Should anywhere be “off-limits” for breastfeeding?

Public breastfeeding is a touchy subject for some people, and it’s certainly making the news lately. Check out this story about a woman who contacted Delta Airlines to ask them what their breastfeeding policy was. She was planning to take a six-hour flight with an infant who couldn’t feed under a cover and wouldn’t take a bottle.

She was informed that she would not be allowed to breastfeed without a cover, which meant that basically she wouldn’t be able to feed her baby for the entire flight. This created an online uproar when the story broke and Delta has since apologized and retracted the statement (as they should have!).

I can relate to this mother and why she couldn’t cover up in public. Breastfeeding for some women is a snap, but I’ll be honest, I had a difficult time with my children.

I was committed to giving it a solid try as I know full well the health benefits, but I never really got the hang of it. I had trouble with all three of my babies getting them to latch properly, and it often took several frustrating tries. This was hard enough in the privacy of my own home, and almost impossible to do under the cover of a blanket or some sort of sheet in public while dealing with an angry, hungry baby!

If it had been easy to use a cover I might have, but it wasn’t, and to be honest I just didn’t give a darn what other people thought. If they didn’t like it, they could look away.

I am surprised in this day and age that some people still have an issue with women nursing in public. It isn’t shameful or wrong. In fact, nothing could be more right. I say if you are shy about it, then by all means cover up.

I just don’t think you should have to, nor should you do it to make other people feel better. Every woman has the right to breastfeed her child in public without being harassed for it. Our child’s needs should come before other people’s discomfort and outdated views on motherhood.

Do YOU (or did you) breastfeed in public? Do you think some places should be off-limits? Share your thoughts below in the ‘Comments’ section!