While breastfeeding her one-year-old poolside on a cruise ship, a comment from a stranger caught India Gladwood off guard.
"A man walked past, he was probably in his 60s, gave me the dirtiest look that I've ever received and said 'disgusting,'" says the 32-year-old from Gympie, home of the Kabi Kabi people.
"I'm glad I was a fair way into my breastfeeding journey, because if I had only been starting out, I think I wouldn't be able to feed in public at all. I would worry everyone felt this way."
Last week Elise Turner from the Gold Coast was asked to leave Virgin Australia's Melbourne lounge by a staff member because she was pumping breast milk.
Dr Turner posted on social media that when trying to defend her right to breastfeed in a public space, the Virgin employee said she was "making her and other people uncomfortable".
Under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, it's unlawful to discriminate against a woman because she is breastfeeding, and that includes expressing.
Victoria Marshall-Cerins, executive officer at the Australian Breastfeeding Association, says while there is a level of awareness that breastfeeding in public is protected, some people in the community still view it as "inappropriate".
"We know from research many women still experience negative behaviours when breastfeeding in public.
"Disapproving looks, critical comments, and … unwanted touching."
She says the stigma around breastfeeding in public influences parent's behaviour, impacting breastfeeding rates, and changes to community awareness and attitudes are needed.
Breastfeeding in public comes with 'social rules'
Ms Marshall-Cerins says some breastfeeding parents expect their right to breastfeed in public to be challenged.
"And even when it is recognised as a right, there are still social rules that regulate how it should be done appropriately."
A 2019 Australian study shows breastfeeding mothers feel pressure to meet social conditions when feeding in public, such as being discreet and covering up.
They found women felt they had to "feed in an appropriate place to avoid discomforting others, guard against judgement, and to protect herself from the unwanted male gaze".
India says while she knew she wasn't doing anything wrong when feeding her son by the pool, the comment from a stranger made her feel angry and ashamed.
"I was just feeding my baby — he was having his lunch, I was reading my book. It was our holiday."
Ms Marshall-Cerins says community attitudes towards breastfeeding in public contribute to a drop in breastfeeding rates.
"We have incredibly high breastfeeding initiation rates in Australia — just under 96 per cent of new mums are giving breastfeeding a go.
"By the three to five month mark, the percentages drop off really sharply [to 15 per cent being exclusively breastfed]."
"Not enough breastmilk for child" and "return to work" are examples of other reasons caregivers cite for not continuing breastfeeding.
While people like Dr Turner feel empowered to advocate for themselves when challenged, Ms Marshall-Cerins says many women don't.
"For every Elise Turner, there are many other women who just accept the experience."
More knowledge around lactation needed
Breastfeeding specialist Lisa Amir from La Trobe University says a greater understanding of lactation physiology could improve the experiences of women breastfeeding and expressing in public.
"If someone is lactating, the breasts are producing milk 24/7. They can't just wait until it's a convenient time for them to breastfeed or express."
In addition to feeding her baby, a mother may need to express her breasts to prevent negative consequences such as mastitis.
"Or if she is not able to express frequently, milk production reduces."
Ms Marshall-Cerins says many people don't have lived experience with breastfeeding and therefore aren't aware of what normal infant feeding patterns look like, especially in young babies.
"Babies can be feeding anywhere from eight to 14 times a day.
"Breastfeeding in public is not necessarily the choice the community may think it is.
"It's simply a mother responding to baby's needs and cues."
Aside from hydration and nutrition, breastfeeding also offers babies physical and emotional comfort.
The sexual objectification of breasts
Ms Marshall-Cerins says breasts being viewed as sexual rather than maternal creates a taboo where breastfeeding can be seen as "anti-social behaviour".
"It's seen as something that should be done in private."
She says breastfeeding is a pro-social and pro-health behaviour, and "I don't know that we've really grasped that as a community".
"It is one of the best preventative health measures a parents can take to make sure baby has the best start to life.
"And from a women's health perspective, breastfeeding women are safeguarding their own health [such as] … reduction in risk of some reproductive cancers like breast cancer.
"We are stigmatising a pro-health behaviour that is contributing to relieving the health burden of society in general."
Most people are supportive
Professor Amir has researched Australian attitudes towards breastfeeding in public and says while negative reactions are rare, women do fear them.
Her research found that 85 per cent of people were in support of breastfeeding in public, while 10 per cent were "conditionally supportive", citing expectations like breasts being covered, and 5 per cent were unsupportive.
Ms Marshall-Cerins says women should feel confident to breastfeed in public, and if you are challenged, "there are many things that Elise Turner did that we would suggest."
"Talk to the person who is challenging you, about how this is a protected right.
"[Say] that you are happy where you are, and your baby is happy where you are feeding.
"And look to anyone around you to try and connect with them, and see if you can get some support so you don't feel isolated."
