Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

As a parent it is important that our children learn proper forms of affection in public. It is also important for them to see parents show affection so they see that it is okay to do and so they can be comfortable as adults. Being a parent  I let my children see me give my husband a appropriate kiss or hold his hand or pat his back as I walk by and of course hear my love verbally. Anything else is done behind close dorrs. Breastfeeding can be done in public in an appropriate way. Granted not all people do. You can cover yourself so nothing is seen. We all need to not only want our opinions to be accepted but we need to accept others to. No one should ever lower their stadards but Dr. Phil is right we can all have social sesitivity both ways.

 Amen, sister!  Woo hoo.  Imagine BF at Hooters! LMAO!!!

On the topic of breastfeeding in public, discretion is all well and fine as long as the comfort of the child is not sacrificed.  Have you ever tried eating under a blanket, even a lightweight one, when it's 90 degrees outside or the sun is beating down on you?  Even if we were inclined to take ourselves out to the car or somewhere less populated there are other things to consider: the weather, the cleanliness of our surroundings, our safety.  Why should we risk going out in the rain, snow, or other unpleasant weather to get to our car just so a few people don't have to look away for a few minutes while we feed our children?  Why should we risk exposing our children to various bacteria and other nasties in the restroom?  Less public areas are not always safe and exposing ourselves to danger or even just a feeling of unease does not help us or our children.  Once the child is actually on the breast most of the breast is hidden behind their head and our shirts tend to cover the other part.   

  

 I have a 4 year old son who I was only able to BF for 3 months since I had to go back to work and I regret that I couldn't do so longer.  I am currently BF'g my 4 month old daugher and thankfully am able to stay at home with my children, I know that both of my children are healthier because of the BF'g.  I have explained to my son and our other young relatives that this is how mommies feed their babies, just like other animals do and none of them think it is weird or gross.   

  

People are going to notice a woman feeding her child whether it is with a bottle or the breast.  What needs to be remembered is that the milk from the breast is the absolute best   for the child and that as a grown adult if you do not like seeing it LOOK AWAY!  As for seeing mothers nursing in public, if there is nothing more interesting at your own table that you can focus on then I feel sad for you. 

Breast feeding is natural, and the reason God gave us breast. I have three children and they were all breast fed. If my child was hungry I would feed them anywhere! For that lady to sit on there and say she would lose her appetite if she seen a woman feeding her child, AS FAR AS i AM CONSERNED THAT LADY HAS ISSUES! I never one time was revealing in public, but I would never have let my child go hungy! Breast feeding is a beutiful and natural thing! Maybe that lady has issues beyond what we can see, for that to bother her so!

Being a parent myself I find it very important to put your families needs first. It is of course and issue on how long to breastfeed. Many people stop at one because of what people think. I think that it is important to do what is needed by the child and parent not do something because others push you to. We have to be with our children for 18 years and their is emotional things tied to every decision. I think if you are going to breastfeed over one you can teach your child that it is for nourishment but that their are also boundries. A child can be taught how to respect a mothers boundries and how to be let the mother know appropriatly that they are hungry. A one year old may seem big at times but they are also still very little.

I think North Americans have such problems with this because we so rarely see toddlers at the breast. I was in Sweden last summer and there were children old enough to open their moms blouse who were feeding and it was a bit startling at first because I'm just not used to seeing it but we should all be aware that the age for weaning a child is very different in other parts of the world. In North America, there is a real push for mothers to pump and giving a baby a bottle makes them wean much younger because a bottle takes less work for the child and gives a greater and faster output. That doesn't mean the bottle is better... there are so many positive reasons to breastfeed, not the least of which is the bonding. 

  

I "only" breastfed for 8 months with my first child but after 4 months when I went back to work and had to pump to give him his milk all day, he started preferring the bottle and weaned himself even though I wasn't ready for it. My youngest only lasted 7 months even though I never gave him a bottle. He was so into his brother's sippy cup that I couldn't interest him in drinking from anything else after a while *lol*.  

  

I think if someone has a problem seeing a toddler nurse, it really is their problem. A little more education and research would show them that we are really the exception in the world by weaning our children so early.  

My 8 week old baby was born with a condition which requires that I breastfeed her on demand, wherever we happen to be...

She's a mammal.

Seriously, breastfeeding mothers do not nurse in public because we think it's attractive or beautiful, we do it because we are trying to care for our children.  It is so hard being a new mother.  I feel so isolated, at home alone with a baby all day.  That one chance that I have to go to a restaurant or a meeting, that's my lifeline.  If we further isolate new mothers by requiring them to breastfeed somewhere other than where they are, I suspect that baby abuse rates will rise.  The highlight of my day yesterday was taking my daughter to the grocery store.  It was the first time I'd been out in days.  And we nursed, in her sling.  No one saw anything (not that I really care how others feel, but *I* am uncomfortable in public if I'm not covered).

You say, "go to the bathroom or a car" but that assumes that breastfeeding is quick!  I could have to nurse my daughter for half an hour.  By then, the meeting's over, or my dinner's cold, or the movie has ended...  I'm not going to isolate myself so that you aren't uncomfortable.  If you don't like what I'm doing, look away.  Furthermore, the idea of sitting in a public bathroom for 30 minutes is hideous.  I'm a hoverer!  Where am I supposed to sit?  I had her in August - sitting in a hot car isn't an option, either.  Sure, we could leave it running and turn on the AC, but gas is $3 a gallon.  That's not fair to either of us.  And what are we supposed to do when it's below zero?  No thanks, I'll sit at the table in the restaurant and discreetly nurse my child, and if it bothers you, you can leave.

I disagree with the poster who said that "most" bathrooms have a lounge area.  I know of ONE such bathroom in my entire town, and it's on the college campus, where I rarely need to go.

I would love to be able to pump and give her a bottle, but guess what, I'm pump-resistant.  Look it up, it happens.  So I have NO option other than to breastfeed.  Would you rather see my daughter under a blanket at my breast, or hear her crying with hunger?  Babies stomachs hold a tiny amount.  They get hungry often.  Even if I feed her right before we leave, by the time we get anywhere, she needs to eat again. 

It is legal for me to breastfeed in public in my state, thank God.  I have nursed at Walmart, at Kroger, at Panera Bread, at Applebee's, and at multiple doctor's offices.  When my daughter is hungry, she eats.  If you don't like it, you're "portable" too. 

Hey guys, 

  

I was recently in NY city and actually saw the woman on the show, Veronica Mosey, who was on the last segment.  She was hilarious!  check out her website www.veronicamosey.com.   

I thought she had really good points, but I also thought the other woman did too...  it really depends on the situation.  anyway, she's a great comedian so check her out if you get a chance. 

  

Oh, really? What makes you think babies don't eat every hour? My son certainly ate around the clock for the first couple of months. Now maybe you are getting your ideas from the bottle feeding culture which only feeds babies every 3-4 hours, but breastmilk is quickly digested and BF babies need to eat more often, every 1-2 hours at first, and they can go longer as they get older, though not always as long as you might think. It took me at least 20 minutes to get from my house to the Target or the Restaurant across town where I lived when my son was little, in a little suburb of Minneapolis, so how do you propose I complete the shopping trip or the dinner without it being time for him to eat again? 

Formula sits in the baby's stomach for much longer because many of the ingredients are indigestible. Formula companies have to add extra minerals and vitamins that the baby doesn't need on the hope that the body will absorb some of them. That's because they can't find a way to get their artificial nutrients to pass into the cells of the human baby. That is why formula babies can go longer, because they are full of a bunch of extra junk in their stomachs, but not getting the nutrients they need. Breast milk contains picolinate among other substances that aid in cells' absorbtion of nutrients. Formula takes a long time to be digested. 

That's one reason some people think of formula as more convenient. But personally I think it's way more convenient to breastfeed and not have to mix up bottles, sterilize bottles, nipples, and make sure that I don't run out of the formula I prefer or that the store doesn't sell out of it. 

 When I breastfeed my son I assure you I get no high off of any sort of sick ehxibitionism. But I do get a wonderful feeling of empowerment and love from feeding my baby the natural food he is supposed to have. 

YOU CAN'T COMPARE KISSING AND SEX TO BREASTFEEDING A BABY?  NOT THE SAME THING.  ONE IS NEEDED FOR THE BABY TO SURVIVE AND THE OTHER IS JUST FOR PLEASURE.  BUT JUST BECAUSE THE BABY IS HUNGRY DOESN'T MEAN THE MOM CAN JUST WHIP OUT HER BREAST ANYWHERE SHE PLEASES AND MAKE OTHERS UNCOMFORTABLE.  THERE IS WAY IT CAN BE DONE, THAT DOESN'T MAKE OTHERS FEEL WEIRD.  IT'S ONLY POLITE.  JUST PUT A BLANKET OVER AND NOBODY HAS TO SEE ANYTHING.  IT IS REALLY THAT SIMPLE.  BOOBS DON'T HAVE TO BE ALL OVER THE PLACE IN PUBLIC.  PEOPLE JUST NEED TO HAVE COMMON COURTESY AND RESPECT OTHERS.  

AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH KISSING LOVED ONE EITHER.  LIKE I SAID, AS LONG AS IT'S TASTEFUL AND RESPECTFUL.  PRETTY SIMPLE STUFF I THINK