If you’re a mom who has ever breastfed, then you know the struggle. Breastfeeding is hard. It’s a labor of love, no doubt. Less sleep, engorgement, latching issues, nipple pain, low supply, over-supply, clogged ducts, etc. But it is also natural and beautiful, and women who choose to breastfeed should have the choice to feed their baby whenever and wherever they want.
Unfortunately, there are still some Judgy McJudgerson’s out there who fail to make the connection that humans are mammals, and the main thing that makes us mammals is that we produce milk. See, mammals have mammary glands. Those mammary glands are located in female breasts, and they produce milk for the sole purpose of feeding human babies. Amazing!
Sooo, what’s the problem? Well, when people fail to understand that breasts don’t exactly exist for sexual reasons (as societal norms would like us to think), it can be seen as inappropriate or taboo to breastfeed your baby in public - or even TALK about breastfeeding. Which is absolute crap if you ask me. This leads to women feeling uncomfortable feeding their baby in front of others – covered or otherwise – when they have every right to do so. Breastfeeding in public is legally protected in all 50 states. (Breastfeeding State Laws) 30 of those states go even further to protect breastfeeding mothers from public indecency laws. I urge those who are offended by a woman breastfeeding her baby to ask themselves WHY it makes them uncomfortable…really do some digging. And for what it’s worth, it’s totally ok to have a different opinion, but I firmly believe in the power of looking away.
So, what can we do to normalize breastfeeding and help nursing mothers feel more comfortable? I’m so glad you asked.
4 things we can all do to normalize breastfeeding:
1) Speak up.
If you see a mom being shamed, judged, given rude looks, told that she “shouldn’t do that here,” or even worse - being asked to nurse her baby in the restroom (ew), speak up! No need to be confrontational, just let that mom and the other person know that you support what she’s doing and others should too. Usually, people who shame nursing mothers simply don’t understand breastfeeding and could benefit from a little education. If you’re the nursing mom, then go ahead and let that person know you have every legal right to feed your baby whenever and wherever you’d like. If they don’t like it, they can scram.
2) Teach your kids that breastfeeding is natural and beneficial for baby and mom.
Kids ask lots of questions. If you’re out and about and your kids ask “why is that baby under that woman’s shirt?” or something along those lines, your first reaction might be to completely avoid the conversation and quickly redirect or shush them. But don’t! TELL them! Let them know that she is breastfeeding her baby and that is how many moms feed their infants. Answer their questions. It’s only weird if you make it weird.
3) Cheer on and support other breastfeeding moms.
Breastfeeding your baby is tough, especially in the beginning. Mom is learning, baby is learning, and hormones are bringing up all the feels. It can be frustrating, lonely, and isolating. But there are SO many ways you can cheer on and support a breastfeeding mother. Send her a few things to make her breastfeeding journey a little more enjoyable. It could be a cozy blanket, a scented candle, or something to make her laugh. Scented lotion, a handy nursing towel, nipple cream, a tumbler to keep her hydrated - anything you think would make her smile. Most importantly, if you’re a seasoned breastfeeding mother yourself, let her know that you are there for her if she needs help troubleshooting a bad latch, a clogged duct, or if she just needs some extra support. Check in on her periodically and ask her how her breastfeeding journey is going. I promise she will appreciate it more than you know.
4) Be proud of the real work you are doing to feed your baby, and show it off unapologetically.
The more people exposed to breastfeeding pride, the better. So be PROUD, and make it known that it is normal and natural for mothers to breastfeed their babies. A fun way to do that is by wearing breastfeeding-themed apparel. Whether it’s a t-shirt with a snarky phrase, a matter – of – fact statement, a hat, or a diaper bag covered in boobie print, it doesn’t matter. People might ask questions – which is GREAT! No one can change their thinking when they don’t even realize it’s problematic. Being open and vocal about the importance of normalizing breastfeeding draws awareness and sparks conversation, leading to change and progress. Yay!
So, to summarize, call out the haters, educate the youngins’, support nursing moms, and show your breastfeeding pride. BOOM! If we all do those 4 simple things, breastfeeding will be normalized in no time. 😉
*To be clear, I fully acknowledge that many women are unable to breastfeed or choose not to – which is A-OKAY. I have both formula fed and breastfed my babies depending on their needs and my own, both mental and physical. As long as baby is well fed, then you’re doing GREAT. It’s not a one-size fits all situation, and this is a judgement-free zone. You do you, boo-boo.
