The discussion about whether women can breastfeed in public has been ongoing for a long time. Now, a new mom is sharing her perspective, and it’s causing some controversy. Let’s dive into her story to learn more.
Every nursing mom knows that when a baby is hungry, they don’t care about the location or time. While some moms may feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, this young mother wasn’t bothered. In fact, she wanted to make a bold statement supporting breastfeeding in public.
Trinati breastfeeds her 17-month-old daughter wherever they happen to be, often in public. While she’s comfortable with this, not everyone around her feels the same. The young mother often gets strange looks and has even been directed to broom closets by store employees who assume she’ll be more comfortable breastfeeding there.
She didn’t think the broom closet was a suitable place for breastfeeding. So, she took action. She had her son take a picture as she nursed her baby daughter at Costco. In an interview, she explained, “I never shy away from providing my children with what they may need from me based on our surroundings.”
In addition to facing criticism from strangers, Trinati also encounters questions from friends and family. They often ask, “How long are you going to do ‘that’ for?” To which she responds, “As long as she needs me to!”
Sometimes, they joke awkwardly, suggesting she might still breastfeed her daughter when she starts kindergarten!
The young mama has grown tired of people sexualizing her breastfeeding and passing judgment on her for it. She expressed in an interview, “Really? Have you SEEN breastfeeding breasts? My nipples are very far from looking like something someone may fantasize about! Ha!” She believes society often overlooks the natural beauty and purpose of breastfeeding, instead focusing on objectification. “It’s like being judged for feeding my child when there are people out there who are perfectly fine with the woman with world’s largest cheeks being put on display,” she pointed out, shaking her head at the absurdity of it all. In her view, nurturing a baby should never be a source of shame or scrutiny.
She added, “These are basically udders right now. Get over yourself! I’m not trying to steal your man or lady with these bad girls! To me, they have become so far from feeling like a sexual part of my body. Right now, they belong to my child for nourishment, both physically and emotionally.”
She aims to raise awareness that breastfeeding is about nourishing a child and should not be seen as something sexual.
“I don’t expect all men or those who have never breastfed to understand the ways in which mothers have the endurance to deal with nipple-pinching or straight-up acrobatics while breastfeeding,” she continued. “I have received the strangest glances and awkward giggles when people watch my 1.5-year-old standing on my lap while suckling sometimes on one leg!”
In an effort to make breastfeeding in public more accepted, she took a photo of herself nursing her toddler to share her message. The photo quickly garnered attention on social media, sparking conversations about normalizing breastfeeding in public spaces. Inspired by the positive response, she decided to collaborate with local artists to create a teacher’s music video with students, further spreading the message of support and acceptance for breastfeeding mothers. This initiative not only advocated for maternal health but also promoted a sense of community around the topic.
“I had my son take that photo of us in Costco because I never want to forget (and [I want to] show my daughter in the future) the lengths we, as mothers, will go to when ensuring our kids are well looked after no matter the situation,” the mum said.
“My baby’s needs come waaaaaay before anyone else’s attempts to make me feel inappropriate for this sometimes-public act of nourishing and/or comforting my children,” she captioned her Instagram post.
Trinati wants to ensure that her children always come first, regardless of what others think and how comfortable they feel.
“Trust is a fundamental tool for developing healthy relationships and it begins with the care that we receive in childhood,” she added. “For me, breastfeeding demonstrates this to my children, and for this reason, I will never feel shame for allowing a baby of mine to do this with me in any environment.”
What are your views on this story? Let us know in the comment section.
Sources: Instagram
