Mom ordered to cover herself up when breastfeeding
It sounds like there’s a twist to the story behind that viral photo! Do you happen to have more details about what made it stand out?
Feeding babies whenever and wherever they’re hungry is a natural and essential part of parenting, and moms shouldn’t feel pressured to cover up while doing so. However, societal norms sometimes clash with this basic need, leading to uncomfortable situations for nursing mothers.
In a notable incident from 2018, Melanie Dudley, a Texas-based mom with a 3-month-old baby, found herself in such a situation while dining at a restaurant with her family and friends. When her baby cried out for nourishment, Melanie responded as any caring parent would: she began breastfeeding her son, without giving it a second thought. While her immediate circle didn’t bat an eye, a stranger at a nearby table seemed uneasy with her choice not to use a cover while nursing.
He approached Melanie and politely requested that she cover up while breastfeeding. Melanie complied, but not in the way the stranger might have expected.
“I was on vacation in Cabo San Lucas with my entire family, and a man asked me to cover myself. I’m usually discreet, but we were seated in the back of the restaurant,” Melanie recounted to Yahoo.
Despite initially using a cover, the sweltering heat, with temperatures around 95 degrees, made the situation uncomfortable for both Melanie and her baby. “I did have the cover on, but it was so hot. It was like, 95 degrees, and my little baby was sweating,” she explained to TODAY.
In a moment of lighthearted defiance, Melanie decided to take a different approach. “I said, ‘You know what? I’m on vacation, I’m taking this off.’” Instead of covering herself, she placed the cover on her head, eliciting laughter from the entire restaurant.
“I just put it over my head. I don’t know why. It wasn’t like a salacious fight or anything. That was just my response. I had no words, so I thought, I’ll just cover my head instead,” Melanie humorously explained.
A fellow diner, Carol Lockwood, witnessed the amusing exchange and snapped a photo of Melanie, which she then shared online with a supportive caption: “I’ve never met her, but I think she’s AWESOME!!! (Please share! With permission, I’ve made this post public — I’m SO over people shaming women for nursing!!!” The photo quickly gained traction, being shared over 225,000 times and counting.
Melanie received an outpouring of support from numerous individuals who stood by her actions.
We firmly believe that breastfeeding is a natural and beautiful aspect of motherhood, and no mother should ever feel ashamed or judged for nourishing her child in public.
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