Replies to '10/07 The Latest Debates'

Quote From: dehaemer

The woman against public breastfeeding on the show made it sound as if the mothers breastfeed in public because we think it is beautiful.  She said that she just did not find it appealing so we should not do it.  I breast fed each of my babies for at least a year, and I'd like to point out that I never, ever breast fed in public to be appealing to anyone.  I did so to feed a hungery infant in the absence of a more clean and private place.  Many a time I lugged a child back to a parked car, but this is not always more private (like in front of a packed movie theater).  A rest room is an unacceptable place unless it has a lounge area.  A more prominent issue may be that there are not many nursing lounges provided to nursing mothers.  I certainly used them if they were available, but they are few and far between.  I would choose a bench in a public area over a toilet in a public restroom!  I also feel compelled to mention that a new baby may need to breast feed every hour or two for the first couple months, then every 3 or 4 for several months after that.  If a mother chooses to give her baby the benefit of breastfeeding, they should not be banished from public for several months.  I'd encourage restaurants to have privacy booths for mothers with new babies, stores to have lounges, malls to have family restrooms with nursing stations!  The new mothers will go there and spent time, and money!  As for the ones with all the hang-ups about seeing a glimps of a breast, get over it!!!  Nothing obscene is going on!  Grow up, read a book!  This is how man evolved, it is natural!  O.k., that is enough.