Breast feeding in church

[staci]

I was very suprised with my first child at my grandfather's reaction.

My mom was weird, she said she supported bf but she though I should leave the room to do it. So around my family, that is what I did. (She is 52, she didnt bf us).

My grandparents came to visit (from NE, pretty conservative and down to earth people, farmers, about 78 years old) and I of course went to take the baby to the back room to feed him when he got fussy. But my grandparents objected, told me there was no reason to go anywhere, and sat there like it was the most normal thing in the world to them. I was suprised that they (who are usually more conservative than I) were very much open and supportive of breastfeeding. My grandpa was even telling stories of my aunts and uncles as babies and how they seemed to nurse all the time. He talked about funny stories with the baby animals on the farm, and I was just so impressed at his total level of comfort sitting there.

So in my family, those who were parents around 50 years ago seemed fine with a bf mom, but my mom who had babies 25 years ago, was supportive but squeamish. Im sure it is a regional thing, but as others pointed out, the role of women has changed greatly over time, and I am sure that has affected how many women nurse in public. But Im not sure that in the past people were unsupportive of bf, just because June Cleaver didnt do it on tv.

 

[staci]

Our pastor says it should be like a Thanksgiving dinner - all the relatives come and it can be noisy and messy.

This really made me laugh! It sounds like a good place to be!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I
My grandparents came to visit (from NE, pretty conservative and down to earth people, farmers, about 78 years old) and I of course went to take the baby to the back room to feed him when he got fussy. But my grandparents objected, told me there was no reason to go anywhere, and sat there like it was the most normal thing in the world to them. I was suprised that they (who are usually more conservative than I) were very much open and supportive of breastfeeding. My grandpa was even telling stories of my aunts and uncles as babies and how they seemed to nurse all the time. He talked about funny stories with the baby animals on the farm, and I was just so impressed at his total level of comfort sitting there.

Staci, when you discribe your grandfather I am not surpized at all. Farmers know reproduction, life, in the ins and outs, the pretty and the ugly, better then most people. Same with the age. Farmers often needed to have a number of kids to help with the chores, paying for their food is out of the quesitons. It also helps to space out kids. Just a fact of life. (farmers tend to be are facts of life people. )

I wonder why your mom didn't? I wonder how your grandparents felt about that at the time. My guess is during the time it was not supported puplicly. My mom breast feed all 4 of us, me the youngest until I was well over 2 years old. Of course my mom did a lot that wasn't "normal" for the 60's and 70's either. She wasn't a follow a crowd person, but research it and come up with your own plan type of person. (and she was and is a very stone Christain also.)

 

[staci]

I wonder why your mom didn't? I wonder how your grandparents felt about that at the time. My guess is during the time it was not supported puplicly. My mom breast feed all 4 of us, me the youngest until I was well over 2 years old. Of course my mom did a lot that wasn't "normal" for the 60's and 70's either. She wasn't a follow a crowd person, but research it and come up with your own plan type of person. (and she was and is a very stone Christain also.)

I think she was just nervous, as she is an easily stressed out person. With me (firstborn) she tried it for a few weeks, and I was premature anyway, and she was so nervous that I wasnt getting enough to eat. I didnt gain very quickly, and from what she has said, I think she had some nurses that were really pushy about how many ounces I was getting of food, and of course that is hard to say when bf. Also, in the early 80's the trend in our area was towards formula as the way to go. As I said in another thread, I dont ever remember seeing anyone bf until I was 13 on vacation in Florida. I think after not seeing it for so long, it was hard for her to get use to it again with me and ds. She did get more comfortable as time went on.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

Would you feed your crying baby a BOTTLE in church???

I have absolutely no problem with a woman feeding her baby in church...no matter if it is by bottle OR breast!!!!