I was at the mall today and a lady was sitting on the bench breastfeeding her baby. well my girls were hungry as well so i sat down covered myself and fed my girls. well some old guy comes over and looks at both of us moms feeding our children and told that we should be charged with indecent exposure. a few minutes later a young kid..well not too young maybe 16ish walks by and cat calls. i was just about to burp one baby and well i didnt expose myself i lifted my boob and said want a taste? needless to say i dont think he will ever cat call a nursing a woman again. lol. what is wrong with ppl? why is society so against us nursing mothers? they are so damn conflicting. they tell us we should nurse our children as it is better for them. then they try and tell us not to feed our babies in public...i am not about to starve my children because some one finds it "disgusting" to nurse in public.
what are your opinions on the whole society against public nursing?
2007-09-23 11:20:03 · 26 answers · asked by ~♥~Lover~♥~ 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I think it is absolutely ridiculous that people make such a big deal out of it. What are you suppose to stay home until the baby is on solids? I see nothing wrong with it.
2007-09-23 11:24:35 · answer #1 · answered by candi 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I used to be so nervous to breastfeed in public. Then, I realized that I may as well just stay home ALL the time if I didn't want to do it in public.
As for those who say we should cover up... Have you ever tried to nurse a curious 7 month old boy with a blanket on his head? It's not going to happen. The same goes for a nursing cover. My son uncovers himself no matter what I try. That just makes it more obvious.
When I do nurse in public, I don't go hide somewhere. I do it wherever I am, but I don't generally show much. I wear layers, so one layer lifts while the other comes down. The only part that would be exposed is the part that is still covered because it's in my son's mouth.
Don't let those rude people get to you. Society today is just too confused over breasts. We're all taught that breasts are sexual. Too many people can not see that their REAL purpose is for nourishment of our young. You go girl, and do what you need to do for your girls.
2007-09-23 11:33:21 · answer #2 · answered by Mandi 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are laws that state a mother can nurse her child anywhere she is otherwise allowed to be. A few states have even made specific laws exempting mothers from the indecent exposure law when nursing in public.
See, the thing here is that the few who tell us to nurse are educated on the matter, while the majority of people know nothing about it and THAT is why they are so against it and/or rude about it. I am all for nursing in public, and even do it myself. I look forward to the day when nursing can again be seen as the natural and healthy thing it is, and not 'perverted' or 'indecent'. But in a country that embraces technology, it's no surprise that people would rather let science feed their kids than to do it themselves.
2007-09-23 12:10:24 · answer #3 · answered by xxunloved_little_angelxx 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Abby- that is the biggest double standard- "Yes I see nothing wrong with it, just cover up the baby!" Sure. I have to agree with Mandy- have you ever breastfed a baby? Have you ever tried to keep their heads covered??? Impossible when they are mobile!
I once had someone tell me to nurse in the car- when it's 95 degrees outside- is that wise???
I nurse in public all the time. I used to be nervous, but now am well practiced at it. Still, when my shirt is covering my breast and the baby covers the rest- faces and dirty looks. The assumption that there is even a baby there that is nursing offends some. It's ridiculous.
Doctors, health professionals etc. say breastfeed- the common public- no. They do not support it unless they also had or are breastfeeding.
WE have a long, long way to go in our society here...we really do!
2007-09-23 11:55:09 · answer #4 · answered by NY_Attitude 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I nursed everywhere I ever when during my daughter's first 18 months of life. And only in the first 2 months did I ever make any attempt at covering up... but even those were w/ a bib or small burp rag.
I either wore nursing shirts, button down shirts, or oversized Tshirts... the most I ever worried about was my fat roll coming out of the bottom of the tshirt!! When my daughter was 9-10 months and in that "nosey" stage... she did let go and look up a few times leaving me hanging in the wind. But I just adjusted ourselves accordingly and went about my business.
Thank God I never had a problem w/ stupid people. But it is people going out and being natural... feeding naturally, acting naturally (even if you are a little uncomfortable) that will make it all natural again for society at large. The more people see it, the more they'll be used to it. Just like we're use to seeing girls w/ their mid sections hanging out of their shirts/low rise jeans... or too tight jeans... or the lingerie shop posters in the windows at the mall... the more they're out there the more people will grow accustomed to seeing it happening, the less it will phase people....
Covering up not only draws more attention to you... but it is hiding. It is showing that you are ashamed of something... either the act itself, or your body.
Modesty is a relative term. I feel I am a very modest person... I wear no revealing clothing, nothing tight.... but a side of a breast exposed - while the other side is in the mouth of a child, is not the same as a low cut shirt... even when the same amount of skin is exposed... it's just not the same.... a push up bra and a super low Vneck shirt is flaunting your breasts sexually... a baby eating, and the side of their milk receptacle showing is NOT SEXUAL... anyone who thinks it is, is sick and needs therapy.
A baby eating is not sexual.
2007-09-23 11:39:38 · answer #5 · answered by Tanya 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I just do what I want and not let it bother me. I breastfeed in public, but I go to a bench thats not around alot of people. If someone says something, I just give them a look like I dont care and look the other way, sometimes some battles are left unfighted, I know I'm doing the best thing for my child by feeding on demand, and I would never let someone try to harrass me because I was doing so. I always cover myself up enough that they have no excuse of giving me a problem but I never cover my childs head.
2007-09-23 11:27:55 · answer #6 · answered by ♥ღαмαиdα♥ღ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nursing is not disgusting at all, it's what nature intended us to do with our breasts. :)
Don't ever let anyone tell you that it's not appropriate to nurse your little one in public. As long as you aren't fully exposed, it's perfectly acceptable to do.
I nursed my son til he was 18 months old, and by all means, if we were out, I nursed him in public. There is nothing at all wrong with it.
Don't worry about the people who have a problem with it. Unfortunately some will have an issue with it, but don't let it become your issue. People are immature, that's all there is to it.
What I find pathetic is that I'm sure that many of these same people who are just so aghast with a woman nursing in public won't bat an eye if they happen to see a whole breast in a rated R film.
2007-09-23 14:15:34 · answer #7 · answered by AV 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally only nursed for a short while but I think it's horrendous that anyone would say something to a mom providing for her baby. It's the same idea as giving a bottle to a baby, or solids to a baby, while in public. Some people just can't get over the idea of that part of the anatomy being exposed...I guess because to a lot of men it's just a plaything and isn't useful in more important ways. It should be illegal for people to COMMENT on it when they notice a mother feeding their child like that, regardless of freedom of speech. People are just ignorant sometimes. :(
2007-09-23 11:26:49 · answer #8 · answered by kath_08012 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I breastfeed wherever I am, whenever my son is hungry. There is no reason to force him to wait when he is hungry. No one would bat an eye at a woman whipping out a bottle and feeding their baby, but sitting down and feeding my son as nature intended is disgusting? What screwed up logic.
My son hates covering up with a blanket, and I do not blame him. 1) It's hot under there! Try eating with a blanket under your head. 2) It is sending the message that I am doing something shameful, which I am not!!!
If someone has a problem with me nursing in public, I would be more than happy to direct them to the nearest bathroom to hide in, or let them borrow a blanket to put over their head. Because I will definitely not hide or force my son to be covered!
2007-09-23 11:34:27 · answer #9 · answered by iamhis0 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know what you mean...I have a friend with a baby the same age as mine, and when we go out together she breastfeeds in public and I pump a bottle before I go. She gets all these dirty looks...it's like she's being looked down on for doing the right thing for her baby. People assume I bottle-feed I guess, so they don't think anything of it. It's sad that formula seems to be the 'norm'. It should only be used in medical instances in my opinion. Ugh. I feel so bad for feeling liek I can't do it in public, I wish people would just grow up and get an education.
2007-09-23 11:44:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I see less skin on nursing mothers then is exposed in magazines like Maxim and others that are on the racks in stores. People seem to be against it because they aren't "used" to it. In other countries it's very normal to see women breastfeeding everywhere and anywhere when the baby gets hungry. I see no personal problem with it, and am encouraged by how many mothers are deciding to go ahead and nurise in public.
2007-09-23 11:37:30 · answer #11 · answered by Zyggy 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋