Breastfeeding in public, is it necessary? A firm yes. Breastfeeding is a natural and nece
ssary activity that women should be allowed to carry out from wherever they deem fit and convenient. Of course different people share different views on breastfeeding in public. To some, breastfeeding in public is a gross, indecent and uncouth behavior while to some, it as normal, natural and necessary activity.
Breastfeeding Public – Reasons
There are various reason why breastfeeding in public is necessary, they include:
- This is the purpose of a breast. They exist for feeding babies. So long as a mother and child are in close physical proximity, the child can be fed.
- Not fair to the baby to have to wait for a meal. When they are hungry they should be fed. If they are in the middle of a crowded shopping mall, they still need to eat.
- Due to lack of time, some busy mothers find it necessary to breastfeed from public places which go a long way in fulfilling their breastfeeding obligation while still doing their daily routines.
- A hungry crying baby in public is more annoying and unsettling than a sight of a breast. Were it not for breastfeeding, cries of babies would make places like metros, planes or bus, very uncomfortable.
- Breastfeeding serves a cause and shouldn’t be a bother to anyone because either way we see many unnecessarily exposed cleavages and breasts everywhere but we never complain.
- There are some health problems associated with not breastfeeding for prolonged period of time. This makes it necessary for a mother to breastfeed whenever she has the opportunity.
- We all travel at times for long period of times and some of the breastfeeding responsibilities of a mother cannot be postponed nor avoided whether in a bus, train or a plane.
- Breastfeeding in public is legal and common practice in most countries and places. By this virtue, a mother who so wills can breastfeed from any place she deems fit.
- Men are not expected to cover their nipples in public even though they have no need to expose them. Women do have a need, a very functional need. If anything, this should be reversed.
Controversy of Breastfeeding in Public
For some, it may seem hard to believe that this could be controversial at all. For others, they are all too familiar with the issue. On one hand, some sneer at a breastfeeding mom because of the exposed breast, on the other hand, we call it fashion when ladies
boldly expose their cleavages and breasts in public. This is sheer hypocrisy and shouldn’t be tolerated.
Some mothers may get bad comments and get harassed due to breastfeeding in public. This fear causes some not to breastfeed in public denying their babies key nutrition requirements. Some people view it as indecent exposure and since at times there are children and teens in the crowd, the image may get even more uncomfortable both for the mother and the crowd.
Sub-Optimal Locations
In some instances women have been told to use a restroom. This doesn’t make sense. This is basically asking a baby to eat in the bathroom. Nobody should have to eat in a bathroom. At times breastfeeding in public can be unclean which may expose the mother and the baby to some disease causing germs. This is so because some public places may be very dusty or may have hazardous exposures that the mother may not be aware of.
Blankets and Covers
The use of blanket to cover up while breastfeeding can be helpful but it at times attracts more attention as it makes it so obvious. In the end, this should be an option for additional modesty and comfort but should never be required.
Fringe Cases
The only instance where a restriction might make any sense is where it is more about safety rather than modesty. Whereas it’s not a big issues to some, there are very specific instances where breastfeeding in public could be seen as dangerous to both the mother and the baby. In certain cases such as when riding in a car or a moving locomotive, you will probably want to avoid feeding. This can lead to accidents like, choking, loss of balance, splashing of milk to others, falling etc. This isn’t so much an issue of feeding in public but just about not feeding while doing other things that could cause a hazard.
Breastfeeding is crucial and since we hardly have designated places for such activity, it’s advisable that people mind their own business and let women exercise their legal and motherly right of breastfeeding their babies from wherever they wish.