Today, something happened to me that I will never forget. I received support while feeding my baby from the most unexpected place, and the moment was so powerful it brought me to tears.
My partner, my baby, and I were on a short, unplanned trip to Vienna. On our last day, we visited the Schönbrunn Zoo. Nearing the end of our visit, we stopped at the orangutan enclosure. I sat with my son, hoping he would get a good look at an orangutan that was sitting nearby.
To my surprise, the orangutan noticed us. She picked up a piece of cloth, walked to the glass, and sat directly across from me. She looked into my eyes and then gently raised her hand to the glass, as if trying to touch my baby. I was in awe.
A few minutes later, my son got hungry, so I began to breastfeed him. What happened next was unbelievable. The orangutan watched me closely for about 30 minutes, looking from me to my baby and back again. She gently stroked the glass and lay down next to us, making me feel like she was comforting and protecting me.
Soon, a few people gathered around. I was a bit nervous about breastfeeding in public, but to my surprise, everyone was respectful. A man with dreadlocks and two kids sat quietly, and an older woman with a child explained what was happening in a language I couldn’t understand, but her tone was gentle and warm. It truly touched my heart.
We had no specific plans to go to Vienna. I just booked the cheapest flights and a hotel to get away from the holiday rush. We nearly missed the orangutans, but a moment of magic happened when one of them came closer. I don’t consider myself a religious person, but I believe something led us there. That orangutan will always have a place in my heart, and I’ll make sure my son remembers her too.