Share:
Breastfeeding Undisturbed breastfeeding in the public must always be possible
Some mothers have no inhibitions about nursing their child at any time as soon as they are hungry - no matter where. Many women, however, perceive breastfeeding in public as a problem, not least because of the looks of their fellow men. A recent petition therefore demands "that breastfeeding of infants and toddlers receive special legal protection and that breastfeeding is possible everywhere, especially in public." The National Breastfeeding Committee has issued a press release on the petition and supports the request.
According to the breastfeeding commission, "a significant proportion of breastfeeding mothers are expected to avoid public breastfeeding as much as possible." However, they should be able to nurture their children in public without any problems, according to the National Breastfeeding Commission. Because breastfeeding has many benefits, and breast milk remains the best food for infants. Therefore, measures should be developed "to protect public breastfeeding and increase public acceptance of it," say the experts.
By no means all women perceive breastfeeding in public as a matter of course. (Image: Vitaliy Hrabar / fotolia.com) Breastfeeding is optimal for babies
According to the National Breastfeeding Commission, breastmilk is optimally suitable for feeding babies. "It is easy to digest and so composed that it covers the need for nutrients and liquids alone and later along with supplements during the first half of the year", explain the experts. In addition, breast milk would be used to transmit protective antibodies to the child, which would prevent infectious diseases. Breastfed children are therefore less often ill than non-breastfed children. Breastfeeding also brings health benefits to the mother. Thus, this promotes the regression of the uterus after birth and could "in the long term to reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer contribute." At the same time, the need for closeness and attention is covered and the mother-child bond promoted.
Negative reactions of fellow human beings
In addition, breast milk is always available, hygienically flawless, properly tempered and does not need to be prepared, according to the Breastfeeding Commission. This greatly facilitates the nutrition of the child, especially outside of their own four walls. But that is only theoretical, since many mothers avoid breastfeeding in public. The reasons for this are manifold, but mostly in connection with possible reactions of the people to see. Although there are no scientific studies on public breastfeeding in Germany, according to the National Breastfeeding Commission, negative reactions to individual mothers have been repeatedly reported in the media. The reactions ranged from oblique eyes to expulsion from restaurants, reports the breastfeeding commission. For the mothers, such situations are shameful, offensive, harassing and / or discriminatory.
Many women are reluctant to breastfeed or not at all in public
A recent survey of 270 women showed, according to the breastfeeding commission, that only about half (46%) of women felt it was natural to put their baby in public. The other half did so only "if absolutely necessary" (42%) or "not at all" (13%), according to the breastfeeding commission's statement. This shows that public breastfeeding is not self-evident for a high proportion of women. This may be a breastfeeding obstacle that may prevent mothers from exclusively breastfeeding their child for the first 4 to 6 months, as recommended. Furthermore, concern about possible adverse reactions in public breastfeeding may be an additional stress factor in some mothers, which may contribute to milk production being impaired.
Legal protection of breastfeeding required
The breastfeeding commission is in favor of legal protection of breastfeeding in public, as it already exists in the United States today. Here, a positive formulation could be chosen such as: "A mother has the right to breastfeed her child at any time and in any private or public place." Alternatively, however, a legal prohibition of discrimination against mothers who breastfeed their child, would be possible as implemented in Australia, for example. "Although legal protection can not change the way people think and feel negatively or behave negatively, it can give women with breastfeeding greater certainty and, in the case of disability and discrimination, also give them the opportunity to become law-abiding ", according to the National Breastfeeding Commission. The experts also called for an accompanying campaign to increase the general acceptance of breastfeeding in the long term.
Set up special rooms
Since even in an enlightened and tolerant society, in which mothers with public breastfeeding need not be afraid of negative reactions, it can be assumed that "not all mothers feel well about breastfeeding in public, for example because breastfeeding is a very intimate situation In addition, the establishment of special rooms, which could be identified by appropriate pictograms, explains the nursing commission. Examples of a broad implementation and propagation of this measure are the cities of Gelsenkirchen and Viechtach. "Such rooms should not be used as an argument to ban nursing mothers from the public," warn the experts. Last but not least, a inclusion of the topic "breastfeeding" in the curricula of the school should be recommended in order to create a greater degree of self-assurance and acceptance. (Fp)