Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

and this is what has been said the whoooooollllle time!!  just ignore us anway! 

 Very will stated. Thank you.

Listen, all of you who are against public breastfeeding....too bad. Its legal. Therefore, I am going to feed my son anywhere I want. No, I will NOT go into the bathroom and no I will NOT go into my car. I am going to stay exactly where I am and feed my son. I feed my son at the zoo, I feed my son at a restaurant, I feed my son at the park...ect. I will feed my son wherever we happen to be when he is hungry. Yes, I try the best I can to make it discreet but thats not always possible. My son is not happy with a blanket over his head, and when its 90 degrees I am not going to make him. If you dont like it, dont look. I am not just popping my breast out and waving it all around.  

Bottom line is I am protected by the law with my decision to feed my son however and wherever I want. If you dont like it then I suggest YOU go into the bathroom or into your car until I am finished. 

Perhaps you need to do a little reading or research on this subject.  Breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organization for at least two years, by the American Academy of Pediatrics for at least one year.  I'd be willing to bet that the recommendation of the AAP goes to two years soon.  You ask "What is crossing the line?"  I don't have an answer for that, I think it's a personal decision between mother and child...But your assertion that "anything over 1 y/o is just kinda freaky."  seems ignorant to me.

yeah, it provides accomodation for everyone but the mothers who don't have or can't afford a pump..  discretion is acceptable and as it has been said many many most nursing moms are discreet in public!  but showing 10 seconds or less of boob while trying to latch a baby on is NOT the same as exposing yourself specifically to make others stare, as it has been implied several times here...  all of you boobaphobics need to get a life!

I just want to know one thing----why didnt Dr. Phil, whom in all all  medical background knows about the benefits of breastfeeding--did he NOT list one benefit of nursing???  Instead he focused on the problems it causes strangers? 

  

I dont feel either lady had that great of a "case." 

  

- The nursing mother should have said WHY she nurses--all the health benefits and bonding experience. Dr. Phil SHOULD have agreed with her that it is the BEST food for babies (according to the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics, and it even says it on cans on formula.)  The nursing mom was too hung up on making her breasts a statement of Pro-breastfeeding, which in some ways I dont blame her. It is hard to nurse when the stereotype of breasts is that of only a sexual object.  

  

-The "digusted with breastfeeding in public" lady should have answered Dr.Phil's question as to why she did not approve of it. Her only answer "it's not attractive" does not make a good case.  It is not meant to be attractive to her.  

  

For all those against nursing in public, Dr. Phil could have listed benefits such as: 

-These kids will be sick less often-thus preventing your kids from getting sick  

-These kids eat for free, thus saving you tax dollars by avoiding welfare 

-These kids poopy diapers stink a heck of a whole lot less! 

  

***Nicole 

Nursed her son for 15 months 

  

  

sweetie, it's not about making ME look ridiculous.

 I am amazed that the woman with 3 children doesnt see a problem with bringing her children to church and having them be diruptive. Not only is it inconsiderate it is quite selfish on her part.  Children need to be taught at a young age how to act in public along with what is acceptable and what type of behavior is not. Yes, there are times when the wheels fall off and that is when you excuse yourself from wherever you are.  I am the mother of 5 year old triplets so I know of what I speak. I am able to bring my children anywhere and they know what is expected of them.  We have gone to public places from early on in their lives and they have learned how to behave. It isnt always easy or fun, but we are reaping the benefits now.  People often comment about how well behaved they are and are often amazed. In my opinon, this shouldnt be the exception but the rule. 

  

I have no problem with giving direction to other children in public places. If a child isnt behaving properly and the parent isnt parenting, then I will address the situation.  My children should not have to be intimated or shortchanged of a fun day at a park because someones child isnt behaving. 

 can't believe there are still people as ignorant and uneducated as the women on Fridays show, Shelly. Unbelieveable! (Kind of reminds me of the people that thought women shouldn't be entitled to vote, or that certain races should not be allowed to be treated as human, same kind of debate--human rights!) Earlier I noticed that she posted that she NEVER said to bring your baby to the washroom to breastfeed. Then when did the Dr.Phil website get this quote: “It’s not appropriate to nurse in public. It’s not attractive. For people like me who don’t have kids, we don’t want to watch it,” says Shelly. “Natural’s got nothing to do with it. It can still be natural in the bathroom or in your car!” Shelly says that if she wanted to see bare breasts when she was having coffee, she would go to a topless bar. “It’s just as inappropriate as if I were to take off my top sitting at the dinner table, put my dinner on my breast, and ask my boyfriend to eat that way.”   I find it rather difficult to understand why someone would go on International TV with her only reason being that it is NOT attractive, as pointed out in these quotes: I don’t find particularly attractive a woman with half her top off and a child put to it,” Shelly explains. “A lot of people don’t think it’s as attractive as the nursing mother thinks..." Not everybody finds the nursing breast and the child stuck to it attractive. It’s just not that attractive to everybody,” Shelly replies.   She has a difficult time viewing the breast other than as a sexual organ, which Dr. Phil trys to probe into the reason why, here is the quote: “What is it that bothers you about it?” Dr. Phil asks. “Does it make you self-conscious? Is it a sexual thing to you? Is it just sloppy and noisy?”   Also I would like to comment on this quote:  because I’m not against breast-feeding, but you don’t have to remove your top and expose your breasts in public. So I’m just saying, don’t put it in my face or in the face of people who don’t like it.” She suggests removing yourself from public before breast-feeding. “Everybody doesn’t have to watch you.”   As a breastfeeding mother I have NEVER put my breast in anyone's face, and have never seen a breastfeeding mother do this. Unless someone is staring intently you can not tell if the baby is cuddled up sleeping or nursing. No part of my breast is exposed, unless you are extremely close to me, which I would find uncomfortable (there is personal space for everyone).   Also I my baby never took a bottle and I could never pump enough anyways, so please don't suggest these options!   Does this women know all the benefits of breastfeeding? (If not I can list some), and who recommends breastfeeding (AAP, WHO,CPA to name a few).       My conclusion is that this women has extreme views that may or may not be because of her past, in which case I do feel that she should recieve therapy for this, it really is a shame that people can watch the graphic details of the daily news and not be able to tolerate a women nursing her child!

I am curious Shelly, at what age you think people develop the senses, sense of sight, smell, taste. If the mom is made to feel like crap and sent to the restroom to feed, which I have never actually seen, but I am sure it has happened, she will be so stressed out her milk might not even come down. If you think babies are just little machines that take in milk and put out poop then you are far more ignorant than I thought. 

There is a good video out there that explores the consciousness of infants. Noah Wyle is the narrator. It is found on www.whatbabieswant.com 

Good luck everyone.