Breastfeeding is a natural part of life and growth. It’s a natural process of a mother feeding her baby – simple, right?
Although it’s supposed to be simple, our society still has a ways to go before it shows more kindness towards mothers who have to feed their babies before giving them judgy looks and telling them to do it somewhere else.
Something similar happened to Ashley Kaidel in 2015 at a restaurant where a woman sitting far from her gave her looks of disgust while Ashley was feeding her baby. Ashley, the super mom of this story, decided to respond quietly by refusing to cover up and continue to feed her baby – babies need food just like we do.
She posted her situation on Facebook, the post has garnered massive virality, and Ashley received praise for being a super mom. In her post, Ashley wrote:
“Earlier today I posted this picture of my son and I breastfeeding uncovered in a public restaurant. In the picture, it appears I’m staring off into the distance. In reality, I’m staring into the eyes of a woman staring at me. She is looking at me with disgust and shaking her head with judgement in an attempt to shame me and indirectly tell me without words that I am wrong and need to cover myself.”“
Then she went on to explain why she refused to cover up:
“Let me make my reasoning clear on why I post pictures of my son and I publicly breastfeeding uncovered.”
“I don’t mean to say “Everyone should breast feed without a cover. Show the world your boobs!” If a mother is more comfortable covering herself because SHE feels better doing so, then I totally support that.”
“With that being said, the reason I post these types pictures is for the mother that tried breastfeeding uncovered once and she got shamed, she got stared and pointed at, she got nasty comments, she got asked to leave the room, she got asked to cover up.”
“Number one, breast feeding mothers are protected under law to breast feed any way, any how and any where they’re allowed to be in all circumstances otherwise. Number two, you should not ever feel shamed, belittled, embarrassed or wrong for feeding your baby the way nature intended. I do this for the person that has the mentality ‘Boobs are to be covered. They’re for your husbands eyes only. They’re intimate. It’s a personal/private thing to feed your baby. Cover up out of respect. My kids don’t need to see that. Walk out of the room.’ and any other derogatory, close minded comments and sentiments alike.”
“Secondly, it is exponentially unfair and selfish to ask a mother and baby to exclude themselves from a table or event or gathering because you’re for some reason uncomfortable with how she feeds her child. No person should be isolated and shunned because they’re eating, especially when you yourself are eating while ridiculing how someone else is eating.”
“Lastly, your children need to see breastfeeding for the same reason you do. They need to acknowledge, comprehend and appreciate that breast milk and breast feeding is and should forever be the first and best choice for both mom and baby.”
Finishing her post, she wrote for moms all over the world:
“So again, I don’t post this for attention. I don’t post this because I think everyone should nurse uncovered. I post this to give mamas encouragement. And to encourage others to make breastfeeding mothers feel accepted and supported; not alienated, ridiculed and judged.”
Ashley, you’re a super mom for nurturing your baby and not letting anyone tell you otherwise. Society needs to be more kind and accepting towards mothers, not make it difficult for them to feed their babies.
What are your thoughts on this story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Sources:
Featured Image via Ashley Kaidel on Facebook
I think society making this taboo in any way at all is the dumbest thing ever in history. We are so eager to forget that we are just animals and we have instinctual things we need to do to remain natural. Humans are the dumbest species that has ever walked the earth because we deny our nature. People can argue all they want that this woman had a choice to cover up but why is this even part of our society? Why is covering or not covering a debate now? Ponder on if society never made this an issue at all…then more women would not think twice when it’s time to feed and she would feel comfortable to feed he baby naturally, protecting it’s brain and body with more natural nutrients rather than choosing chemical-laced formula due to society bullying her to lean more towards caution because someone may be offended. Everyone who says this is disgusting or disrespectful has the societal tongue hanging out of their mouth. The answer to life is to go back to nature. Not run further from it because someone told you to.
Why should she cover up as if she’s got something to hide big up mama
While I respect your rights and personally I dont care if you do it. I have to say the rights of the others eating are also present and if that causes them to show disgust, that is also their right to disagree with any of your actions. If you must I suggest you ask for a corner area with your back to the rest then both rights are respected.
As much as I agree that breast feeding is natural, I also believe that sex is natural. That’s where those babies come from that need to be breast fed. Therefore, $ex in public should be allowed just as much as breast feeding. Sound stupid? You bet.
This cover up your breast while feeding baby at this point in time is so ridiculous. There are breast of all sizes hanging out for the world to see. No one covers up those big fake (or not) boobs. In fact, today I was watching the news and the reporter had on a top that was cut down to her ribs. Is it ok for the women of the world to get around with their breasts looking as they need help staying in the bra that maybe isn’t a bra? Some things from the past should be gotten rid of but society always seems to go overboard.
Unfortunately it’s been the way of the world for decades and breastfeeding in public with no cover to make a point isn’t going to change anything, people are going to believe and feel the way they do and nothing is going to change that. I covered up in public, that’s me and I don’t understand those that just undress in public and go to business like they are at home but don’t expect people to all of a sudden get comfortable with it because you are….sorry
Having been a breast feeding mother, this is less about breast feeding than it is about the mother wanting to be on display. There are discrete ways to do this and still bond with your baby at the same time. She is the one making it something it is not. !!!
Why were clothes invented?nothing more to say
Exactly; another attention seeking narcissistic person
Nothing Wrong in this, it’s natural
We just need to change to our thinking
I’ve been asked to leave a room or business while breastfeeding my child even though my breasts and child were covered I even had hospital staff insist I had to pump in private instead of feed straight from the breast cause they didn’t think they could tell if my baby was eating enough just because she nursed for the normal amount of time and tell me I couldn’t feed my baby even when she was hungry to wait four hours in between even though the dietitians and pediatric doctors said on demand needless to say covered or uncovered. Breast feeding, pumping or formula feeding no one has the right to tell you how to feed your baby as long as you and baby are healthy and happy.