Should women who wish to breastfeed be able to do so openly in public?

Question

Why should you have to be discreet about it? Your baby's wellbeing is more important than anybodys prudish ideas about how it ought to be. If i was out with my family or friends i wouldn't want to leave them sitting for over an hour waiting while i breastfed my child, when i can sit at the same table and chat to them in a cafe.

Answer 1

1992 when a mother in a Florida mall was told that she could be cited for breastfeeding her four-month-old baby. But what did that mean? Could her mall privileges be revoked? Or would they want her to take her purchases back? Luckily, this mother was not new to breastfeeding, was not intimidated by this incident, and was a writer. She wrote a well-researched, funny, informative, and accurate article on breastfeeding in public which appeared in Tropic, a magazine published by the Miami Herald. State Representative Miguel DeGrandy read the article, and since he had been breastfed himself, could not understand why anyone would discourage a mother from this important act of nurture. After reviewing LLLI's Legal Rights Packet, the St. Louis Ordinance, and the language of the Dike case in which a Florida teacher sued her employer over the right to breastfeed her child, Rep. DeGrandy proposed a new Florida law in 1993 that was much more expansive than any previous measures. The bill amended any criminal statutes that could apply hypothetically to breastfeeding, and specifically excluded the breastfeeding of a baby, even if not done discreetly. But more importantly, it created a new section of the public health laws which states:

The breastfeeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health and family values.

The law goes on to state that:

A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding.

The response to Florida's legislation was not only positive, but inspiring. Other states quickly followed suit by enacting new legislation protecting the right to breastfeed in public. In the midst of this pending legislation, more and more mothers began to speak out when harassed for nursing in public. One incident helped pass New York's new legislation. A breastfeeding mother shopping at a mall asked if there was some place to go and nurse, as her baby could not wait for her to get home. When she was told that there was no place but the ladies' room, she sat down in the food court and discreetly breastfed her baby. The security guard asked her to go to the ladies' room, justifying his actions by telling her that he had asked another mother a few days earlier to leave, and she had complied. This incident caught the attention of many nursing mothers in New York, and they staged a "nurse-in" at the mall attended by over fifty nursing mothers, health professionals, and other advocates of breastfeeding. As a result, the mall changed its policy to make it perfectly clear that mothers may nurse there.

Around the same time, a new mother in Ohio was ushered out of a museum after discreetly nursing her baby in an exhibit. Apparently mothers have nursed in that museum all along, but this mother inadvertently called attention to herself by turning the chair around and throwing a shawl over her shoulder. This museum also changed its policy and now expressly allows the nursing of children in exhibits. But another museum in Texas was more reluctant to change.

Apparently, personnel at this museum did not think it was necessary to breastfeed in public and after asking a mother to nurse somewhere else, concocted a variety of reasons to support their request. A Texas "nurse-in" ensued, again drawing the attention of the nation to this important issue.

As a result of the increased national publicity, North Carolina amended its indecent exposure law to exclude breastfeeding and used language similar to Florida's which stated that a mother has a right to breastfeed in any public or private location where she is otherwise authorized to be, even if not done discreetly. Virginia amended its indecent exposure statute to say that it is not a violation of the law to breastfeed a child in any public place or any place where others are present. Michigan also amended its criminal laws to exclude breastfeeding. Finally, New York enacted legislation that went further than any other state to date by creating a civil rights law guaranteeing a mother's right to breastfeed in any location. Thus, a violation of this law is a violation of a mother's civil rights. This makes New York the first state to offer legal recourse to a mother if her right to breastfeed is violated.
The Necessity for Breastfeeding Legislation

These incidents and others (a mother in California was thrown out of a restaurant, another asked to leave a large department store) have helped many to recognize that breastfeeding legislation is necessary. Legislation is being enacted not because it is currently illegal to breastfeed in public, but because, despite the growing awareness of the advantages, there are still stumbling blocks that affect a mother's decision to breastfeed or to continue to do so. We know of no law that prohibits breastfeeding, or tells a mother how long she can nurse.

As noted, much of the new legislation amends criminal statutes in order to ensure that breastfeeding mothers are protected from charges of indecent exposure, lewd behavior, or violation of any criminal laws. Again, this was done not because it is a crime to breastfeed in any state, but because many of these statutes are vague and could apply hypothetically to the breastfeeding situation. More importantly, this legislation also was enacted to change the public's perception of breastfeeding, since many people in our society view breastfeeding in public as obscene or indecent.

These recent changes in the law support the growing body of evidence that demonstrates that breastfeeding is not only a lifestyle choice, but a health choice for mother and baby. As James P. Grant, the Executive Director of UNICEF, stated:

Study after study now shows, for example, that babies who are not breastfed have higher rates of death, meningitis, childhood leukemia and other cancers, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, bacterial and viral infections, diarrhoeal diseases, otitis media, allergies, obesity, and developmental delays. Women who do not breastfeed demonstrate a higher risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

These benefits are also recognized by US federal law in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which provides food supplements to low income families. It is now mandated that breastfeeding be promoted as the best method of infant nutrition and provides funding for state-delivered breastfeeding aid, education, and promotion programs.

Encouraging and protecting breastfeeding benefits not only the individuals involved, but society in general. The US federal government, and many states have supported breastfeeding programs partly because hundreds of millions of tax dollars continue to be used to purchase artificial baby milk. With health care reform currently on the national agenda in the United States, legislators are beginning to realize that there are economic and medical benefits to society if breastfeeding is promoted. According to one study, if women breastfed their children until two years of age, the incidence of breast cancer could decrease by twenty-five percent. Considering the cost of caring for the victims of that disease and other serious illnesses against which breastfeeding offers protection to mother and baby, the lost productivity, and the emotional trauma for families, there are certainly no good reasons not to promote breastfeeding.

Both Florida and New York stated the reasons for encouraging breastfeeding in their bills. These included the US Surgeon General's recommendation that babies be breastfed at least one year, the health and psychological benefits to mother and baby, and the goals of the World Health Organization. They concluded that "hostility to mothers and babies in our culture based on archaic and outdated moral taboos" can seriously deter a mother from breastfeeding. They hoped that enacting this legislation would help put an end to the vicious cycle of embarrassment and ignorance about breastfeeding so that mothers would be encouraged to continue to breastfeed without feeling discriminated against or ostracized.

Answer 2

One of my close friends has just had a baby and she breastfeeds her when we're out somewhere, at a museum and the like. She finds a quiet place but doesn't go to the restroom or something, just a quiet place where she can sit down for a bit. Then this is the Netherlands where non-sexual nudity isn't a big deal, but also, really... it's not like she strips down to the waist! Maybe in mid-summer more will show but she's almost all covered up (hey, it's not that warm here in Feb/March :)), she wears upper clothes supple enough & a special bra that allows her to just expose the breast she's feeding her child with, and then with the child cuddled up to her, there's really not much to see!

Answer 3

This should not even be a topic of debate.
Breast feeding is the best way for a baby to get their nourishment, and a baby needs to be fed when the baby is hungry.
The American society really needs to get over its "nipplephobia" and stop having a collective hissy fit when a nipple is exposed.
I say feed the child when the child is hungry.
The baby's needs come before the desire of a few ignorant jackasses to never view a nipple under any circumstances.

Answer 4

I can't quite understand anyone having a problem with a mother feeding her child .It is quite possible to do this without flashing breast at people , but so what if you do ! It is possible to shield your actual offending nipple until the baby covers it completely !!!!!
People should be aware and polite enough to allow a mother some privacy and not gawk!!! Its not that unusual is it ???????
Why would parents of older children feel offended or embarrassed to explain the situation ?Surely it is an opportunity to educate your children to respect women !!!
For goodness sake reality check here......

Answer 5

It is a completely natural, normal and human thing that we all share. Our society should not discourage women from breastfeeding their children in public - it's completely unnecessary. It is the healthiest way for mammals (and therefore humans) to nourish their young babies. It really shouldn't be an issue with anybody regardless of their morals.

Answer 6

You're so sweet! I finally just finished nursing my baby girl a couple months ago. I was never really comfortable with nursing in public unless I had to cause my baby had flailing arms and hated anything over her head but I had no qualms about women whose babies let them! I believe it's the only legal way a woman can get away with flashing their boobs! :) You're a great friend for being supportive of any of your friends who nurse. It's not always easy for us lactating mamas! :)

Answer 7

I dont agree. Breastfeeding is an intimate time for you and should be hygienic for your baby. doing so in public is neither. Not to mention, you may have all the class in the world, you may have bathed this morning and to perfectly unnoticed.....I have seen women make it into such a production, getting into position and throwing themselves and the baby around, not to mention babies that are way too old, women that way too dirty and loud..... its a no go.

Answer 8

Yes and no. I think the problem comes with kids who are ages 5-17. Some parents don't want their children seeing that. I can understand that as well. But since I don't have kids, and I am a male, I don't mind women whipping it out in public.

Answer 9

I fed my son everywhere - however, we were always covered by a blanket. I never had an issue and the blanket actually let the baby focus more on feeding and also let him fall asleep better. I'm all for feeding whenever and wherever.

Answer 10

You should do it whenever the babe needs to be fed without blinking an eye! It has nothing to do with religious society. It's just maybe perverted men. It's the best thing to do for your baby. My daughter stayed quite healthy.

Answer 11

What is with all these people talking about poop? Are they somehow equating breastfeeding with excrement, as if pooping in public were similar to feeding your child? I don't get the folks saying that. I breastfeed my son and we don't often do it in public, but only because we're usually at home when he needs to eat. Get over it, people.