This week, we all loved the story about the breastfeeding mum who was helped by a teen employee at Starbucks. Well, almost all of us…
When Julia Wykes decided to breastfeed her five-month-old son in Starbucks, she never expected anyone to complain, but somebody did, loudly. An older woman demanded a teenage Starbucks employee stop the mum from breastfeeding and instead of acting on this loud complaint, the teen apologised to Julia and offered her a free coffee.
Since the incident Julia’s story has gone around the world, and she has been overwhelmed with support. The story soon went viral and many people took to social media to applauded the mum and the Starbucks employee.
“How lovely, I thought, especially since, as a midwife (when I’m not on maternity leave), I work hard to ensure my clients who choose to breastfeed have the best chance to successfully do so,” she has written for the Huffington Post.
But then, sadly, things have turned nasty. The sad reality of social media is that it also lets in those who love to slam anything and everything, leaving this poor mum to deal with further backlash much worse than that rude customer’s initial complaint.
Here are some of the more vile comments Julia has been subjected to:
“Neanderthals breastfed in public, we should evolve up not down!”
“Yeah, I’d stare at those titties if they were flapping around in Starbucks.”
“I don’t pull my pants down and piss in public, why should you whip out your tits and breastfeed? Attention seeking.”
Julia says the most shocking part of comments like these is the fact many came from women. "What shocked me most in all of this is how many of these negative voices came from women," she writes on the Huffington Post. "From the original complaining customer to those posting their comments online, I am truly afraid of what it means for our society that adult women find it acceptable to insult and belittle other women for breastfeeding in public -- basically for having breasts and using them as nature intended."
She's also disturbed by the fact that public breastfeeding is still treated like something sexual, something women should be ashamed of, something that needs to be hidden. She writes:
These comments made me angry. Not just because they treat a nursing breast like a sexual object (which is by itself pretty disturbing when you are likening feeding an infant to what's going on in your pants), but because they suggest that women should hide themselves away during certain periods (pun intended) of their lives.
To those women who targeted her after the story spread, she urges them to think about the example they are setting for the next generation. "For the record, here is what I looked like on the day I nursed my son in Starbucks, and how I look every time I nurse my son. It is natural and absolutely non-sexual and it's also a legally protected right. I have nothing to hide. Neither do you."
Are you surprised this breastfeeding mum has been trolled by women?
Breastfeeding isn't always as easy as it looks. Here are 10 tips for breastfeeding that every mother should share:
Get the positioning correct
Don’t allow your baby to latch on to the end of your nipple as this won’t allow for a good flow of milk and will result in sore, cra
Wait until your baby’s ready
You need for your baby’s mouth to be wide open before you latch him on to your breast so he gets a good mouthful of breast tissue,
Ask advice
If you’re struggling to get breastfeeding off the ground, don’t give up straightaway.
Are you sitting comfortably?
If you prefer to breastfeed sitting up in a chair, make sure your chair of choice is as comfy as it can be.
Wear a nursing bra
Choose a few nursing bras, which make access easier when you’re feeding your baby.
Choose discreet clothing
There are plenty of clothes that are specially designed for discreet breastfeed
Involve your partner
Breastfeeding can be something of a solitary occupation, especially in the midd
Experiment with feeding positions
Some mums find it easier to feed their babies lying down than sitting up.
Alternate sides
Each time you feed your baby, alternate which breast you offer first.
Prop yourself up
Stiffness and aching in your back, shoulders and neck can put you off prolonged feeding, but experimenting with different supports, like a V-shaped pillow
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