Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

Go Tammy.  You and your baby are beautiful!!!!  

I have two children, one is 3, who was breastfed until he was 14 months, and the other will be 12 months next week, who is still breastfed.  With my first, I was very reluctant to nurse in public because of all of the negativity associated with it.  I would find a dressing room if at the mall, or go out to my car.  Now that was quite an inconveniece, having to drop what you are doing, struggle with a hungry baby, make your way out to the car, etc...you get the picture.  This time around, I am much more confident.  There are still times when I will try to find a private location just because of my own insecurities, but I in no way believe that a woman SHOULD go somewhere private just to nurse.  I wish I were more comfortable at all times and locations to nurse where I am, and hopefully I will get there.  I do not use a blanket to cover myself, as the baby's head does a wonderful job at covering everything.  I have seen bathing suits that reveal more of a woman's breast.  And so what if a little skin shows?  Everyone on this earth has nipples...men and women.  I just don't see the big deal personally.  I've also noticed that the anti NIP (nursing in public) people seem to think that we just kind of "flop" or "flaunt" or "whip" our breasts out in a very flashy manor when attempting to nurse our babies.  I have yet to see any nursing mother do any of those things and I seriously doubt any of those posters have either, it is just the idea they have.  I do agree that we are very backwards in certain areas, especially when it comes to feeding our babies.  I think the only way to normalize NIP is for more women to do it.   

Also, I've noticed in some of the more recent posts quite a few people suggesting that moms use breast pumps and pump bottles before going out.  Has it ever occurred to anyone that some women aren't able to pump enough milk using a pump?  A baby is able to get more milk from the breast than a pump will.  Another thing, some babies will not take bottles if exclusively breastfed.  Besides that, especially early on, using a bottle instead of the breast for one or more feedings can lead to very full breasts, which is quite uncomfortable, and if not emptied, they can become engoreged, which can lead to infection, and also decrease the milk supply.  It is a supply and demand thing, breastfeeding is...so the more feedings you skip/use the bottle, the less milk your body will make.  With my first, I tried the pumping milk thing before going out.  I was able to pump enough, but my challenge was getting the baby to drink from the bottle.  He wouldn't have any of it, and it only made me and him much more frustrated, and then I had to deal with an angry, hungry baby that I ultimately had to nurse anyway, so why bother with the pump?  And as for one poster who mentioned feeding baby BEFORE going to a restaurant thereby making the baby sleep during dinner...Try making a baby eat when it's not hungry...doesn't work too well from my experience.  And as far as people being offended by a baby nursing in a restaurant...well, what more appropriate setting than that?  If I'm not mistaken, don't people go to restaurants to eat?  So why shouldn't a baby be allowed to take full advantage?   

   During my first pregancy, I didn't think I'd care for breastfeeding, but decided  the first 3 months were important for the health of my baby. I had no idea what a precious relationship it would be. I breastfed each of  my  two children for 18 months.  I always used a light blanket for my own modesty as well as the sensibilities of others. They were used to the light blanket and so never ripped it off. However, it has never bothered me to see a mother pull a top up modestly, and let her baby nurse; the baby is covering the nipple and the sweater is covering the top of the breast. 

  In short, most of the time a mother can love her baby and at the same time extend respect to those around her. It's a very good time for her to prepare herself to teach her child to not let their "rights" supercede being kind to those around them. 

I do not want to be in Toy's "R" Us and see a nursing Mom exposing herself to the curious eyes of little children that might or might not have been nursed themselves.  I witnessed this, recently, as she proudly let her two older children touch her breast that was fully exposed.  I also noticed moms pulling their staring children away.  This woman had no respect for herself or her children.  Give me a break....nursing in a restaurant....do they really crave that kind of attention.  My own children excused themselves and went to another room for privacy with both mother and child returning fully content.  Have respect for yourself  

I'm a 17 year old single mother and though I do not breastfeed, I do STRONGLY believe it is okay to do in public.  People do not have to watch or look at a mother feeding her child.  She absolutely SHOULD NOT have to leave a public area to go feed her child.  For example, what would a mother do or where would she go to feed her child on an airplane? Though I feel very strongly about breastfeeding in public being okay, I do think that women who do choose to breastfeed in public should not expose their breast before feeding. Their are many ways to breastfeed in public and be discreet enough about it that people wouldnt even know thats what you were doing.  In my opinion, anyone who says breastfeeding in public is unattractive, or disgusting; definately do not know what its like to have a baby or love a child.. My advice to those people against public breastfeeding should learn to turn your heads and mind your own business. 

And as for handing out condoms in schools, there is nothing a school can do to stop kids from having sex; and handing out condoms definately doesnt promote sexual activity.  As I said before I'm 17 and a single mother; and no matter how educated I was on sex, STDs, and pregnancy had no effect on my choice to have sex.  I do not think condoms should be handed out in schools, for the simple respect of the parents. Its a parents job to talk to their children and not the schools.  But even that can only do so much, because teens will do what they please.