Breast Feeding In Public : Yay or Nay?

[Ravenseye]

My wife has gotten in a number of minor tiffs with people online and in rl about breastfeeding in public, which she does. Some people really seem to get offended by it.

What are people's thoughts on breast feeding in public? Fine and natural? Obsene and perverse? Why?

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. YAY

.
.
.

[Seabiscuit]

142. YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!

[mcscajun]

2. Fine and natural when done discreetly.

Which I would guess most mothers would be inclined to do, anyway.

[Ravenseye]

6. definately discreetly

my wife has been breastfeeding and talking to someone in a restaurant for maybe 5 minutes before they were like 'whoa i'm sorry I didn't realize that you were breast feeding. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable' which she just shrugs off and grins. She has no problem with whipping out her tit in public now. It's great. I'm really proud of her self-confidence in this area.

[Warpy]

14. Exactly

And why does it seem that MEN are the most upset about it?

Do they hate being reminded what their toys are really FOR?

[Ravenseye]

16. Actually most of her confrontations were with women

It surprised me. Most men just seem uncomfortable and avert their eyes but don't say anything. If anythign they apologize for even being near it.

It's women who get really upset. It's women who come up to her and berate her for doing it in public, telling her to go do it in a restroom or throw a blanket over her and the baby.

I find it a bit weird that that's the case.

[mcscajun]

24. I can't think of a *less* hygienic place…

…to feed an infant than a public bathroom.

Idiots.

[Ravenseye]

26. Yeah it's weird

Like public restrooms in restaurants etc are SOOO nice.

[movie_girl99]

35. i totally agree

i would never think of feeding a baby in a public restroom. Most of them don't have the facilities to sit down and relax and I'd be damned if I'd feed them on the stool in a stall. Gross!!!

[blondeatlast]

92. I was always expected to ive myself insulin injections in restrooms.

I didn't do it, I got very good at doing it through my clothing. By the time I was done, no one even knew I had done it!

No way should a woman have to breastfeed in a restroom.

Yuck.

[LynzM]

152. Same here...

Actually had a restaurant manager called on me one time. Yeah, like I'm going to be shooting drugs in public in a bathroom like that, at the age of 12? Ugh.

[Warpy]

51. Wow, that's really surprising

Were they bitching because the lack of a towel or blanket over the naked breast? Discretion is always the better part of valor (or breasfeeding), and some women probably don't like being reminded of their animal physiology.

My friends had their problems with MEN, mostly men whose wives had bottle fed in the "scientific" 50s. This was 20-30 years ago, though.

Their answer was always to ask the men if they ate dinner while they were on the toilet.

Europe is way ahead of us in this regard, and womens & chilrens' rooms are readily available in most public places. They're rooms with benches for breastfeeding and pull down tables for changing They may be freestanding or a room off the public toilet.

[Ravenseye]

67. The Motherhood Maternity stores have rooms

they're in alot of malls now and they ahve breastfeeding rooms available to anyone. Well not anyone. I'd assume you'd have to be a lactating woman to use one :)

[nutsnberries]

122. YAY and EXACTLY !!!

i know something about this! :)

I have 4 children and breastfed each of them until they weened themselves at ages ranging from 13 months to 25 months. I breastfed in public when we needed to and 95%+ of the time, no one ever noticed... or at least never made it obvious that they noticed. I didn't go out of my way to be discreet and yet it's so easy to do discreetly if you're wearing nursing-friendly clothes and keep a little blanky with ya. In all that time, I never had one person say anything nasty to me, and only the very occassional person that looked enough to make me uncomfortable... "yeah, this is what babies do" is usually enough to get them to back off.

My sister had a few people make nasty remarks to her. Once a woman asked her, "wouldn't you be more comfortable doing that in the ladies room?" (this was before *mother's rooms* became popular) and my sister just asked the woman if that was where she liked to eat HER meals. ???

Some people are amazingly weird about something so beautiful and natural. What's the big deal?



edited to add the blanky... forgot the blanky, yeah, i always had a small something in the diaper bag just in case... not to totally cover the baby with, just kinda like a small sheild as much for the baby as anything. they can get distracted otherwise.

[Aristus]

124. Don't forget, most public restrooms in Europe have a full-time

attendant. Usually female, even for the men's rooms. Those places stay CLEAN. After I'd been there a while, I got used to taking a piss even with the lady attendant going back and forth doing her job.

Europe: They just do things better there. :-)

[SheepyMcSheepster]

3. i admit, it makes me a touch uncomfortable

but i see nothing wrong with it. it is a completely natural thing. it is a fact of life.

[Ravenseye]

9. One response to this would be that sex is a natural thing

but you wouldn't want people to get down with each other on the sofa in starbucks...

well I wouldn't mind, but these people would. :)

[SheepyMcSheepster]

52. i considered that when making this post

taking a shit is natural too and we don't really want people doing that in public either.

:silly:

[NoSheep]

64. Natural, necessary, fine by me.

[Ravenseye]

71. I think it's a matter of hygene

Defecation and urination are linked to a variety of health issues from staph infections to bacteria. Even most animals don't shit where they sleep.

Breast feeding has no hygene issue that i'm aware of, it's completely a social one.

[mzmolly]

119. No comparison. Sex is a natural thing that can and should wait.

Breast feeding is a natural thing and no baby should have to go hungry, and no mother should have to hide because some dude might get "wood" if I feed my babe.

You can't compare "feeding" to satisfying a sexual urge, sorry.

[ohio_liberal]

39. Thanks for understanding

the discomfort you feel is entirely your problem. :)

[SheepyMcSheepster]

50. agreed

it is my problem.
it's just one of those things where i am uncomfortable because i don't to stare or act like a dumbass.

[prolesunited]

4. Yes, eating in public is obscene and perverse.

:eyes:

Most women who do so are quite discreet and you don't see anything anyway.

That's what women's breasts were designed for.

[Ravenseye]

21. That's one of my general responses

Seeing some people and the way they eat in public is downright repulsive. Should they have to go eat in the bathroom? It makes no sense to me.

We're mammals after all.

[Lautremont]

5. Nothing wrong with it, unless you're John Ashcroft.

Then, of course, it's the devil's own work.

[Ravenseye]

28. Anything that reminds them we're animals right?

Anything we do that reminds people we're animals and mammals seems to make them uncomfortable and they label it obscene.

[Seabiscuit]

146. Because they can't stand to see themselves in the mirror.

They're not just animals; they're downright beastly.

[LizW]

7. Fine, necessary and natural

I did it, and I've seen lots of women do it. I don't understand people who think breasts are so horrifying that a woman should hide in the restroom to feed her baby.

[Solly Mack]

8. Yay. It does a body good.

Got Milk? ;)

[rene moon]

10. I think it is ok

Why people get so hung up on women's breasts, is BEYOND me!

What's the big deal? Can't control yourselves when breasts are out in the open, even when they are being used to feed a child?

If you don't like it, then practice some discretion and don't stare!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. That's for you and your wife to decide...to heck with the idiots who...

...get Puritan with you.

It's a natural thing to do when the baby is hungry...just cover up so that the prudes won't have an aneurism.

[mike_c]

12. huh? women have been feeding babies for as long as there...

...have been women and babies! Good gawd, the utter perversion of a society that might view such a thing as "obscene" is, well, obscene. I vote YAY, naturally.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. I think it's fine in public...

when done with discretion.

My sister would literally whip both breasts out at a restaurant with her shirt open and just sit there with'em hanging out. It was not very appetizing over the table, lemme tell ya.

[RedCloud]

109. Did she even have a baby?

I believe you neglected this important detail.

[seabeyond]

15. yay.....food for baby, bringing breast back to nature

not the retarded

[DemExpat]

17. If done discreetly, absolutely fine imo.

I never had negative looks or comments because I was so skilled in this that most people probably didn't even notice what we were doing.
I only breastfed when I felt I wasn't being too visible, and wore those very loose Indian cotton over-blouses to keep the activity well- hidden.

:-)

DemEx

[JimmyJazz]

18. Few restrooms are set up to accomodate a woman breastfeeding

a child. They don't have a nice seating area and are really pretty disgusting. So what's the mother supposed to do? I say absolutely yes as long as it's discreet - nursing tops are a must. IMHO which you asked me for.

[BikeWriter]

42. Yes'm, who would want their baby nursing in a rest room anyway?

[idlisambar]

19. Yay n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

20. I have mixed feelings personally

I remember one time I was watching an episode of "Charmed" and very briefly they talked about this and how women shouldn't feel shamed about breast feeding since it's a natural act and she's taking care of her baby and she should be proud and embrace it. Maybe if it does bother people the woman and the people she's at can get a table that isn't so noticing and where she won't be the center of attention. I'm fine with it personally. Doesn't bother me.

[Ravenseye]

25. I think discreet is key

She generally tries to find an out of the way spot, but it's not always possible. Still she's subtle about it.

I wonder how many poeple have been around breast feeding mothers and never realized what was going on.

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. Yay...as long as they're discreet.

A baby's gotta eat when a baby's gotta eat!

[MountainLaurel]

58. Indeed

And these are the same people who will piss and moan about a crying infant, not realizing that when a baby needs to eat, he or she needs to eat NOW.

[SW FL Dem]

23. I have no problem if done discretely

It's natural and important for the baby's health.

[porphyrian]

27. I could care less.

If a woman want to pull her titties out to feed her kid in public, more power to her.

[BikeWriter]

29. Hurray for her! :-)

[movie_girl99]

30. yay

perfectly normal but some people think not. When my children were babies i nursed in public but always got weird looks from some. I used a blanket and never exposed my breast but for some reason people get offended.

[Ravenseye]

31. My wife doesn't like using a blanket

She finds that it makes it harder for her to 'control' our daughter when she's feeding and feels she should have to hide under a chador or something.

She still does it discreetly and uses nursing bras and shirts etc...you'd never know unless you were checking out her breasts anyway.

[ohio_liberal]

46. I never could use a blanket

It always got in the way. It kind of defeats the purpose of being discreet when you're wrestling with a blanket :)

[troubleinwinter]

49. I used a small blanket out of consideration for others.

"My wife doesn't like using a blanket"

I don't like wearing shoes into restaurants. I don't like not cutting to the front of lines. I don't like keeping quiet in movie theaters. I do't like wearing clothes instead of pajamas to the market.

[LeftyMom]

54. Do you eat under a blanket?

Do bottlefeeding mothers feed thier kids under a blanket?

Breasts aren't dirty, and the only part a woman is required to cover is in the baby's mouth. Most of her breast is concealed by the baby's head, unless she has unusually large breasts or a very small baby. A nursing mother should only use a blanket or other coverup if she wishes to do so.

Some babies won't eat under a blanket. LK never would, and I don't blame him one tiny bit, it's hot enough in Sacramento without a blanket over your head!

[Ravenseye]

68. It's different

She had a hard time managing to feed her under the blanket. Did you have a hard time putting on shoes to go into a restaurant? It's not like putting on shoes made you unable to get a decent meal.

You can be discreet without using a blanket. When she does it you can't even see skin, just a babies head facing her breast.

[gollygee]

79. Not all kids will nurse under a blanket

my daughter sure wouldn't. She hated having a blanket over her head.

Also, a blanket can be a huge sign saying "BREASTFEEDING MOM HERE" and actually less discrete.

[Left Is Write]

129. I couldn't use a blanket.

My kids hated being covered up like that, and they fought it. If I insisted on using a blanket, it just would have drawn attention to us.

[rman]

32. no problem

[wideopen]

33. Completely acceptable

I wonder how anyone could be offended by a mother feeding her child, it's totally natural. I think it is even helpful for children to see.

[Ravenseye]

37. my nephew just saw her do it the first time recently

and he FREAKED OUT!

It was too funny. He ran to his mother (he's six) and screamed 'she's eating her!' and just couldn't get it. He tried to understand it but just had a really hard time understanding what was going on.

It made me think of how perverse this puritanical society is sometimes. In my mind a six year old should have seen so many women breastfeeding by that point that it should be old hat to him.

[wideopen]

48. I have to wonder...

What kind of freako society we live in that we try to shield our children from the most basic biological processes in life? And even adults are sometimes offended? Blows my mind.

[Book Lover]

34. I did it and was never spoken to about it

The again, I am in the SF Bay Area and even though we have our share of pervs and control freaks, no one ever said anything to me.

[Ravenseye]

40. We're not in SF....blue, but not dark blue area...

I bet there are areas in the country like SF that it's much easier to do it, and other areas that it's be a nightmare.

Here in Pittsburgh we're pretty blue but we have plenty of red people around, and even some of the so called blues are pretty purple themsevles. Pennsylvania dems can be fairly conservative sometimes.

[tigereye]

126. odd, I live in Pgh

and never had a problem. I had the nursing shirts, but would also just stick the baby under loose shirts and vests. Shadyside, restaurants, on the street, with the baby in a sling, on vacation. Maybe it's because I'm an East Ender. :) Never had a problem in public or at work when I was pumping.

I think breastfeeding is great, I always want to give all the moms a big thumbsup! I have rarely seen anyone complain about it anywhere. I think the people who complain have a problem.

:hi: great post.

[ohio_liberal]

36. B/F in public is absolutely fne and natural.

n/t

[mongo]

38. Yay

No problem with it - it's the most natural thing in the world.

The people who get upset by it are just shame driven idiots.

On edit: There have been several occasions when I didn't even notice a woman was breast feeding until 10 minutes into a conversation.

[LeftyMom]

41. Of course it's fine

Babies should eat when they're hungry. People who have a problem with that should refrain from making babies, so thier idiocy will die with them. In the meantime, they should only eat in the bathroom or under a blanket, so they don't offend anyone.

Here's what I say to the naysayers:

(*)(*)

Here's a link you wife may appreciate. http://www.angelfire.com/comics/hathor/

[spinbaby]

43. Yay!

Nursing a baby is necessary and right. What's obscene are those people who prop a bottle for a young baby in one of those baby seats. Poor baby.

[deutsey]

44. Yea

I don't understand what the big deal is for people who object to breast feeding a baby in public. Out of respect for some people, perhaps the mom should be somewhat discreet about it (in other words, not exposing the full breast), but I'm not bothered by it all myself.

[tammywammy]

45. Yah

When done discreetly. I see nothing wrong with it, it's perfectly natural. Breastfeeding is the best for a baby.

[DebinTx]

47. Go for it but do be discreet

I did. Never had a problem.

[Bunny]

53. Discreet feeding in public is perfectly fine.

Anyone who has a problem with it is uptight and needs to STFU. Who the hell would want to feed their baby while sitting on the farking toilet? And what nursing mother is going to be out flinging her boob around on purpose for all the world to see? Avert your gaze if you are so tense about it!

[LynzM]

89. There are some pretty 'militant' breastfeeders

Who will do exactly that... it's like "This is legal, and I want to prove that IT'S OK, so let me SHOVE MY BOOBS IN YOUR FACE". Personally, as a mom who nursed a LOT in public, I found it to be a better support of breastfeeding to have it be so discreet that people didn't notice for a while. Sometimes they'd think she was sleeping. That, to me, does a lot more to promote breastfeeding as an unoffensive and natural thing that can be done anywhere necessary. That said, I find it absolutely disgusting that this discussion is even necessary, at this point in time. I mean, it's natural, and healthy. Did you know the U.S. is the only developed country where it's legal to market formula and give away free samples to new moms? It's like any other pharmaceutical that's pushed. I think it's great that it's there if needed, but it shouldn't be pushed like that. </rant> Sorry, little bit of a hot button for me.

[SarahB]

107. Awesome post!!!

:yourock:

[Seabiscuit]

147. DITTO BIG TIME!!!

:yourock:

[LynzM]

Thanks :) n/t

[stellanoir]

55. some people are clueless

there is no reason to be relugated to the ladies room when you can just wear an oversized shirt and have the kid on your lap at a table and it's hardly even noticable. Or go in a far corner of a room.

Though I have seen women be far less than discreet about it, but I never had a problem or thought that anyone was offended.

But maybe I'm clueless.

Disccretion for sure.

[libertypirate]

56. Um baby needs to eat...

Who should we be worrying about?

A hungry baby or another person’s personal problematic sexually disturbed views of the value inherit in the female form.

Fucking kid is hungry, feed the damn kid; it's just a tit.

Is it polite to starve an adult because you don't like watching them eat?

Anyone, yes I am about to do something I personally loath, who thinks that breast feeding is anything but the feeding of a child is a fucking idiot, no excuses it’s natural behavior that is what is best for the child. Someone who has a personal issue with it needs to be in therapy.

[redqueen]

57. Yay!

Anyone who finds it obscene or perverse has been brainwashed, and isn't worth listening to.

[Jose Diablo]

59. Fine and natural

In fact, I think a mother giving nourishment to her child is beautiful. Nothing perverted about it.

It is life and love at its finest.

[gollygee]

60. Been there, done that

I obviously think "yay" since I did it for two years :D

[PaganPreacher]

61. Fine and natural.

"Breast is best," as La Leche League used to say.

For those people who object to breastfeeding in public, I say: "No one forced you to watch, and apparantly you don't mind embarassing the poor mother by gawking."

And, forget about taking the baby into a dirty, smelly restroom. I wouldn't eat dinner in one, and I wouldn't patronize any place that insisted on mothers breastfeeding in the restroom.

Young Pagan Preacher II was a breastfed baby (he's 13 now, and will be SOOOO embarassed that Dad is talking about this), and Mrs. PP (good Catholic woman that she was) never had trouble covering up while the younker had dinner.

It's just nature, ya know.


The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[RayOfHope]

62. Yea, blanket or no blanket

I don't go out of my way to be discreet, but I don't let it all hang out, either.

A flash of breast is highly preferable to a screaming, hungry child.

[amazona]

63. a matter of complete indifference to me

I really think it should be up to the mother, if she wants to do it, yes, if she doesn't, OK...but...if the kid is squealing for food, then be prepared to go somewhere you can prepare the food if you don't want to give the kid the breast. Noise pollution is my issue. I don't consider the human breast obscene. Letting some squawking kid go hungry is more obscene to me, especially when it infringes on my eardrums!

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[TrogL]

65. Go for it

I find it oddly comforting.

[Ravenseye]

69. Breast Feeding Memories?

Were you breast fed? Think you have some kind of latent memory about it calming you?

[TahitiNut]

66. It's insane there's even a question about it. (And fuck 'discretion'!)

Only reptiles and bird-brains view mammalian nursing of our young as 'properly' covert or surreptitious. Save the 'discretion' bullshit for defecation and urination.

[redqueen]

114. Thank you, TahitiNut!

I'm with you.. FUCK discretion.

If it weren't for people insisting on discretion while feeding their infants NATURALLY, maybe there would be fewer people hung up about it to begin with!

[fleabert]

168. so succinct and perfect! yeah!

you hit the nail on the head for me. Here's a great pic of breastfeeding in Venezuela, talking to the President of her country no less!

http://www.culturekitchen.com/archives/002827.html

[ronnykmarshall]

70. Whip 'em out gals!

[4_Legs_Good]

72. I'm all for it, but it doesn't hurt

to understand that there probably *will* be some people offended or taken aback who are from another generation or are just not inclined that way, so try to be semi-private about it.

I agree it's pretty nutty that we have to think twice about this stuff, but it's always nice to be considerate of other people, but that definitely shouldn't ever trump a woman's right to feed her baby!

david

[LynzM]

90. What amazes me

In regard to that is that I know people my own age (I'm 24) who find it 'repulsive', 'disgusting', etc. Like any other attitude, it gets passed down, and no amount of 'studies show'-type information is going to change their minds. And while that's their choice, it makes me sad that that's the way it is.

[CanuckAmok]

73. Here we go...n/t

[CanuckAmok]

76. Urinating is natural and sterile...but society has deemed you don't...

do it at the dining table.

[gollygee]

77. Society has, however, deemed that you eat at the dining table

which is what breastfeeding is - eating, not urinating.

[SarahB]

85. ding ding

correct answer!

I don't have to eat in a bathroom. Why should my baby?

[SCDem]

74. I did it

And I don't know if people were uncomfortable with me breastfeeding my son because usually my eyes were glued to him making sure he was ok.

[Bouncy Ball]

75. You are brave to ask this in the lounge.

That being said, I wish women felt more comfortable feeding their babies in public. I think it's sad they don't.

When my daughter was born, I used to go feed her in public bathroom stalls, because I was so freaked out at the idea of nursing her in public, even with a big blanket thrown over her head and my shoulder.

If I were to have a baby now (not gonna happen), I really wouldn't give a shit. I wouldn't go sit in some nasty toilet to feed my child. I would carry a privacy blanket, but I sure wouldn't subject myself to anymore public bathroom stalls.

People who have a problem with it need to get over themselves. They're just feeding their child, for crying out loud.

[Ravenseye]

78. actually I asked it in general

and it got moved to the lounge :)

[ohio_liberal]

80. That blows

we've gone from serious to "whip it out girls" in 10 posts ;)

[Telly Savalas]

133. As far as I'm concerned...

"whip it out girls" is a serious response to the question.

Also what's the deal with everyone qualifying their "yes" with a "keep it discreet"? What exactly do women do to call attention to themselves when feeding their kid? Get completely topless, stand on the table, and shout at the top of their lungs: "Howdy folks, I'm about to give my munchkin some milk. Any of you got a problem with that?"

I mean, for chrissake, I was thinking about taking my daughter out for pizza tomorrow night. Should I be discreet about feeding her a slice? Maybe toss a blanket over her head?

{Edited to fix the spelling of "discreet".}

[Bouncy Ball]

82. Oh ok, my mistake.

And in my defense, since I see a lot of people grossing out at the idea of feeding a baby in a public bathroom, I was VERY young and naive and just thought that's what I was "supposed to do."

And I touched no surfaces while in there, but it still bothered me a lot.

So much so that for that and a couple of other reasons, I gave up nursing her too early and we went to formula.

:-(

I strongly believe if I had been living in a society more supportive of and more accepting of nursing, I would have been much more likely to continue.

[Freebird12004]

81. It's wonderful for the baby, Yay.

[leftofthedial]

83. I feel self conscious

when suckling in public

but if it doesn't bother other people, I'll go ahead and do it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

104. I did too

I never felt comfortable nursing in front of others, even when they encouraged me to go ahead.

But I think anybody who wants to breastfeed in public should feel free to do so. It's just food, after all.

[leftofthedial]

123. well, you'd think the woman would be the embarassed one

but if she doesn't mind, I'll oblige and do my part.

;-)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

138. There's a tribe of Africans who believe so deeply in the notion of equal

parental involvement, that the fathers suckle their babies while the moms are away. Some of the men even lactate.

[leftofthedial]

165. Okay, I have to draw the line somewhere

I think my kids would end up with lifelong fear of hair. LOL

In all seriousness, I wholeheartedly and unreservedly support public breastfeeding.

[Fleshdancer]

84. feeding a hungry baby is far more important than worrying if others are

offended.

[SarahB]

86. Normal!!!

Babies need to eat. Babies need to eat frequently. People who are uptight need to get over it. They're just breasts for crying out loud.
101 Reasons to Breastfeed:
http://www.promom.org/101/

[Karenina]

87. Did no one here see

the picture of a mother feeding her kid while conversing with her president (Chavez) on the street?

[LynzM]

93. I saw that

What a great example of how some 'lesser developed' countries are a lot less repressed than we are, in some ways.

[Karenina]

102. Multi-tasking

She had something to communicate and the opportunity to speak, kid was hungry and had the opportunity to eat. Everybody's needs got met. Makes sense to me...

[LynzM]

105. Yup...

I'm amazed at how fast I learned to type 1-handed :) Or do any number of other things while BFing. It's quite adaptable!

[Midlodemocrat]

88. I nursed all three of mine in public

with a nursing 'cape' like thing that covered me very well. The only person who was ever uncomfortable was my very modest husband.

[progmom]

91. I breast fed in the bleacher seats at a major league baseball game.

I was terrified that I was going to end up on the jumbo screen. :scared:
But as the mother of a newborn, you have two choices - stay home all the time and grow to resent junior for taking away your life, or breast feed in public and piss people off. I chose the latter - it seemed healthier somehow. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

101. Atta girl, progmom!

I nursed both of my daughters. We weren't very social in those days, so the vast majority of feedings occurred at home. It is a lovely and natural thing. More power to moms and nursing babies! People who have a problem with it need to get a life, IMHO.

[cally]

112. Funny

I was going to post the same thing. I'm a very modest person but my baby was hungry and here I was nursing my baby in front of 50,000 people. It didn't make the jumbo screen...thankfully.

I often don't know that someone is nursing a child. I'll start staring at the cute baby and realize she/he is nursing. Then I get flustered because I was just staring. :shrug: I think it's completely natural and whoever has a problem are insane.

[blondeatlast]

94. Quite simply--YAY. I would like to have breastfed my son, but I tried for

two weeks and he never took to it. I did pump, though, so he had a good balance of breast milk to formula.

More power to her and others. When all it takes is a simple towel or scarf to make it discreet, I think Mother Nature, or God, or whomever is trying to tell us something!

[MissB]

95. Yay

Completely natural.

On another board that I post at (parenting board), the posters get realllllly pissed when someone tries to tell someone that breastfeeding isn't a good thing, public or not.

[Spacemom]

96. Absolutely Normal and Natural

I'm pleasantly surprised that most responses to this thread are positive. But I'm curious just how far that goes. Suppose I posted pictures of mothers breastfeeding their babies. Would that get this thread locked? :D

Husbands should remember that not only is breastfeeding good for the baby, it's good for mom too. It decreases the risk of ovarian and breast cancer and helps reduce osteoperosis.

[Spacemom]

99. Cover your eyes, nursing pic

Isn't that just disgusting? :crazy:

[Redstone]

97. What the hell else is Mom supposed to do when she's away from home?

Let the kid go hungry?

Amazingly enough, we had some Neanderthal of a cop arrest a women here in Connecticut (real blue-state move, there) not more than two years ago for this.

Of course, she didn't actually get charged with anything. That cop is damn lucky he didn't try that with Mrs R; she wouldn't have left enough of the cop's ass unkicked for me to have my turn.

Redstone

[methinks2]

98. yay, it can be done discreetly

If some perv has a problem, tell him to stop oggling.

[Amfortas]

100. People ! they are only breasts.....

get over them ! go watch that death by being chased by topless women scene from "The meaning of life"

If people from the 19th century time traveled to our time their heads will explode from the amount of leg shown today ... those people fawned over bare ankles !

so maybe in a 100 years we'll stop being neurotic about breasts !

[CaliforniaPeggy]

103. Hi, amfortas...Don't hold your breath!

We can hope though, can't we?

:hi:

[Amfortas]

106. Wow ....

you passed the 400 posts milestone ... congrats !

[CaliforniaPeggy]

128. Thank you so much for noticing!

You're a doll, Amfortas...

:loveya:

[RedCloud]

108. What about when junior doesn't want it all?

I have been faced with this startling dilemma which exceeded all my puerile expectations:

"Help drink the milk so they won't hurt! Or else!" Don't women know that men may feel guilty as in stealing...

Surprisingly shy,

RedCloud

[redqueen]

116. Heh

Do most dad's even like the taste?

I pumped my extra and froze it for public consumption... my partner was against my doing any public breastfeeding.

[fleabert]

170. Engorgement sucks.

i am inferring that you are weaning and overproducing...put some fresh cabbage in the fridge and place a chilled leaf in your bra, should help with engorgement. Or you could call a milk bank and donate!

http://www.hmbana.org/

[Lone_Star_Dem]

110. Nothing wrong with it.

I did it and as far as I know never offended anyone. Babies get hungry and the breast is where the food is. Simple as that.

[Burma Jones]

111. Yay, but not for money........................

[ghostsofgiants]

163. Haha, Dave Attel style

So I was watching my sister breastfeed for a couple of bucks...

[Debbi801]

113. Definitely Yay!!...

Try for discretion, but the baby doesn't always cooperate.

And never let anyone talk her into nursing in the bathroom. Just gross. She should ask the person if he/she would want to eat in there.

It is a perfectly natural thing, it is what breasts were really designed for.

*smiles*
Debbi
(who has nursed all 3 of her kids, when and where they needed to be fed)

[Maine Mary]

115. If people are offended by breastfeeding in pubic: THEY'VE got issues!!!

I breastfed my daughter till she was 17 months old. Called it quits when she learned how to unbutton my blouse.. But even then I let myself be her "human pacifier" :eyes: (had to at first)at bedtime until she was nearly 2. My OB/GYN (a woman from India) said that was fine and that she was proud of me for not letting culture dictate what I did.

She told me that I was (in her words) "The only woman under 20 in her local practice willing to defy convention and do what was right for my baby.(I had my daughter at 19) She said that there were two 20-somethings and five 30-somethings. This was in 1985. None of them made it past 2 months for various reasons. She didn't say why, but my guess is (at least for some of them) that it hurts like hell that first week or so. Perhaps for the others there were work constraints.

Which finally brings me to my point. (Sorry It took so long) :-) I nursed my daughter exclusively until she could eat table food. According to my doc it was the healthiest thing I could do for her. Problem was, we'd occasionally go places. And when she wanted to "eat" she wanted to eat!!!! I was always very discreet. No one could see even even a glimpse of OMG.....The EVIL Breast :scared: no matter how public the place was. Still, I had people (mainly women for some strange reason) Give me the dirtiest looks. One woman in a mall even told me I'd be going to Hell!!!!... until her hubby pulled her away.

Many other women felt it their duty to advise me on "proper nutrition" for an infant.

Anyway, you get the idea. This subject came up during my 2nd term in the Maine Legislature. A Rep. from Auburn put in a bill that would allow breastfeeding in in public. If I remember correctly, it was put as simply as that. Though we Dems prevailed, I was shocked at the opposition, some from even our own party! :wtf:

This is not peeing in public. This is feeding children the way God intended.

[redqueen]

118. Good for you for having done what's best for your child.

I just do not understand why women are chastised for breastfeeding for longer than society deems 'normal'. I hope nutrition experts get louder about the benefits of nursing longer than a few months.

[Left Is Write]

131. I was an "extended nurser."

There were some people IRL I didn't want to admit that to because they would have thought it "weird."

[yellowdogintexas]

137. Mine was 27 months old when she finally weaned for good

at that point it was mostly at bedtime anyway. I am convinced the "terrible 2's" were far less terrible because she was still nursing.

Whenever she got a new tooth she would get very sick to her stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. and breast milk was the only thing she could handle. So I was glad she stayed on the breast.

I had a very supportive pediatrician too. My mother and MIL were just convinced she wasn't getting enough because she was very small. But the doc said developmentally she was doing everything early, and expending all her energy on doing stuff. She never was heavy in any way. Still skinny, in fact. My doc just said go for it, she is fine.

Fed her whenever and wherever I wanted to. Never had any problems with voyeuristic complainers, either. I learned very quickly how to get her set up discreetly and once she was set up, it was easy to stay discreet.

I have found that when out shopping, the furniture department of the department store is often a good place to go for a quiet place to feed the baby. Also the big department stores are most likely to have a "lounge" room adjacent to the ladie's room where one can sit comfortably and relax without feeling like one is in the actual restroom. I would seek out this kind of place not because it was less public but more because it would be comfortable; and more comfortable than the food court.

It is too bad more women don't breastfeed; I know my daughter's early childhood health was the better for it. She is 20 and has never had an ear infection.

[slutticus]

117. I don't see what the big deal is.

I've seen plenty of grown adults with absolutely disgusting eating habits, and they're allowed to eat in public.

It's just a boob. And a baby.

It's perfectly natural, like urination. :D

[KG]

120. hell yes. and i wonder why some want it done 'discreetly?;

almost like it's shameful. grow the fuck up.

it's the most natural thing in the world, where is the shame?

[Pool Hall Ace]

141. Well, there are "tit nazis" who like to attract attention

to themselves. I don't know if they are fishing for praise, or what the deal is with them.

If a mother just nonchalantly does it, I won't react one way or the other, I really don't care. I don't expect a woman to breastfeed while sitting on the commode. And breastfeeding is certainly preferable to listening to a hungry baby emitting ear-splitting shrieks.

[Pithlet]

143. You mean

When I danced around in circles squirting milk everywhere while at the mall, that was a bit much? ;)

[Pool Hall Ace]

149. BWAAHAAHAAHAA !! Yes, spraying the milk

around, now that is just going over the top. :D

[redqueen]

151. I think the tit nazis are the ones who can't seem to look away

so would rather have the woman take acting lessons so as not to offend anyone with her evil, filthy pillows.

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

121. öhmmmm...actually i don't care

if a woman breastfeeds. It's to trivial to bother my ugly mind with such. blanket, no blanket one breast, two breasts in the corner or in the middle. i must be really bored if i even think of it. must be because i'm a male european - it's really not an issue to me.

if it stops the child from crying - do it.
if it makes you feel better do it - do it
if you just feel like - do it.

it isn't that i've never seen a tit - the look of one more won't kill anyone.

as if there weren't real issues to occupy ones mind with. gawd.

[ashmanonar]

167. heh, well, if you're a european male

then unless you've visited america, you can't understand how NEUROTIC americans are. a good majority of them. the religious wrong has really fucked up our society: morality gets in the way of practicality.

[politicat]

125. Yay!

My sister nurses my niece (12.5 months) still, even though Baby is at the stage where she's interested in whatever food the adults are eating. Sis is slowly weaning Baby because Baby is less interested in the breast than chicken, apples, mandarin oranges, ravioli, carrots, toast, eggs, etc.

Sis has never had problems feeding Baby in public until recently, when Baby decided that she wants to advertise what's going on by trying to eat upside down. It's kind of obvious when there's a baby foot on a shoulder....

Pcat

[Left Is Write]

127. As a mother who nursed her children, I say yes, of course.

I wasn't going to stay home all the time they were nursing, and I wasn't going to feed them in a bathroom stall either.

I *like* places that provide "family rooms" with comfortable seating and a quiet environment, but in the absence of such facilities, I fed my babies when they needed to be fed, public or no.

[shesemsmom]

130. Breast feeding in public is not a statement but usually out of need.

It can be done discreetly so no one is the wiser. I did it for many months'

[radwriter0555]

132. oh just whip that titty out and have it, geez. It's a meal, totally

natural and healthy as all get out.

It's great if you can do it for at least the first few weeks... but it's not the be-all, end all... and it looks more normal than a bottle on a wee one.

Once you've been to topless beaches, breasts are just breasts....

[Dastard Stepchild]

134. It's fine for others... I would be anxious if it were me...

I would have this fear of people staring at my bare breast. Even if people wouldn't do it, I would think that they were, and then I would get all jumpy and paranoid.

[Liberal Veteran]

135. Oh, hell yes.

What could possibly be wrong with feeding a baby?

[GreenPartyVoter]

136. Yea, of course. I never whipped mine out and waved it around, but

when done discreetly there is no reason for others to be offended.

[cynatnite]

139. It's fine in public

I've done it and used a blanket, but it wasn't out of consideration for others. It's me. I'm a shy person when it comes to my body. I was teased in school because I developed early and have been self-conscious ever since.

If other women want to, I say more power to them.

[Rabrrrrrr]

140. Absolutely, do it in public. But, as with all things done in public,

do it tastefully.

But it's part of being human. It's just a breast, and just a baby doing what babies have done for perhaps millions of years.

Anyone who has a problem with breast feeding in public is a person with a personal problem that they need to go examine for themselves and try to determine why they have such an infantile aversion to nature and think that nature is somehow "wrong".

[imenja]

144. why not,? people don't need to look if it bothers them

If a baby needs to eat, he or she has to be fed. End of story.

[steve2470]

145. definitely yay nt

[Shananigans]

148. I'll admit, I'm not comfortable with a woman whipping her breasts out..

in public. Just as I wouldn't want a man to whip out his "equipment" in public. Blame it on society, blame it on my parents, blame it on whoever you want. I'm just not comfortable with turning around in a restaurant and catching a glimpse of a woman's breast. I understand that when a baby needs to eat, he needs to eat NOW. But couldn't some discretion be used? The argument that "all you can see is the baby's head" just isn't valid. If that were actually the case it probably wouldn't bother me. Some women are just TOO comfortable with exposing their breasts for this reason in public. Is it really MY problem that I am not comfortable with this???

But that's just my humble opinion.

[redqueen]

153. In my opinion, yes.

You can always just look away. No one would be forcing you to stare at her overexposed, offensive breast.

[Misunderestimator]

154. We agree again!!

:hi:

[redqueen]

156. Woohoo!

:bounce:

[Shananigans]

173. I could use the same argument for a man walking around with his

equipment hanging out. It's just not something I am comfortable looking at on someone I don't know or care to know.

[loudestchick]

150. Yay, Yay, Yay. One for each of my three children, who I nursed

in public if they were hungry in public. Mrs. Ravenseye should tell the offended "This is what breasts are DESIGNED for."

[Misunderestimator]

155. My mom was ahead of her time.... here she is with me in 1962:

[LincolnMcGrath]

159. Love the lamp in the background. We had one just like it.

P.S. You look like your mom.

[Misunderestimator]

162. Thanks.

:hi:

[fleabert]

171. what an awesome picture...thanks for posting. nt

[Telly Savalas]

157. It depends...

if the person doing the eating is over the age of 14 and the feeder isn't that person's mother, then I can see how some folks might be taken aback.

[LincolnMcGrath]

158. Breast Feeding In Public : Yay

It's just a breast people!

[mondo joe]

160. YAY! And I don't give a fuck about discretion.

It's a fine and natural thing to do.

Feed the kid.

I don't care.

[jswordy]

161. It is fine and natural...

...and it gives me a fine and natural woody, too!

:evilgrin:

No, seriously, I have no problem with it, when done discretely. There are special blouses made just for that. Now, if a woman flops her boob out there for all to see, well, I'm gonna look! (Lucky kid...) Still no problem with it...it is natural for me to look, too!

Geez, people get so uptight about natural stuff...see the poll here on whether it is OK to SNEEZE, fer cryin' out loud, in public.

sigh

[RedstDem]

164. In Public Is No Problem

Why Should Anyone Get Upset Over That ? If They Do They're Up Tight.

[fleabert]

166. HUGE YAY!

Breastfeeding in public should be just as 'normal' as giving a baby a bottle in public. It should be viewed the same way as an adult eating a sandwich in public. How discreet one wishes to be should be based on the mother's modesty level, not anyone else's. In western society it is perfectly acceptable to view breasts if they are being used to sell a product, but not to feed a child? WTF?

re: The right to breastfeed in public
http://www.breastfeeding.com/advocacy/advocacy_bfinpublic.html

re: great website dedicated to breastfeeding
http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/toughstuff.htm

SLINGS! the answer for moms who want to have their hands free, breastfeed discreetly, and give their back a break! (front carriers and 'baby buckets' kill your back!)
http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sling.html#sewing
http://www.mayawrap.com/


A great way to show your support for breastfeeding
http://www.cafepress.com/mamasmilktees/445906

[Lilith Velkor]

169. Hooray for boobies and happy babies

YAAAAAY!!

[sleipnir]

172. NAY

I don't enjoy it and I personally don't like to watch public breastfeeding, but then again I don't like to watch anyone eating in public. That's why I hate restaurants and cafeterias.

[dpt223]

174. Yay

I have no problem with it, just don't advertise it to the world.