The topic of breastfeeding in public has been debated for years. Some people believe it is natural, while others think it should be done in private. One mother, however, decided to stand up for her right to nurse her child wherever she needed to.
This mother wanted to make a strong point, but in doing so, she sparked a debate online. Some people supported her, while others were not as understanding.
Any parent who nurses knows that babies don’t wait until it’s convenient to eat. They get hungry anywhere, at any time. While some mothers prefer privacy, Trinati isn’t one of them. She proudly feeds her 17-month-old daughter wherever they are, even in public places.
Though she is comfortable, not everyone around her feels the same way. People often give her strange looks. Some store employees have even suggested she breastfeed in broom closets, thinking it would be more “comfortable.”
Of course, a broom closet is not the right place to feed a baby. Trinati had had enough. She asked her son to take a photo of her breastfeeding at Costco to make a statement.
“I never shy away from giving my child what she needs,” she said in an interview.
Aside from judgment from strangers, Trinati also faces questions from friends and family. They often ask, “How long are you going to keep doing that?” She responds, “As long as she needs me to!” Some even joke that she might still be nursing her daughter in kindergarten.
Trinati is frustrated that breastfeeding is often misunderstood. “Really? Have you seen breastfeeding breasts? They don’t look like something someone would fantasize about!” she said.
She continued, “These are like udders right now. I’m not trying to impress anyone! Right now, they serve one purpose: feeding my child.”
Trinati wants to normalize breastfeeding and show that it is not inappropriate. She believes it’s about nourishing and comforting her child, not making others uncomfortable.
“My baby’s needs always come first,” she wrote on Instagram. “Breastfeeding is about trust and care, and for that reason, I will never feel ashamed.”