The discussion around whether women should be allowed to breastfeed in public has been ongoing for years. Recently, another young mother has entered the conversation, determined to make her point, even if it means upsetting a few people along the way.
For mothers nursing their children, it’s well known that a hungry baby doesn’t care about time or place. While some mothers might feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, this particular young mother felt otherwise. She was determined to make a strong statement in favor of public breastfeeding.
Trinati, a mother who breastfeeds her 17-month-old daughter, believes in feeding her child whenever and wherever necessary. This often means breastfeeding in public, something she’s unashamed to do. However, not everyone around her shares her comfort with the situation. She’s received strange looks and has even been ushered into broom closets by store employees who believe she would be more “comfortable” breastfeeding there.
However, broom closets are hardly the ideal spot to feed a baby, and Trinati decided to take action. She had her son snap a picture of her breastfeeding his baby sister at Costco. In an interview, she explained, “I never shy away from providing my children with what they may need from me based on our surroundings.”
Aside from dealing with judgmental stares from strangers, Trinati also faces questions from friends and family. They often ask, “How long are you going to do ‘that’ for?” Her response is always the same: “As long as she needs me to!” These conversations are usually followed by awkward jokes about her potentially breastfeeding her daughter until kindergarten.
Frustrated by the sexualization of breastfeeding and the judgment that comes with it, Trinati voiced her feelings. “Really? Have you SEEN breastfeeding breasts? My nipples are very far from looking like something someone may fantasize about!” she exclaimed in an interview.
She continued, “These are basically udders right now. Get over yourself! I’m not trying to steal your man or lady with these bad girls! To me, they have become so far from feeling like a sexual part of my body. Right now, they belong to my child for nourishment, both physically and emotionally.”
Trinati is passionate about raising awareness that breastfeeding is about nourishing a child, not something sexual. She recognizes that not everyone, particularly those who have never breastfed, will understand the endurance required to deal with the various challenges of breastfeeding, like nipple-pinching or the acrobatics some toddlers perform while nursing. “I have received the strangest glances and awkward giggles when people watch my 1.5-year-old standing on my lap while suckling … sometimes on one leg!” she shared.
In an effort to normalize public breastfeeding, Trinati decided to take a stand. She had a photo of herself breastfeeding her toddler taken, intending to share it publicly to make her point. “I had my son take that photo of us in Costco because I never want to forget (and [I want to] show my daughter in the future) the lengths we, as mothers, will go to when ensuring our kids are well looked after no matter the situation,” she explained.
Her message was clear: “My baby’s needs come waaaaaay before anyone else’s attempts to make me feel inappropriate for this sometimes-public act of nourishing and/or comforting my children,” she wrote in the caption for her Instagram post.
Trinati is determined to ensure her children know they are always her top priority, far above the judgment or discomfort of others. “Trust is a fundamental tool for developing healthy relationships, and it begins with the care that we receive in childhood,” she emphasized. “For me, breastfeeding demonstrates this to my children, and for this reason, I will never feel shame for allowing a baby of mine to do this with me in any environment.”
