Celebrate Motherhood! Celebrate Breastfeeding!
“My breasts were part of my identity, my confidence, my style, my beauty, and my sexuality. They changed so suddenly, so drastically, in a time when my whole identity changed- from person to a mother,”said the mother.
Early motherhood is all about the child – it’s about breastfeeding and making sure the child is healthy. Breast milk contains the necessary quantity of antibodies which help the baby fight off viruses and bacteria. It also reduces the child’s risk of having asthma or allergies. For a mother, breastfeeding avoids the problem of becoming obese. Overall, breastfeeding develops a bond between the child and the parent as it is both encouraging and overwhelming for a mother to see the baby grow and thrive on her breast milk alone.
Despite knowing the medical and physical advantages of breastfeeding, it is considered as a taboo in the society. Breastfeeding the child in public is looked down upon by both men and women. Primarily, for this reason, a new mom feels uneasy to nurse her baby in public because quite often someone would raise an opposition citing it ‘vulgar nudity’! If you’re a mom or will be one soon and breastfeeding your child in public is your concern, then you need to read this write-up. Here, I’ve mentioned the stepwise breakdown of the issue, and the different ways to deal with it.
Understand – ‘You don’t have to feel guilty of nursing your little one, even in public!’
Nursing a child shouldn’t come with guilt. Feed your baby whenever he is hungry, no matter where on earth you are. If someone tells you it’s vulgar, say why it’s not. If they tell you to feed your child in the public restroom, just ignore them. You don’t have to listen to every other person who tries to teach you something. Feel free to nurse in a t-shirt pulled up. You may nurse by lowering your neckline. Nurse in your bathing suit (whatever style you’ve picked). And if you happen to be in public in your PJ’s, nurse in those too – just don’t feel guilty about it.
Dealing with ‘Annoying Men.’
Sorry for terming men as annoying, but believe me some of them are. As a woman breastfeeding the child in public you might have to deal with a lot of men, sometimes even aggressively. Fight with your words, for you must! Tell them it’s your child and your body, so you will be the only one to decide how and when to nurse the little one. Smash the sexist twisted mindset right on the face when needed, don’t hold yourself back.
Dealing with ‘Women Opposition.’
It’s sad but true that on most occasions it is the women and not the men who’re against breastfeeding in public. For the abusive ones all you need to do is treat them sternly, just the way you treated those annoying men who said you’re promoting nudity. To other women who’re against breastfeeding in public because they think that this can be a reason for harassment, you need to tell them that you respect what they’re saying, but you can still fight for what is right.
It might seem like you’re waging a war against those who think breastfeeding your child is wrong in public, but if you can differentiate between the good and evil you certainly have a beautiful motherhood ahead you. Embrace your body and the needs of your child.
Happy Motherhood! Happy Breastfeeding!
