I'm a nursing mother and I find it hard to feed my child when out in public. Going out to eat, I have to feed my daughter in the bathroom (gross) or out in the car in order to avoid dirty looks from others. I'm very discreet about nursing so I don't understand how people can see it as 'lewd' or disrespectful. To me, my breasts aren't even sex objects anymore- they're bottles. How can something so natural be so unacceptable to the public?
2006-09-29 09:42:54 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
Nursing is a responsible and natural part of raising a child. The World Health Organization recommends nursing until at least age 2, and cites benefits to nursing even longer. The benefits to breastfeeding are endless, from bonding to the prevention of disease and chronic illness. Your child receives antibodies from you, which continue to be present in your breastmilk beyond the baby's second birthday. If people in your community are unwilling to accept your decision to provide your child with the best possible foundation for future health & wellness, that is their problem. It is not for you to worry about the concerns of uneducated, closed-minded people with no interest in your child's well-being.
My hat off to you for standing up for what you know is best, and I'm right there with you. I nurse my baby wherever I am...in the mall, at Starbucks, you name it. The baby has to eat, and she it too little to wait for a "convenient" time. I do not flaunt my breasts for the world to see. I use a nursing cape or receiving blanket, and generally warn the people with whom I am seated, in case they should choose to walk away for a few minutes. Ultimately, however, it is not my concern if someone has a problem with it. I'm doing what's best for my baby, not for them. Perhaps if we all take this attitude, our daughters will have an easier time when it's their turn.
2006-09-29 11:49:25 · answer #1 · answered by mamaDee 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a nurshing mother as well. what I do is take a blanket along with me and cover her up as she is nursing. The way I see it doctors recommend that you breastfeed your baby for the first year of their life. If someone has a problem with it then they have never breastfeed. And why do you care what other people think anyways you know your doing what is the best thing in the entire world for your baby. DON'T let people discourage you. If they have a problem with it then they don't have to watch now do they. My baby is 2 months old and I have not problem with feeding her in public if she is hungry. But make sure everyone at the table wouldn't mind and if it's possible sit where you are in a corner and no one can see. There is no reason why you should leave the table to feed your baby when everyone else is eating she just doesn't want to be left out. They just don't understand. And when we as a society don't understand something we push it into hiding. We make it disappear. Don't stop breastfeeding your doing the right thing. Keep up the good work.
2006-09-29 10:06:27 · answer #2 · answered by Kimberly S 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
even though my kids are 14 & 18 now this still continues to bother me. I remember waiting line at the grocery store...my daughter tugging at my shirt asking to 'snuggle' and looking at the rack of magazines with breasts hanging all over the place and thinking how screwed up it is that I would have no problem walking through the store pushing my daughter while she was nursing(she was 2 at the time) and I couldn't....
I had even been asked to leave a cafeteria because people we eating!?! If I had been sitting there with a bottle it would have been acceptable.... I don't care if you're discreet or not...it's the way we are designed to feed our children....Our culture is really screwed up when it comes to breasts......I think it's because we make such a big deal about nudity......men are screwed up about how to view women(and we don't help the matter any), it shouldn't be a big deal.
If I see a woman breast feeding in public I always try to catch her eye and smile at her(I'm the quiet type)
K
2006-09-29 10:01:40 · answer #3 · answered by kardea 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I have never known anyone who actually hid in the bathroom of a restaurant to nurse. I am about the most modest person I know, I even hate to use the word " breastfeed", but when I nursed my kids I quickly became good at doing it discreetly without fuss so that no one noticed or cared. My proudest moment was nursing my baby on the last seat of the train at san diego's Wild Animal Park while doing the tour. Learn to be discreet and don't make such a big deal of it.
2006-09-29 09:50:02 · answer #4 · answered by toomanycommercials 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Girly,
Don't let people get you down about breast feeding in public.They are ignorant and immature obviously. I breast fed both my babies in public ( discreatly of course ) When people would look at me all funny I would either smile and say HI or walk over to them and say HI how are you today. After that they wern't looking funny anymore. You really have to ignore all those other people. You are a woman and breast are for feeding your babies.SO DO IT when ever the lil one gets hungry. Don't hide in the bathroom or the car GIRL BE PROUD.
2006-09-29 17:28:09 · answer #5 · answered by Lil-Chick 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When i have kids i plan on breast feeding when it is needed and if i happen to be out in a public place that is where i am going to feed baby, i think people just have a hard time accepting that it is something all people do and it is natural. Don't feel like you have to hide if they don't want to see it tell them not to look.
2006-09-29 09:56:31 · answer #6 · answered by peanut 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm a new nursing mother, struggling with the same thing. In theory, I have no problem with others nursing in public, and am always proud of the women I see who do. But I'm a little scared to do it myself. I'm working up the courage for it!
Here's a good resource, listing laws in each state: http://www.lalecheleague.org/Law/LawBills.html Many (but not all) states prohibit anyone from asking you not to nurse in public. If there's such a law in your state, print it out and keep it with you. Show it to anyone who harasses you.
2006-09-29 10:06:57 · answer #7 · answered by ValleyGal 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Like you said. many think of it as a sex object. We as mothers think of it as providing food to our offsprings. I seen some interesting ways women would breastfeed in public. I've nursed my daughter and i really didn't care what they thought...I figure i could let her scream and scream and scream and drive everyone nuts or i could just do what i need and everyone would be happy. I've heard that they wanted to banned women from breastfeeding in public. It ridulious. Find u a comfortable place...nurse ur child and ignore everyones judgement... As long as ur care for ur offspring that's all the should matter.
2006-09-29 17:51:09 · answer #8 · answered by csabrinam 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they just think so. Personally when I am out eating I don't want to see someone nursing because it should be something private and between you and your child, but I also don't have a problem with it, it is natural and this is how the baby feeds from many many years ago. I don't find it disrespectful in any way but some do. I just think alot of women don't want their man watching someone else feeding a baby because there is that chance of a boob shot if you know what I mean.
2006-09-29 09:49:13 · answer #9 · answered by medevilqueen 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Please don't eat in the bathroom or car any longer! Don't worry what everyone else thinks. You are protected by laws to breastfeed in public!
As for the person who said they were only okay with it until age one becasue they can eat and drink cows milk, well not all children can. My daughter couldn't eat solid food due to reflux thing. Any time solid food was swallowed, she'd either choke or flat out vomit. As for cow-milk, why would I give my HUMAN child the milk of a COW who needs four stomachs to digest it?
2006-09-29 09:54:29 · answer #10 · answered by Erin H 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋