The appropriateness of breastfeeding in public is a popular conversation topic.
Some see it as a mother providing a nutritious meal to her baby, while others claim breastfeeding in public has become a spectacle.
Thousands of nursing moms have taken social media by storm under the hashtag “brelfie,” a selfie taken while nursing.
The University of Memphis’ Student Health Center offers private lactation spaces for the campus community. Upon request, private nursing and pumping stations are available for students, visitors and staff at the U of M.
“We have a lot of options here, and we try to do the best we can for students,” Jaqueline De Fouw, health educator at the U of M Health Center, said.
She said special accommodations could be made for students with breastfeeding children if they get in touch with her.
“I could also try to find a space for them in the building with their major such as an empty office or exam room” De Fouw said. “To have a designated room in each building is kind of difficult because others often need to use the space.”
Lactation spaces are available inside of the Student Health Center.
Students who opt to breastfeed in public areas on campus won’t be penalized. They may, however, be advised to move to a more discrete area nearby if they make others feel too uncomfortable, De Fouw said.
That does not sit well with some students like freshman Abby Stimpson.
“Students should just be able to breastfeed anywhere,” Stimpson said. “I think a station would make it seem like this bad or rough thing people aren’t allowed to do or shouldn’t be doing, like smoking.”
Stimpson, however, did say breast- feeding in public places was a little strange to her, “but I understand when your baby needs milk, they need milk.”
