Today I was asked to breast feed my baby elsewhere by the manager of the gym I belong to. My toddler had been in childcare while I worked out with some friends. He wasn't doing well in the room, so the caregiver came and found me to let me know. I brought him back in the gym to check in with my friends. They were using free weights so I sat on a yoga ball nearby so we could chat while they worked out. My son wanted to nurse so I nursed him. Apparently someone complained to the manager which is why he approached me. He offered that I could nurse in the childcare room or the locker room to which I replied that I had no intention of moving. My child was unhappy in that room of crying babies and I was going to stay right where I was with my friends and nurse my child. I made it very clear to him that this is a political statement to support the rights of breast feeding moms and babies everywhere and that there is certainly nothing "inappropriate" or "shameful" about breast feeding. I also stated that if he were going to force me to move that I would cancel my gym membership. I let him know that I expect him as a proprietor to uphold the rights of nursing mothers. I offered that if this person had a problem with it they could approach me directly. (Turns out the complainer was a woman.)
He smiled and said he understands completely agrees with me and has his own family with young children and that he was just conveying this other members discomfort. (He seemed almost embarrassed for asking me to move and relieved that I stood up for myself. :) My girlfriends were proud of me. It felt good to take a stand and not cower to the societal shame that can be placed on nursing. I did not feed into the trigger to run away and then feel angry and resentful. I held my ground in an empowered way.
I remember when Avery was a newborn and I felt those moments of initial awkwardness of nursing in public. I made a vow with myself never to hide out while nursing to protect someone else. I encourage each mother to make choices for breast feeding locations and apparel that work for her and her baby. Avoid basing these choices on other's concepts of morality or fear as it feeds the negative paradigm. Breast feeding is natural, normal, part of life. Thank goodness for breast milk!!
