I was at lunch with a friend, and we got to talking about breastfeeding in public. She's not a mum herself and doesn't delve much into social media but was shocked at the fact that recently she had seen so many posts concerning, shaming or discussing breastfeeding and couldn't understand the outrage.
Sadly the birth of social media has given idle minds with no sense a platform to voice their opinion, and spew offense and hatred to breastfeeding mothers.
The general offence seems to be that breastfeeding has somehow become sexualised. You know the whole idea of a breast being sucked on, no you narrow minded people, comprehend that breasts are not only for the purpose of sexual stimulation. Although the most natural way to feed a new born it seems those that penalise mothers for public ally breastfeeding cannot seem to seperate the idea of a breast and as natural form of nutrition for a baby.
It's almost ridiculous in fact that no one will blink at seeing a woman with cleavage, a see through or crop top, even those leggings that stretch so much they expose "becky's" underwear, but will double take a mother who wishes nourish and calm her hungry child.
When did society become so backwards, or has it always been this way and social media has scratched off the surface and pulled away the mask?
One thing I do know about breastfeeding is even though it is encouraged, it is notably difficult. Babies are difficult. Motherhood is difficult. Not only does it take many attempts to have your child latch on it also hurts like hell in the first few weeks, I salute anyone who does this, because it's mentally and physically straining in the first few months. So imagine the frustration when some judgemental individual expects you to cover your baby's head so they sweat whilst they eat (and pull the cover off about twenty times) or that you should let the hunger cries continue until you get home. It's enough to throw in the towel and make you want to give in and bottle feed.
Facebook was in uproar when the breastfeeding selfie came about, you would think the women were posing nude. Even if the women were not showing any part of their breast.
Let us not add on to a list of things that will make things more difficult. Now I'm not a breastfeeding basher, I know they are bottle babies who do fine and this post isn't about which is best. It's just that a lot of stigma surrounds breastfeeding and makes it seem so unnatural to the point mothers feel embarrassed to feed their babies.
As a new mom it takes a lot to feel yourself again let alone take your baby out in public, that being met by disapproving looks would make even the most confident and Beyoncé of women want to shrivel up in a corner, or even feed in a dirty public toilet to avoid prying eyes. Next time you see a woman feeding her child, try to smile at her it might be all the encouragement she needs.
