Creating a Culture of Support for Public Breastfeeding: A Study from Lund University
Key Highlights :
International law supports women's right to breastfeed in public, but many women report feeling judged and subject to negative responses when breastfeeding outside the home. This is according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden, based on surveys answered by women living in Sweden, Ireland and Australia that has been published in the International Breastfeeding Journal.
The study reveals that societies everywhere need to give clearer, explicit support for breastfeeding in public, and that society needs to welcome breastfeeding, regardless of the setting. The researchers behind the study say that access to public spaces is essential for breastfeeding when children need it, which in turn has a positive effect on both women and children.
The research is based on an international collaboration with researchers in Ireland and Australia, who have also conducted the survey in their countries. In total, more than 10,000 women with experience of breastfeeding completed a digital questionnaire.
The women were asked to rank the factors that made public breastfeeding possible in order of importance. The results showed that the most important thing to encourage breastfeeding in society was to see other women breastfeed.
Along with this, the researchers illustrated that society needs to express clear support for breastfeeding in public, and that the places to which others have access should also be available to those who are breastfeeding. This is supported by several Swedish and international laws, such as the UN Convention on Human Rights and the Global Goals.
However, the study showed that many women who breastfeed in public face limited accessibility. This demonstrates a societal problem on many levels, as women are restricted and cannot base their actions on their child's needs.
Providing more breastfeeding rooms is not a universal solution. While some women and children prefer a calm room that offers privacy and thus as a complement, such rooms may have their place. However, allowing for breastfeeding wherever needed is the best option for mothers and infants.
The study shows that it is essential for society to create a culture of support for public breastfeeding. This means providing clear, explicit support for breastfeeding in public, and allowing for breastfeeding wherever needed. By doing this, society will be able to create an environment that is more welcoming and accessible to women who are breastfeeding their children.
