In this country of billboards covered with tits, I think we should try to get used to this
Sunday, July 7, 2013 Hollie McNish wrote this poem in a public restroom after her baby fell asleep. In the description of it on YouTube, she wrote:
I was in town on my own a lot with her and the first time I fed her someone commented that I should stay home. Baby's need breastfed every 2-3 hours often. It's impossible to run home. It's a stupid argument anyway. But I was embarrassed and for 6 months took her into toilets when I was alone without the support of boyfriend, friends, mum etc. I hate that I did that but I was nervous, tired and felt awkward.
She also commented that many of her friends stopped breastfeeding, despite being broke, because they were made to feel awkward about it.
Her video is worth watching because she tells it so well, but if you are unable to watch it, you can also read the transcript of it on YouTube.
Breastfeeding and tagged with Hollie McNish, breastfeeding, breastfeeding in public 
Reader Comments (10)
Hollie McNish is brilliant. Period. I loved her poem about Flo Rida's Whistle too. Thanks for sharing.
I agree with Candace - just brilliant.
Annie - thank you for using your vast community to promote such an important message. I wish breastfeeding wasn't such an "us vs. them" battle, but alas...
It made me cry with frustration that this is still SUCH variation in how breastfeeding is viewed by society and how different women experience it. I am still feeding a 2 year old and have never had a single comment that's bothered me - I don't remember having a single comment but it's entirely possible that I've just missed them :-/
It's even more of a crying shame because in my shoes, with intelligent parents who don't exactly earn much but are far from on the breadline, good food, plenty of books in the house, an employer who tolerates the fact I need stay off sometimes when my child is sick, yadda yadda yadda... it's not going to make a huge amount of difference to my little boy. But you know what? For many people, it really would make a hell of a difference, but they are the groups where breastfeeding is looked on as weird and definitely not something to continue long term.
I despair, I really do.
I just came across this video and came here to your blog to see if you knew about it yet. I just thought it was something that HAD to be discussed and shared widely. It is brilliant!!
We met at the Toronto conference and had lunch together at Asian bowl and I remember this topic of breastfeeding babies in toilet stalls came up. Made me think of you. Hope you are well. :o)
Her poem is just fantastic! Thanks for sharing this!
Our society today doesn't seem to have any problem with sex, nakedness, underwear ads, etc. But most people go bonkers when they see a woman breast feeding her baby.
Absolutely profound and disturbingly thought provoking. We need to get our priorities right and shed our innate hypocrisy....now.
Society's attitudes towards a basic, natural part of child rearing definitely need to change.
As I was listening to his poem, I had shivers all over my body. I didn't cry, because I really wanted to concentrate and listen to the end.
It was wonderful and it ment so much more then reading and writing a lot of articles. The message of peom is incredible.
I wish this would be on a commercial run on TV every day...
I want to leard this poem by heart!!!
Thanks for sharing!