Breastfeeding in public can be tricky to navigate, especially for young mothers who may be new to the experience. Mommy Chax, an orthopedic consultant at Quirino Memorial Medical Center and proud mother of 2 children, recounts her initial feelings when she had to breastfeed her first born in public. “The very few times I was very conscious – no boob and stomach exposure.” Despite the act of breastfeeding in public making her a bit conscious at first, she shares that these feelings dissipated as she got older. Her approach to breastfeeding in public now tends to depend on the circumstances surrounding the feed. “It really depends if someone is right there in front of me – I would put a cover. But in a park, if wala masyado tao, I’d feed lang. So if my baby is hungry, I’ll just feed.”
Aside from this, Mommy Chax touches on how different the feeling can be to breastfeed at home compared to breastfeeding in public.“…There’s still a stark difference between breastfeeding at home and in public. I can do it anywhere at home. Outside, medyo hindi pa rin.”
In line with this difference, Mommy Chax explores how views of breastfeeding in public have evolved over time. She expresses that breastfeeding in public has become more accepted now compared to how people used to view it before. “Compared to our parents’ generation, it’s more normalized now. It’s not totally accepted…I think a lot of women would still find it uncomfortable.” This discomfort compels us to evaluate what may need to change when it comes to increasing awareness on breastfeeding in public. It pushes us to explore what can be done to eliminate barriers for breastfeeding mothers.
Though there are steps in the right direction to make breastfeeding more normalized such as the addition of lactation stations in public places, much can still be done to improve the experience of mothers who need to breastfeed in public. There is a clear shift in perception that must happen in order to achieve this. As beautifully expressed by Mommy Chax, “If bottle feeding is okay, how is breastfeeding any different?”
Given the experiences of mothers like Mommy Chax, we must explore how to build systems that make the experience of breastfeeding in public for mothers more comfortable. Mommy Chax discusses how we can develop awareness and acceptance through infographics and webinar events. The Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act, with the appropriate implementation, can also improve access to lactation stations. She notes that public establishments like UP Town Center and Art in Island already have their own lactation stations. Although lactation stations will often have a sink and a comfortable seat, not all stations will have an outlet for a breast pump. This urges us to better equip these stations with more materials and utilities for breastfeeding other than the basics to ensure mothers can breastfeed more effectively in public. Aside from equipment, increasing the number of lactation stations in both health and non-health institutions with proper monitoring and maintenance can also be explored. As expressed by Mommy Chax, “Sana mas marami around, not just in the malls, but in other public establishments, like parks, museums, and workplaces as well.”
Overall, we must strive to work towards a future where all mothers can comfortably breastfeed in public. As conveyed by Mommy Chax on how breastfeeding would look like in an ideal world, “In the perfect world, we can do it anywhere. Moms won’t feel weird doing it…” By eliminating barriers and promoting breastfeeding as the standard, we can move towards a world where all Filipino mothers can comfortably breastfeed in public in a manner that is effective, efficient, and empowering.
