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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Candice Swanepoel says breastfeeding in public is a perfectly natural thing for a mother to do. The 28-year-old South African model addressed critics in an Instagram post this week after sharing a photo of herself nursing 2-month-old son Anaca.
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"Many women today are shamed for breastfeeding in public, or even kicked out of public places for feeding their children. I have been made to feel the need to cover up and somewhat shy to feed my baby in public places but strangely feel nothing for the topless editorials I've done in the name of art..?" Swanepoel wrote.
"The world has been desensitized to the sexualization of the breast and to violence on tv...why should it be different when it comes to breastfeeding? - Breastfeeding is not sexual it's natural- Those who feel it is wrong to feed your child in public need to get educated on the benefits breastfeeding has on mother and child and intern on society as a whole. #mothernature," she added.
Swanepoel welcomed Anaca with longtime partner Hermann Nicoli in October. Her friend and fellow Victoria's Secret model Behati Prinsloo had welcomed her first child, daughter Dusty Rose, with Adam Levine the month previous.
"Candice and Behati are best friends and they are not far apart from each other in pregnancy due dates," a source told E! News in May. "They both have been experiencing the first stages of being pregnant together and are happy to have each other."
Actresses Olivia Wilde and Alyssa Milano are among the other celebrity moms who have worked to de-stigmatize breastfeeding. Milano defended her right to breastfeed in public during an appearance on The Wendy Williams Show in January.
"Biologically, [breasts are] not made for sexual things," the star said. "That's what we've done to them."
