Breastfeeding in public?

Question

What is your opinion of breastfeeding in public? I'm not talking about going into the ladies room or being some place and covering your self with a shawl. I'm talking about being out in public, the mall, resturaunt, unisex salon, etc and just opening your blouse, taking your breast out and start feeding you kid?
I never breastfed my kids and I know it's a personal choice (I always found it extremely distasteful and disgusting.) But I find this REALLY disgusting.
A lady had a young baby in a very nice, pricey resturaunt the other night (My husband and I went there to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary,) and she just took out her breast and started feeding the baby right at the table. I almost puked up my dinner and I complained to the manager about it, but he said he really couldn't do anything about it. (He did take 25% off of our bill, but the entire meal was totally ruined seeing that saggy wrinkled breast with a huge brown nipple..ewwww.)
Dont people have any class anymore??

I wanted to add that I paid over 150.00 for this meal that we were trying to celebrate this special day, and I didn't "stare" at this woman, it was just impossible to miss with her kid screaming and her taking out her breast in public. The way I was sitting in the booth, I couldn't look anywhere but up at the celing or close my eyes not to see it.

Answer 1

Breastfeeding is natural and healthy for both mother and child but it should be done discretely.

Answer 2

I breastfed my three children (twins included). My mom is from your generation (I am assuming if you were celebrating 25 years and I am 26 years old) and she felt breastfeeding was disgusting as well. I think that way of thinking is definately generational but I do agree that not covering is rude because it makes others feel uncomfortable. If the baby was screaming, she should have removed herself from the dining area until the child calmed down. I had a three year old and twins. If the twins became fussy, I would always leave the dining area or store for that matter even if it wasn't convenient (they are two now and I still leave if they are having a tantrum). I know I don't like hearing them cry and they are mine so imagine how other people feel!! I will admit I felt it was hard for me with the twins not to expose myself when I was home breastfeeding so I decided to bring bottles with me out in public but for most people a nursing blanket (or a regular receiving blanket for that matter- I just used a recieving blanket for my daughter) will suffice. So in a nutshell the woman should have been curteous enough to the other patrons and removed her screaming baby (I did it with two babies in my arms and a 3 year old in tow) and come back to the table covered with a blanket and a quiet baby!!

Answer 3

I agree with you 100%. Just because it's "natural" is no reason I want to see it, most especially in a nice resturaunt. There are lots of things that are "natural" that I don't want to see in public such as belching, farting, spitting, hacking up phlegm, itching their nuts, scratch their butts, picking their nose, ogling women, etc.

If a women brings a kid into a resturaunt the very least she could do is to use a breast pump to express the milk and put it in a bottle and feed the kid that way. I think this is the classic, "I'm so self absorbed that I can do what I want and I don't care what people think" attitude.

Answer 4

Obviously nursing a baby is a "natural" function. It's why women have breasts. However, going to the bathroom is also a "natural" function and if someone did that in the middle of a restaurant, they would probably end up with an arrest on their record. For a woman to haul out the breast for the kid in the middle of a restaurant and not use a shawl is just RUDE. It's gross too.

Answer 5

heh I think the bigger question in your particular case is why the HECK a baby was in an upscale restaurant. I guess with spending $150 for a meal, those parents couldn't afford a babysitter?

For a more general response to your question, I strongly believe that consideration is a two-way street. I don't like witnessing it - it makes me very uncomfortable because I do believe that something like that is private - but a baby needs to be fed and if that's the way the mother chooses, then fine. It's my responsibility to then look away, which I absolutely will do! But it's also her responsibility to take others into consideration and cover up as best she can. It's like any other action one could take in public.... do you yak on the cell phone loudly in the middle of a crowd, or do you talk as softly as possible and perhaps duck out of the crowd for a moment? It's the same type of thing - courtesy and consideration for the comfort of those around you. Others don't need to know your business, whether that's what you're having for dinner that night.......... or what your baby is having for dinner that night.

Answer 6

didn't you answer ur own question. obviously the mother is in panic and concerned about her kid as kid is screaming. think from her side. nothing is important than children. It doesn't matter how much u paid for lunch, understand how desparate the mother was. you felt ewww because of her saggy wrinkled breast and her brown nipple, but u didn't see that same brown nipple and ugly breast is providing food and has provided food for a baby.
u will argue that she could cover while nursing. but may be she is completely unprepared. what dress did she wear. did she carry a blanket. if yes is it clean? u really don't know the situation and u r jumping into conclusions
Is it ok if her breast is beautiful ?, then u wouldn't mind her display?

Answer 7

I breast feed both my babies and was discreet about it.
I believe that it is very natural and I chose to breast feed.
In our society we are more modest than other countries where they do just take out a breast and start feeding.
I always carried a thin blanket with me so that if my child was hungry I could feed him. I also would go out prepared and brought with me bottles of breast milk to feed if we were at a restaurant.

I feel it is inappropriate for a mother to pull her breast out and feed her child without covering up, when she is in public.

Mothers need to understand that yes it is their choice to breast feed and yes it is all natural, but they also need to be considerate of others. Just because it is natural does not mean that others need to see their breast. It is very simple to cover up or turn in a way so know one sees.

Answer 8

LOL. Personally, I would find that very distasteful, particularly since it was in an upscale restaurant. I think she should've gone into the ladies' room. On the plus side, at least they took 25% off your bill.

Answer 9

I think that it's better for mom and baby to have a bit of quiet when feeding; and also it is far more considerate to feed a baby away from people who are not family or intimate friends.

However, I find your revulsion to be just as offensive if not more so. If you can not look into your husbands eyes and keep your focus there on your anniversary....and would rather be offended by activity at another table....then I think you did well to get the reduction in your bill

Answer 10

In a restuarant ...that woman lacked class, not you. Yes, breastfeeding is natural and it's great if a mom chooses to do it, but there's no need to expose one's self in the process! There is such a thing as indecent exposure, hence why they make shawls. Classy women don't expose themselves like that, I don't care how much you love your baby. Cover up and have some consideration for those around you. How rude and self-rightous some parents are today.

Answer 11

I breast fed all three of my children, but I was very discreet about it. I never nursed in a restroom because that is disgusting and unclean. I would cover myself with a blanket, then unbutton my blouse and feed my child. Never once did anyone see my breasts. I agree that nursing should be acceptable anywhere in public, but I also believe that we should be sensitive to the fact that the breast is also sexual and we should cover ourselves and be discreet.