Breastfeeding in Public

I was at a friend’s house for dinner a couple of days ago when one of the guests, a new mother, had to nurse her new born and did so right at the table. This sparked quite a heated discussion about the dos and don’ts of breastfeeding in public. 

One of the men was quite vocal in his disdain for women who breastfed their children in public, claiming that it was the same as flashing, which he said was entirely inappropriate. 

Of course the women at the table all climbed into him for being a chauvinist, saying that mothers should be allowed to breastfeed their young ones whenever and wherever the need arises. 

Soon they looked to me for an opinion, and for once, I didn’t really have a strong opinion for or against. I believe it’s a natural part of life and there shouldn’t even be a discussion around it. But the fact of the matter is that women who breastfeed in public feel that they are discriminated against, and if the work of a social movement group of nearly a thousand women across the country is any indication, breastfeeding mums could soon be protected from discrimination by law. 

The group which calls itself Normalise Public Breast Feeding in South Africa say that mothers, due to shame and a negative public reaction are forced to nurse their children in toilets and bathrooms, which are unhygienic and places their babies at risk of germs and bacteria that can cause illness and infection. 

So what they’ve done is propose a draft bill, called the Breastfeeding and Related Matters bill, which they hope Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi will take seriously enough to present in parliament. According to an article that I read on the matter, apparently the ministry welcomed the campaign saying the nation should be angry and offended at those who are discouraging mothers to breastfeed their babies. 

The stories of women who are asked to nurse their children in a secluded area are innumerable. A mother at a private hospital was recently asked to nurse her young child behind a curtain. Another mother was asked to take her child outside or to the car by a restaurant manager because patron had complained about the breastfeeding in public. 

One of the founders of this social movement group said: in many public places including restaurants, shopping malls and public gatherings, women were actively harassed and told to leave or cover up simply because they were breast-feeding their babies.  

Here are some tips for women who breastfeed in public, which I read online after this subject came up at the dinner party. The full article can be found at: http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/week-26/public-breastfeeding.aspx 

•    Dress for (nursing) success. Two piece outfits (no dresses, unless they have a wrap-style front or open from the front), shirts that button from the bottom up, lift up or pull to the side easily, or have hidden flaps will give baby easier access to his lunch, and grant you more privacy.

•    Before you head out, have your baby latch on while you watch in the mirror to see how much exposure you're getting (or ask your partner or a friend to observe). If you're not comfortable with full-frontal view, you can practice turning to the side until you find what angle works best.

•    Put a blanket, shawl, or poncho over your shoulders so that it drapes over your baby's head. Or, if you're comfortable wearing a sling, let the baby nurse from there (use the excess material to cover up).

•    Scout out places to nurse (ideally, before you need them). An out-of-the-way table in a restaurant (or a booth — if you can fit and manoeuvre comfortably), or even a quiet corner or dressing room in a department store will offer some privacy. (Many public places now offer special nursing rooms — it never hurts to ask.)

•    Don't let your baby get so hungry that he starts to fuss and cry. It's much easier to nurse discreetly if you're both calm.

•    Know your rights so you can stick up for yourself and your baby's right to nurse. 

There are so many items on the market which make breastfeeding easy, such as nursing bras which can be quickly and easily fastened and unfastened with one hand, as well as specially-designed breastfeeding tops or dresses, that allow moms to quickly gain access to her baby’s food source. 

Even regular button-up tops work well, and a few buttons can be released when needed. Resourceful moms who are sewing whizzes can use their existing garments to create their own designer ‘breastfeeding’ wear, and sew in hidden slits and panels which cover the nipple and lower breast but which still permit discreet breastfeeding.

Information from here 

What are your thoughts? 

You can email Terence Pillay at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter: @terencepillay1 and tweet him your thoughts.