What does your country really think about breastfeeding? From 'embarrassing' in China to 'natural' in the U.S., how perspectives vary across the globe
Breastfeeding and how it should be done is a contentious subject, with some seeing it as necessary and others as indecent.
In a new study conducted by breastfeeding supply company Lansinoh, 13,262 mothers and pregnant women aged 18 to 40 were surveyed to gauge the perceptions of nursing from country to country.
And the results were hugely varied; while 47per cent of those in China see the act as 'embarrassing', for instance, more than half of American women - 57per cent - call it 'perfectly natural'.
Seeing things differently: A new survey of 13,262 mothers and pregnant women aged 18 to 40 across the globe looks at how perceptions of nursing vary from country to country
In Hungary, 41per cent of mothers think breastfeeding is simply 'unavoidable', but in Turkey, an incredible one-fifth believe it is 'wrong'.
The survey, which took place online in April and May, looked exclusively at women who are currently pregnant or have at least one child under two years old.
The countries involved in the study were Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, Turkey, the UK and the U.S.
According to the findings, people from different countries have differing opinions when it comes to the age at which babies should stop breastfeeding.
How old is too old? According to the findings, people from different countries have differing opinions when it comes to the age babies should stop breastfeeding
Mom's the word: The survey, which took place online in April and May, looked exclusively at women who are currently pregnant or have at least one child under two years old
The participants were asked: 'If you were to see a woman breastfeeding her two-year-old in public, what would your first thought be?'
In Turkey, 46per cent said they would think it was 'fantastic,' but in the UK 50per cent said they would think to themselves that the baby is too old to still be nursing.
Meanwhile, five per cent of women in France would think: 'She shouldn't be breastfeeding in public.'
Agreement: The majority of women from all of the countries said that the main reason they breastfeed or intend to breastfeed is because of its health benefits for their baby
Of the respondents who breastfed or intended to breastfeed their children, the majority in every country said their main reason was to benefit the health of the child.
And the most common fear when it comes to nursing, according to the survey, is the possibility of pain.
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