This topic has come up lately I would like to hear others opinions on this contraversal subject.
2006-09-20 16:18:43 · 38 answers · asked by suzy 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The biggest problem with nursing in America is we have sexualized the hell out of breasts. Everyone seems to think boobs are for men to oogle and gets super offended by them being used for the purpose they were designed for. That's not to say they're 'wrong' for their feelings, because feelings are feelings and opinions are opinions. You have yours, I have mine, we might disagree but they are equally valid.
I have nursed in public many, many times. In line at Walmart, at church, waiting for my older kids at school, in resturants, etc. If I was somewhere and my baby was hungry, I nursed. I did have some negative reactions, like my mother-in-law who told me to take her 2 week old grandson and nurse him in the bathroom at a resturant (Dennys-esqe, so toilet stall). I told her she could eat in the bathroom, but he wouldn't be. ;) I don't know about you, but I sure as hell wouldn't eat in a bathroom, not even my own, just too damn many germs. I did have many positive reactions as well, old, old women telling me what a wonderful thing I was doing. Knowing and nodding smiles from other mothers (we can spot this, so spare a smile for a mama).
Women are LEGALLY ENTITLED TO BREASTFEED ANYWHERE THEY ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO BE. That doesn't mean ignorant managers won't give you crap. If they do, let your local La Leche League know and before they know it they'll have a store or restuarant full of nursing mothers...staging a nurse-in. ;)
Tips for successful public nursing:
Be discreet. Don't yell "I'm breastfeeding" at the top of your lungs. Most people won't notice anything at all.
Nursing capes/blankets scream "I'm breastfeeding".
Be confident, act like it's no big deal and most people will treat it like one.
Wear nursing clothes if you can, they are worth their weight in gold. Twinsets are another good option. Nursing clothes can be stylish!
If you can, use a sling. They're handy and they make it damn near impossible for anyone to tell what you're up to.
Can't count the times someone just thought my baby was sleeping when they were nursing away.
All breastfeeding mom's should be proud of their decision to breastfeed and confident that they are doing the best they can for their baby.
2006-09-20 16:38:37 · answer #1 · answered by DJ 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I hate breastfeeding in public, because I'm pretty modest. However, when it comes to people staring, I get far more stares when my baby is screaming mercilessly for food than when she is calmly nursing. Unfortunately, she hates blankets covering her head with a passion. So I just try to wear loose shirts that drape around the rest of me. The most people see is a nipple for a few seconds. I also usually ask if there is a private room I can go to. The answer has always been no. I'm either pointed to a cramped little restroom, or a maybe a lounge with 20 other people sitting there. I've decided feeding my daughter is more important to me than a little embarrasment.
If you ask me, I agree that the US is waaaay too focused on the breasts as a sexual object. The whole Janet Jackson incident during the superbowl? A father actually sued NBC because his son was "traumatized" after seeing that nipple. I think anything shown on "Cops" would be a million times more traumatizing than seeing a boob. But maybe I'm just crazy...
Bottom line: I will feed my baby when she's hungry, whether in publinc or not.
2006-09-21 06:12:27 · answer #2 · answered by MtnBlossom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the baby is hungry and some discretion is used (like a blanket) then go for it. My son is 5 months old and I feed him everywhere. We sit in the back at church, I feed him in restaurants, everywhere. No one knows what is going on and if it bothers them, don't look!
I think breastfeeding is a personal choice. While everyone agrees it is best for the baby some women cannot. I have never given the "breast is best" speach to anyone who uses formula.
While they do make pumps and bottles, these are great while I am at work and daddy has him, but when I am with him it is easier to just feed from the source. Not to mention the awesome bonding experience that is involved. Nothing better than those sweet little eyes looking up at you!
2006-09-21 03:54:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it all depends on the mother. Some women just don't feel comfortable doing it in public. I always did, but always made sure I was covered up, and people didn't even notice what I was doing. Breastfeeding is a beautiful and natural thing, if you feel comfortable enough to do, you shouldn't worry about what others think.
2006-09-20 20:41:07 · answer #4 · answered by ttstar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well... this here is my personal opinion! It hopefully don't offend anyone. But yeah here goes: personally I do find it OFFENSIVE... if someone just sits there kinda exposing it all for everyone to see... So I do appreciate when mothers go in an area where less people are at (hopefully) so that you too can have ur privacy... and I do know that there are like BLANKIES ... or whatever u call them things they are ESPECIALLY for breastfeeding mothers in public. I looked it up and found something like that online, cuz I know some friends who are breastfeeding or want to do it and I thought it'd be a great babyshower gift. But yeah ... it's offensive to just see mom get right to the point. I like the fact that some use blankets... and whatever they got to "COVER UP" but some have no shame. I dunno... maybe I'll better understand when I become a MOMMY but yeah.... anyway ur comfy it works I guess.
2006-09-20 17:45:26 · answer #5 · answered by sweetsuezq4u 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes we should. Its a completly natural process. I shouldnt have to hide in a bathroom stall or in a "nursing room" to feed my baby. If that is going to be the rule then EVERYONE should have to feed their baby like that. No one would dream of walking up to a woman feeding a child a bottle and saying "you need to do that in the bathroom its discusting!" I have had TWO people say this to me. Both times my son was under 4 months old!! I always keep myself covered up. I dont like seeing my streached out and marked up tummy and I dont flash my boobs or anything. I always keep a lightweight blanket over the baby and my flab. Most of the time my tee shirt covers up everything that needs to be covered, all you can see is the back of my sons head and for all you know he could be sound asleep, but for other peoples comfort I will cover him. I think is horribly sad that we have posts like this, and that there will be several answers that are no, with reasons that have no basis in fact at all. If people woudl just educate themselves on the subject it would be so much easyer on breastfeeding mothers. Shoot there may even be more of us out there! Right now we have to fight for everything we get. Most States/Citys have laws in place to protect breastfeeding mothers and their right to breastfeed in public, with or without a blanket. Someday we will be able to sit down and feed our children without dirty looks or rude comments, hopefully that day will be sooner rather than later!
2006-09-20 18:19:00 · answer #6 · answered by shannonlbuck 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I did it...
I feel okay with it and I don't really care about people's opinion. I mean, I have the right to breastfeed my hungry baby anywhere. He's hungry and not all places have a spot for nursing mothers. If there's a special place/room such as in the mall, I'd be more than happy to use it, but other than that, I'd just breastfeed anywhere.
I don't think it's offensive because it's just an act of feeding a hungry child. I see it the same as feeding the child a bottle. Besides, you don't really expose anything. The one who's gonna see your breast is the child. others will see the head of the baby.
2006-09-20 16:30:21 · answer #7 · answered by meetha 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I do not think it is offensive if the woman doing the feeding shows a little modesty. Just bring along a blanket to cover you and the baby,a small baby blanket is fine. I have a problem with the women out there that just want to be exposed in front of everyone. Breast feeding openly at the mall is like eating a hotdog naked at the mall and then saying"it's a natural thing to do". Breast feeding helps raise the childs IQ, borrows the mothers imune system to protect the baby, and reduces the womans chances of ever getting breast cancer. The woman shouldn't have to hide , just cover up and show a little decency.
2006-09-20 16:27:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Having breastfed my babies I think that you shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable with it. I wouldn't have sat in full open view with me boobs hanging out for all to see 'cos I wouldn't be comfortable with that and there is no need for the whole world to see everything, you can breastfed in public without showing your whole boob to everybody. If however, somebody had told me that it was offensive then I would've have bit my tongue (for the sake of my baby) and gone and sat on their table and done just that just 'cos I think it's not offensive. It's only offensive if people are gawping at you, yea take a glance "oh somebodies breastfeeding" but if they choose to sit and stare then they deserve a bit of a mouthful for being offensive themselves. Difficult one but I think it's personal if you choose to do it in public or not.
2006-09-20 20:51:35 · answer #9 · answered by aza 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, breastfeeding mothers should feel comfortable feeding their children in public. People who don't get their food from their mother's breasts eat in public, why shouldn't hungry babies?
I'd rather sit next to a breast-suckling baby than a sloppy, burping, sneezing person who feels comfortable eating in public.
2006-09-20 17:44:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋