One of the most precious gifts that a mother gives to her baby is her body. Throughout the nine months, the baby is allowed to inhabit and basically take over. They stretch and change your whole body layout forever. Most women are relieved once baby arrives, as this frees them up to be an individual again, at least in terms of owning their body. For women who to choose to breastfeed, that journey is not quite over. Breastfeeding can include a lot of sacrifice, but it is such a rewarding experience. However, everyone doesn't see the beauty in it, especially if you happen to be breastfeeding out in public. Recently, so many stories have surfaced about people who have shamed mothers all because of them feeding their babies. It begs the question of whether breastfeeding mothers should be more modest when breastfeeding in public, or should people just be more accepting?
Should She Cover Up?
With so many women being orally attacked by offended people regarding their "exposed" breast, it's a wonder that women are not shamed to confinement in their homes. As a concerned citizen, people approach the women, making it their mission to let them know that they should cover themselves, or that they are disgusted by their baby eating. In a society where the exposure of body parts have almost become the norm, it is remarkable how a tiny human being receiving nourishment can be such a disgusting sight.
So, should a women cover up when she is feeding her child? Let's ask this instead: do you cover yourself when you are eating? How many times have you been out to eat and a person sitting next to you is trying to converse. Meanwhile, the entire time all you can see is the particles of chewed up remnants of their dinner, daring to spit onto your face. That, my friends, is disgusting. Yet, we focus on the breastfeeding mother when most of us don't have the common courtesy to close our mouths when we eat.
Is Feeding In Public Necessary?
Your hungry baby screams, as you are trying to shop for tonight's dinner. He is ready for his dinner now, even though he just ate 20 minutes ago. Now, you have a choice. You can either let your child scream and cry, or pull your breast out and let him eat. Which choice sounds more rational? If we go by the disgusted and offended person staring at you at the end of the aisle, clearly they think that you pulling your breast out was not the right choice. Instead, you should have allowed your baby to continue in their distress until you got home. So, is breastfeeding a necessity in public? Sometimes, and being the awesome mother that you are, you shouldn't be ashamed if you need to feed promptly in order to maintain your child's well-being.
Conclusion: Breastfeeding In Public Is Not Disgusting
Before the invention of formula, babies fed from their mother's breast exclusively. Like everything else, though, old habits have died to the new generations easier ways of doing things. Deciding to feed your baby through formula is not a decision that makes you a bad mother.Niether is deciding to breastfeed in public. Breastfeeding should be the choice of the mother, that includes where she does it, how she does it, and if she does it at all. Instead of making it a sexualized act, we should be embracing this old beauty and respect that the mother has the balls to sacrifice even more so, in the effort of feeding her child.