Breastfeeding: The Dilemma In Public

While some mothers prefer not to breastfeed at all, others have been having a dilemma on breastfeeding in a public place, well, for some obvious reasons such as; having the public's raising eyebrows and critique eyes glaring at them for exposing something private out in the open like they are committing a crime or something. Maybe they just have not heard of the saying that breastfeeding is best for babies, even in public. 

There is really nothing to be ashamed of breastfeeding in a public place. In most countries, it is also unlikely for anybody to sue a person for indecent public exposure or say condemn a woman for doing so. In fact, the federal law of many countries is totally on a nursing mother's side. It is a mother's legal right to breastfeed her baby wherever and whenever she can, even until her milk runs out. In addition, health institutions, public places (such as shopping malls, schools, public transportation terminals, etc.), and work places (such as government agencies, private enterprise, work premises, etc.) are even required by the law in the Philippines to establish Lactation Stations or booths. 

As stated under RA 10028 - Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act ¹ : "Towards this end, the State shall promote and encourage breastfeeding and provide the specific measures that would present opportunities for mothers to continue expressing their milk and/or breastfeeding their infant or young child." 

Do all countries in the world encourage breastfeeding or nursing babies, even in public? 

To reiterate, "in most countries". There are other countries wherein, breastfeeding in public is rather controversial and unaccepted. In Saudi Arabia, as part of their culture, a woman is not allowed to expose any body part in public except for the face and the hands. Thus, mothers would only breastfeed their babies discreetly in private.² In Egypt, women cannot also breastfeed in public due to their habits and religion. In Jordan, breastfeeding in front of the baby's relatives is acceptable, however in public it is considered as an indecent exposure. ³ 

What should a mother do when somebody demands her to stop breastfeeding right in public?

She should tell the awfully coarse person that she would rather stay in that awkward position at that very moment, sneering at his grumpy and unreasonably indignant face, than let her hungry little angel starve to death. Her baby's demands are far more important than anybody else's, and some people may find it hard to understand that. Babies get hungry, and when they are hungry, they get noisy, irritable and start to fuss, the need to feed them escalates with every cry (it would never be easy for him to calm her baby down either).They are very young and need all the nutrition they need to grow healthy and not to end up like a grumpy and unreasonably indignant coarse person picking on a nurturing mother.

Some people find breastfeeding in public, sexual. 

Image by www.babble.com

Yes, that and the whole stack collection of DVDs they have at home. Seriously, there is nothing sexual, if we have the same definition of the word here, in breastfeeding or nursing a baby in public. There are a lot of health benefits, a mother and her baby gets during breastfeeding, and sexual gratification is not a part of it. Describing it as "exhibitionism" would also mark a person as a moronic pervert for coming up with such insanity.

Wouldn't it be better to just pump and use a bottle?

Image by coloursofhopefoundation.wordpress.com

There is actually nothing wrong with pumping, as long as what the mother is pumping is extra milk over and beyond what her baby needs. Some mothers also need to use breast pumps due to certain conditions, such as their baby being unable to suck and so on. Busy mothers actually do this, which is a bit odd since pumping is also time consuming. Compare a mother pumping her way to fill a bottle to a mother who has already been breastfeeding her darling. Another point of breastfeeding is that it is cheaper, and creates a strong bond between the mother and baby. It is also natural, and would require less effort on the mother's side. It is way more practical than supplying like an in demand milk factory.

How can a mother breastfeed in public without the need to expose the entire thing?

A mother should know what to wear every time she plans on going out with her little beloved. Two piece outfits are usually advised, or shirts that button from the bottom up. This would make it easier for the baby to feed without the mother exposing much. Before going somewhere, the mother can also try and practice in front of the mirror ways for her to breastfeed without slipping much, or she can also ask someone to help her out to check if everything that needs to be covered is exactly as wanted. The mother can also bring along a towel, blanket, shawl, or anything she can use to comfortably drape her baby's head, since this can also help to cover up some skin.

There are just some people who cannot stand a person nursing her beloved in front of them (only God knows what's running on those people's nutshell). The constant ruckus on this matter still goes on even on whether breastfeeding in public is really OK or if it is OK only when done in a particular way. This is just one of those things a mother might take time in getting used to. Who knows, maybe someday, the entire world might also get used to come across a woman nursing her baby indiscreetly and will not see it as a taboo anymore. People just need to comprehend the importance of breastfeeding in promotion of health at an early stage of development, and know that mothers have rights to breastfeed their babies in public.

---

REFERENCES:

1 Philippine Republic Act 10028 http://www.bwsc.dole.gov.ph/files/RA%2010028%20expanded%20BF%20act.pdf Retrieved August 2,2014^?
2 Riordan, Jan (2005). "The Cultural Context of Breastfeeding". Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett. pp. pages718–719^?
3 http://culturalbreastfeeding.webs.com/publicbreastfeeding.htm. Accessed August 2,2014^?

RELATED POST:

• Breastfeeding: 10 Reasons Why It Is Important