Ending the Stigma of Public Breastfeeding
Why is breastfeeding in public such a big deal? Some people view nursing in public as inappropriate and distasteful. Nevertheless, most of these same people would agree that breastfeeding is beneficial to an infant. In fact, the positive outcomes of nursing have been scientifically proven.
According to the National Institutes of Health, breastfeeding is linked to reducing the risk of developing allergies, asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Human milk strengthens a baby’s immune system by transferring a mother’s antibodies, immune factors, and other nutrients to her child. Furthermore, early skin-to-skin contact has been shown to improve maternal-infant bonding.
So, in a modern society, where the benefits of breastfeeding have been scientifically proven, why does a double standard exist? People want infants to grow up to be strong and healthy, yet are offended by the completely natural process that gets them there. We must not only change the attitude around nursing in public, but also fight the stigmatization of women for the choices they make with their own bodies.