Today, I received feeding support from the most unexpected place imaginable, and it became one of the most surreal moments of my life—one that left me in tears.
I was visiting Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna on a mini break with my partner and our son. At the end of the day, we decided to quickly stop by the orangutan enclosure. They were happily playing, and I went closer to the window, sitting down so my baby could see one who was about five or six feet away. To my amazement, she stood up, picked up a piece of cloth, carried it over, and sat down right in front of us. She looked straight into my eyes, then gently lifted her hand toward the glass as if reaching out to my son. I was already completely in awe of this beautiful creature.
Moments later, my son made it very clear that he wanted feeding. As the area was quiet, I fed him right there by the window. What happened next took my breath away. The orangutan watched us closely, looking from me to my son and back again. She stayed with us for around half an hour, softly stroking the glass. At one point, she even lay down beside me, as if offering comfort, support, and protection in that moment.
Before I realized it, a small crowd began to gather around us. To my complete surprise, everyone was incredibly respectful—unlike anything I’d ever experienced while breastfeeding in public. It started with a couple of adults, then a lovely man with dreadlocks and two young children who quietly sat beside us, watching in silence. An older woman with a small child joined too. Although I didn’t understand her language, I understood her meaning perfectly—she was gently explaining to the little girl that my baby was drinking milk, that this was how he was fed. My heart melted. With so many stories of women being judged or criticized for feeding in public, this kindness meant everything.
I truly believe it was fate—or something spiritual—that led me there that day. Our trip to Vienna was a completely last-minute decision. I had simply booked the cheapest flights and accommodation I could find, anywhere at all, just to escape the holiday madness and begin my son’s travel adventures early. Traveling is a huge passion of mine, and I didn’t want that part of my life to end just because I became a mother.
I knew almost nothing about Vienna—so little, in fact, that I briefly thought we were going to Italy until I booked the accommodation. (Whether that was baby brain or just a blonde moment, I’m still not sure.) Google quickly became my guide, and one suggestion stood out: Schönbrunn Zoo, the oldest zoo in the world. As a huge animal lover, I was beyond excited.
We waited until our final full day to visit. We spent hours walking around and nearly missed the orangutans altogether, so we turned back to find them before leaving. At first, they were too far away to see properly, and we started to head out. As I turned to put our little boy into his pram, I noticed one orangutan had come closer. I asked my partner if we could go back—and that’s when the magic unfolded.
I wouldn’t describe myself as religious, but I truly believe something guided me to that zoo so I could meet her. She will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I will never let my little boy forget her.
I had to share this because my mind was completely blown. We may be different species, but breastfeeding connected us in a once-in-a-lifetime moment I will cherish forever. I’m also incredibly grateful that my partner captured it all. It was honestly the best moment of my life—second only to giving birth.
