Public Display of Breastfeeding Day (PDB)

I'm a breastfeeding mom, and have come to find myself surrounded by breastfeeding (and non-breastfeeding) moms day in and day out for the past several months They are my friends, they are my customers, they are me!! So when I heard about The Bump & Boppy's campaign, Public Display of Breastfeeding (PDB) Day on August 15, I was pretty excited. Unfortunately, I only found out about it the day before! They had events going on around the nation in select cities, where the first so many moms would win door prizes. The only one around here was on the Upper East Side, and that 1.5+ hour journey was totally not happening for us. So, I took to Facebook! With the weather set to be gorgeous, my Bay Ridge Baby Mamas group and I planned a small picnic and even alerted the press (check out our article the Home Reporter)! Miny Moe even donated some nursing pad and diaper samplers to the mamas :)

Credit: Home Reporter

We're not lactivists, or at least we didn't see ourselves as such. We're just a group of moms who want to be able to feed our babies whenever, however, and wherever we need to without being glared at and made to feel uncomfortable.

I remember being at a family dinner in Manhattan when my little one was only 6 weeks old. I wasn't yet comfortable feeding him in public, so I nursed him in the bathroom. We were huddled in the corner for a good half hour, and missed most of the dinner. It was really sad, and at the time I thought that's what life was like as a nursing mom! Thankfully my son and I both got a LOT more comfortable with nursing and have no problem doing it anywhere these days. On a plane, in Herald Square, in the park, restaurant, bar, you name it!

If you get on Twitter and search #Breastfeeding, you'll see tons tons TONS of hate going on. Lots of "This lady is #breastfeeding her baby in the restaurant - gross!! could you NOT??". I just don't understand how people can get so heated and offended by breastfeeding. I really can't. Can you explain it to me? I know that breasts are sexualized and culture says they should be covered. But feeding your baby is natural, and necessary! It's not especially convenient to pump just so that you can give your baby a bottle while you're out of the house. Personally, I'm quite modest and always use a nursing cover. But covers are tricky. When my baby was very little, it was soooooo hard to use the cover because I couldn't see what I was doing very well and was scared I would drop him while getting everything situated. And then he would fuss and not latch on and oh my gosh - HARD!! Now that he's 8 months he's grabbing at the cover and trying to flash my ta-ta's at every moment. It's a struggle! For many moms, the cover is just not worth the hassle. With nursing tops these days, you really don't see much more than you would on any given beach or in a MTV music video. Am I right??

So to the breastfeeding haters out there, get over it. You feel awkward? Don't look! Moms should be able to feed and nourish and comfort their children however and wherever they need to, whether by breast or bottle, it shouldn't matter. You want us to go feed our babies in the bathroom so as not to offend you? You know what? You're so offended?? Whey don't YOU take YOUR meal to the bathroom, huh?? Go on then.

To all the breastfeeding moms out there, whether you feed in private, with a cover, or letting your boobs run free, #ISUPPORTYOU! To moms who formula feed, whether you had to or you chose to, #ISUPPORTYOU, too! Motherhood is hard enough without all the judgement and criticism and hate.

OK, stepping off my lactivist soap box for now...

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