Replies to '10/07 The Latest Debates'

When my 2-year-old was born, we had one child in middle school, two in high school, one in college and one in medical school.  If I had not breastfed in public, I would have missed my other children's tennis matches, soccer games, football games, basketball games, swim meets, banquets, plays, concerts and graduation.  I am thankful that when my son scored baskets on the court that I was tucked away in the stands nursing my youngest son instead of the lockerroom.  My baby has had many a meal from the bleachers or auditorium seat.  People around me were always supportive.  I covered with a blanket when I could; but, sometimes in the sauna-like atmosphere of a swim meet that wasn't  possible.  I think when women are bothered by by a breastfeeding mother, it is because they feel guilty that they didn't breastfeed their child.  Breastfeeding mothers are totally devoted to meeting the needs of their child and that may make other mothers self-conscious if they do not have the opportunity or the desire to be that type of mother.  My two-year-old is still nursing and we try to do it in private because the American society doesn't accept this.  However, in other countries, he could nurse until he is much older.  I have nursed both of my sons and they are healthy and happy.  My daughter was bottled-fed and suffers from allergies and has trouble regulating her weight.  My step-children were nursed as babies and they are also very healthy.  Our children that breastfed seem to choose a healthier diet.  When my daughter was born, I was discouraged by my mother, my grandmother and the nursing staff to breastfeed.  I was so young that I doubt I would have ever had the discipline to do it anyway.  I'm not faulting mothers who choose not to breastfeed, just quit worrying about the mothers who do.  Why should you care, where we do it, when we do it or how long we do it?  Get over it!  Our society as a whole would be healthier if more mothers chose to breastfeed their infants.  I can't imagine comparing a nursing a baby to someone pulling their pants down in public.  Someone who can't understand the difference is uneducated on the subject.  A woman on these boards said she didn't want to explain to her 5-year-old son what was going on when he saw a breastfeeding mother.  My friend with a son that age explained to him that mothers made milk for their babies just like his cat fed her kittens.  Is that woman embarrased for her 5-year old to see a cat or dog nursing it's kittens or puppies?  How sad that we live in a country where the behavior of farm animals is more acceptable than a mother trying to do what's best for her child,