Breastfeeding Brelfies: Mums Fight For Their Right To Post Breastfeeding Selfies On Social Media Sites

You’ve probably heard of the #freethenipple campaign hashtag, but the #brelfie one has suddenly been thrust into the limelight.

The hasthtag is sweeping across social media today as loud and proud breastfeeding mums post selfies of themselves feeding their babies.

It’s all stemmed from the debate over whether Facebook is right to removing breastfeeding pics where the nipple shows – because, let’s be honest, it’s pretty tough to breastfeed without a teeny bit of nip showing.

The argument is that it’s the most natural thing in the world so Facebook should bend its rule to allow pics showing a little nipple.

And there doesn’t seem to be an issue with snapshots of shirtless men being uploaded left, right and centre…. but that’s a whole other debate.

According to Netmums, 88 per cent of mums say social media sites are wrong to delete brelfies – and now mums are taking a stand.

Mums across the UK have been taking to their social media platforms all day to post brelfies – an attempt to normalise how normal the act of breastfeeding is – and there’s been some beautiful photos shared.

Instagram and Twitter are seemingly more lax than Facebook with their nudity guidelines, so if you search the #brelfie hashtag you’ll see that there are lots of inspiring breastfeeding pics about.

Not everyone’s been sharing a #brelfie, other pro-breastfeeding mums have simply been using the hashtag to share their support.

“I’ve had loads of #Brelfie pics reported but it won’t stop me sharing them,” wrote Twitter user Nixy @fallinstar89. She posted another tweet, saying, ““Breastfeeding is a big part of my daily life, why shouldn’t I share something I’m so proud of?”

Even the NHS is getting involved and using the hashtag to promote the numerous benefits of breastfeeding.

A number of celeb mums have previously been vocal about their support for breastfeeding and posted photos on their own social media networks.

And incredibly, high-profile publications, such as Vogue and Glamour, have also chosen to include posed photos of famous faces breastfeeding in an effort to normalise it.

Plenty of stories of breastfeeding photos being removed from Facebook have hit the headlines lately.

After blurring out any sign of nipple, photographer Jade Beall posted a tasteful snapshot of a group of nude women nursing their children – only for Facebook to remove it because there was still a hint of one nipple (out of 14) showing.

There will always be a great deal of debate around breastfeeding, with some mums considering it to be a private moment that doesn’t need to be shared and others not willing, or able, to do it.

But either way, the taboo around breastfeeding in public does need to be lifted – and sharing a #brelfie is a step towards achieving that.

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Would you – or have you – shared a #brelfie? Let us know in the comments.