Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

Breast feeding moms are only trying to feed their infants and dont like being told how where or when they should do that.   

I never breastfed any of my three children.  But I can guarantee you had I, if someone had the audacity to try and tell me where when or how I should feed my child,  I would have pretty much the same reactions as these bf'ing moms. 

Imo, it is the non breastfeeding moms on this board whos opinions are unreasonable.    I think the majority of harsh views all come from the guilt placed on the non breast feeding moms.    I cant figure any other reason for all these messages going back and forth.  Moms seem to own enough guilt and when you start in on a debate such as this, the guilt flies and so do the harsh opinions.   

But thats just MY opinion!  :) 

There are many reasons why expressing milk to give in a bottle is NOT a reasonable option for a breastfeeding mother. 

1) The action of a pump is inferior to that of a nursing child's suction, and using a pump instead of a baby to remove milk can lead to serious supply issues for the mother. 

2) If a mother delays feeding baby at the breast to give exressed breastmilk, she may become engorged with milk, which is terribly uncomfortable and can lead to medical problems, such as a breast infection. 

3) Giving a bottle of expressed milk can cause nipple confusion in a baby, which can lead to problems latching on to the mother's breast, causing low supply and severe pain for the mother 

4) Many breastfed babies will not take a bottle. The action they must use to draw milk brom an artificial nipple is entirely different from that used to remove milk from a breast. 

5) Expecting a mother to do this, despite the many possible problems it may cause, sends the message to mothers that breastfeeding is a shameful act, undermining the fragile resolve of many new mothers.  

Please keep in mind that breastfeeding mothers and infants are doing the most natural, easy, and healthy thing for one another. It is the use of bottles and artificail baby milks that is unusual. I acknowledge that there are some mothers who are unbale to nurse their babies, and some who choose not to. I do not ask a bottle-feeding mother to turn away from me, nor do I give her a disparaging look when she bottle feeds in public. 

Let's have some mutual respect for one another. 

Yes, I do know that the worldwide average age of weaning is like 4 yrs old :)  I'm sure the opposers on this message board don't know that though :)  So, thanks for posting that! 

AND to use the comparison of a buttcrack showing, urinating or defacating in public, or having sex in public with breastfeeding is beyond absurd.  Like someone else posted, its just a breast, people.  Get over it.  Men go without shirts.  And someone else posted that in Canada, its lawful for women to do the same.  Also, as with most others on here, I have NEVER seen a woman who's NIP baring her breast(s).  NEVER.  And all of my siblings and my sil does it.  Its not about showcasing our wares, its about the child's nutrition and comfort. 

I feel exactly the same way, if we normalize NIP, then barely anyone will still be offended by the next generation of breastfeeders.  Its a shame we have to try to hard to come full-circle to what's right and natural. 

Boy are you this push on all of your views. 

I would like to make one comment about all of these requests to take a nursing baby or toddler to the restroom. Many people compare breastfeeding in public to urination. That is an inaccurate comparison. The appropriate comparison is that of changing a diaper to urinating in public. It is, of course, ridiculous to change an infant's diaper at a table in a restaurant. THAT is the kind of baby care that should occur in the restroom. 

A friend of mine suggested a more accurate comparision to breastfeeding in public (for those who find it "unactractive." If an elderly, enfeebled person who has trouble eating neatly and is unpleasant for some diners to look at, the polite thing to do is to simply look away. Same goes for babies. 

One I don't concider pumping a reasonable suggestion.  Next it is recommended that a nursing mother NOT introduce a bottle till baby is 4 to 6 weeks of age! Even then the child may refuse the bottle. As for making baby take bottle, what would people that think like that suggest? I tried to get some of mine to take a bottle, I allowed my child to cry and go with out nursing and kept offering the bottle, had others offer the bottle and after about 5 hours of crying and my child not eating, I decided that my child was not going to be put through that anymore. I continued to offer bottles in hopes that he/she would take it at some point, some of mine did when they were older, but I had 2 that just would NOT take one.  

I totally agree a nursing mother should be discreet, but I also think discreet does NOT mean taking it to a private place. I nursed discreetly in public places and I never exposed myself or flashed anyone. It can be done discreetly! And just because options work for one person, does not mean it will work for everyone. As a mother I have to chose what is best for my family and me. I do always try and take inconcideration others feelings, but in the end my family comes first and if that means on the off occasion I have to nurse in public, I will do so...DISCREETLY! 

The only way anyone will see my breast is if they come pull my baby off and stick their face in my chest and if they do that, seeing an exposed breast will be the least of their worries. 

I think the b/f mother on the show was not willing to compromise at all. BUT pumping is not always an option. First off it is recommended that a nursing mother NOT introduce a bottle till baby is aleast 4 to 6 weeks of age, to make sure moms milk supply is well established and baby does not have a problem with nipple confusion and even then baby may refuse the bottle. I had 2 that would never take a bottle and yes I tried and tried and tried, they just would not have it they would cry for hours and not eat!! 

I also agree both sides need to be flexible and respectful!! I nurse in public  when I have to. I always try to plan outings around feedings, but that just does not always work. When I did/do nurse, I was discreet! So is nursing discreetly concidered being flexable and respectful? 

I feel that many of the b/f women on this board are willing to be flexiable and respectful, but not to the point they have to hide to feed their child. From what I have read they all want to feed their child when and where they need to, but they also say they can cover up 'well most of them do'. I think they are offended that even with the covering up, some people are still saying go elsewheres. JMO