Views from Pro-Nursing in Public w/o using Cover-up Moms?

Question

I went to church this past Sunday and another mom was nursing her baby during service (using a cover-up) and that got me wondering how I fwould feel about nursing during the actual service with all those people surrounding me andnot using a cover because I feel the only way to make breastfeeding normal is to not hide it! When I was nursing my at church, I would take him into the family room. Not because I was ashamed or scared what others would think, but because my son was one to not nurse with others around and would pop off frequently, so I'd go to a secluded place so it would be over with within a reasonable time! But this really got me thinking about what if my son was a quiet nurser, would I nurse without a cover-up in a place with all those people. At first I was thining it was because they would all think I was bad, so my thought was no I wouldn't.

Then I realized I was uncomfortbale not using a cover-up on a completely full air plane, so maybe it was because of the proximity of the people quite litterally surrounding me. Then I realized that most of these women breastfed, so they probably have husbands that don't care as well as themselves. So, in my conslusion, I must feel uncomfotable when I am surrounded by people. How do you feel about a situation like this? Can you breastfeed at chuirch (or any hugely populated location) without using a cover-up? I would love thoughts as I get not get over this, and wish to before my next is born (no, not pregnant yet)!

Honesty- Sorry you feel breastfeeding is sexually provocative! I fell I am giving my son life instead of slowly killing his insides with artificial crap that doesn't even get used well by his body! As for women's lib? Sorry but before formula women had no choice except to breastfeed their own child or send the child to a wet nurse that would breastfeed them. It was never about women's lib, but ABOUT THE CHILD EATING!!!!!! So how about you get some class and stop answering questions that you don't have anything nice to say about! My mother taught me if I have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all! AND SHE BREASTFED ME!! Maybe it's because you weren't breastfed and shown the proper love that your mother didn't teach you proper etiquette!! Have a nice day!

-To its_victoria08: I have every right to be rude! It's my question! I asked a question to those that are pro-breastfeeding in public, and I don't appreciate some ignorant woman bad mouthing any mother that so chooses to not only breastfeed, but breastfeed in public!
-To maegs 33: I love that blog, and love those pictures! It really makes you wonder how the whole thing got out of hand! Especially, since dressing the way most women dress now adays wouldn't be allowed back then without choise word comments and rumors, but no one complained about the act of feeding the child! Thank you for that!

Answer 1

I've never used a cover-up -I tried a few times when my son was around 4 months and was distractable but he wouldn't tolerate it.

To me putting a blanket over the baby is a big neon sign that says "NURSING IN PROGRESS". Also I wouldn't want a blanket over my head -particularly in the summer.

That being said I only nurse by lifting my shirt up, the kind of nursing shirts that come down always seem so revealing to me. It isn't that I disapprove of other women using them -to each their own. But to me if you lift your shirt up your baby covers almost everything (except some side fat) *lol*

I hope you find a way to become more comfortable in case your next baby screams when you cover their head. Sometimes just placing some reaffirming messages where you will see them every day and reading them to yourself can be enough.

Answer 2

Yes, I nurse in public, but I use a blanket until he is latched on and then just pull my shirt down a bit. I live in a hot climate and the baby just gets too hot to leave it on. Plus, you can't see anything on baby is latched on.

At church they have a nice room that is usually used as a confessional in the back that is left open for mothers, so I go there to nurse. It's nice because I can still hear everything.

I really feel that mothers shouldn't have to cover themselves or go to a different place unless they would just want a quieter place. That being said, I do live in a place that doesn't feel the same way I do so I see it as a compromise. Also, the blanket is such a pain, it's hard getting a wiggly baby positioned just so under a blanket. I cover myself because I don't want the stares or the comments. Breastfeeding my son is such a calming experience, I don't want to spend it angry or on the defensive, as it is such a limited time in our lives.

A few weeks after I gave birth, our new family was at a restaurant and the baby wanted to nurse so not thinking I just nursed him the way that I usually do. Then some old woman who was probably in danger of her neck getting broken kept staring at me and talking very loudly about being discreet, a lesson that she obviously never learned, so I just ignored her.

Breasts in our culture are so overly sexualized that their use for anything else is seen as a perversion and that is really sad. I fully support any woman to breastfeed her child with a blanket or without a blanket, and luckily there is legal protection to do so.The good news is that since the benefits of breastfeeding are now so well known, women will breastfeed their children and teach them that this is how children are meant to be nourished so maybe future generations, the culture as a whole, will have different views of women.

I know this comments on more than your original question, but certain posters, who were obviously just trying more to incite controversy than make an actual point, did bring up some interesting topics about the ignorance that actually does exist.

Anyway, like all parenting, you just have to do what is best for you and your baby, and whatever you do decide, more power to you

Answer 3

I nurse my 10 month old wherever and whenever he gets hungry. If it is walking through the grocery store, then it's a good thing I have a sling. During church, I always wear a button up shirt for the occasion. At playgroup, well, I don't care, we're just a bunch of women. LOL I nursed him quite a bit on full planes this summer as well. If someone wants to get their jollies from watching me feed my child there isn't a whole lot I can do about it; however, I will NOT make my child suffer until we can get somewhere private or while I dig around for something to cover us.

Answer 4

I nurse in public, and at church with minimal to no cover up. I wear the right kinds of clothes that give the baby access without exposing too much.

I kind of feel like it's perpetuating the idea that nursing is bad to use a cover-up. If a mom is doing it because she feels uncomfortable for her own modesty's sake, I guess to each her own, but I would hope that no one is covering up simply to not offend OTHER people.

I think nursing in public is a talent, I just got back from a trip where I nursed on the airplane, in the airports, out shopping, etc. I'm just more experienced and people can't usually tell I'm nursing, it just looks like I'm holding the baby. Now, if I were to use a nursing cover, it would shout "HI, I'M NURSING" to everyone. I do use a sling for convienence as well.

I'd like to see this fictional woman who strips to the waist naked to breastfeed.

Answer 5

I don't think that you're uncomfortable breastfeeding in public...if you were then you wouldn't even be able to do it using a cover-up. I think the problem comes from the stares and looks you get while doing it. That's understandable, I don't' think too many people like being treated like a circus freak while performing a completely natural act. However, that's the way our society works. People are going to stare. Personally, I wouldn't nurse in public (I'm not pregnant, nor am I a mother, but if I were, I wouldn't nurse in public). I don't think I could ever be truly comfortable with the stare/looks. Plus like you said, there are the dirty old men, not to mention the freaks with camera phones and just freaks in general who will never view breast-feeding as a natural act, but as some kind of sexual invitation. Why would you want to expose yourself (or child) to that?

Answer 6

I breastfeed at church in the family room using a cover up, and last time I did that a woman who was in there with her nine month old son (who was drinking out of a bottle) got up and left the room. I guess it made her uncomfortable. That is why I use a cover up, not because I am embarassed, but I don't want to make others uncomfortable, however, if I am using a cover and it makes some one uncomfortable its their problem. Funny thing is it is usually women. What do they think we did before there was formula and breast pumps?

Answer 7

I breastfed at church in the mother's room (which was a room where I could see out of the windows and see the preacher but where the rest of the people could not look in and see me) and I usually used a nursing shawl that gave me privacy. However, I would breastfeed everywhere and anywhere in public using my shawl because I didn't want dirty men or nosey people to stare at my breasts. If people viewed breastfeeding more positively, I probably wouldn't cover up as much. In the privacy of my own home or my parent's home and when I had guests over, I would turn to let my baby latch on but usually only used my shirt to cover the little bit shown. When it's hot, it's hard to cover-up because you want to let your baby breathe.

Answer 8

I never used a cover up, it was always so hot and the baby would get so distracted with it. Usually I just wore a mens tanktop undershirt under my regular shirt. That way i could move my breast out the armhole andlift my top shirt, i was always careful to be as discreet as possible.
I don't think it's necessary to bare all, but I do believe that women should be able to breastfeed anywhere. I don't know any men who are turned on in the least by breastfeeding, unless it's some sort of fetish, many are turned off by it.

Answer 9

I think you should be able to breastfeed in public w/ or w/o a cover, depending on your comfort level. It is a choice for you and your baby.
I never breastfed my daughter, but I have no problems seeing moms nurse their babies...I would imagine the poor little bub gets all warm under a cover all the time when he eats!!

Answer 10

I would prefer for women to cover up when breastfeeding in public. Not because I am ashamed to see it, or because I think it is a dirty thing, but because I think it's a PRIVATE thing between mom and baby. I don't see why you'd allow a bunch of oggling people. Honestly, there have been times when I didn't notice a woman right beside me breastfeeding until she pulled the baby from under the little blanket.

Oh, and you shouldn't be rude to people. I understand that that one person is being rude, but you don't need to answer to them. By commenting that the person would have better manners had they been breastfed, that is a completely false statement, and is, in fact, insulting all of us others who were not breastfed. I was not breastfed, but I am a very polite, kind, generous, caring, INTELLIGENT person.

I know that mommy's milk is the best for a baby, but you shouldn't be rude to people who were not breastfed (it's not like it was our choice!) or to people who bottlefeed. It's not really your place to comment because you have NO idea what the person was going through at the time of pregnancy and birth.