Many mothers naturally make the choice to breastfeed their babies in public, and while it’s often an unavoidable necessity, the debate surrounding covering up during breastfeeding has sparked countless discussions. This story sheds light on the topic.
Motherhood is a journey filled with enchanting moments, and breastfeeding is undoubtedly one of them. The reality is that babies can’t always be secluded in a quiet corner, especially when hunger strikes. Mothers must be ready to respond to their baby’s needs for breast milk at any time, regardless of the circumstances or location.
Despite its widespread acceptance, breastfeeding tends to draw more attention than bottle-feeding, and regrettably, not all of this attention is of the “adorable” variety. A case in point is a viral story from 2018 involving a breastfeeding mother. While nursing her baby in public, a stranger approached her and asked her to “cover up.” However, it was the mother’s response to this stranger’s request that added an extra layer of depth to the story.
Dudle Indossava, who also had a cover draped over her, found herself in this situation due to scorching heat. She recounted the incident from her perspective as a mother of three:
“I was on vacation in Cabo San Lucas with my entire family, and a man approached me and requested that I cover up. Usually, I’m discreet, but we were seated at the back of the restaurant.” “I had the cover on, but it was sweltering. The temperature was around 35 degrees Celsius (95°F), and my baby was perspiring. I thought, ‘You know what? I’m on vacation, I’m taking it off,'” Dudle shared with Today, adding that her husband handed her the breastfeeding cover, which she placed over her head.
Dudle acknowledged that she was “stunned” by the stranger’s request, and her instinctive reaction was to cover her head with the blanket.
“I put it over my head. I don’t know why. It wasn’t a heated argument or anything. It was simply my reaction. I was speechless, so I figured I’d cover my head,” she explained.
A humorous moment unfolded, captured by Dudle’s husband, and her mother’s friend, Carol Lock Lock Lockood, shared a photo of the incident on Facebook on July 30, 2018.
One user commented, “If you want to breastfeed in public, go ahead. If you don’t like it, don’t do it, and don’t look at those who do. I’m sure your sensitivity can endure a few seconds of witnessing a woman breastfeeding her baby without suffering permanent psychological harm before you look away.”
Another user chimed in, saying, “I think it’s brilliant. If someone feels the need to cover themselves, they can try using a nice handkerchief pinned to the top to slightly cover the baby’s head. This way, you don’t get too hot. I think these breastfeeding covers are excessive.”
The story highlights the ongoing conversation around breastfeeding in public and the various perspectives that surround it.