After nursing her child in public, a mom has sparked debate about breastfeeding in public. The unidentified woman was seen nursing her child while eating at a restaurant in a widely shared video uploaded to X by the user Liberacrat.
The post was captioned, “This woman’s receiving backlash for breastfeeding her (kind of old) child inside a restaurant on Mother’s Day, where other patrons were also trying to enjoy their Mother’s Day and meals with loved ones. What do you think, did she deserve the backlash?”
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The mother was seen with several people at a huge table in the video. As many women in her position would do, she fed her child when they were hungry.
The multitasking mother seemed unconcerned by her son drinking his mother’s milk, ordering food from the waiter without missing a beat.
Though some had differing views, netizens were ready to express their perspectives.
“This is absolutely natural. She should have a blanket over her baby, but honestly, I’ve seen worse today,” the top comment read, according to the New York Post.
“Sheesh, cover up. Nothing wrong with breastfeeding your baby, but it’s not right to show all that,” someone commented.
“I’m sorry, maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I don’t think women should be allowed to breastfeed in public,” another wrote.
Others defended the mother.
“If you’re upset about a mother breastfeeding her child, then you might have some issues you’re going through, talk to someone. This is natural & as long as she’s not flaunting herself this is perfectly fine,” someone suggested.
“Chances are, you won’t be at home or in a private, comfortable place every time your baby gets hungry. Instead, you may be in the middle of eating a meal, running an errand, or sitting in the park,” another observed.
Others cracked jokes about her son’s age and whether he was too old to breastfeed.
“That’s an adult man nursing,” one person remarked.
“Kid is big,” another commented.
Meanwhile, federal legislation, such as the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act and the Friendly Airports for Mothers Act, protects the right to breastfeed publicly.
The Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act of 2019 mandates that “certain public buildings” that are accessible to the public, have a public restroom, and, if they offer lactation areas for their staff, provide a lactation area for visitors who want to pump and nurse, according to Mamava. The lactation area needs to be a private area with a chair and a work surface, as well as an electrical outlet for a breast pump. It cannot be a bathroom.
On the other hand, the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act requires medium and large hub airports to provide a private lactation facility outside security in each terminal by September 30, 2020 (FY2021).
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Despite all of these rules and legislation, it appears that people are still not accustomed to women nursing in public, and they advise ladies to cover themselves with a blanket when doing so.
However, some have argued that using coverings could harm the infant, such as causing them to overheat or refusing to nurse altogether. Others noted that this could make it difficult for the mother to maintain a closer watch on her infant.
The Georgia Birth Advocacy Coalition wrote, “The right of a baby not to be hungry, not to have to wait for food, not to have to be uncomfortable or scared should always trump the right of a stranger to tell a mother how to feed her baby. So next time you think a mother should cover up, try asking yourself one simple question: How does shaming a person for feeding their baby ever make the world a better place?”
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