A new short film is shining a light on the experience many mothers face when breastfeeding in public – and the power of supportive communities to make those moments easier.
Just a Coffee, created by 2 Pears Films and commissioned by Leicester City Council, tells the story of a new mum walking into a café to feed her baby. As she enters, her internal thoughts reveal the quiet worries many parents experience the first time they breastfeed outside the home – wondering whether people might stare, judge, or make them feel uncomfortable.
But the story quickly takes a reassuring turn.
The mothers she meets recognise those same fears and gently share their own experiences, offering encouragement and reminding her that feeding her baby is something she has every right to do.
The film will be shown in venues across Leicester, including community spaces, libraries and wellbeing hubs, as part of the city’s ongoing work to create welcoming environments for parents and babies.
Reflecting Real Experiences
Kate Grassick, producer at 2 Pears Films, says the project was inspired by the real anxieties many mothers describe when breastfeeding in public.
“Many mothers describe the first time they breastfeed in public as surprisingly daunting. Through this film we wanted to acknowledge those feelings, while also celebrating the supportive communities that exist around them. Leicester has made a real commitment to being a breastfeeding-friendly city, and this project helps shine a light on that.”
To keep the story authentic, the film uses recognisable locations across the city along with local voices and accents – helping the message feel grounded in the community where it will be shared.
“Many mothers describe the first time they breastfeed in public as surprisingly daunting.”
Using Storytelling to Support Change
Alongside the film, 2 Pears Films has developed a short staff training resource designed for venues and organisations. The resource encourages teams to watch the film together and reflect on how their own spaces can support breastfeeding families.
The idea is simple: sometimes small actions – a welcoming attitude, reassurance, or simply normalising feeding a baby – can make a huge difference.
Sean McGrath, writer and director at 2 Pears Films, explains:
“Stories help us see the world through someone else’s eyes. When we follow a character’s experience, even for a few minutes, it can shift how we think and feel about an issue in a way facts alone often can’t.”
Supporting Breastfeeding-Friendly Communities
Following the Leicester project, 2 Pears Films are now speaking with councils across the UK about creating similar films for other communities – using local voices, locations and stories to help the message resonate more strongly.
For the team behind Just a Coffee, the goal is simple: to celebrate the everyday spaces where parents and babies are welcomed – and to encourage more communities to create environments where breastfeeding families feel supported.
Because feeding a baby should never feel like something parents have to hide.
Why This Matters
For many parents, breastfeeding outside the home can still feel daunting – even though the law protects their right to feed their baby wherever they are allowed to be.
Projects like Just a Coffee help normalise breastfeeding in everyday spaces and remind communities that small gestures of support can have a powerful impact.
