Mum shrugs off library abuse

Photos: Kevin Stent

Jessie Moss and daughter Kaahuia at Wellington City Library, this time without negative comments.

World Breastfeeding Week starts today but Moss's experience reflects survey results showing that public breastfeeding does not have universal acceptance.

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New mum Jessie Moss is refusing to be put off breastfeeding in public despite being abused by a stranger.

With her baby hungry, Moss found a quiet spot in Wellington's central library, only to be told by a library user: "Excuse me, I didn't know I was in a buffet bar."

Moss was enjoying a few hours in the library last Sunday and thought nothing of it when her three-month-old daughter Kaahuia Te Kahika needed feeding.

"I found a nice couch and away we went. As usual, we received many knowing and loving looks from members of the public."

But the offended man said: "You could have found somewhere better to do that."

She was shocked and disappointed by the first negative remark she'd encountered about breastfeeding in public. "I know people think these things, but I was really shocked he said it out loud. I was annoyed he was offended by my breasts – that's what they are for."

Moss tried to find him to put her point of view and would still like to meet him. "We should be able to mother our children wherever they need to be mothered."

A library spokeswoman told the Sunday Star-Times there were no restrictions there on breastfeeding.

But Isis McKay of Women's Health Action said mums were still being given mixed messages about breastfeeding in public even though it provided the best nutrition and the most important health benefits for both mother and child. "Breasts are still sexualised or used to sell things and women are still frowned on for breastfeeding in public."

To mark World Breastfeeding Week, which starts today, the group is organising public breastfeeding gatherings for August 6, involving more than 115 venues. It hopes to break last year's record of 1306 "latched on" babies.

McKay said breastfeeding was not properly established when new mums were quickly discharged from hospital. Other reasons for failure to breastfeed or early weaning included insufficient ante-natal and post-natal support, returning to work, aggressive marketing of infant milk formula and lack of awareness of how breastfeeding changes over time.

Results from a survey out last month by support group Breastmates show 61% of respondents felt comfortable with women breastfeeding in public. A quarter thought mothers in restaurants should be encouraged to feed in the restroom, not at the table.

esther.harward@star-times.co.nz

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