Dawn Holland, a woman living in Georgia was enjoying a meal at an Applebees (and breastfeeding her 20-month-old son) when she was approached by a restaurant manager who told her to either stop breastfeeding or go to the bathroom to do it (or leave the restaurant). The woman became furious and refused to stop, ultimately resulting in both the manager and the mother calling the police. Luckily, in Georgia, mothers are free to nurse their children whenever and wherever they want (as they should be), so Dawn Holland was in the right.
Why is it that some people are offended by breastfeeding? Is it the boob? The milk? I really don't get it!? Breastfeeding is natural and provides many health benefits for both baby and Mom. We all know this right?!
This story really struck a chord in me. I personally struggled with breastfeeding for over 6 months. One of the reasons why was because I was afraid to offend people or make people feel awkward. And this is coming from someone who whole-heartedly believes in the amazing benefits of breastfeeding. Yes—I had Breastfeeding Anxiety (if there is such a thing). Why? I have no freaking idea. Maybe it's because of idiots like the Applebees Manager...
Picture this...
Scenario #1: Breastfeeding in front of friends or family
My son starts crying because he is hungry. I panic. I awkwardly fish my breastfeeding cover out of my diaper bag, lift up my shirt, try my best to attach my son to my boob, all while doing everything in my power not to (God forbid!) flash anyone within eyesight. We are both hot, sweaty messes by this point, so I casually wipe the sweat off of my brow, flash a nervous smile at whomever I am with and try my best to pretend that I am a pro.
I'm a Dietitian! I preach the benefits of breastfeeding! I can DO this!!
I try to lift my cover so that I can see what the hell I'm doing, as my poor son grows increasingly fussy, likely due to my anxiety.
That was me—sweaty, awkward, anxious me, trying to feed my baby without offending anyone around me.
Silly me.
Scenario #2: At the Mall with my newborn (here's where I over-share)
My son is 6 weeks old and we're walking in the Mall. All of a sudden he starts crying and I can't sooth him. In a panic, I try to find a bathroom because I'm too nervous to nurse in public. I literally run with my son in the stroller to the nearest bathroom, which is at one end of the Mall, only to realize that there is no place for me to nurse. No nursing room. No chairs. Just stalls. Oh no.
My son is frantic and starving at this point, so I grit my teeth, park the stroller and walk into the end stall, sit on the toilet, sanitize everything around me with hand sanitizer and start nursing. Yep, I was THAT mother. I felt like the most terrible mom in the world. Who does that?! At that point, feeds were taking at least 45 minutes. I waited it out, covering my son's whole body as best as I could with receiving blankets, as people came and left, doing their business. It was awful. And I can't believe I just shared that!! I also can't believe that the store manager at Applebees in Georgia told an innocent woman, who was discreetly breastfeeding her toddler at the back of the restaurant in a booth, to relocate to the bathroom, where she would likely have to sit on a toilet and nurse like I did. Shame on him.
I have vowed to myself that if I'm lucky enough to have another baby and lucky enough to be able to breastfeed, I will do so with confidence, out in public and NOT in a bathroom. Heck- maybe I won't even use a cover—it always got in the way anyway! As mothers, we should feel comfortable feeding our babies via breast or bottle, without judgment and without becoming hot, sweaty, anxious messes. I envy women like Dawn Holland, who are confident enough to breastfeed wherever they are with ease.
Well, everywhere except for the bathroom stall that is;)
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