Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

I knew because my breast were engorged and yet nothing came out!!!! Do you not ware breast pads to prevent any leakage? I didn't have to because I did not have any leakage. NOTHING came out! So no I couldn't have even though I really wanted too. The point was is that you shouldn't assume to know everyone's reasons for choosing to bottle or breast feed. Again you assumed to know my reasons and were way off base. If you are able and choose to breast feed then by all means you should. It will benefit you and your child. But if you can't or choose not to breast feed then you and your child can still benefit. I held and bonded with my children during bottle feedings just as if I would have if I were breast feeding. I held them and sang to them just the same. That was a personal choice. Because I do realize that some parents make the choice to bottle feed for the wrong reasons.  

So please tell how you can say in one sentence that less then 1% of women can't breast feed end then say in another sentence that "There is probably no reason at all why you couldn't have breastfed. It's hard sometimes... but if you had really wanted to, you could have." Did it ever occur that just maybe I was part of where research has concluded that 1% figure from? 

I was utterly appalled at the utterances of the woman against breastfeeding in public. Recognizing that she is not the only one of the opinion that women should not be allowed to breastfeed in public, it was her so-called reason for being offended: she finds it “unattractive”!!!!! What?! A_MA_ZING! I disagree with all people who are against, but her reason was beyond ridiculous. Ok, next time a fat, sweaty man, crack and back hair showing, slurping his corn chowder as chunks of it stick in his beard, is sitting in the restaurant with me, I’ll bitterly request he be sent to the stall to finish his meal, because I find it “unattractive.”  Oh, wait – he has a right to eat in public! But my babies don’t? Now, before the comments come up about giving them a bottle, guess what? Based on everything I’ve read, breastfeeding is the best choice for the development of my children, and unfortunately those moments will simply not come when it is convenient for every else in the room…especially mom!  Oh, and despite a mom’s best intentions to be discreet with blankets, babies can’t be told not to pull it off because the two-toned hair women is glaring, rather than paying attention to her own meal and her companions. Babies actually have an excuse for their lack of rational thought: they are too young to know the prejudices in our world.  

While I’m at it, why is it that smokers are allowed to freely walk downtown shopping districts an outdoor malls, poisoning me and my tiny babies with proven DEADLY second hand smoke, yet some close-minded, repressed, unaware of the rest of the planet individuals are out there thinking I deserve a citation if I FEED MY CHILDREN??? If you want something to be offended by, let’s pick up the topic of people who drive around in their cars, windows up, smoking, with children riding in the back seat. In my opinion, they should be cited for child endangerment. It’s sad to find people adamantly, bitterly complaining about moms NOURISHING their children when there are so many true evils in the world. 

To Dr. Phil: I really wished you had taken the time to point out the multitude of studies proving the benefits of breastfeeding. You had this type of info ready for the woman against distributing condoms in school, yet not a word with respect to breastfeeding. It surprised me. Here’s the other thing: as someone who has children, let alone all of your education and experience with family issues, you KNOW that even as discreet as woman may try to be, she doesn’t always have a choice. The breastfeeding mom said that her child pulled the blanket off – in other words, she had tried, and with her child it didn’t work. I’m still pregnant with my twins, and I am willing to bet that in my attempts to get two feeding, inevitably some skin will show – not my intention, but I’m certainly not going to sweat it. My job, my first priority, is to nourish my children – not to worry about what some stranger in the room is thinking. Finally, as entitled to her opinion as she is, I was really surprised that you didn’t call the anti- woman on the fact that the ONLY reason she had for being against it is that she finds it unattractive. I’ve seen you call people on a lot less than that. Have you ever met a woman who is hoping against hope that someone will check her sexy self out as she feeds her child? From what I hear, moms are lucky to get a shower or even find any clothes w/o a stain – attractiveness is just not part of the equation. I find it amazing that breastfeeding women transcend all the pain, bleeding nipples, leaking breasts, lack of sleep, and unending dependence to find the experience unparalleled and beautiful. I can’t wait – honestly. Breastfeeding women deserve respect, not glares and citations.
 

Here's another idea: how about you complain to no one??? 

Tell someone in charge "how wrong you think it is?"  I still don't understand why nursing in public is anyone else's business.  Does seeing a mother holding her child bother you?  Should we have a separate room for mothers who want to play with their children?  Breastfeeding is just another example of a mother taking care of her baby, and to send a nursing mother to a separate room, away from the public eye, implies that there is something shameful and wrong about breastfeeding.   

I have a friend who formula fed her first son because she had never been exposed to BFing.  Now that she has seen others doing it and is more comfortable with the idea, she is planning to BF her second child.  For that reason, I don't mind nursing "out on some bench somewhere getting glared at!"  I hope that my public nursing makes BFing a more familiar sight to women who might choose to formula feed just because they haven't been exposed to the alternative. 

And let me say for the record, to anyone who doesn't approve of NIP - instead of glaring at me while I'm nursing, please come on over and say something!  I'd love the opportunity to educate you on the advantages of BFing.  Since the mother-child bond clearly isn't enough of a reason to earn your approval of BFing, maybe lower healthcare costs will.  One study found that 50% of infants breastfeeding could save an HMO up to $140,000 annually.  Talk about a benefit for society!! 

Hopefully, if more mothers go about their normal lives and feed their babies when and where they are hungry, BFing will become a more normal sight in everyone's lives.  And maybe, just maybe... someone will approach a BFing mother to say "thanks!" 

What I would like to know is why you need to show your breast?  The baby is still eating if s/he is covered up.  That's why many people feel that women who just expose their breast while breastfeeding are flaunting themselves.  What I find very funny is that women wouldn't want their children to see bare breasts on television but it's okay to look at them if a child is hanging off of it?  A boob is a boob.  The only difference between the two is that the ones on television look better! *lol* 

Amanda 

Hmmm.  What's more disgusting.  A bottle or pacifier or a droopy, saggy, stretchmark covered breast?  There's no competition there.  It's the droopy, saggy, stretchmark covered breast that's disgusting! 

As a breastfeeding mother I am saddened that this topic is so controversial. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests breastfeeding for a minimum of one year, 99% of women around the world feed their infants with breastmilk, this is how our bodies were designed. I believe those women who find breastfeeding mothers and babies "unattractive and inappropriate in public" either 1. have no children of their own hence they should not even comment 2. failed at their own attempt to breastfeed 3. breastfeed but are so repressed and confused about their body as a life giving and sustaining vessel and a sexual vessel that they buy into a sexist provencial mentality. These are the same women who can't tolerate the thought of a topess beach or exposed breast in artwork or print ads. I feel sorry for these women who are so unsophisticated and shamed by the strength of the female body. 

Secondly, I am a social worker who has worked in Adolescent Health Clincis and schools x12 years. Those of you who believe abstinence works are incredibly naive. Teenagers are having sex and many of them are not using birth control. I imagine if you sat in on a session with me and the doctors who have to tell teenagers they tested positive for STD's and HIV (this is a weekly occurence for us), you might think handing out condoms is not a big deal. Handing out HIV meds and hospice referrals is more concerning. Remember, in most states, doctors don't have to tell parents that their teenagers are infected with an STD-confidentiality laws protect the teen. I urge you to get with the times and understand our teens need tools to make safe sex choices.. 

Who gets to decide what "discreet" is? It is a subjective term. I don't have an obligation to anyone except the 5 kids I BF. 

Also, it is not a belief that breastfeeding is healthy, safe and natural. It is a fact. 

Let's not get the BFing mommies fighting with eachother too.