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A mother who has been accused of trying to ‘steal’ other women’s men by breastfeeding in public has hit back at her critics.

Reka Nyari, a 39-year-old photographer, has revealed she was on a flight from New York City to Budapest with her 34-month-old daughter, Ilo, when the woman sitting in front of them degraded her for breastfeeding her little girl.

‘She called me “disgusting” followed by a litany of degrading swear words,’ Reke recalled. ‘Apparently she thought I was trying to steal her man by quietly breastfeeding my baby during the landing of the plane.’

Reka, who has more than 31,000 Instagram followers, uses her social media platform to educate critics about the benefits of nursing by sharing photos of herself breastfeeding her little girl, shared Daily Mail.

Reka has been breastfeeding her daughter since she was born in November 2015 and has never given her formula.

Reka, originally from Finland, unapologetically breastfeeds her daughter anywhere she would want to be fed, including public places.

‘Breastfeeding is natural, and our breasts were made for feeding our babies. Associating breastfeeding with sex or perversion is disturbing,’ she said.

‘I breastfeed everywhere my baby would want to be fed. It doesn’t happen that often anymore as my daughter is older, but when she was a baby, I would do it everywhere; restaurants, shops, meetings, streets, the subway, you name it.

‘Looking back at it, it was my way of defying societal norms — I was waiting for someone to start complaining to me so that I could educate them about it.’

‘It has been irritating how judgmental people can be about women who breastfeed, and how sexualized the breast and nipple have become,’ she said.

The mum admitted that the judgement has only gotten worse because of Ilo’s age.

‘Now that my daughter is thirty-four-months-old, I get judged and criticized a lot,’ she said.

‘Friends and family roll their eyes, give unapproving stares, and tell me that I should quit. ‘They tell me that it’s somehow harmful for my child and for me, that what I am doing is somewhat selfish, disturbing or perverse. People are shocked.’


View this post on Instagram

I wanted to touch on the subject of “extended breastfeeding”, as it’s often referred to when done past baby’s 1st year. Too often I get dirty looks and snide comments, even from friends and family, regarding breastfeeding my 2 year old daughter. It’s often, disturbingly, regarded as mother-obsessive, and bad for the independence of the child. That could not be further from the truth! Breastfeeding your child past 2 years is incredibly healthy, both physically and psychologically, for both the mother and the baby. Please don’t take my word for it, just google it. Moreover, the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for children to 2 years and beyond. It’s been an incredibly bonding and beautiful experience, and it goes way beyond giving them milk. I will not be breastfeeding her forever, but for the short time that it’s beneficial to her, and possible to me, we will continue. Stop judging, and educate yourselves. And love! #lactivist #motherofdragons #breastfeeding photo by @gulphoto

A post shared by Reka Nyari (@rekanyariphotography) on

‘Why does a breastfeeding mother anger and irritate people so much? I have found that most of this anger is unfounded. As soon as people read on the matter, they become less judgmental.’

Reka believes that ‘breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding should be normalized,’ and it upsets her to read stories about mothers who hide the fact that they are breastfeeding their children past a year out of shame or fear of judgement.

‘The more women speak publicly about this; the more people are exposed to the idea and the more acceptable it becomes,’ she said.

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  • If you are that insecure in your realtionship that you think that your husband will see a woman breast feeding her child and say “Nice knowing you but we are done. Im going to go be with her now….see ya”….. then im afraid you are a very strange woman indeed and IF for some insane reason you did have a guy say that to you then seriously just wave him off with a smile because the guy is a total jerk and no woman should ever want to be with such a nut job.

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  • If you are that insecure in your realtionship that you think that your husband will see a woman breast feeding her child and say “Nice knowing you but we are done. Im going to go be with her now….see ya”….. then im afraid you are a very strange woman indeed and IF for some insane reason you did have a guy say that to you then seriously just wave him off with a smile because the guy is a total jerk and no woamn should ever want to be with such a nut job.

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  • I don’t know any man attracted to a child being fed?

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  • Well she is an exhibitionist. But stealing men while breastfeeding? Obviously the other mums have not done that, as that is the last thing on your mind while a little midget drains milk from you through tiny holes in your nipple.

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  • Sick of mums being condemned for breast feeding in public. But going completely starkers for it is a bit over the top. And a bit paranoid that other women are worried she’ll steal their husbands by breastfeeding

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  • Do what you want to feed your child but you don’t need to get completely naked in public to breastfeed – you can do it discreetly. I am a bit over people complaining about being criticised for breastfeeding in public – I breastfeed and give a bottle and I get more “filthy” looks and comments for bottle feeding than breastfeeding. One woman even came up to me and said “if you give your baby a bottle she won’t breastfeed well” – mind your own business is all I say.

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  • Sucking is said to reduce or prevent ear problems caused during flights, especially during at the beginning and when the plane starts to descend prior to landing. There has been many suggestions in articles in various media outlets that feeding on planes is highly recommended. If not breastfeeding they suggest a bottle feed or a dummy to suck.

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  • You have the right to breastfeed your child for as long as you can and want to. When out in society though you need to cover up though. You don’t need to remove your top.

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  • Breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural thing to do. But be modest about it when in public.

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  • Yes breast feeding is natural but there was no need for her to breast feed on the plane with no top on?? That’s probably going too far?

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  • Why did the woman feel like this?

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  • Society today is ridiculous. No-one can do or say anything without someone being offended. Breast feeding is natural and not at all sexual. Get over it people

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  • If my boobs looked like that, I’d be tempted to pop them out whenever too! Actually, I think the fact she’s still calling her almost 3 year old a 34 month old to be too much. I have no problem with extended breastfeeding but I feel by that age the child should be receiving their nutrition through oral food for jaw and tongue development which also knocks over into speech sound development. Perhaps in Finland it is common to breastfeed longer because of historically difficult access to foods from the weather – but it’s not like that anymore.

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  • Normally I would find it ludicrous that someone would attack a woman breast feeding as described, but there is nothing natural about breast feeding a 3yr old and you can exercise discretion as the whole world does not need to or want to see your breasts.

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  • Seriously?? Whilst I’m not interested in looking at photos of this woman, the suggestion that a poor male is feeling sexual over this… therein lies the problem. With others. Get a grip.

    Reply

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