Breastfeeding in Public: A Modern Issue

In recent years it seems as though breastfeeding – in one form or another – has never been out of the news. Whether it’s been women being thrown out of shopping malls for feeding their babies in public, to the ongoing arguments about whether bottle or breast is best, feeding our children is certainly a controversial topic.

When it comes to breastfeeding in public, it seems as though everyone in the world has an opinion. Not only that, but those with an opinion tend to be fairly outspoken, from politicians and business owners to spoken word poets like Holly McNish, whose poem “Embarrassed” just recently went viral. However, not all of these opinions are being well received, especially when they’re being delivered by policy makers for whom breastfeeding is out of the direct sphere of their experience.

Comfort Before Condemnation

One of the most important arguments in favour of breastfeeding pertains to the comfort of both the mother and child. After all, how comfortable can it be for a mother to have to retreat to the confines of a toilet to feed her child? Or, which is even more common, for her to have to go home from wherever she is, or simply not leave the house at all. Whilst some might point out that staying at home all day might well be quite relaxing, in truth it’s anything but. For a woman who’s had to spend certainly the previous few months in a fair amount of discomfort, whilst not being able to do many of the things she previously enjoyed, the prospect of getting out of the house for a few hours might seem like a dream come true. So where’s the middle ground? And should new mums be expected to cater to the sensibilities of others, before catering to the needs of their child?

Finding a Compromise

For those mums who do want to breastfeed in public, there are ways in which this natural act can be made easier for both themselves and the people around them. Sites such as http://www.mamalatte.co.uk/ offer a wide range of beautiful post-maternity clothing which is as fashionable as it is functional, meaning that ladies who lunch can wear what they want without making breastfeeding harder for either themselves or their babies.

In the meantime, when it comes to the issue of whether or not breastfeeding in public will ever become acceptable, it seems as though we’re all playing a waiting game. And whilst policies are slowly being introduced which are intended to protect the rights of mothers who need to feed their children in public, it’s clear that we still have a ways to go.

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