover up a bit so my breast particularly my nipples wouldn't be fully exposed. But if a mom chooses not to cover up while breastfeeding, she's well within her right not to, she has her baby to think of; its not about her, its about the baby!

If as a society we have to make compromises on breastfeeding, let's keep things civil and respectful of each other's boundaries, breastfeeding moms can keep it modest if they want do and everyone else can look the other way if she whips her breasts out. No need to feel outrage at the sight of breasts for a baby.

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