Breastfeeding in public: Why are we so uptight?

An Indiana mother was publicly shamed for breastfeeding in a restaurant (TGI Friday's) when a male who was present there posted a picture of her breastfeeding "I want to know if this is appropriate or inappropriate as I'm trying to eat my Fridays, there are little kids around...I understand feeding in public but could you at least cover your boob up?!"

And in India, situation is no better, if not worse. We are a culture that accepts sexual nudity but has larger-than-leviathan reservations when it comes to seeing bare breasts feeding infants in public. We, as a country, need to create some room to allow motherhood to unfold. Perhaps, all it is about is getting to see more of something to become comfortable with it.

Medela India, the world's leading global producer of breast pumps and nursing accessories organized the first edition of LactoClave 2016 on the occasion of World Health Day. LactoClave 2016 was a first of its kind initiative to bring together experts and discuss the need and importance of breastfeeding. For its first edition, LactoClave was organized in association with Fortis La Femme Hospital and the topic was 'Breastfeeding being the best immunizer for children'. Dr Anita Sharma, Lactation Consultant, Fortis La Femme, is a strong-willed upholder of public breastfeeding and for her, it is "the most logical thing to do." Baring or not baring the breasts is a choice but one that needs to be offered to the mothers. Sensitization of the society towards public breastfeeding, and towards motherhood as a whole, is necessary and indispensable for her.

Kim Kardashian has also spoken on the issue recently and wrote in a new entry on her app "...I think it's such a natural experience and I'm not shy about that. I know so many people get backlash for posting breastfeeding pics, but I don't mind them!"

Alyssa Milano, actress and mother, had gotten a bit too bold and told Wendy Williams that she was lucky that her baby was not at the Williams' show or she would "whip 'em out right here and feed [her] on your show!"

But what's more of a problem in India than public breastfeeding is a lack of awareness about the concept. It isn't only about breastfeeding in public that poses threats to a healthy upbringing, but also the clouds of breastfeeding myths that won't ever stop coming from the taiji or the naniji. Dr Raghuram Mallaiah, Director, Neonatology, Fortis La Femme, said that breastfeeding mostly stops within 2 to 3 weeks of having delivered the baby. This poses serious threats to the health of the infant, and so, the hospital ensures encouraging sessions for the mothers whenever they visit the hospital post-pregnancy.

There are many things to unlearn and undo, he says. Pain is never a part and parcel of breastfeeding and if there's pain, there's something not right. Learn to latch the baby properly, don't take day-breaks for that will negatively impact the milk flow instead of restoring it, and feed every time the baby asks for it because mother's milk digests sooner than formula. (Images: Shutterstock)