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Neha Dhupia has breastfed her baby in the ‘craziest places’, like an airplane toilet

From the mommy diaries

“Whether you are expressing milk to feed your child, giving him or her formula feed, or breastfeeding, you have the right to do so in a small, private space, anywhere. I am only giving a voice to the dilemma faced by thousands of mothers,” says actor Neha Dhupia.

She is the most relaxed mom around, with her little girl, Mehr Dhupia Bedi turning heads by the dozen. Actress Neha Dhupia has wowed with her performances in Ek Chaalis Ki Local, Singh is Kinng, Hindi Medium, Tumhari Sulu, Helicopter Eela…and has been a pivotal part of the iconic show MTV Roadies. Married to actor Angad Bedi, Neha recently started the #freedomtofeed initiative to push for awareness about the pressing need to make decent babyfeeding spots for young mothers, where they can tend their little ones in comfort and privacy. The movement has gained tremendous momentum, garnering support from all corners.

Neha recently collaborated with The Mommy Network Pop-Up at Kamala Mills in Mumbai to inaugurate the first-ever, on-ground #freedomtofeed booth, following the huge success of her social media initiative. Here, mothers visiting the pop-up with their babies, can breastfeed in peace. Excerpts from a conversation for Express Parenting:

You are turning one as a mom. What is the feeling like?

Yes, Mehr will complete a year in a month. The feeling is absolutely indescribable. I never knew that there was this bottomless reservoir of love inside me till Mehr came along.

What are the craziest places you have breastfed Mehr?

In the toilet of an airplane, behind a tree, parking areas, inside cars, on a set, with a camera in my face for a close-up (while I was feeding Mehr). I am always around and have breastfed my child on demand, when she was hungry, but I do believe that we need better places to nurse babies. It is such a simple, basic amenity. Why should I need to skip a visit to a mall for lack of a feeding booth? Or give my baby her food (breastmilk) inside a toilet?

What brought about this knit with The Mommy Network?

Well, Shreya Lamba, Kiran Amlani and Tejal Bajla, the trio behind The Mommy Network approached me. It seemed like the perfect platform to spread the word and raise better awareness about the need to create cocoon spots for young moms to breastfeed their little ones in public. There is such an acute need for such spaces. I launch the first of its kind, #freedomtofeed booth at the event.

Is the campaign exclusive to breastfeeding?

No. That is why it is #freedomtofeed. Whether you are expressing milk to feed your child, giving him or her formula feed, or breastfeeding, you have the right to do so in a small, private space, anywhere. I am only giving a voice to the dilemma faced by thousands of mothers. Breastfeeding is the healthiest, of course, but one must never ever get judgmental as the situation is different for each mum. I want to give each one a hug and say “I am there for you, with you”.

Shilpi Madan for Indian Express

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