I shared a beautiful photo of a women breastfeeding her child and a guy on my friends list got into a debate with me trying to tell me that feeding a child without a cover 1. means women lack respect for themselves. 2. men dont complain about not being able to show their penises in public so we shouldnt complain about this. and 3. that urinating in public and breastfeeding in public are the same thing so why does he get in trouble for pissing on the sidewalk and we dont get in trouble for "whipping our boobs out"

Breastfeeding in public has so much hate and negativity around it that it literally BLOWS. MY. MIND.

For people to say it's weird. Its gross. It's sick. It's a lack of respect. Cover yourself up. Cover your baby up. Why? Would you like to hide under a blanket while you're eating? I know I wouldn't. Just because they're babies doesnt mean they dont experience the same discomforts that we do. For instance, you dont sleep with a blankets over your face do you? Why? Because it gets too hot and uncomfortable. As a breast feeding mother I shouldnt have to sacrifice my comfort or the comfort of my child to "respect" other strangers for being "uncomfortable" with what breasts are made for. Which in case anyone missed it, is FEEDING babies.

I dont whip my boobs out in public for my own satisfaction. Or because I want the world to see them and stare at them. I will hold my baby to my breast as I pull down one side of my shirt so never is my whole breast exposed. And unless you're sitting next to me staring at every single move I make, which is the only weird thing in this equation in my opinion, you're not gonna see a nipple for more than 2 seconds if that. 🤔

Why it's so hard for people to look the other way for breastfeeding mothers if it really truly bothers them that much is beyond me.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, it's the WOMANS choice. If a WOMAN doesnt want to feed in public, THATS OK. If the WOMAN wants to use a cover, THATS OK. If the WOMAN would feel more comfortable going out to her car or into another room, THATS OK. But its HER choice to do so. I am comfortable feeding in public without covering up and that's my choice to make. And I wont be changing that to make other people comfortable. If you dont like it then look the other way.

And then there is the weirdness around photos of women breast feeding being "weird". Breastfeeding is HARD. Despite what MANY people think, especially people who have never done it, breast feeding is not an easy thing to do. Just because it's a natural thing doesnt mean its automatically going to be easy. Women are PROUD when they are able to breastfeed their child(ren). People take photos of breastfeeding just like they do with other memories because it documents a milestone in a woman's life that should be celebrated and it's a memory they want to cherish.

It's not a competition between men and women. It's not about mothers "thinking they're better or more important" than other people. It's not about you. It's about not being able to do one of the most natural things on the world without being ridiculed for it.

Sorry for the lengthy post. If you've made it to the end you're a real trooper. I know I've posted this photo before but I'll post it again because normalizing breastfeeding is a real and is something I support. (P.S I know it's hard to tell, but I DO have a bra on in this photo below)

I could go on and on about all the things I've seen, heard, read, or been told in regards to breastfeeding. Especially as a mother that's still nursing a toddler. Which contrary to what many people believe here in the US is not a weird thing. Most children dont wean until ages 3 to 4 years old. Im not still breast feeding because I want to. Im still breast feeding because my daughter wants to. I have no problem continuing to build her immune system. Sorry if you dont see things the same way. 🤷‍♀️

You can have your own opinions. I'm not here to try and change them. Just asking that maybe you should consider keeping them to yourself before telling another person what they have to do with their child and their body or try to tell them they have no self respect.

also here's the photo I shared that sparked the whole debate down below

Breast feeding