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Breastfeeding
in Public
By
Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle
Baby Care
In
many parts of the world, the sight of a nursing mother is
an ordinary aspect of daily life. In our society, however,
some people are still uncomfortable seeing a mother breastfeed
in public. Slowly but surely, though, people are coming to
see breastfeeding as the natural, normal way of feeding a
baby that it is. And thanks to public education campaigns,
people are becoming more knowledgeable about the many benefits
of breastfeeding.
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Your
legal right to breastfeed
Society
has conditioned many people to view breasts only from a sexual
standpoint and not as a body part with a crucial biological
function – to feed a baby. Breastfeeding is the natural
default for baby feeding — not bottlefeeding — yet no one
harangues a woman who is feeding her baby from a bottle in
a public place. If anyone even suggests that you shouldn’t
be feeding your baby in public, be aware that you are well
within your rights. Keep in mind that it’s the onlooker’s
problem, not yours.
From
a legal perspective, you have a right to breastfeed your baby
in public anywhere in the United States. Some states have
gone so far as to implement specific legislation to that effect
to protect the rights of both babies and their mothers; these
states have set out legal consequences for violations, too.
As of this writing, 17 states have passed laws that say you
can breastfeed your baby in any public or private location;
thirteen more exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws.
This may lead you to believe that the act is legal only in
those states with legislation. The fact is, you have a legal
right to breastfeed your baby in public even without a specific
law. Don’t be shy about letting an impolite person know
this. For more information about the legal aspects of breastfeeding
in public, check out the website of Elizabeth N. Baldwin,
an attorney who specializes in this issue [www.
compromisesolutions.com].
In
Canada, the Human Rights Code protects women from discrimination
on the basis of sex. Breastfeeding in public is not specifically
labeled as a protected activity; however, many people are
lobbying to explicitly include breastfeeding under this human
rights code.
What
about breastfeeding when in foreign countries?
It’s
best to respect the customs native to the country you are
visiting. Even if you think you should breastfeed wherever
you please, it’s important to understand and adhere
to local customs. If you don't see other women breastfeeding
their babies, then ask around. Talk to a woman with young
children, ask a health professional, or do a little research.
Once you know what is typically acceptable, then you can proceed
confidently without risk of offending anyone, breaking a law,
or embarrassing yourself.
Getting
comfortable breastfeeding in public
Although
you have the right to feed your baby in public, there is still
the issue of your feelings about doing so. Each woman has
her own comfort level. Most women want to find the right balance
of pride and modesty — not overly exposing themselves, while
feeling comfortable knowing that people are aware that they
are breastfeeding. You’ll probably need some practice
with the particulars, simply because breastfeeding is a function
that involves a private part of your anatomy that is normally
not exposed in public. Wanting to be discreet doesn’t
mean that you are embarrassed or ashamed to feed your baby;
it simply means that you don’t want to cause yourself
or others social discomfort.
The
biggest issue for most new mothers is learning how to get
settled with your baby modestly. Even a new mother who is
breastfeeding with ease at home may fumble and struggle when
she perceives that she has an audience; her tension then causes
her impatient baby to cry. That only deepens the feeling that
all eyes are on her. The reality is that most people are paying
attention to their own activities and their own private conversations,
by and large ignorant of what’s happening with other
people. Once you become adept breastfeeding discreetly, you’ll
be able to comfortably nurse your baby anywhere. All it takes
is a little practice.
PARENT
TIP
“Always remember that what you are doing is necessary,
beautiful, and miraculous. Breastfeed your baby with
pride.”
— Deborah, mother to Peter (five), Jeremy (three), and
Claire (one) |
Tips
for breastfeeding in public
- Give
yourself permission to feel comfortable about nursing
your baby in public. Feeding your baby is a natural, normal
part of mothering, whether you are at home or out in public.
- Dress
for breastfeeding. Wear a shirt or sweater that can be
lifted up or unbuttoned from the bottom. When you lift
from the bottom, the top portion of your shirt helps cover
you from the top, and your baby covers you from the bottom.
Whatever portion of your breast is shown while feeding
your baby is certainly much less than is shown in the
typical television show, magazine or at your local beach
or public swimming pool.
- Try
a nursing cover-up or a breastfeeding garment with a built-in
flap. Many are so beautifully made that even under the
most careful scrutiny, they don’t look like nursing
clothes. Most stores that sell maternity clothing also
sell nursing apparel. Even if you don’t use these
at home, they may help you feel more comfortable when
in public.
- Bring
along a small baby blanket. Some babies are fine with
having a blanket thrown over your shoulder and over their
heads, but many are very good at pulling such a blanket
off. A good alternative is to bring the blanket up from
below, and tent it around your baby, to cover you as you
settle your little one to the breast. The blanket can
be loosely placed to create privacy, or even removed once
you’re settled.
- Use
your sling as a nursing cover-up. Baby slings are wonderful
for nursing your baby on the go because they hold your
baby perfectly in the nursing position while providing
extra fabric for a screen. Some brands have a “tail”
at the end that doubles as an extra blanket to keep the
baby from trying to peek out while nursing.
- Feed
your baby at the first sign of hunger, because hungry
babies aren’t quietly patient! If you wait until
your baby is crying to be fed, then you may become nervous;
your baby may move about and make the latch-on difficult.
Instead, if you nurse him promptly, you can be more relaxed
about getting him settled.
- Remember
that the alternative to public breastfeeding is usually
public crying. Whether you’re in a restaurant, at
church, or on an airplane, people typically would prefer
that you feed your baby than let him cry, fuss or otherwise
disrupt the peace. I remember once attending a live play
with a very antsy two-year-old: my son, David. When I
finally settled him on my lap to breastfeed, the gentleman
sitting beside me actually said, “Thank you!”
For
more information
Websites
La
Leche League International
www.lalecheleague.org
INFACT
Canada
www.infactcanada.ca
The
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
www.waba.org.br
This
article is an excerpt from Gentle
Baby Care
by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)
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