When in Rome...

I have no problem with public breastfeeding. I do it all the time, and I do it discreetly without a "nursing cover." Unless you're standing right above me peering at my chest, you won't see any skin. I know that most people in the States frown on public breastfeeding, but I don't think we should be astonished by this very normal way of nourishing babies.

 Here I am breastfeeding on the train at the zoo.

 

And here I am breastfeeding at Uxmal (Mayan ruins).

 



 

I believe in feeding my baby when he/she is hungry, so I've breastfed at the store, the gym, on planes, at parks, in restaurants, at the zoo...everywhere I've taken my baby. Except for one place. I've always said, "I would never breastfeed my baby in the main meeting with men, women, and children at church" (of course, I've had no problem breastfeeding in the all-ladies meeting). Maybe because my babies are loud when they eat, maybe because it's church. So I'd get up and walk out to the special "mother's room" where there are nice chairs and a door that closes.

 

Then we came to Mexico, and our first Sunday in church, I asked the ladies if there was a room where I could go feed my baby when he got hungry. No, they don't have a "mother's room" here. The moms just breastfeed where they are. I thought about trying to find an empty classroom or maybe even going out to the car.

 

Then I remembered a friend of mine describing her experience at the Turkish baths. Before going, she thought she could cover up a bit and still be modest in front of the other bathers, maybe wear a swimsuit or something. But when she arrived and they handed her this teeny tiny apron that wouldn't cover top or bottom well at all, and she realized she'd really stand out if she wore her swimsuit, she shrugged and said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

 

So I shrugged and said, "When in Rome..."

 

Sometimes it's a little bit liberating to go against your own, "I would never...!" statements.