Breastfeeding in public

In my country, as well as in many others, breastfeeding in public is frowned upon. Because of this nursing mum’s take so much effort in trying to cover themselves whenever the need arises. In fact Triumph and other lingerie manufacturers have cashed in on this by inventing a bra that allows one to breastfeed anywhere without showing anything that might attract unnecessary attention.

However the shock of my life came a few months ago when during our agricultural innovations day, I caught sight of this local woman with something brown dangling outside her shirt collar. After much curiosity, what I thought was a piece of fruit or perhaps an amulet was actually one her mammaries poking out of her collar for her wide-eyed baby to conveniently suck on while she goes around doing her usual business. And what surprised me all the more was that she was doing it without a hint of embarrassment or malice while I on the other hand wanted to run towards her and discreetly remind her to “tuck-in” the displaced organ or give her something to cover herself with. And did people around her care?, you might ask. No. Not even a glance.

In Madang where we spent a day in the far-flung village of Nubia, you see mothers and elderly women walking along the road topless. But again nobody seemed to care. Stranded in an airport somewhere in the Western Province, a nursing mom sat beside me and with the baby on her lap casually took out one of her breasts and started feeding the baby. Until she noticed that the white meri sitting beside her was in shock. Of course what she’s got I’ve got as well (only 3 to 4 cup sizes smaller) but like what I’ve said earlier, it’s a practice rarely seen nowadays. However, she was considerate enough to have asked if I did mind at all and I said no. Of course I was lying.

Breastfeeding is the most normal thing to do but times have changed and societies have evolved but who am I to say that what they are doing is wrong or right. Anyway I’ll be fine so long as I don’t see another one with something popping out of her shirt collar.