A mother breastfeeding her baby: what a sweet image!
What greater gesture of love? Yet one of the most ancestral practices that unites mothers to their children in modern society is not always well seen: even in progressive countries like Denmark there are laws that prevent breastfeeding in restaurants. And in Italy it is not all roses and flowers: consider that in Parliament deputies and senators cannot breastfeed (unlike their colleagues in Strasbourg), and in any case it is undeniable that breastfeeding in public still embarrasses many people.
The regulations
But the question should go beyond the moral aspect that some adults could raise: the most important component of the issue is in fact the protection of children's health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has long advocated exclusive breastfeeding, at least for the first six months of a child's life, as it has been proven that breastfed children get less sick. The International Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Innocenti Declaration also talk about the benefits of breastfeeding. Then there is the global campaign Ospedali Amici dei bambini (which Italy has also joined), aimed at creating optimal conditions in hospitals for successful breastfeeding:
- directives to support mothers in breastfeeding,
- the commitment not to give babies (unless necessary) foods other than breast milk,
- co-rooming of mother and newborn during their stay in hospital;
- the encouragement of breastfeeding on demand, the creation of breastfeeding support groups.
Not to mention rights at work: the legislation on the subject provides for leave for breastfeeding due to the employed mother during the entire first year of the child's life (two paid rest periods of one hour each per day), demonstrating the importance of practice.
Nevertheless…
Statistics show that, already after the three months of life of the newborn, the number of breastfeeding mothers is reduced by almost half and drops sharply (to 6.5%) after six months from birth. Partly due to time management (it is difficult to predict the actual time of each feed), partly due to work needs, partly due to the lack of suitable public places for breastfeeding, many mothers switch to bottle prematurely.
Tips for breastfeeding in public
It being understood that breastfeeding in public remains a right, there are some precautions that could be of support to a mother who is intimidated by any comments and prying eyes:
- PLACE: look for a corner that is as sheltered as possible, in order to guarantee the newborn maximum peace of mind during feeding.
- DEDICATED AREAS: if you are in children's facilities (hospitals, counseling centres, crèches) or in commercial establishments such as supermarkets, check the existence of areas designated for breastfeeding.
- CLOTHING: it is advisable to dress in layers with a tank top and, over it, a looser shirt to be lifted as needed.
- UNDERWEAR: nursing bras can be an additional support for breastfeeding without necessarily having to expose the breasts.
