Random ignorant members of the public who seemingly can't use their neck or eyes to filter their environment - trump the rights of either mum or baby.
Young babies who are feeding well tend to be still and focused due to the ongoing transfer of milk, particularly at the start of a feed; others however pop on and off, turn their head, kick their feet, giggle, cry, arch or any combination of the above.
A baby who has really trapped wind can wriggle and writhe, all limbs flailing. One mum described it as akin to trying to feed the cartoon " Tasmanian Devil", another that surely it would be more practical for them to grow arms at a later stage when they needed them - they can't control the ones they have and they really just get in the way if baby gets into a tizzy.
We often end up laughing, however for some mums it's far from funny. They may avoid feeding in public because in addition to the embarrassment felt that their baby's struggling to feed, the risk of exposing "their whole boob" can be unsettling.
I think all over the country there are mums who simply avoid putting themselves in that position and so stay at home - which in turn means we continue only to see the model standard of the "perfect feed" whilst others are stuck isolated
Why should anyone be panicking they're being judged when feeding their baby? - when many experience hiccups and bumps in the road. Breasts are located smack bang on the front of a person, which makes hiding them really quite difficult.
Men get to remove their tops without the world ending, modesty is a female only thing. In fact it did used to be just as taboo for men to expose their chests, until they protested and they're not even revealing their nipples to do something useful like keeping someone alive.
Let me be clear, I have absolutely no problem with mums who choose to cover up. It's your body and if you want to wear a row of structured nursing covers to build yourself a tent - go right ahead.
What I take issue with is the suggestion this is discreet or modest breastfeeding.
- Modest:
- (of a woman) dressing or behaving so as to avoid impropriety or indecency, especially to avoid attracting sexual attention.
- free from ostentation or showy extravagance: a modest house.
- having or showing regard for the decencies of behavior, speech,dress, etc.; decent:
- Discreet:
- careful and prudent in one's speech or actions, especially in order to keep something confidential or to avoid embarrassment.
- modestly unobtrusive; unostentatious:
The further problem with language is when we label one way of feeding "discreet", anyone who chooses not to cover to the same degree or shows more flesh is potentially "indiscreet".
- Indiscreet:
- having, showing, or proceeding from too great a readiness to reveal things that should remain private or secret.
- An act or remark that is indiscreet, especially one that is not morally acceptable.
- Immodest
- not modest in conduct, utterance, etc.; bold, indecent; shameless.
- indecent, esp with regard to sexual propriety; improper
We need to think about the words we use and the impact they can have. They're just breasts and as the Sparrow Folk highlight they're really not that scary. Babies need to feed and we need to give new mums the support and confidence to feed their babies wherever they are.