Breast feeding in public... gross or okay?

[paintnolish]

I like seeing it. Not in some sexual way, but it's nice seeing a mom caring for an infant. I view it the same as seeing a mom hug her child, kiss him, smile at him, etc.

I have two sons. One is 7 and the other is 16. I wouldn't care in the least if they saw it. They both have seen plenty of breasts. No big deal.

I know what you mean. I NIP'ed both of my kids and am happy to see other women doing the same. I always hate when I see a woman BF'ing in a crowded bathroom or something! I always think, "You should be sitting out at the table in the restuarant with the rest of your family!"

 

[MizTink]

I like seeing it. Not in some sexual way, but it's nice seeing a mom caring for an infant. I view it the same as seeing a mom hug her child, kiss him, smile at him, etc.

I have two sons. One is 7 and the other is 16. I wouldn't care in the least if they saw it. They both have seen plenty of breasts. No big deal.

 

[Holly]

I really have a hard time with seeing breastfeeding described as "gross".

You know what's gross? Mother's forced to feed their babies in public bathrooms.

You know what else is gross? That people have sex on the brain and can't even be around a nursing mother. Women too embarrassed to be around something natural is kind of gross, and so is the fact that they don't want their husband's exposed to other women's breasts while they're nursing because why? Are they worried their husbands will go crazy and turn into rutting beasts at the sight?

 

[Planogirl]

Sorry to revive after so long but I was not able to respond sooner with the holidays and everything else going on in my life.

I agree it would have been a very serious problem had the hospital not had the formula on hand for you. I am glad they did and your child is doing fine. It would have been very serious for my son as well as he could only have soy formula. We actually did have something similar happen though with the birth of our daughter. The hospital did not have any soy formula on hand. I had asked that she be switched over to soy formula because I felt it would be better for her. Not sure why just my intuition I guess. I learned to always listen to my intuition no matter what. Well when they said they had none but they could arrange to get some I told them not to worry about it because I did not want to inconvenience anyone. That was a huge mistake if I had only known that at the time. Hindsight is 20/20. My daughter died at 10 days old because she should not have been given regular formula not even breastmilk nor any other animal milk. She had a rare genetic disorder called galactosemia which is the same condition that my son has. People with this disorder can not have dairy of any kind ever. They lack an enzyme in their liver to break down galactose which is a sugar. Lactose breaks down into galactose in the body through this enzyme that people with galactosemia do not have. Therefore both galactose-as best as possible and lactose-all of it has to be avoided. Galactose is actually harder to avoid as it is in fruits and vegs. and meats. Therefore we have to elminate some non dairy items or limit them as well. Those fruits and vegs. with lower amounts of galactose are fine for my son to eat as much as he wants to though. Good thing or he would not have anything to eat. Dairy is the biggest issue. We have to avoid dairy at all costs as well as organ meats.

Some insight on why I feel the way I do about advocates and hospitals pushing breastfeeding so hard. Both have their place and should be given equal consideration for many different reasons. For some this choice can be life saving even if you do not know it at the time.

Wow, what a rough situation. Thanks for telling your story.

 

[RangerPooh]

I'm in favor of breastfeeding, but do feel that a woman should use some discression and cover herself so that she doesn't have her full breast out for the world to see. While it is a natural event, not everyone wants to see your breasts. When I was breastfeeding I did cover up and often did my best to seek out areas that were secluded as I did not want to be harassed by people who didn't want to see my breasts, plus I felt uncomfortable doing it in public. Although I am guilty of bfing on IASW, Ellen, HM, and the DL/WDW RR.

This said, while I don't have anything against a woman breastfeeding a young child in public, I do have issues with seeing a woman breastfeeding a 3 year old in public. A few years ago we were at a museum in Seattle and the child walked up to the mom who lifted up her shirt and took out her breast for the kid to feed (while standing there ). There was no covering up, and it was out for all to see.

While I do support breastfeeding I don't think that it is the only option. I formual fed both of my kids as I produced VERY little milk, even with the assistance of medical grade pumps and vitamin suppliments to stimulate milk production. I was able to breastfeed my 2nd child longer and more often than my 1st, but with only a little more success. I do intend to breastfeed my 3rd and final child, but am aware that my body does not produce enough milk for breastfeeding alone.

 

[Art 1]

It's something that I don't care to see. I have the feeling that most mothers who do breast feed in public are trying to prove a point.

 

[staley7580]

It's something that I don't care to see. I have the feeling that most mothers who do breast feed in public are trying to prove a point.

What point would that be?? that they have hungry babies? I dont bf, but when my babies are hungry, you KNOW it. If I did breast feed, I wouldnt care where I was. My baby comes first.

 

[Liberty Belle]

It's something that I don't care to see. I have the feeling that most mothers who do breast feed in public are trying to prove a point.

Prove a point? What point?

I assure you, when I breast fed my sons I was only interested in giving them nourishment. I was not trying to prove anything to anyone.

 

[Mysteria]

Of all the people I know that have breast fed I don't know of any that have their breasts exposed to the world while doing so. I just don't get what the big deal is.

eta: I'd be interested to know what point you think they are trying to make too.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I think the stranger person is the one who can't differentiate the sexual side of breasts from the nourishing side....

 

[bethy]

Nothing wrong, gross, or inappropriate about nursing a child in public. It's less a manners issue than a human rights one. Babies have a right to be nursed, it's their natural food, it's the best food for them, and it's a public health issue besides. I'd go so far as to say that accepting nursing mothers in public is a civil rights issue, since the alternatives are to not meet their baby's needs or to be shunted out of public almost entirely. (No, there isn't a schedule you can plan around. Yes, pumped or expressed milk in a bottle has added costs and problems associated with it.)

As far as courtesy goes, it's mother's job to not make a scene of it insofar as she can avoid it, it's the bystander's job to assume good faith and try not to notice. Perceptions vary, one person's discretion is another's striptease, which is why we rely on social fictions and courtesies to bridge the gap ("Oh? She took her shirt off on stage and breastfed her teen in a yoga pose? I didn't notice, look is that a sale?")

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

I don't have a problem with moms BF in public with babies, however it does shock me a little when I see a mom BF a 2 or 3 year old. Just seems odd, when you see the kid standing there, sucking, when they are that old.

 

[muffyn]

I know this has nothing to do with the thread

but tessiemez
everytime I see the baby pic in your sig I giggle
that is ONE dang cute baby!!

 

[disykat]

I prefered to feed discreetly since my oldest was an active, noisy, distractable nurser and it was hard to stay covered. I never once had to go in a restroom to do so. Why would anyone do that? I don't get why people always bring up that argument. I could always find a quieter place to nurse. It was easier on both me and my son to sit somewhere quiet. He was way too distractable.

If someone saw a brief flash of breast they could just deal as far as I'm concerned, but I certainly wasn't going to totally bare my chest. I do lots of natural things that I'm not in the least ashamed of that I prefer to do privately.

 

[rparmfamily]

Yes, every time I nurse in public (did twice today, at the beach) I AM trying to prove a point LOL. The point was that my infant needed to eat. Such a shocking point to make!

 

[tzolkin]

It's something that I don't care to see. I have the feeling that most mothers who do breast feed in public are trying to prove a point.

I know several others have addressed this, but this has to be the most stupid thing I've ever read on the Dis.




If you're baby only eats breastmilk how are you supposed to avoid bf in public unless you never leave the house?

 

[DizBelle]

The following is from the Florida Statutes:

800.03 Exposure of sexual organs. ---

It is unlawful to expose or exhibit one's sexual organs in public or on the private premises of another, or so near thereto as to be seen from such private premises, in a vulgar or indecent manner, or to be naked in public except in any place provided or set apart for that purpose. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A mother's breastfeeding of her baby does not under any circumstance violate this section.

(bolding added)

And I know that in some Disney training I have received, any attempt to have a breastfeeding mother to cover up or go to a different location is a disciplinary offense that could lead to termination.

So, according to the way this law is written, a woman could be COMPLETELY NAKED but as long as she is breastfeeding, she is not breaking the law.

I was wondering if the law had any provisions for a minimal amount of clothing a woman had to be wearing while breastfeeding. It appears, at least for Florida, it doesn't.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

It's something that I don't care to see. I have the feeling that most mothers who do breast feed in public are trying to prove a point.

The only point I was making was that my DD was hungry!!! She was born in the summer and the idea of putting a blanket over her head in the middle of the hot humid summer was unthinkable. We were both sweating just feeding her, let alone with a blanket over her head!!!

BFing is normal and natural, its not gross! Eating in a bathroom, now that's gross!!

I do agree, that when you see an older child 2 on up BFing that boarders on some kind of attachment thing.....that's carrying things a bit far!

 

[Chelley00]

You can breastfeed, in public, without showing everything. It's just some women choose to be more careful about it, and others feel too inconvenienced to be discreet, or think it's their right to nurse in public. I have teenage sons, and they have been around me nursing, but I wasn't about to flop out a **** to nurse their brother with them watching, and would hope that other women would be respectful of that as well. It doesn't always happen.

I nursed 3 of 4 babies, the last one at basketball games, soccer games, graduations etc and no one even knew the baby was eating. I nursed right next to my FIL and he asked me if I needed to get up to leave the restaurant booth to go feed the baby, and I said I already was

 

[OceanAnnie]

It doesn't bother me in the least. (This thread needs a poll.)