By Danika Dégagné
Being a mother is probably one of the most under-appreciated jobs, since a mother’s hard work is rarely recognized. In fact, to be a mother, your body and mind has to undergo a major transformation; your body in order to create life, and your mind to accept this new identity.
New mothers have many challenges, not only are they recovering from birth, which takes a minimum of six weeks, but they are overwhelmed by everything there is to learn about caring for their newborn. Lack of sleep and frequent breakdowns are considered normal in the first few weeks of becoming a mother.
A common challenge for mothers, that most don’t realize, is breastfeeding. For some, it comes easy, but generally it is a learning curve. This can even be impossibly difficult for some, while others might not be able to breastfeed at all. Once she gets the hang of breastfeeding, a mother is proud to be able to feed her baby with the milk she produces.
The purpose of breasts is to feed babies. Yes, they can be sexual, just as mouths, hands and even feet, but it is our culture that sexualizes breasts, and it is because of this sexualization that we forget the purpose of breasts and deem them as “inappropriate” in public.
Women are too often shamed for feeding their babies in public and therefore they feel the need to hide in bathroom stalls to feed their babies or fumble to cover themselves while they have a fussy hungry infant. The shame and hassle of feeding discourages breastfeeding women from going out into the public with their babies since they normally have to feed every two to three hours.
A Sudbury radio station brought issue to the fore this month when the on-air hosts agreed with a Kansas City restaurant owner (reported by Fox 4 News Kansas City) for kicking out a breastfeeding mother from his restaurant. Something that is actually illegal to do in Ontario laws.
Thankfully, the radio station reached out to the Sudbury and District Health Unit (recently renamed Public Health Sudbury and Districts) in order to educate themselves on breastfeeding rights and creating a breastfeeding welcome atmosphere. In their apology, the station sent a very important message on educating the public on this topic; “We hope that the information provided will help spread awareness and educate more people, like ourselves.”
The Ontario Human Rights Code’s policy on preventing discrimination because of pregnancy and breastfeeding states that “women are discouraged by others from breastfeeding in public places because of concerns that it is indecent. Breastfeeding is really a health issue, and not one of public decency. Women should have the choice to feed their babies in the way they feel is most dignified, comfortable and healthy”.
This is definitely a step in the right direction to make breastfeeding mothers comfortable to feed their babies wherever they choose.
Danika Dégagné is a writer living in Greater Sudbury.
