Many people are offended by public breastfeeding because so many of us whip it out in the restaurant or the mall for everyone to get a good look. I can't understand this because I know many people who bf in public and they are very discrete. I've been to many public places and anytime I've seen someone nursing her shirt was up just enough to allow the baby to latch and all I ever see is the baby's head and a wrinkled shirt. I'm sure there were many other times that I have been around nursing mothers and I just didn't notice.
So tell me - why are you looking so intently if you are so uncomfortable with it?
2006-08-10 15:42:09 · 27 answers · asked by AlongthePemi 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
sarah c - I'm talking about in USA. You were in Mexico and it is the norm there (actually it is the norm almost anywhere but here, unfortunately). If you can't handle the culture, don't visit the country.
2006-08-10 15:50:40 · update #1
Eww- how disgusting can people be? Breastfeeding a baby is not a hygeine problem as is urinating in public. And telling people to feed the baby in a public toilet - you know, if you dare tell me to do that I will demand that you be the one to clean it first and eat in there with him.
2006-08-11 01:44:00 · update #2
The people who are offended can't see past the "sexual" view of the boob. Not just guys, but women too. The boob was not invented by God to attract man, it was put there to feed our offspring. Man has turned the boob into something "sexual". I think that's why people get offended by it. And really, you can't compare feeding a child and going to the bathroom. They are two TOTALLY different things. People in the US have major sexual hang-ups b/c they are so used to seeing the boob as a sex advertisement for commercials and movies. That's not what it was created for, so those people who are offended by seeing it's natural use should just turn away. If you don't like it, don't look at it. Just like the asker said, I've never personally seen a woman FLASH her boobs, leave them hanging out for ten minutes, and do a table top dance before she breastfeeds her baby in public. It's done DISCREETLY and respectfully. I've never seen the breast either when I've seen a baby fed, only the baby's head. Those people stare b/c it's human nature to do so. Again though, if they don't like it, it's a FREE country, you have every right to move on and mind your business. Those same people should spend the amount of time they do complaining about trivial things like this writing to congress about putting criminals away forever, instead of worrying about this stuff.
2006-08-10 15:59:25 · answer #1 · answered by Marie K 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I breastfed 2 babies for 1.5 years each. That's 3 years of breastfeeding. When in public, like in church, I carried a light blanket and put it over the shoulder I was nursing on. The child was covered, and I was covered, and many people didn't even realize what I was doing. I think people just have this hangup about breasts in public, but those same people, males mostly, would love to see a woman't breasts that weren't breast feeding. This makes no sense since it is simply feeding a baby. Those same people that want you to go in a bathroom to do it, wouldn't ever think of eating in a bathroom themselves, why would they want a baby to do it? They need to just get over it. Besides, when the baby's head is there, there's really nothing to see anyway.
2006-08-10 22:57:53 · answer #2 · answered by classyjazzcreations 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Breastfeeding is a natural and normal part of life but unfortunately people are so tight-assed about it, thinking their world should be so visually sterile, that it shuns new mothers away from giving their babies the nourishment they need and, rather than cause a scene for someone with a million and one insecurities, they turn to formula and bottle. When I did breastfeed in public, I still went into a restroom or other private area where few would see me and I never showed boob. It's not that I'm uncomfortable with it, I just hid it because everyone else was.
2006-08-10 22:58:14 · answer #3 · answered by Jylsamynne 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It makes me uncomfortable because public nudity is not considered acceptable. I don't want to see a stranger's breasts anywhere, and frankly, there are places available almost anywhere out of the public view for women to breastfeed. A bathroom or in a car is better than the food court at the mall and the bench outside Kroger's.
I have seen breasts completely exposed, and the mothers doesn't even seem to care. I respect the need to feed a baby, but new mothers should also respect others feelings on the subject. It is inappropriate to "whip it out in public", and nothing can really change that.
2006-08-10 22:52:24 · answer #4 · answered by reverenceofme 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Breastfeeding is completely natural. If someone has a problem with it, walk away and don't look. If a baby is hungry then the mom should have every right to feed her baby wherever she wants. Most moms I know are totally descrete and most times I don't notice at all, until she pops the baby out and takes the blanket from around her shoulders. Kudos to those who are still brave enough to confront our silly society issues head on.
2006-08-10 22:53:55 · answer #5 · answered by Lilah 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why not?
People blast music when driving down the street for all to hear (which others can choose to ignore and not hear)
So people can also choose not see if it offends them!
Its a free country and during ancient times its OK... so why not?
When you are a baby, you need to eat right?
If you as a baby are hungry and mom does not feed you, I am sure you would cry real loud... better a quiet well-fed baby then a loud-hungry one!
Would u not agree??
2006-08-10 22:53:33 · answer #6 · answered by lolitakali 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I nursed all of my children and never whipped it out. I think people are seeing the tops of little bald heads and think it's a boob. I remember nursing my youngest at a booth in a restaurant and the waitress asked me where the baby went. She laughed when I told her I was feeding him. She didn't even notice.
It's Natural...It's there for a reason...It's better then formula! Besides have you seen the prices of formula?
2006-08-10 22:51:45 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
People don't realize that when we're feeding our babies we really DON'T want everyone to gawk and stare. We really don't want anyone to see our breasts. But does that stop us from nursing our baby in public?? IT SHOULD NOT. Newsflash people, if you see us nursing our baby don't stare, don't try to sneak a peek of booby because we don't want you to see it either. We WANT you to respect us and leave us alone. The only way you can really see anything is if you're standing directly over the baby's head and TRY to look. I can't believe the people who group breastfeeding with excrement! Sick.
2006-08-11 07:46:57 · answer #8 · answered by all_my_armour_falling_down 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Breastfeeding is the most natural thing for mom and baby, the flow of milk the way is suppose to be ,bonds the mom and baby, your belly goes in faster, the baby does not get colic, and the mom will not get breast cancer.
2006-08-10 22:48:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Why is it OK for the men to not wear a shirt but we have to. Breast feeding a baby is a good thing.
If you don't like it then don't look.
2006-08-10 22:56:49 · answer #10 · answered by Mary M 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋