The fight to normalise breastfeeding is ongoing, and the everyday struggle for breastfeeding mums around the world is still very real.
One Mum is certainly feeling the effects of the stigma, after receiving an ill-disposed wedding invitation.
A shot of the breastfeeding invitation
The invitation reads:
To all our mommies who are breastfeeding, we are thinking of you; we are sensitive to the fact you may need to breastfeed during our event, therefore we have designated an appropriate place for you to feed your baby so that you do not have to do so in public in front our Family and Friends.
For your convenience we are accommodating you with a comfortable and private area with chairs and baby blankets in the ladies room. We request that you use this area when you are breastfeeding. Thank you.
The woman who received the invitation posted the image to social media along with a cry for help, which has now been shared thousands of time across social media.
“This was in the invitation to my husband’s best friends wedding. My husband is the best man so it will just be me in the crowd. We have had several arguments over “my” breastfeeding ways and they have multiple times voiced that I need to go elsewhere to do that in “private!”
I was going to just be nice and let my best girl friend watch my two kids (ages 2 and 3 months) and she would wet nurse my youngest (she’s still nursing her 2 year old as well) because we haven’t found a bottle my youngest will take yet and wet nursing doesn’t bother me.
Hubby and I were just gonna make it a date night… But apparently that wasn’t okay either. so I said would just bring my littlest baby to the wedding then, but no way in hell I will leave and nurse her in the bathroom (no matter how “nice” they make it!)
I don’t eat in the bathroom I’m not feeding my child in there!…
I want to be “nice” as possible but what should I do!? Go ahead and leave her with my friend (who by the way has nursed her multiple times) or take her!? Help!”
Posted to Facebook page Breastfeeding Mama Talk on September 19th and has been met with support and outrage by over 600 commenters.
In an update on the post, it was shared that the woman ended up leaving both kids with her friend and grandparent.
“This particular invitation isn’t about a night off. We all need one. This is about being asked to feed the baby in the same place where people poop. That is never ok,” said Shannon Brame-Collier, a Mum from New York.
“Like honestly if I couldn’t bring my kids and breastfeed. my husband wouldn’t be a part of the wedding. It’s okay for people to get drunk and act dumb, but it’s not okay to breastfeed,” said another mother from Ohio.
It’s a brave thing to share a personal experience to help normalise what is a very natural, and in no way shameful, act.
Regardless of what decision this woman made, she should be congratulated for sharing her story and starting a meaningful conversation.
