Moms stopped from breastfeeding in public at SM Malls

It is hard enough to begin breastfeeding, and harder still to sustain it. So it is disturbing to hear news that some nursing moms have recently been told to stop breastfeeding in public at SM Supermalls. And this is after I even blogged about SM and tagged them as breastfeeding-friendly malls for putting up breastfeeding stations. Apparently, the opening of the said stations gave some security personnel an excuse to bar moms from nursing in public. Blogger Eliza Santiago-Ypon narrated the story of a breastfeeding mom who was stopped from nursing at a doughnut shop in SM Megamall. Read how she put SM Supermalls to task with her open letter. Another nursing mom blogged about her similar experience in SM Davao.

I can't say that I was lucky after breastfeeding Caitlin in public at SM Megamall twice since August without incident as no nursing mom should feel harassed nor embarrassed for doing so proudly.

Although not totally told to stop breastfeeding, I have my share of discouragement when I tell friends or family that I plan to nurse Caitlin for as long as she wants to. If that’s the case, I could be breastfeeding until she starts walking! As a stay-at-home mom, the choice came easy to me. But the wide-eyed shocked reactions reveal more than what they could possibly say that I began to doubt myself.

But thanks to breastfeeding advocate and founder of Babymama Mi Ann Reyes-Oblea, I am no longer bothered. I agree with her that what’s important is both mommy and baby are happy and healthy.

 

So in case you ever get to doubt yourself, listen to what she has to say and just go on breastfeeding.

 

“If they say or look discouraging, it's out of sheer ignorance and bias. Some people think it's gross na naglalakad na at nag-uusap na ang baby. I think it's the sweetest thing in the world when my daughter says "can I have boob" or when my son says "boob" and presses down on my breast.

By the way, normal weaning age of babies is between 3-4 years old. This is completely normal behavior and is the best for baby not just at the present but even to prevent baby from developing diseases in the future.”

- Mommy Smiley