My friend sent me this article in the NY Times about mothers striking back when they receive complaints about breastfeeding in public. It just amazes me how uptight Americans are. And the fact that a sexy woman in a low cut shirt would get oogled, but if she nursed her child in public, she'd get ridiculed.
It's time to change our attitudes about breastfeeding. A mother who needs to feed her child in public should not be sent to a stinky, germ infested bathroom. As long as she is being discreet, she should be comfortable to meet her child's needs and nurse him/her no matter where she is.
Two people in the article complained about people nursing on planes. This is recommended to keep the baby's ears from popping during takeoff and landing. It also can help keep the child calm, as well as keep them from being hungry. All of this lends to a happier child who will not scream their head off during the flight. Which would you rather sit by: a nursing child or a crying one?
My son is almost three and we have just finished breastfeeding, much to his dismay. It was hard to do it for so long, but I did it to give him a healthy start in life. I received remarks from people who were uncomfortable that I nursed him as a toddler. And there were many times that I wanted to quit. But I don't regret one minute of it. Including all of the times I "had" to nurse in public.
This is an unnecessary stigma. It's past time to do away with it.
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