Having a child changes one’s perception about many things. I
used to say I would opt for a caesarean section as opposed to natural birth
because I didn’t want to feel the pain. I also use to say I wouldn’t do
exclusive breastfeeding for whatever unimportant reason, but all that was
before I got pregnant.
My doctor’s visitations and the several scans I had changed
my perception. I developed a great bond with the creature that was growing
inside me and all of a sudden, I forgot all I used to think and say. I became
focused on being and providing the best for my baby. Breastfeeding was
something I embraced after listening to all the goodness that came with, plus
it was very much in line with my vow to do the very best of all that was within
my power for my child.
It was a month after giving birth to my child when we had
our first major outing. We visited a public library for enquiries and also to enjoy a good mother
daughter time (that turned out to be a wrong call). I was only just getting
familiar with many things like responding to her cries which served as the
prompt for many things but most times, was for feeding. I was told by some older women to try and
train her by feeding her at certain hours so she could get easily acquainted to
those hours but the medium pitched cry for food in a public library showed I had
no success at that gimmick.
It had started raining a few minutes to when she started
crying and the crowd seemed to be building up in the library, which served as a
shade from the rain too. School children were on a break thereby making the
crowd even larger.
Her cries was becoming really embarrassing and I knew I had
to find a place to feed her. For the first time, I was confronted with one of
the problems nursing mothers face which was how does one breastfeed a child in
public?
In some cultures especially in Nigeria, this is not a
subject for discourse as nursing mothers can be seen tending to their children
in really public places. But even in
places like this, some women still find it hard to publicly breastfeed.
I was shown to the back of the library which was less
populated by a security guard. I handled my business but it wasn’t without
lessons learnt. For new mums that may find themselves in a situation similar to
mine, I suggest;
·
Remember that there are no laws in many
countries banning women from publicly breastfeeding, so if you feel comfortable
with baring it out, please do. An Argentinian lawmaker did in the parliament
house recently and she was lauded for it.
·
There are different nursing clothes and underwear
that unhooks easily that makes breastfeeding a whole lot easier. These clothing
also cover the major part of a woman’s breast. Get yourself some of these.
·
Express milk in a bottle for when you are out. I
resulted to this after that encounter and it worked. I know we were told
latching on to the breast while feeding increases the secretion of oxytocin
which is the hormone that strengthens the bond between mother and child. But
the little moments when it is not comfortable to latch on, a bottle can serve
as a good option. Just express the milk and you are good to go.
·
Try and feed your child very well before you
leave the house. This can sustain the child for a while and if you are not away
from the house for a long period, you might not have to breastfeed outside.
·
It is nothing to be embarrassed about, it is a
natural call. If you feel the need to breastfeed in a public place and you don't feel comfortable whipping it all out,then ask the
attendants of the place if they have a breastfeeding room or a private place where you can
get your business done.Most public places have such places now.
Do you have other suggestions,kindly share. let us all learn together. Cheers.
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