Thursday, July 9, 2020
Breastfeeding in the USA and in Italy
I breastfed each of my children for one year. I always knew it was something I wanted to do, but when it came time, I didn't even give it a second thought. And I'll admit, it was hard at first. My daughter wouldn't latch, even in the hospital, so I was "stuck" exclusively pumping. After about a month of over producing (this a real thing and a conversation for another time), and a freezer full of only milk and no food, she finally was able to figure it out and it helped me regulate my supply.
When we were out in public, I was absolutely not comfortable breastfeeding without a cover, or honestly, at all. I know it is a natural thing, but I just couldn't get into it as a new mom. I was even uncomfortable feeding her around my extended family and my closest friends. I felt it was something that I should do privately and only with my husband present.
With Deklan, I was a seasoned professional with breastfeeding. I still did not feel comfortable pumping or breastfeeding around anyone. When D was one month old, we had two weddings to go to. I had to run to the car, almost completely undress and pump in the car. Because who takes a one month old baby to a wedding?! Well, I won't lie, I wanted to. But we felt it was better to leave him with family members instead.
I was more comfortable to feed D around other people but still not enough to not use a cover or to advertise that I was breastfeeding. It was just more comfortable for me to be hidden and feed him quietly than to be around other people. Also, Deklan was a nosey baby. He wanted to see the entire world around him. So a quieter environment was best for him.
I was a member of several Facebook groups about breastfeeding and I would read everything these women wrote about how it wasn't right that we had to cover up just to feed our child and that they didn't care what anyone else thought. It does baffle me that people view breastfeeding as a sexual act. And I guess that with my uncomfortableness, I kind of fed into it, but it is a personal preference and I just didn't like being exposed for the world while feeding my baby.
I read about several different countries' views on breastfeeding and I chose to continue my study on Italy. My grandparents are first generation here and I do still have some relatives living in Italy, so it interests me.
I read an article written by the Italian Enthusiast, Anthony Barbuto. It was interesting to read a man's view on breastfeeding. In Italy, he states that most women feed their baby on command when they are hungry. "Italy is not burdened with a societal stigma that disapproves of public breastfeeding." (Barbuto, 2017).How lucky are they?! It is amazing to read that in Italy woman find breastfeeding to be a natural thing and embrace it as beautiful.
I found another article written by Barbara Silliquini, where she discusses that breasts in Italy are on television, in commercials, out there for everyone to see. And that breastfeeding is common. She did mention one time where a bar owner (cappuccino bar) asked a woman to nurse her child outside and he was basically condemned by the public. (Silliquini, n.d.)
It is good to know that IF I have another baby someday, (that's a big IF there, haha) and I happen to visiting my extended family in Italy, I will be okay to feed said baby in public and won't have to worry about anyone yelling at me.
References
Barbuto, A. (2017, August 20). Breastfeeding in Italy. The Italian Enthusiast. https://italianenthusiast.com/breastfeeding-in-italy/.
Siliquini, B. (2013, March 27). Breasts are for Babies? Perceptions of Breastfeeding in Italy. InCultureParent. https://www.incultureparent.com/breasts-are-for-babies-perceptions-of-breastfeeding-in-italy/.
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Leanne, thank you for sharing your experience. I think that is really a ethical issue. I think if you are comfortable about feeding in public then do so. I also breastfeed my daughter and was shy about pubic feeding and like you did it in private. However I have seen mothers feed in public and very comfortable with it. I had a parent breastfeeding in classroom as she was visiting. She was covering herself with a blanket and when asked by the students where the baby was she told them the baby did not like light and was was sleeping. You mentioned the freedom in Italy I think many countries have a more open outlook and acceptance policy on breastfeeding in public. I know that in many countries such as Africa, France, and Spain the law protects the nursing mothers. Cynthia Hunt
ReplyDeleteHi Leanne,
ReplyDeleteI personally have no experience with the breast feeding, but in my childcare, we encourage our parents to breastfeed babies. We do have private area in case mothers want to feed their babies there. But most of the parents prefer to pump the breast milk for them instead.
However, Thai people do not like to perform breastfeed in the public because of our culture.
But I personally agree that breastfeed should be a normal activity that everybody should concern about.
Thank you for sharing.
Sawin Thongloy
Hello Leanne.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story and insightful information. Breastfeeding is the most natural thing we can do. Its upsetting that it has become such a social insult to feed in public. I did not have much luck feeding for long, my first was a big eater right from the start, for the middle one it was not medically advisable, and for my last, I did not want to feed her stress milk. I had a girl working for me who was nursing, and I allowed her to take the necessary time to pump. I quickly discovered how annoyed people were by this, and how much they actually complained about it. Good thing for me I am self secure and and was able to cut that to the quick. Motherhood does not come with a handbook, but breastfeeding has always been the best thing that we can feed little ones.