Breast feeding in public... gross or okay?

[Ride Junkie]

Awwwwwww! That's precious.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Well the size has nothing to do with the amount of milk.

Yeah--my son did this. But I stopped him in public. Due to his size, people would probably think I was nursing a 1st grader. I would not have minded meeting his emotional needs, but I really didn't want to be stared at and treated like an outcast.

We ended up weaning him cold turkey though. I just had no cues from him that he had any intentions of reducing his needs as I did for my others who did taper and we were ready to move on with baby plans. It was a tough couple of days--but we got him weaned.

I think in this case it was indicative that her body was done with BF, but her heart wasn't.

 

[ontariomonkey]

It's important for women to breastfeed in public. Role-modeling for future mothers that this is the way to feed a baby. If we only bottle feed in public, people will think that that is the way to feed a baby.

 

[justhat]

There has only been one time I did a double take of someone bfing... I was shopping in Old Navy and this mom was bfing her baby.. not a big deal right? Well instead of her pulling up her shirt up to nurse this baby she took her breast out thru the neck hole of the shirt.. she did NOT have a small chest.. it was quite a site.. I giggled and then went about shopping.

I had a friend who nursed like that every time! As someone who breastfed 2 kids for 21 and 22 months each, I in no way object to breastfeeding, breastfeeding in public, etc. But really, this was weird. Every time I was with her it creeped me out. And she continued this till her son was 2.5yo. The kicker for me was when she'd sit on a bench directly in front of the pickup line at school and nurse her son there at pickup. So while she nursed, every parent using the car line had a nice show. She just had baby #2 so I can expect for a repeat showing for the next couple of years.

 

[HelenePA]

OMG!!!!

Not that I haven't considered it--but if I hadn't....the mere physics of the maneuver is an impressive feat. I'd be wondering--HOW ON EARTH IS THAT POSSIBLE.

I mean--I may have tried AT HOME--and in that I can tell you....I can't accomplish there, I can't accomplish it anywhere.


That poor defenseless shirt.

Now to defend her? lol it was a low cut shirt kind of scoop neck but still it had to have been stretched out! I could not help but do a double take and giggle.. the site of it was awesome to see. I've tried that way too.. it didn't happen!

 

[BeenHereB4]

Now to defend her? lol it was a low cut shirt kind of scoop neck but still it had to have been stretched out! I could not help but do a double take and giggle.. the site of it was awesome to see. I've tried that way too.. it didn't happen!

Oh, ok that makes more sense. For some reason when I read your other post I was picturing her in a turtle neck!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh, ok that makes more sense. For some reason when I read your other post I was picturing her in a turtle neck!

Me too.

Of course that poor shirt would still be all stretched out. Good thing it was a clothing store..just in case she ended up with a much lower scoop than she intended.

 

[inkedupmomma]

I think it is perfectly natural and i love to see how many more woman are breast feeding now a days! Also, how many woman do you see walking around all hooched out and just to be sexxy with there pants too tight and their ****s popping out all over the place? But that is perfectly ok anymore?

 

[Nette]

I nursed both of mine until they were about 2. After about a year though, it was only needed maybe in the AM, nap time and in the PM so less likely I'd have to do it outside of my own home.

I have always thought this way, too. We had a good friend who nursed her son well into his third year. Very strange to see the little guy walk up to her, pull up her top and help himself! He nursed mostly for comfort, so it was only a couple of seconds. Her breasts were so tiny, I doubt he was getting much to eat.

I quit nursing DD (now 7) in public when she was about a year old, but only because she was so distractible that it was rather uncomfortable sitting there while she popped on and off and on and off.

And now a fun story... We took DD to WDW for the first time when she was just about 10 mo, and we were on the ferry between Boardwalk and EPCOT one night and DD needed to nurse. So I was doing what any mother would do and feeding her. Well the woman behind me (who was with her ~12 yo DD) taps me on the shoulder and tells me how fantastic it is that I was nursing my baby. I was not unexperienced with the dirty looks you sometimes get for feeding your baby in public, so I was rather happily surprised, until the woman told me how she had nursed her DD until she was FIVE. That poor kid looked like she wanted to melt into the seat right there. (Seriously, don't care at all that she nursed that long -- I wouldn't do it, I made it to 17 months before I couldn't take it anymore.)

Also, as for when the kid can come up and ask for it, well DD could do that when she was about 16 mo. Of course, by then we were nursing at home and really only before bed, so it wasn't a huge deal, but it always strikes me as funny that people say that will be their cue to wean.

 

[emh1129]

I think babies have the right to eat whenever, wherever.
The only way someone is going to SEE anything (gasp!) is if they're really staring and looking hard. You see waaaayyyy more at the beach, or even with tank tops, etc.
So thumbs up for that mom to put her baby's needs first. That little baby was probably much happier with a full tummy

The sad thing is that this is still even a topic for discussion.

 

[inkedupmomma]

The sad thing is that this is still even a topic for discussion.

exactly!

 

[PaulaSue]

OP and others who think not to BF in public. You go in the bathroom to eat, stay at home all the time to eat or eat with a blanket on your head.

Proud EN mom here.

 

[Liberty Belle]

It always makes me smile. I think it's a beautiful thing. And it sounds like she was being pretty discreet. It's not like she was walking around topless with the baby hanging off one breast.

 

[iggbees]

i have no problems with breastfeeding in public at all! my work requires me to interact with women who are breastfeeding and most are NOT shy about it (which is good for them, breastfeeding has so many benefits for the baby!). unless you're breastfeeding a 10 year old, then i'd be a little weirded out (but not grossed out, i would just think it's odd).

 

[Pikester]

Breast feeding in public. But, I do feel that a little common courtesy would be nice for those who are a little, or a lot, uncomfortable with seeing a breast in a public place.

 

[Stacerita]

Nothing gross about breast feeding.

 

[aprilgail2]

It's important for women to breastfeed in public. Role-modeling for future mothers that this is the way to feed a baby. If we only bottle feed in public, people will think that that is the way to feed a baby.

a bottle IS the way to feed a baby for those of us who CHOOSE to feed a baby that way !!

 

[pyrxtc]

Perfectly OK, even without a blanket/cover. I almost never used one since my DD hated being covered while she was eating.

Totally agree.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Funny, I wasn't going to post on this thread, but DH reads here also. I was unable to breast feed my children but I have no problems with a woman doing so where ever/whenever. Come to find out it makes my DH very uncomfortable... You learn something new every day!

 

[Patty3]

I do not care if anyone wants to breastfeed their babies in public. I just do not want to see it. Do it discreetly and have some class about it.