Breastfeeding in public?

Question

I was listening to a local radio station and they were totally bashing women who breastfeed in public. They kept going on and on about how the mother should go some where else to nurse, not in the publics view. I personally believe it the mother is covered there should not be a problem. I have breastfeed in public many times and I think its totally approprate. I dont feel like I should have to pump or give a baby that soley breastfeeds formula so that others are less uncomfortable. I think its horrible for people to think the mother should go some where no one can see. To me it says to the mother be ashamed of breastfeeding its not natural. Personally if a nursing area is avialable I will go use it but I refuse to nurse my baby in a bathroom stall. What are your opinions on this subject and if your agianst nursing in public why? (this is just my opinion and I just want to see how others feel)

All of these answers are great and I will not be able to decide who gets best answer!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Babies have to eat too it shouldn't matter where you feed your baby. Freedom

Answer 2

I am really excited that you asked this question I am a younger mother that has never been exposed to breastfeeding and my husband and I really wanted to breastffed our kids, so I stepped out of the box that our families live in and started my first born on the breast. At first I really worried about the comfort level of others around me, but after a few weeks I thought that if they werent okay with it let them leave the room.

I also think that moms need to breastfeed in public so that women who havent been exposed to it can see that its easy and natural. It will also make the younger generations see that formula isnt the only way to feed a baby.

Personally in public I try to cover up but my daughter has her own opinion and like a previous response she doesnt like to have the blanket over her head. What I do is cover up until I have her latched on and then l let her move the blanket if she wants to.

I applaude all moms who feed in public and if you cover up or not that is your choice and the babies.

Answer 3

All a mother has to do is through a blanket over the feeding baby. If her breast are not exposed there should be no problem. It is completely natural and normal. I don't think a mother should have to go anywhere special just to feed her baby, as long as she covers up. Many people who complain about this do not realize that new borns eat every three hours. You can't just go home every three hours to feed your baby. You never get anything done. Might as well stay home. Some people just aren't nurturing, or considerate. Pretty selfish if you ask me. Also so many people associate breast with sex, not what they were made for, food. I think that's the main problem.

Answer 4

I have no problem with mothers breastfeeding in public...AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A COVER OVER THEM. When I am at a store, on a plane, at a restaurants, and etc I don't want to see a exposed breast in public. I agree that a baby should be able to eat anywhere it is BUT, how the baby gets FED is optional. I don't like seeing breast out in public in general, I don't like to see breast from a mother or not. Breast are SUPPOSED TO BE A PRIVATE PART OF A WOMEN'S BODY RIGHT? SO WHY SHOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO BE SHOWN OPENLY IN PUBLIC BUT STILL BE CONSIDERED PRIVATE? I should be able to watch porn in public because it is "natural" right? HYPOCRACY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED BY ME!!!

Answer 5

I totally agree. I breast fed my daughter in public and unless u were staring at me when i got her latched on you couldn't tell i was nursing her. I don't understand how people can be disgusted by one of the most beautiful and natural thing in the world. Many states now have laws making it illegal to interfere with a breastfeeding mother. My states law (KY) also states that a breast bared for nursing cannot be construed as indecent exposure. There is no reason to ridicule or make a nursing mother feel ashamed for doing what is best for her child. This is a ridiculous point of view and it is completely inappropriate for anyone to say anything to her.
TO the people opposed and saying that she should take it to the bathroom i have a question. Would you take your meal and eat it ina bathroom stall? probably not and Neither will my child. Its no one Else's concern how or where i feed my child! IF you don't like what I'm doing DO NOT STARE AT ME! not only are you in violation of the law its my opinion that you are in violation of my rights as a mother!

What a good question! Thanks for asking it!

Answer 6

I think if a mother is comfortable to feed in public she should be able to as long as she uses a blanket or something to cover up.

My youngest was breastfed (he's almost 13) there is no way I would have done it in public, but that is my own phobia, I never thought it was something to be ashamed of, I was just on the shy side about it.

I was the only one in either my husbands or my family to breastfeed for longer than 6 weeks, I went almost ten months.

All these people that get all freaked out over a baby feeding need to grow up! It is a stupid ignorant way to behave!

Answer 7

Hey good for you, I breasfed my son when I was 18 and yes I was embarrassed a bit at first but I realised its the other people who are more embarrassed. My opinion is that it is perfectly natural and should be done wherever you want. I may have been young and not many young people do it but I am so glad I did seeing how it has helped my son. Stuff other people, everybody has their own views and if your happy to do it in public do so. If anybody is tryingf to stop breastfeeding in public places they better make sure that there are rooms for mothers and baby to go xx

Answer 8

Let them drink milk! It is outrageous to talk down on someone who is breastfeeding in public. We are humans, humans are lucky enough to be equipped with the nourishment our babies need to survive. We have all seen a breast before. The same people complaining on the radio have surely been to strip clubs before. I don't think you have to "cover up" or breastfeed discretely, if you are comfortable with that. So someone might get a quick glimpse of a nursing mother's breast, big deal, get over it.

Answer 9

I breastfeed in public and I will not use a nursing room unless there is no where else to sit down. It is really hard to nurse a 28lbs baby standing up, but I've done it when I have too.

I also do not "cover up" firstly because my son would never tolerate it, he hates things touching his face. And secondly it's awful to eat with a hot blanket on your head. Next time you see someone talking with their mouth full tell them to stick a blanket over their head, they are doing something far more offensive. And thirdly a blanket only calls attention to what you are doing.

I have breastfed in the park when it was well below 0, and I have breastfed while filling out paperwork to buy an appliance. And I have gotten lots of nice comments, and only a few weird ones. And all the weird ones were from MIL and her mom so I just don't care.

(Mind you I don't live in the US and where I do live it is legal for women to walk around topless, almost none do, but it IS legal because to say only men can go around topless is a violation of the charter of rights)

Answer 10

Considering its the only way women were meant to feed their babies, people are way too uptight about it. Everyone in this world was a baby at one point and they had to eat, more than likely their mothers probably breastfed them and these are the same people who now look down on others for doing it in public.

A baby has to eat and women should not be made to feel like she has to live in a bathroom to feed her baby. If you don't have a problem with it, then continue to do it, there is nothing indecent about it and you should not be ashamed of it. Breastfeeding is one of the last natural things we have left, don't let others taint it.

I knew a mother who was eating in a family friendly restaurant and was asked by another patron if she would be more comfortable breastfeeding in the bathroom. She told the person "No, you would be more comfortable if I moved, not me, so why don't you go eat your dinner in the bathroom!"

Answer 11

we are a nation full of nude bars with topless dancers even full nude dancers some places and adult video stores all over the place...where pictures of exploited women are all over the internet these days widely avaiable and yet a woman can't seem to nurse her baby in public w/o getting dirty looks. I personally nurse my baby where ever and whenever he's hungry weather it be in a resturant or the shopping mall. If we are out to eat i usually ask for a booth so i can do it descreatly and not at a table in the middle of the room and if there is a nursing area avaiable I will use it but lets face it there arn't that many places here in the US that accomidate for nursing moms we are expected to put our babies on formula and go with what everyone else is comfortable with.