Child Development and Public Health

Breastfeeding has been a hot topic in the United States for some time now. I choose this topic because there have been several incidents in which mothers has been scalded for breastfeeding their babies in public.  It is amazing to me that this is such a large issue with some Americans being that it has been proven that breast milk is the best food for babies; yet women walk around dressed inappropriate on a daily basis and no one says a word.  This topic is important to me because as the article Breastfeeding in public & discreet nursing states forty-three states passed a law in 2009 that you can nurse anywhere that you are allowed to bring you baby, women are still ostracized for doing just that.   I  feel that it is a baby's right to eat when they get hungry without the mother being ridiculed.  

As I research the topic of breastfeeding around the world, not to my surprise, in most countries it is not only recommended but frowned upon if the mother choose not to.  I decided to take a closer look at Africa.  As suspected must places in Africa support breastfeeding in public. Ghana, especially caught my attention.  The article Breastfeeding around the world in different countries stated that Ghana looks at breastfeeding as the purest way to feed a baby.  You are expected to feed your baby when the need arises; and if the baby cries and you do not tend to the baby, you are actually frowned upon.  Also through my reading, I found out that if a baby cries to be fed and the mother does not breastfeed, people begin to assume that the baby is not your baby.  

The major differences in the beliefs of the two countries in astonishing to me because a woman's body is naturally designed to perform the very act that everyone makes such a huge issue of.  Of all the other unnatural situations that are going on everyday, this should in no way be an issue or even up for debate.  It is within a woman's right to meet the needs of their baby, including breastfeeding in public places.  In other countries, they make breastfeeding such a natural act that it is no big deal. It is seen to be a bonding experience between mother and child that is nothing to be ashamed of.

References:

 Breastfeeding in public & discreet nursing.  Retrieved November 8, 2014, from   

        www.007b.com/breastfeeding_public.php

Breastfeeding in public around the world in different countries. Retrieved November 8, 2014, from

       http://www.007b.com/public-breastfeeding-world.php

Graveman, D. (n.d.). Changing times:  the controversy over breastfeeding in public.  Retrieved 

       November 8, 2014, from http://www.thebabycorner.com/page/2767/