My Revolution: Breastfeeding in Public

I am a big advocate of breastfeeding.  I breastfeed my four-month-old exclusively; I don't pump, so he's never even had a bottle.  And since life doesn't stop when you have a baby, I have breastfed him in many public places, including McDonald's, Barnes & Noble, church, my husband's college graduation, and most recently, Chick-fil-a.

I don't know how it is in other parts of the country, but in South Carolina, it is extremely rare to see a mother nursing in public.  I joked to my sister a few months ago that by nursing my baby in public, I felt like I was starting a revolution that would lead the way for all mothers to feel comfortable breastfeeding their babies in public.  I do hope that by breastfeeding my son in front of other people and not hiding in a bathroom stall that I can help normalize breastfeeding and encourage other women to breastfeed, too.

As a first-time mom, I sometimes felt uncomfortable breastfeeding in certain places; now that Nathan is a ripe, old age of four months, it doesn't really phase me.  So when I nursed him at Chick-fil-a yesterday, I didn't notice that a woman at the table next to us was uncomfortable about the way I chose to feed my son.  That woman happens to co-host a popular talk radio show in Greenville, Russ and Lisa on WORD, and she made my spectacle one of the subjects of today's broadcast.  My dad is a regular listener and put two and two together to figure out that she was talking about me. 

I did not hear the discussion myself, and I am eagerly awaiting the podcast to be uploaded to their website.  Since I don't know how soon the show will be uploaded or if it will be uploaded in its entirety, I went ahead and sent this email:

Dear Lisa,

I am the breastfeeding mother who sat next to you yesterday at the Cherrydale Chick-fil-a, and I appreciate the conversation you've opened up on breastfeeding in public.  However, I think that you are on the wrong side of the issue, and I am disappointed in the ignorance that was broadcast to your listeners. 

Breastfeeding is the method that God created for mothers to feed their children.  This method of feeding babies is natural, not something that is shameful or needs to be hidden from public view.  As you noticed, I was very discreet in nursing my son; so I'm wondering, what is the problem?  There were probably women in that Chick-fil-a dressed immodestly; why were they not the subject of today's broadcast?  Why is just knowing that my son is breastfeeding under a cover distasteful?  Could it be that our society has so objectified women and their breasts that you hate to even be reminded of their God-given purpose? 

Your biography on the Russ and Lisa page of WORD's website says you were called the most caring voice in radio.  I'm not sure how extensive your knowledge is of the benefits of breastfeeding, but one of the most caring things you could do for your community's children and mothers is advocate for breastfeeding.  Here is a quick summary of the benefits of breastfeeding for baby: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020300.asp.  Here are some benefits for mother: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020700.asp. 

With these advantages well-documented for all to see, why is breastfeeding not done by a large majority of women in our society?  I believe it is because of people like you who try to shame mothers into public bathrooms or hot cars to feed their babies.  Do you eat on the toilet?  Do you like to eat in a car in the 90 degree heat?  Why should I be forced into hiding for the first year of my son's life when his primary food is breastmilk?  You should not ask mothers to put their lives on hold and run home every time they need to feed their babies.  That expectation is unrealistic and drives women to give up on breastfeeding.

Are you concerned about the health of the next generation?  Do you want to lower breast cancer rates dramatically?  Then encourage women to breastfeed.  Don't stare or whisper when you see a woman caring for her baby.  Your community needs to know breastfeeding is normal; don't treat it as headline news.