What is your opinion on women who breastfeed in public places?

Question

Do you think women have a right to breastfeed in public? Or would you feel uncomfortable?

Answer 1

I'm sure that many people will feel uncomfortable. I'm sure that lots of people feel that children shouldn't be allowed into restaurants other than McDonald's. But lucky for us, we live here, in this country and I can feed my baby wherever I like. There is more and more legislature allowing women to feed the children in malls, restaurants and stores.
Lucky for me with my first I had no idea that people actually thought this was a bad thing, or I would have been less apt to breastfeed in public, thus making my child conform to society's crazy phobias in her early months of life.
My son ate so often and so much and was so nosy that we had to stay home lots because I knew that people were ridiculous about this "nudity."
I have to watch a 12 year old girl in a mini skirt and a thong (an obvious thong) sashay around the mall, but the fuddy duddies are giving me cr*p about feeding my child. Feeding my child!! That's why we have breasts! Don't tell Hugh Hefner but breastfeeding is their actual value and use.
I pity anyone who has a phobia about anything as beautiful as feeding your child.
I am also an advocate of discretion. I used a blanket and expect other moms to do so too.

Answer 2

Yes you are a women, but are you a mother? When you do become a mother you'll understand more why breastfeeding is important and the most healthiest thing for an infant. It is not wise to pump breast milk and give a bottle. The bottle will confuse the child and most times the baby comes to prefer the bottle over the breast. It is something breastfeed women don't do because of nipple confusion. As well having the breast to feed a child is convenient to the mother and child, as the milk is always ready and can be feed on demand. For the people who are breastfeeding in public they are confident that they can discreetly feed their child without showing even a nipple. I've seen many people nurse their children and I've never seen any flesh. With my child I couldn't breastfeed because of this nipple confusion. My daughter was in the NICU and need nutrients quickly so she was given the formula in a bottle. I ended up pumping my breast milk and it was so difficult and painful. The pumps aren't as convenient and pleasant as most people think. If I could nurse my child I would of loved to. I wouldn't feel comfortable nursing in public until I mastered the art of it and could do it very discreetly. Breastfeeding in public is a human right. There is nothing anyone can say to disapprove of it. It's as simple as that.

Answer 3

My opinion is that they are good Mothers, feeding their children as nature intended. If someone feels uncomfortable-DO NOT LOOK! The breastfeeding mother and baby are doing nothing wrong, but it is wrong for people to think that something so natural is sexual. That is because of the prejudices in our own society.

Most breastfeeding mothers do so discreetly (you have probably "seen" dozens and not even realized it), and even if you do see some skin-you see just as much or more on the teenagers at the mall.

I find it disgusting that people suggest mother and baby go to the bathroom or their hot car, etc. If the mother and baby have a right to be there, the baby has a right to eat.

Most common complaint I hear is that protesters do not want to have to explain it to their children. Hiding it is why these people have these prejudices in the first place! Not explaining what breastfeeding is and why it is beneficial will only cause another generation to feel the same way. Seeing it as a normal function-the breasts ARE intended for the feeding of infants and not the sexual pleasure of men-will change society's view.

Answer 4

Perfectly normal and acceptable. It never makes me feel uncomfortable, it makes me feel happy that the mom and baby have worked it out and can function in harmony. I would personally feel uncomfortable if the child is older (let's say older than 1 year) and comes tugging at his mom because s/he wants a drink. But still it is the mother's right to decide until what age she wants to breastfeed so if it's okay with her, I wouldn't really mind.

Answer 5

As a mother who breastfeeds in public, I am all for it and wish that more women would be confidant about doing it. The more we breastfeed in public, the more breastfeeding will be normalized. There is no question that women have a right to breastfeed in public, we have laws protecting us! It is our legal right to feed our baby in public.
People need to realize that our babies have every right and need to eat wherever they are, and that we cannot control when they get hungry. They also need to realize that not all babies will tolerate being covered with a blanket(because I know someone will bring that up) and that what qualifies as being "discreet" is in the eye of the beholder. So if they have a problem with it they can look away, put a blanket over their head, or go and hide in the bathroom.

Answer 6

I wouldn't feel uncomfortable! It is a natural part of life. As long as they use somthing to cover themselves like a blanket, then what is the big deal? But, some people do feel uncomfortable, especially men. I say, get over it!! Just don't watch for goodness sakes! I work in a daycare and we have several moms who come in and breastfeed their babys. It is so cool and a beatiful thing.

Answer 7

Yes, I think that women have the right to breastfeed in public. I personally have never breast fed because I am not comfortable with it, so needless to say I am not comfortable with watching someone else do it. I think though...as long as you are being discreet and covering yourself up, then it's okay. I think that you should be considerate of who is around of course. If you are comfortable enough to do it, then that's great.

Answer 8

i come from india where most mothers breastfeed their babies, but the advantage is that most women also wear a 'saree' or cover their shoulders / breast with a scarf, so that they dont feel embarassed and no sick bastard is staring at their boobs.
this also covers the baby's head and does not distract the baby.

when you are breastfeeding babies need to be fed every 2-3 hours so if you are in public, you've still go to do it.

i would do the same, but would surely cover up.

Answer 9

This is the way God intended it to be and in my opinion all the people especially female who say"be discrete" are jackasses! Breastfeeding is nothing a mother should be ashamed of. The people who are thinking sexually or get offended when a mother breastfeeds in public and wants her to leave or go to a nasty public bathroom with her baby should be ashamed. What if that was YOUR mother trying to feed you?

Answer 10

I have mixed views on this, I think women should have the right, it doesn't make me feel uncomfortable like others claim, however, when ever i see a woman breast feeding (which is not often) it makes me think of "warm milk" which for me isn't a nice thought (but that's my problem, not the mother and childs)