Breastfeeding, while entirely natural, remains a topic of discussion. Some individuals think that when breastfeeding in public, the baby’s head should always be covered.
The level of coverage for a breastfeeding infant can be influenced by several factors, such as the weather. One mother, Melanie Gibson Dudley, challenges this expectation.
While on vacation in Cabo San Lucas with her family, including her baby, Dudley encountered an unexpected situation with a member of her group.
As she was dining with her companions, Dudley’s baby required feeding. Even though it was hot outside, the Texan mother breastfed as she usually does, with a blanket draped over her child.
She shared with GMA: “It was 95 degrees, humid and my back was toward the restaurant. I was feeding my baby — covered — and it was extremely hot and sticky. I thought to myself, ‘forget this, I’m taking this thing off.’ A man in our group told me I needed to cover up because they didn’t want to see my exposed breast. I was at a loss for words and asked my husband to pass me my cover, which I then placed over my head as a sarcastic response.
Dudley’s mother-in-law’s friend thought the mom’s humorous picture was delightful and posted it on Facebook. Before long, the photo became a sensation, garnering thousands of compliments from fellow mothers.
The woman expressed in her post: “A friend’s daughter-in-law was asked to ‘cover up’ while nursing her baby, so she complied! I’ve never met her, but I think she’s AMAZING!!! (Please share! With her permission, I’ve made this post public — I’m FED UP with people shaming women for breastfeeding!!! [PS: To clarify: it was a man who requested she cover up, it was 90 degrees and very humid, and, no, she wasn’t in a Muslim country disrespecting traditions.”
The post has been shared more than 223,000 times!
Dudley thinks the post gained significant attention because “it’s a topic that resonates with many women, and they’re tired of it being a matter of controversy,” she shared with GMA.
She encouraged other mothers: “Continue doing what you feel is best for you and your baby. I believe the broader message is to support nursing mothers, regardless of whether they choose to cover up or not.”
What do you think about the discussion surrounding public breastfeeding? Feel free to share your views in the comments section below.
