Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

I am a mother of two.  I breastfed my son until he was 15 months and I was pregnant with my daughter.  I am still nursing her now and she is 10 months old.  I am so incredibly annoyed with the ignorance that is showing up on these message boards.   

1st of all, I have to admit that I am not a very good public nurser.  If and when I have to do it, I am pretty discrete about it.  With my son I over produced so he was very good about breast and bottle...I simply pumped and took a bottle along.  It was very convenient for me.  I could sit down and pump 20 oz easily.  My daughter on the other hand will not take a bottle and I am not producing like I was with my son.  I can no longer pump out a bottle like I used to.  I have friends who struggle to pump a half an ounce.  There are allot of reasons why some breastfeeding mom's simply can't bottle feed....and I don't think they or I should be ostracized to make the public comfortable.      

Having said that....I do understand that it can make people uncomfortable.  It made me uncomfortable prior to having kids....but again, there are so many ways to be discreet about it that no one even has to know.   Breasts were a means of food for our children long before they became a sexual object.  I do believe you can be discreet and still give your baby the same loving nourishing benefits that breastfeeding has to offer.  You don't even need a blanket...you can do it discretely without covering your baby up or making them hot or eat in the dark.   

Now for the ignorance.... 

*You can not compare breastfeeding to giving birth or to a butt crack showing...they are nothing alike. 

*You can not say that breastfeeding moms are un-American.....please....that's your argument? 

*You can not tell me that you would ever go into a public restroom to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner, no-one even said anything about wiping your sandwich on the toilet seat first...it would just be unsanitary to even eat in there.   

*I believe it's a woman's choice to breastfeed or to not breastfeed her child, I do not feel she should be judged for choosing either of the two.   

*Breast milk does not become unbeneficial after the first couple of hours when the colostrum is gone????....read up before you make a comment like that. 

*Breast milk causes a colicky baby??????? 

*Breastfeeding mothers are too selfish to give their children formula.....are you kidding me...if your breast fed your baby you would know what kind of sacrifice you actually make.  It's a bond and a beautiful experience, but it's not always fun......it's just totally worth it to me. 

*Public breastfeeding moms are just looking for an excuse to show there breasts in public....???? 

*Breastfeeding in public is like stripping.....they don't even compare. 

*And lastly....Breastfeeding in public could cause jealousy that could cause rage and breastfeeding mom's should look out...your joking...right...you are actually threatening nursing mothers 

I could go on and on...but I need to go breastfeed my daughter..... 

I have 2 children and am expecting my third.  I breastfed both of them for just under a year each, and will also nurse the new baby.  I nursed both of my kids in public, walking around stores, at the park, wherever we were when the baby got hungry.  I always tried to keep a blanket to cover myself, but when you have a 9 or 10 month old, they tend to just rip the blanket off, no matter how discreet I tried to be.  I think it's ridiculous for other people to be offended by nursing mothers, especially since you don't even hardly see the breast.  You see a little bit of skin and a baby's head.  I don't understand how people can be that bothered by something that is so healthy for a child.  I do understand the need for discretion, but there is absolutely no way I would ever take my child into a restroom to eat.  I really think that people who want mothers to take their babies elsewhere to feed need to go eat their meal in the bathroom, or go sit in a car and try to nurse for half an hour.  Maybe then these people would have a greater understanding of the need to nurse in public. 

I am not sure why Dr. Phil chose this woman to represent the "NO" side of breastfeeding in public.  Her only opposition to it seems to be that it is unattractive and she therefore has the right not to be exposed to it in public.  Personally, I find her unattractive, therefore following her logic I should not have to be exposed to HER in public.   Come on, lady, if you want to have an opinion, at least think about it first and make an EDUCATED argument about it. 

Incidentally, I breastfed both my babies in public, yet did it discreetly without flashing the milk jugs to everyone in the vicinity!