Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

The benefits of breastfeeding are so important.  All three of my children were preemies and their risk of illness were so great.  Everything can be very dangerous to a preemie.  My oldest son was born at 34 weeks and weighed 4 lbs 7 ozs.  He never got sick.  I breastfed him until he was 11 mos.  My twins are 1 year old and they are still breastfeeding.  They were also premature and they have not been sick.  I am not saying everyone should breastfeed, you have to make that decision for yourself.  But the people who decide to should not be exiled to bathrooms or hot cars (or even freezing cold cars) or isolated areas.  You don't need to use a blanket to be discreet.  I never used a blanket, mainly because my boys would pull it off.  They got too hot.  I learned how to cover up with the edge of my shirt.  The baby covers most of what is exposed anyway.  Of all the countries, we should be the most accepting.  We are the cultural melting pot, we need to be more accepting and less judgmental!!!

I have to say that I do not see why there is even a debate on breastfeeding in public.  Women have been doing it since the beginning of time..let's remember there were not always bottles and formula available. If a "hot" woman wears a low cut, tiny tank top with no bra she does not get told to change or leave or go into the bathroom.   Why should we be told to leave when we are showing nothing but a sliver of skin--if that? 

I have a 10 month old daughter that I have breastfed in public many times.  When she is hungry I feed her, wherever I may be (mall, dinner, etc)  I belong to a breastfeeding support group that is part of the local hospital. In our meetings we often discuss America's view on breastfeeding. The US has one of the lowest perencages of breastfeeding babies in the world.  In Sweden and Norway, for example, it is looked upon as strange to give your baby formula or a bottle. After the meetings every week a group of us moms go out to lunch or shopping.  There are usually 5 or 6 of us with our little ones.  We have been at the mall and all been nursing while sitting on couches in the middle of the mall--we never noticed any strange looks.  Most people can't tell if you are nursing or just holding your baby.  You can hide everything, even if you do not use a blanket.  We have all gone out to lunch at nice resturants and nursed when needed and once the owner actually came out and praised us for BF our babies. It turns out his wife breastfed his children too.  

And one more thought to think over....as I sat and watched the horrible videos and the mothers and babies in New Orleans after Katrina, all I could think was this is one more benefit to breastfeeding.  In the middle of a natural disater, my baby would always have food.  She may not have a clean diaper but I would not have to worry about dehydration or starvation. 

As a first time mother of a 6 month old, I wasn't sure how I'd feel  personally about breastfeeding my baby in public.  If I don't have a clean, out of the way area to nurse, sitting down I certainly do nurse in public with as much discretion as can be had with a squirmy little boy.  I'm not trying to ruin anyone's time out, but I'm definately not going to not nurse in public because someone who's only arguement agaist public breastfeeding is that it's unattractive to look at doesn't like it.  How do people  think I feel, I don't feel like my exposed leaking breast, not to mention my stretch-marked stomach that often also shows, is that hot to look at , but in order to feed my son I sometimes have to expose them (with attempted discretion) in what can be a physically awkward ( think restaurant booth) or uncomfortable (busy parking lot - inside my car) public place.  Not all nursing mother's think breast feeding is an ethereal experience, let's face it a lot of times it is messy and awkward, but we have to do it to prevent people from being put out or made uncomfortable by our child screaming and ruining your trip to the mall or dinner that way.    

Breast feeding mom or screaming baby? You'll never make everyone happy. 

"nursing in a restaurant....do they really crave that kind of attention.  " 

  

As foreign a concept as it may be to you . . . you are the last concern I have when my child needs something. *shrug*  Really, I'm not doing it for you to look, or not look, or anything.  I already mentioned I'm discreet for my own benefit.  And I have, and will again, nursed in restaurants.  In fact, I nursed both of my twins at the same time in slings the other day at Trader Joe's. A woman asked if they were sleeping :D 

  

It does take a new mom some time to get to where she can nurse discreetly--and I happen to believe that under a blanket is as INdiscreet as many other things being described.  Everyone knows what you're doing under a blanket.  Usually no one even knows I'm nursing. 

  

But my point is, I don't do it for attention.  That's really not what motivates me at all. 

Our children were given to parents to raise. It's not a perfect world and sometimes parents don't do a good job. However, the end never justifies the means. The government needs to give education when parents don't choose to school  them themselves. But morality and values are only for the parents to decide. I have a 17 year old son, and I became outraged to learn what the school was teaching him about sexuality, which was in direct oposition to our values. No condoms in schools! 

  

When my children were little, I did not allow them to be disruptive to others. I would pick  my child up from the shopping cart and go to the car to deal with things, then return to the store. Before long, my child knew that a public place  was no insurance that he or she would escape being disciplined. Children whose parents allow this cause the kids to suffer, because people are casting them dirty looks, and the child has a frightened and puzzled look because they don't know why this stranger doesn't like them. Dogs and children are always happier when they know how to behave...:) 

I'm opposite. I see no problem with my kids seeing a mother nurse her child. It's what the breast was made for.  

  

My oldest child, 5, thinks it's weird to see a baby that is fed by a bottle. :) 

I do think breast feeding is great and to see a mom Breastfeeding in public in the cases where they choose to do so with out cover does not discust me. But I am interested in looking maybe because my baby and I didn't have an easy time of it and because of that it was not possible to do so in public and so I am curious.  But for what ever reason I am interested in what you are doing and find myself looking continually but then I feel ashamed for looking because it feels like I am looking at something I am not supposed to see.  Do you feel comfortable when people look at you wile you feed with your breast in view?  Or do you feel people who look are perves and should look away? 

I think that people who say stuff like they don't want to see other peoples brests they discourage new moms to feed ther new babies the natural way. it is a nother way to make people self consous and insecure we all ready enough of that. feed on mothers.  

 I'm a first time mom...my little girl is now 4 months old.  As a pharmacist I was always taught the benefits to both mom and baby of breast-feeding (the physical as well as emotional) and we were expected to respect and even encourage mothers to breast-feed.

  When I became pregnant I knew I would try to breast-feed, but like many other women the thought of dong this in public made me nervous and even embarressed.  I wouldn't even nurse in front of my mom.   However, with a lot of practice and new found courage I have learned to breast-feed just about anywhere- without exposing myself or feeling uncomfortable. I always use a blanket or nursing bib to cover myself. For my comfort, NOT anyone else's.

   Before I had my baby I would probably be shocked if I saw a mom just pull out her breast to feed her child; but, now I wouldn't even think twice about it.  Although it is not my style of nursing, I think women need to support each other in the choices they make- especially when it comes to motherhood. 

    It is a very North-American attitude to think that breast-feeding is something that is shameful or in-appropriate and should only be done in privacy.  On a recent trip to Europe I was amazed by the openess in which mothers would nurse their babies- it was actually hard to find a corner grocery store that carried baby-formula.  What is so unattractive about a woman's breast? Do we only view breasts as sexual objects?

    As for feeding my baby in a bathroom- I wouldn't make my dogs eat where they go to the bathroom why would I make my beautiful baby!!!!

My thoughts, EXACTLY!!!!