The Public Breastfeeding Awareness Project

If there is anything moms of young kids can agree on – it’s that getting out of the house is nothing short of a battle. Someone always needs to use the bathroom. And someone is always missing their shoes. Wait – where are my keys?? Ok we’re ready to go! Nope. Now the baby needs to eat again. I have three kids under five – so for me leaving the house literally starts at least an hour before it’s time to go – and we still usually leave looking like a bunch of slobs and about 30 minutes later then planned.

I breastfeed, which comes with more than its share of challenges. On the flip side – one of the awesome things about breastfeeding is I don’t have to pack or sterilize my breasts. And better yet I can’t accidentally leave them on the counter as we rush out the door late to story time! As someone who is notoriously all over the place – this is easily one of my favorite parts of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Awareness

Unfortunately, like with most things, we tend to make something simple complicated. Many moms don’t breastfeed their children in public because it’s still largely taboo. So some moms try to pump. Others don’t leave the house for more than an hour. Some moms choose to fight with a fussy baby hidden under a blanket while others hide in their car.

Breastfeeding Awareness

When you’re out and about and someone is feeding their baby with a bottle people don’t look twice. No one asks them to move. No one expects them to hide and be discrete. All I want (for myself and breastfeeding moms everywhere) is that same respect when feeding my child. I’m feeding my child too – and the stares, glares and comments that alienate breastfeeding mothers hurt. They discourage mothers from breastfeeding. They discourage breastfeeding mothers from leaving the house because timing around a baby’s feeding can be next to impossible. As a society we don’t view eating as something that shouldn’t be seen. Breastfeeding mothers and babies should not fall outside of that umbrella of ‘acceptable eating‘.

Breastfeeding Awareness

People are uncomfortable seeing a mother breastfeeding for numerous reasons. One of, if not THE biggest of those reasons, is because unless you’re in the throes of motherhood, seeing a baby on the breast isn’t a daily occurrence. Since, as a society, we’re not used to seeing babies nursing, we’re shocked when we do. Under the breath comments are all too common. Even well meaning people will gasp or get wide-eyed. And they are continually unexposed because mothers – who already face in insane amount of judgment at every turn – don’t want to be treated like freaks. So when in public they don‘t breastfeed. And the viscous cycle carries on.

Breastfeeding Awareness

In an attempt to help break this cycle I joined the Public Breastfeeding Awareness Project last year. The project is made up of nearly 80 photographers world wide who capture images of moms breastfeeding in public places around their respective towns. We then share these images on social media under #PBAP2015 in an effort to normalize public breastfeeding. It is our hope that our images help empower mothers to feel comfortable feeding their children when and wherever, while at the same time showing everyone else that breastfeeding in public can (and should) be just an everyday part of life.

 

About the Author

Megan SotoMegan is the visionary behind Megan Soto Photography. Megan is a mother to three – Summer 4, Lena 2, and Cannon 2 months. Megan resides in St. Augustine and has lived in Northeast Florida for eight years. With a degree in Psychology from UCF and a background in the autism community, Megan has a passion for helping others.

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