Breastfeeding is a natural process. The breasts were designed to feed and nurse the young. So why are people suddenly so enraged when they see a mother publicly breastfeeding her baby? Is it because she refused to use a nursing cover? Is it because people are uncomfortable seeing breasts in public? And why shouldn’t a mother be allowed to freely nurse in public? The debate continues.
I find that breastfeeding is a beautiful thing. It can’t get any more natural than that. A mother’s body produces the best food for her young offspring (it is even called liquid gold today). The baby relies on her mother for optimum nourishment. The bond between mother and baby is amazing to behold and I cannot understand why there are people who think otherwise.
I’ve read tons of stories of regular moms (moms that aren’t celebrities) who’ve experienced being discriminated when they nursed publicly. In one story, the mom was told off by another diner in the restaurant when the mom was breastfeeding her child there, saying it wasn’t appropriate. In another story, a mom was asking the guard for a breastfeeding station at the airport, to which the guard said there was none. The mom asked if there’s any place she can nurse her baby and the guard just said, “you can go to your car because this is a public place.”
If this happens to regular moms out there, you can bet that even high-profile celebrities get their share of negative comments. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen was no exemption. When she posted her photo breastfeeding her baby while her team was making sure she looked all dolled up, it caused a stir among netizens too. Olivia Wilde was also a victim of breastfeeding shaming when she and her baby posed for Glamour.
The list goes on including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Miranda Kerr, Natalie Vodianova, Pink, Selma Blair, Jessie James Decker and etc. But if I were to specifically point out someone who has gone through the bashing, negative and irate comments, it will have to be Alyssa Milano. Alyssa has posted several photos of her breastfeeding journey in her Instagram account and she pays no mind to what people say.
Her most controversial photo sparked this whole debate of why mothers shouldn’t breastfeed in public without a nursing cover. It appears that other people are fine with moms breastfeeding in public as long as they cover it up. But seriously, would you want to eat under a blanket? If you don’t, then the baby don’t want to as well.
Happy Birthday, my beautiful Elizabella. You’ve taught me that my heart has no end. You were the missing piece to my soul. Thank you for choosing me.
“Happy Birthday, my beautiful Elizabella. You’ve taught me that my heart has no end. You were the missing piece to my soul. Thank you for choosing me.”
Alyssa also went head-to-head with Wendy Williams at The Wendy Williams Show where the topic of breastfeeding was tackled. Wendy expressed her sentiments and opined that breastfeeding should be done privately. Alyssa replied wittily and asked Wendy why it’s okay for Miley Cyrus to show off her breasts and breastfeeding women can’t? She also said that it is our own fault why breasts have become so sexualized that breastfeeding has become an out of the ordinary thing.
I admire Alyssa for always speaking out about breastfeeding discrimination. However, celebrities can only do their part. They fight their own battles, but they can’t fight your own battles for you. As a breastfeeding mother, you should know your rights. Is there a law that allows you to strike anywhere? Then use that as your weapon against anyone who tells you otherwise.
I’m not saying that if you choose to breastfeed publicly, that you should not wear a cover at all. My only point is, that if you do, know that you’re not required to wear a nursing cover. On the other hand, if wearing a cover makes you feel more comfortable (because I know some moms who do) then go ahead. At this point, it really doesn’t matter how you breastfeed your baby as long as you feed her when she’s hungry.
In a time where people basically get offended with every single comment they read, perhaps, it is also the time when you stop caring about what others say. Because the truth is, when another life depends on you for sustenance, the only person you should care about is your baby and no one else.
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