Breast feeding in church

[LadyyRedd]

I don't have kids and never will (by choice), but I have zero problems with women breastfeeding in public. As long as she was discreet about what she was doing, I don't see an issue with it.

Kimya

 

[Pop Daddy]

Im for it no matter where it is

 

[diznygirl]

I'm pretty old school about church - no bare shoulders, no crossing your legs, etc.... stuff the nuns drilled into us at school. So I would never bf at church myself. I always pumped and carried a bottle with me for emergencies. Let Dad give baby the bottle, and let Mom enjoy the mass!

 

[hugsquared]

Personally, I have no problem with breast feeding. Now, I don't have children of my own so I've never BF myself, but have been privy to see a woman lift her top, pull out her entire breast, then position the baby to feed. This was at my nephews soccer game in early September. I must say, my mouth fell open with shock. There were literally hundreds of people around and she was no where near discreet about it. It made me and a whole slew of others very uncomfotable, not about the feeding, but her "prep work".
That being said, since society has placed such a sexual association with womens breast, it is very difficult for many people, especially men, to instantly change their thinking from "Oh geez, I just scored and about to see some b**by" to "Awww, what a wonderful way to feed your infant". Because of society's blatent way of forcing women to be looked upon as a sexual image, there will always be a discussion about BF issues. Regardless of whether they're right or wrong, it will always be an issue. Also, its pretty difficult to see some women who dress for attention, who obviously want to be noticed for their body, suddenly switch gears to being the attentive mom nourishing her baby. You can't have it both ways and not expect some people to find it distasteful. JMHO.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I'm pretty old school about church - no bare shoulders, no crossing your legs, etc.... stuff the nuns drilled into us at school. So I would never bf at church myself. I always pumped and carried a bottle with me for emergencies. Let Dad give baby the bottle, and let Mom enjoy the mass!

Unless the baby doesn't take a bottle, like both of mine.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

But the baby does have to pay for the food before eating it! Oops, wrong thread!

Only if served in the bakery of a grocery store.

 

[lulugirl]

I have zero problem w/ a woman breastfeeding anywhere.

 

[glass-slipper]

Only if served in the bakery of a grocery store.

Or the deli

 

[katerkat]

ok, so if a woman whips her b..b out in public to breastfeed, it's ok, but if she just whips it out in public or flashes someone, then it's lewd behavior right? what's the difference again????

Ha - the shirt I was going to wear today showed way more skin than I do when I breastfeed. And I'm a fairly conservative dresser.

You know, I hear all the stories about the non-discrete breastfeeders, and I have to admit I've just never seen one. And I'm in the Northwest which is pretty liberal about it. In Disneyland, I picked out a couple women who were nursing -- but I really wouldn't have known what they were doing if I wasn't a nursing mom myself. Even in the Baby Care Center the moms were pretty discreet about it.

 

[Briarmom]

One would think a church would be the very last place a woman would be judged for breastfeeding in public...I guess not.

People LOOOOVE to judge while they're in church! I think it's written in the bible that you're supposed to.

 

[jenm2878]

Ha - the shirt I was going to wear today showed way more skin than I do when I breastfeed. And I'm a fairly conservative dresser.

You know, I hear all the stories about the non-discrete breastfeeders, and I have to admit I've just never seen one. And I'm in the Northwest which is pretty liberal about it. In Disneyland, I picked out a couple women who were nursing -- but I really wouldn't have known what they were doing if I wasn't a nursing mom myself. Even in the Baby Care Center the moms were pretty discreet about it.

I was in an Italian restaurant once, and there was a woman and her husband waiting to be seated. The woman was sitting there in her bra (only her bra) with one **** out feeding her baby. Was it necessary to take the whole top off? I had to do a double take to make sure I was seeing correctly. Am not joining the debate - just had to share my story.

 

[yeartolate]

What would Jesus say?


I personally don't think he would care, do you?

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I was in an Italian restaurant once, and there was a woman and her husband waiting to be seated. The woman was sitting there in her bra (only her bra) with one **** out feeding her baby. Was it necessary to take the whole top off? I had to do a double take to make sure I was seeing correctly. Am not joining the debate - just had to share my story.

No, but that doesn't mean every breastfeeder does it. Some (not you) would like to think it does.

 

[tiggersmom2]

People LOOOOVE to judge while they're in church! I think it's written in the bible that you're supposed to.

So true...so very true....

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

As long as it wasn't a kid running out from sunday school for a quick drink I don't see the problem with it.

My two that were breastfed were nursed in church and just about everywhere else we could get t hem to eat!

I do know one mom who whips it out and exposes herself to the whole world, but when you're nursing a five year old in public it's kind of a shock and awe experience more than anything else.

 

[bride03]

I'm sure Jesus was breastfed.

I'm sure she was not saying that Jesus would take any offense. I swear, some people on here are just so rude. It's offensive to some that a mother would whip out her breast and start breast-feeding right there. I think of my body as something that should not be slung out and shown to the world. I don't mind people breast-feeding if it's all covered by a towel over the shoulder or something. Why deny people their right to be comfortable? If this is how some feel about it, they have their reasons?? I think it's crazy that people breast-feed up to a year or two old. It shocks me.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I think it's crazy that people breast-feed up to a year or two old. It shocks me.

I think it's shocking that people are so misinformed about breastfeeding that they get uncomfortable just talking about it.

The AAP recommends breastfeeding for at least a year, WHO recommends two years old.

It's a health thing - my first breastfed for 29 months, my second only 8 weeks, and my third for 8 months. Regardless of your personal opinions and what the formula companies tell you, breast milk is superior. And yes, my girls got formula.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I'm sure she was not saying that Jesus would take any offense. I swear, some people on here are just so rude. It's offensive to some that a mother would whip out her breast and start breast-feeding right there. I think of my body as something that should not be slung out and shown to the world. I don't mind people breast-feeding if it's all covered by a towel over the shoulder or something. Why deny people their right to be comfortable? If this is how some feel about it, they have their reasons?? I think it's crazy that people breast-feed up to a year or two old. It shocks me.

I didn't cover up with DD. It would have been more of a scene if I did because she didn't like it. But you also did not see my breast. I'm good at it and know what I am doing.

I will put my babies right to be fed over anyone's comfort. Does that mean I won't try to be respectful? No. If my baby suddenly unlatches and you see my nipple I'm sorry, but it happens.

DD BF until she was 22ish months. DS will probably be around that long if he wants to do it.

 

[ryan840]

I'm sure she was not saying that Jesus would take any offense. I swear, some people on here are just so rude. It's offensive to some that a mother would whip out her breast and start breast-feeding right there. I think of my body as something that should not be slung out and shown to the world. I don't mind people breast-feeding if it's all covered by a towel over the shoulder or something. Why deny people their right to be comfortable? If this is how some feel about it, they have their reasons?? I think it's crazy that people breast-feed up to a year or two old. It shocks me.

Are you serious? You do realize that formula is a relatively new thing, don't you? What do you think babies ate before it was around? The one thing I'll never understand is how people don't realize that every mammal "breastfeeds", as God/nature intended it- and we are mammals! Our bodies make the milk for a reason, it was never even a choice until fairly recently.

 

[Planogirl]

OK, BF is healthy and all of that. We certainly know that now and get it.

However, this has nothing to do with whether it should be done in church or not. Working out is healthy too but I would never do it during a sermon. These are two completely different issues IMO.

I see nothing wrong with BF or bottle feeding a baby in church. I know that churches really don't have a choice in many states now anyway but I've always felt that a private business should set their own rules about most things. I don't see it as discrimination if a church requests that BF or bottle feeding be done in the nursery but I know that the law doesn't agree.