Imagine a mother trying to calm her crying baby in a park by rocking the baby and attempting to feed. Her hands shake and her heart pounds as she struggles to latch the baby, seeing around nervously to check if anyone is watching. She is simply responding to her baby’s hunger, as if feeling guilty of doing something wrong. The stares and taunts, whispers, and silent judgements have downplayed her confidence, and she is feeling awkward and scared at the moment. 

This scenario illustrates the emotional turmoil that mothers face when attempting to feed their babies in public places. Breastfeeding in public spaces is still taboo. The stigma and discomfort given by the society speak volumes about the fact that feeding is seen not as a nurturing act, but as an act of shame and guilt. With proper awareness and acceptance, this taboo can be broken, and we can have an inclusive society where mothers feel accepted and understood, rather than shamed and marginalized. 

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Why Breastfeeding In Public Spaces Is Still A Problem?

Our society treats breastfeeding as a silent process, not to be seen, heard, or approved in public. Mothers are expected to either cover up or turn away, sometimes taking the baby to an isolated corner, in case others are watching her. Turning a moment of care into anxiety is not uncommon. However, Communities have a positive role to play in this regard. Shifting people’s mindset is not easy, but it is not impossible either.

Research reports indicate that community awareness campaigns have already been implemented by many developed nations worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the slogan ‘The way to break the taboo is to do the taboo thing’ became a public voice. According to a 2005 survey done by the National British Infant Feeding Survey, 40% of breastfeeding mothers have experienced adverse reactions from the public when they attempted to nurture their babies in public spaces. In India, the scenario is even more serious. Women fear nursing in public because of staring, lack of privacy, and fear of being judged. Many feel exposed and vulnerable due to the lack of feeding rooms or hygienic corners in most public arenas. 

Breastfeeding in public spaces is still a big problem because of specific, obvious reasons:

• Social stigma is connected to the action being considered indecent.

• Mothers face taunts, comments, and inappropriate staring.

• Poor infrastructure in most public places, like railway stations, government buildings, restaurants, etc.

• Mothers fear being shamed or being stopped from feeding by authorities or other people.

• Cultural silence in communities that see breastfeeding as a private matter, not to be disclosed in public.

• Mothers who return to work just after childbirth are forced to stop breastfeeding because office spaces are not equipped.

• Media portrayals often shape the public mindset. TV advertisements usually feature sensational content related to the breast or overemphasize formula feeding for promotional purposes and greater reach. This reinforces the adverse reactions that can occur whenever a woman tries to feed her hungry baby in a public setting. 

How To Break The Taboo? (Role Of Community)

Breaking the taboo surrounding breastfeeding in public needs a collective effort. Along with government initiatives on public awareness, the role of the community is equally significant. Families, friends, neighbors of the new mother, and even the everyday passerby on the road need to become more aware, compassionate, and supportive of the process. 

We need to shift the collective attitude and refrain from trying to correct individual opinions that stem from age-old traditional beliefs and cultural conditioning. Change will set in only when communities become more understanding and less judgmental. 

Normalizing feeding in public places should be the goal, for which societal awareness campaigns highlighting the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding should be emphasized. Efforts should be made to create an environment where positive attitudes are modeled, shared, and consistently promoted. This will allow the outdated mindset to diminish gradually.

Here are some practical ways in which we can create an inclusive environment where mothers would feel safe to breastfeed their babies without any public humiliation. 

1# Normalize Breastfeeding In Public Conversations And Media

To break the taboo, it is essential to break the silence. We should become more vocal about discussing the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding till the baby’s 6 months of age. At the grassroots level, community programs should be established, and individuals should be informed openly that whenever the baby is hungry, the mother should feel free to offer milk to the baby, regardless of her location, activities, or company at the time. Representation in media, such as TV ads, should consistently show mothers confidently feeding their babies in various settings, including shopping malls, airports, railway stations, and restaurants. When the general public encounters these visuals frequently, they become a regular part of their daily lives. They would discuss the issue less openly; instead, they'd try to promote feeding as a nurturing process to those around them. 

2# Influencers, Celebrity Talk Shows, And Story Sharing

Social media influencers and celebrities can play a vital role in breaking the taboo of breastfeeding in public spaces. When public personalities share their breastfeeding experiences, people accept it as a regular part of society. Nobody dares to question their personal choices; hence, women also feel free to feed their babies in open spaces without any shame or guilt. Celebrities can help promote breastfeeding campaigns because the general public often follows their lead. They can send a strong message of empowerment to women who fear feeding in public. 

3# Speak Up Against Taunts, Whispers, And Shaming

When a mother faces public shaming just for nurturing her baby, other bystanders should raise a voice of protest immediately. Sometimes, silence from all those around her often reinforces the stigma. To stop this, bystanders can behave normally and firmly support the breastfeeding process. Offering kindness to a mother, whether through kind words of reassurance or a smile, can make her feel psychologically secure in that moment. She would gather the courage to face those who are rude or inappropriate towards her. 

4# Create Mother-Friendly Public Spaces 

Another community support that can normalize breastfeeding in public places is to create spaces better equipped for use during lactation. Remember that breastfeeding moms are not looking for special treatments; instead, they’re seeking safe and secure spaces that can allow them to nurture their babies peacefully, without any humiliation. As community members, we can create comfortable breastfeeding rooms in public places like malls, doctors’ clinics, airports, and eateries. Visible signage in cafes, malls, and other public spaces can support the noble cause of nurturing a tiny life.  It will undoubtedly shift public perception, allowing women to use these rooms with confidence.

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5# Educate Youngsters, Don’t Judge  Them

Suppose a youngster or teenager comments negatively or dismisses breastfeeding in public. In that case, it’s time to teach them openly about the benefits of breastfeeding and the basic etiquette of respecting a mother’s right to feed her baby, whenever she feels the need to do so. Instead of reacting with anger, they should be informed about how feeding supports good growth and how healthy it is for a nursing mother as well. Moreover, schools and colleges can introduce campaign programs that talk about normalizing feeding in open spaces. This ensures that both girls and boys learn the importance of breastfeeding, as well as respecting women as worthy individuals in society.

6# Ensure Accessibility To All Women

Public breastfeeding rooms should be designed in such a manner that they are easily accessible to all women, even those mothers who are physically disabled. This includes readily available strollers and sufficient room for their easy mobility.

7# Comfortable Public Feeding Rooms

The feeding rooms should be equipped with comfortable seating arrangements that can support various feeding positions. Moreover, a proper backrest can support the mother and help her relax during the feeding process. The room should have privacy options such as screens or curtains so that she feels safe and secure.

8# Mothers’ Emotional Empowerment

Breaking breastfeeding taboos can only happen successfully when mothers stand up for their rights. It’s about building emotional strength to fight all odds. Instead of crying over the struggles, they need to retaliate with confidence, speak up for themselves, and claim their space in this big world. There should be no fear, no apology, but only belief in her ability to face the situation boldly. Only then will society shift its perspective, recognizing feeding as a natural, loving process, not something to shy away from. When one mother leads with courage, others will follow her, and the narrative will slowly begin to change.

Breastfeeding in public places is not something to be tolerated, but to be understood and empathized with. It is a mother’s right and a baby’s need; so society needs to shift its perspectives for the well-being of both.