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Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates
Dr. Phil and his guests strike up heated conversations as they debate the latest hot topics. Should women give up their right to breastfeed their babies in public so other people don't feel uncomfortable? Will passing out condoms in schools prevent unwanted pregnancies or just send the message to kids that it's OK to have sex? And, is it acceptable for others to discipline your kids if they see them acting out in public, or should they just mind their own business? Dr. Phil weighs in on these controversial subjects. Share your thoughts, join the discussion.
Find out what happened on the show.
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October 17, 2005, 10:58 am PDT
 Quote From: darguill Hey lady if you keep yours hidden so will I. My family is doing fine and we live according to our faith and this includes keeping yourself covered up. Yes by all means breast feed but cover it up. What is so difficult about keeping it covered up. I suppose my ideals are pruitan but why would you think it is wrong to keep it covered up? I can recall as a young fellow at a park many years ago. Myself and a few other friends were shooting marbles and a woman came and sat on the bench about 10 feet away from us and one of the guys gave me a elbow to the ribs and I looked up and this woman had pulled one out and she wet it so as to wash it then she got a cloth and wiped it and then she got a tube of something clear and rubbed it on the entire area and of course all of us stopped play marbles and we were five boys and she had our complete attention and then she picked her baby up out of the carriage and aimed the nipple to the receiving lips of the small child. With this show we were all quite aroused at this long careful display of breast manipulation. None of us at the age of thirteen needed to witness such an image of what should have been a private moment or at least a moment of cover up. After this one of the boys began to steal his older brothers dirty books and bring to school for the rest of us to look at. I dont think it made any of us outlaws but it did change the way we looked at girls after this (for a time) And I am sure that with television and movies we see sex all the time and it does influence us on how we view our own sexuality and the sexuality of others and you think I am bad because I say keep it modest and keep it covered except in your own home with your own mate. No man or woman is an island and what we do affects others. It was not my intention to offend but to give an opinon based on my life experience. I might add that there are those that think baggie pants worn low on the hips is hip and showing ones butt crack is cool or kool (Im not sure which). What if you had your day in court and your attorney walked in with pants like that dont you think this would have an effect on your view of him and would it not take you breath away if he bent over to pick up a pencile and it was in your line of sight. I think it would. Look at all those hip huggers, naval rings, 10 ear rings in each ear, a stud in your tongue or the eyebrow. About a year ago there were several 16 year old girls arrested at a mall for wearing mini skirts and they were bearing their bottoms for some of the shoppers. The point is the way we dress or undress even if we have a baby in our arms affects society as a whole. And I wish there were more women like Shelly who have the courgae to say cover it up and not someone who has little character because its easy to go along with the 61% that tends to burden our society with more sex and influence that flys in the face of morality and make no mistake about it this is a moral issue just like the condom issues and the wife beating and so many other issues. As seemingly harmless as this is it makes a statement of the charater of a woman who does or does not want to be in a chaste condition to her husband. You say scary and I say moral. The proposition that it is immoral to breastfeed without a cover is ridiculous. I can't believe an otherwise intelligent person like you doesn't know how to spell cool (ok maybe I am missing something here, I suppose it's possible the young'ins are calling it KOOL these days?). I think it is great that you like boobies so much. I don't deny that boobies are nice organs to look at, soft to the touch, and that my baby and my husband find a lot of comfort in them. The woman you described as coating her breast in a clear liquid was probably using a purell or something, perhaps she rolled around in a septic tank before going to the park, but for normal circumstances you should not use much soap or other harsh cleansers on your breasts, it leads to dryness and cracking nipples. The montgomery glands excrete a cleaning agent that keeps nursing sanitary. Just think about it, do you suppose the field workers stopped to wash up as they took their babies from the back sling position to the front before a feeding? I am so happy you don't like looking at my boobies because I don't want to show them to you! But I will do what is necessary to feed my child when he is hungry, and if that has to involve a little skin or a flash of a nipple during latch on so be it. I just don't understand what is so hard about averting your eyes if it bothers you. My nursing has never been initiated in anyone else's face or at their table so mind your own bee's wax. |
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October 17, 2005, 11:21 am PDT
Quote From: sadiesue I'm really hurt that you would think that I am raising perverted boys because I feel that breastfeeding should be a modest practice when it's done in public. I have taught my boys to be respectful and that it's bad manners to stare. They have seen many mothers breastfeeding (with a blanket) and thought nothing of it. However, we were school shopping at a mall and witnessed two mothers talking while feeding their children. One had a new baby and was using a blanket as cover. The other mother's toddler ran up to her and preceded to push his juice cup away, unbutton her shirt, pull out her breast in full view and STOOD next to her and nursed. In the meantime, she sat there and talked like nothing was happening. She didn't even try to lay her son across her lap so that her shirt could hang down. The newborn's mother made a comment about how maybe she should cover up some and was informed that breastfeeding was natural and if people didn't like it they didn't have to look. The mom with the baby got up and left to feed somewhere else. Now please tell me, was the toddler's mother wrong or right in how she handled her breastfeeding?
My point wasn't that I thought that the sight of you breastfeeding would turn my boys into lust freaks, it was about respect for others. Yes, bodily functions and breastfeeding are two different things. We live out in the country where every tree is considered fair game when needing to pee. My boys have rules though. If we have company, they must use the bathroom inside. Once again, teaching them about respect for others.
I am so glad that your oldest son is comfortable with your breastfeeding in front of him. It promotes a open relationship with him that most mother's don't get to achieve. I am also lucky enough that my sons can come to me with questions about girls, sex, and their body's changes. Please don't take offense to my next question because I'm not asking it out of spite, just wondering how you would handle a situation in case I also come across it as well. Despite your openess and advocacy for breastfeeding, what would you do if your oldest son came to you and voiced that he was uncomfortable with you breastfeeding his sibiling in front of him or his friends or in public? Would you respect his feelings and change how you did things or would you continue as you were?
As for your boys finding women who are comfortable breastfeeding, please also teach them to be accepting if their wives are unable to breastfeed. My husband never asked if I was going to breastfeed, but if WE were going to breastfeed. I tried with all 3 kids and was never able to keep an adequate supply and ended up switching to formula. He really wanted me to as he thought it was the best way to feed our children. If he was disappointed that I couldn't, he never let it show. It was his understanding that allows me to keep trying with every child. Maybe this time I will get lucky and be able to breastfeed, but I am also relieved knowing that he will support me either way. If you have any advice that would help me, I would love to hear it. My doctor and nurse tell me that there are a small percentage of women who just can't. I would love the opportunity just once to have that 'bond' that nursing mothers talk about. I would love to help you with your supply issue. Did you see a lactation consultant with the other 3? Sometimes doctors are quick to encourage formula because they are worried about babies not thriving, but formula interferes with supply. If you want you can email me at amyphilo@yahoo.com and I can talk about it in private, otherwise here is some general advice:
1) Initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, preferably the first half hour. During this time the baby is receptive to nursing.
2) Keep baby with you in room during hospital stay at all times, or go with baby for testing if necessary. Feed on-cue. This can mean almost round the clock nursing for some babies. If you don't feed often enough in the beginning, it takes longer for milk to come in, and to build up supply. Do not give glucose water or formula supplements during this crucial time, unless a doctor orders it. Do not trust the nurse, insist on talking to the doctor and finding out what is the medical reason for doing so. Babies lose weight in the beginning, and the weight standards are based on formula babies, not breastfed babies. If jaundice or other condition sets in, follow the supplement orders but do so with a cup or a dropper, not an artificial nipple.
3) Do not stop after 10 or 15 minutes on each side unless baby is totally finished. Feed on as long per side as baby wishes so the breast can be nearly emptied, stimulating more milk production. This also gets the baby the hind milk, which is more like cream and less like skim milk, baby will be less fussy and less hungry in between feedings. Then if baby is still hungry, switch breasts once the baby stops for good on the first breast or starts to act fussy on it, as this may mean it's almost empty.
4) Don't forget to empty both breasts by alternating which breast you start with at each feeding.
5) Do not use pacifiers to soothe a baby. Comfort nursing helps build supply, and a pacifier for a nursing infant could be undermining the infant's sense of getting food when he is hungry. Since you don't know if the baby is hungry or wants to nurse for comfort, go ahead and offer the breast. Better to soothe where there was no hunger than starve because you think baby is not hungry and just wants to be soothed. Breastfed babies do not overeat, they take exactly what they need. If you are not offering bottles or pacifiers, they will get plenty of milk.
6) Feed at least every 2-3 hours, but 1-2 hours in the beginning. Breast milk is digested very quickly.
7) Do not introduce a bottle or a pacifier at all unless breastfeeding is well established. If you have to introduce a bottle, do so by 2 weeks of age, but it should be pumped milk so as not to interfere with demand and supply.
8)Nursing works on demand - supply therefore if you go a long time between feedings your supply will go down because there is no demand. That is why it's better not to give supplemental bottles of formula, with each bottle of formula you deprive your body of stimulation to make more milk.
9) Night nursing helps keep up supply, as prolactin is at different levels at night than during the day. If you go a full 8 hours without nursing, eventually you will dry up. Easiest way to do this is to cosleep.
Common things that interfere with supply if no formula supplementation or nipple confusion is involved are: hormones from birth control, not nursing often enough, or not drinking enough water, and pregnancy.
If you have problems again you might need to see a lactation consultant or IBCLC. Also, you can check out some real expert advice on:
www.lalecheleague.org (Local La Leche League leaders can also help you solve these problems in person but if you have major problems they will recommend an IBCLC) www.askdrsears.com http://www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html (lots of how tos) www.promom.org (info on benefits as well, and discussion boards for support) |
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October 17, 2005, 11:31 am PDT
With three grown sons born in the early 1970's and 80's and five years apart or more I experienced changes in the mood of the country and the medical field on breastfeeding with each birth. I breastfed all of them, did it successfully, had loving support from my family and many older adults and still cherish the memories of those times with my babies. It is a very special time for bonding with our children but I do not consider it a private time. It is not a private time when we feed our children any other way or at any other age. Nursing is a natural way to feed an infant - it is how our bodies are made. Everyone makes their own choice but your milk comes in whether you decide to nurse or not. You have to do something unnatural to stop your milk production. Children everywhere should know the loving, nurturing, natural aspect of breastfeeding whether their families have done it or not. It should be a natural way of life as in most other countries. In an age of total immodesty where wearing negligee tops out in public, etc. is acceptable, it is surprising somehow to find out that doing something so natural and basic with our women's bodies is even up for discussion, let alone debate. And that brings us to the fact that there is no debate. It is a United States of America civil right to breastfeed our children. Currently at least thirty-four states have some type of legislation dealing with the protection of breastfeeding mothers. The American Medical Association has adopted a resolution urging states to pass legislation protecting a mother's right to breastfeed in public. In a report for Congress from 2003, A Summary of State Breastfeeding Laws states that "one of the stated objectives of the U.S. Public Health Service is to increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their children". See the U.S. Public Health Service report "Healthy People 2010". It upholds the fact that breastfeeding is healthy for mother and child. California, Illinois, Missouri and Vermont have implemented or encouraged development of breastfeeding awareness education campaigns. Florida created a new law in 1993 that states that breastfeeding is an important and basic act of nature that needs to be encouraged in the interests of mothers and childrens health. Minnesota law states that a mother may breastfeed in any location - irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding. Most states now uphold breastfeeding in any place where the mother has a right to be. In a time where modesty is so "out-of-date" why are so many discussing going back to Victorian times with this issue? I believe that it is because we are becoming uncomfortable with standards that bring us back to the times of decency, before we crossed the line where everything else became our "right".
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October 17, 2005, 11:32 am PDT
Quote From: rlanthier The exposed breast is not in itself a sex act, regardless of whether a baby is suckling. That's because the breast is not an action- it's a part of the body that has sexual effects on others (mostly men). That fact is not the least minimized by what the breast is DOING. Futhermore, sex isn't dirty, but that doesn't justify it's being done in public according to the mores of this culture. You can rant all you like about the beauties of motherhood, baby rights,male control of female sexuality, and all the other political firebrands. That changes nothing. The sexuality of an exposed breast is what it is by virtue of male/female biology and psychology. It is for this reason that there are indecent exposure laws, and even the ones that exempt nursing mothers include the proviso that nothing should show but the nipple which if the baby is nursing would also be hidden. Most of the heat of these arguments depend on confusing what ought to be a very clear issue- the sexual nature of the female breast. I think you got that law interpretation wrong, I have never heard of a law that says that nothing should show but the nipple. I have heard of the law that says EVEN the nipple is ok and women shouldn't worry about exposing EVEN the nipple when they are nursing. The rest of the woman's breasts are usually the less shocking part to people, a la Janet Jackson's wardrobe issues. Please go find those laws and post them here so we can enjoy explaining them to you. Your argument seems to be that men get so turned on by breasts that we have to keep them covered up. But even though you don't understand the reasons for breastfeeding protections or agree with them (apparently) nursing moms will continue nursing, and encourgaing others to do so. So I suppose you will go on seeing it as sexual every time I plop my boobie out on your plate at your table and lay my baby in your arms and say, please put my aereola in my baby's mouth, and while you are at it could you check my other breast for engorgement, thanks. J/K I mean I suppose you will go on seeing it as sexual every time I hold my baby, reach my hand down my shirt to unhook my bra, pull down my second undershirt, prepare boobie, lift shirt while simultaneously latching on baby, and lower shirt, all of which takes less than 10 seconds and if you manage to see any of my boob or nipple you must have been staring the whole time. |
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October 17, 2005, 11:45 am PDT
Quote From: rlanthier your logic : Breasts are milk receptacles for babies Babies need to be fed Therefore they should be fed in public
This is a red herring, so I don't know what YOU're talking about. It's not about baby rights. It's about social and legal propriety. You can't just finesse the fact that the breast is serving the baby as a pretext for exposing yourself. The end does not justify the means. Breasts are a major secondary sexual characteristic which is why the law prohibits their exposure in public. Facial hair doesn't even come close to the erotic attraction that breasts have. If that were the case, women going topless would not be a case of indecent exposure. "To encounter or advance against resolutely; confront boldly. "
I am going to continue breasting you on this public board. So much for nursing in public. Everyone seems to think it's about boobies instead of babies. Let's all go out there and breast each other! 6 entries found for breast. breast ( P ) Pronunciation Key (br st)n.
tr.v. breast·ed, breast·ing, breasts
[Middle English brest, from Old English br  ost.]
[Download Now or Buy the Book] Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. breast see keep abreast of; make a clean breast of.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. breast (br
Source: The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. Main Entry: breast Source: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc. breast n 1: the front part of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen; "he beat his breast in anger" 2: either of two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs on the chest of a woman [syn: bosom, knocker, boob, tit, titty] 3: meat carved from the breast of a fowl [syn: white meat] v 1: meet at breast level; "The runner breasted the tape" 2: reach the summit; "They breasted the mountain" 3: confront bodily; "breast the storm" [syn: front] |
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October 17, 2005, 11:48 am PDT
Quote From: badtrip I would love to help you with your supply issue. Did you see a lactation consultant with the other 3? Sometimes doctors are quick to encourage formula because they are worried about babies not thriving, but formula interferes with supply. If you want you can email me at amyphilo@yahoo.com and I can talk about it in private, otherwise here is some general advice:
1) Initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, preferably the first half hour. During this time the baby is receptive to nursing.
2) Keep baby with you in room during hospital stay at all times, or go with baby for testing if necessary. Feed on-cue. This can mean almost round the clock nursing for some babies. If you don't feed often enough in the beginning, it takes longer for milk to come in, and to build up supply. Do not give glucose water or formula supplements during this crucial time, unless a doctor orders it. Do not trust the nurse, insist on talking to the doctor and finding out what is the medical reason for doing so. Babies lose weight in the beginning, and the weight standards are based on formula babies, not breastfed babies. If jaundice or other condition sets in, follow the supplement orders but do so with a cup or a dropper, not an artificial nipple.
3) Do not stop after 10 or 15 minutes on each side unless baby is totally finished. Feed on as long per side as baby wishes so the breast can be nearly emptied, stimulating more milk production. This also gets the baby the hind milk, which is more like cream and less like skim milk, baby will be less fussy and less hungry in between feedings. Then if baby is still hungry, switch breasts once the baby stops for good on the first breast or starts to act fussy on it, as this may mean it's almost empty.
4) Don't forget to empty both breasts by alternating which breast you start with at each feeding.
5) Do not use pacifiers to soothe a baby. Comfort nursing helps build supply, and a pacifier for a nursing infant could be undermining the infant's sense of getting food when he is hungry. Since you don't know if the baby is hungry or wants to nurse for comfort, go ahead and offer the breast. Better to soothe where there was no hunger than starve because you think baby is not hungry and just wants to be soothed. Breastfed babies do not overeat, they take exactly what they need. If you are not offering bottles or pacifiers, they will get plenty of milk.
6) Feed at least every 2-3 hours, but 1-2 hours in the beginning. Breast milk is digested very quickly.
7) Do not introduce a bottle or a pacifier at all unless breastfeeding is well established. If you have to introduce a bottle, do so by 2 weeks of age, but it should be pumped milk so as not to interfere with demand and supply.
8)Nursing works on demand - supply therefore if you go a long time between feedings your supply will go down because there is no demand. That is why it's better not to give supplemental bottles of formula, with each bottle of formula you deprive your body of stimulation to make more milk.
9) Night nursing helps keep up supply, as prolactin is at different levels at night than during the day. If you go a full 8 hours without nursing, eventually you will dry up. Easiest way to do this is to cosleep.
Common things that interfere with supply if no formula supplementation or nipple confusion is involved are: hormones from birth control, not nursing often enough, or not drinking enough water, and pregnancy.
If you have problems again you might need to see a lactation consultant or IBCLC. Also, you can check out some real expert advice on:
www.lalecheleague.org (Local La Leche League leaders can also help you solve these problems in person but if you have major problems they will recommend an IBCLC) www.askdrsears.com http://www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html (lots of how tos) www.promom.org (info on benefits as well, and discussion boards for support) Epidural anesthesia reduced breastfeeding success in one study by 60%. Breastfeeding initiation can also be made slower and harder by c-sections and preterm birth. But that is not always the case. Just another thing to think about, so if you have one of those situations you will know you have to try a little harder than otherwise to get milk to come in, which can take up to 5 days. |
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October 17, 2005, 11:59 am PDT
Quote From: mom70s80s With three grown sons born in the early 1970's and 80's and five years apart or more I experienced changes in the mood of the country and the medical field on breastfeeding with each birth. I breastfed all of them, did it successfully, had loving support from my family and many older adults and still cherish the memories of those times with my babies. It is a very special time for bonding with our children but I do not consider it a private time. It is not a private time when we feed our children any other way or at any other age. Nursing is a natural way to feed an infant - it is how our bodies are made. Everyone makes their own choice but your milk comes in whether you decide to nurse or not. You have to do something unnatural to stop your milk production. Children everywhere should know the loving, nurturing, natural aspect of breastfeeding whether their families have done it or not. It should be a natural way of life as in most other countries. In an age of total immodesty where wearing negligee tops out in public, etc. is acceptable, it is surprising somehow to find out that doing something so natural and basic with our women's bodies is even up for discussion, let alone debate. And that brings us to the fact that there is no debate. It is a United States of America civil right to breastfeed our children. Currently at least thirty-four states have some type of legislation dealing with the protection of breastfeeding mothers. The American Medical Association has adopted a resolution urging states to pass legislation protecting a mother's right to breastfeed in public. In a report for Congress from 2003, A Summary of State Breastfeeding Laws states that "one of the stated objectives of the U.S. Public Health Service is to increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their children". See the U.S. Public Health Service report "Healthy People 2010". It upholds the fact that breastfeeding is healthy for mother and child. California, Illinois, Missouri and Vermont have implemented or encouraged development of breastfeeding awareness education campaigns. Florida created a new law in 1993 that states that breastfeeding is an important and basic act of nature that needs to be encouraged in the interests of mothers and childrens health. Minnesota law states that a mother may breastfeed in any location - irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding. Most states now uphold breastfeeding in any place where the mother has a right to be. In a time where modesty is so "out-of-date" why are so many discussing going back to Victorian times with this issue? I believe that it is because we are becoming uncomfortable with standards that bring us back to the times of decency, before we crossed the line where everything else became our "right".
Thank you for your post, it is nice to have the support of other women who have been through the same things we're going through. I appreciate you for caring enough to come to this board and post even through your children are grown. |
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October 17, 2005, 12:01 pm PDT
Quote From: sadiesue I'm really hurt that you would think that I am raising perverted boys because I feel that breastfeeding should be a modest practice when it's done in public. I have taught my boys to be respectful and that it's bad manners to stare. They have seen many mothers breastfeeding (with a blanket) and thought nothing of it. However, we were school shopping at a mall and witnessed two mothers talking while feeding their children. One had a new baby and was using a blanket as cover. The other mother's toddler ran up to her and preceded to push his juice cup away, unbutton her shirt, pull out her breast in full view and STOOD next to her and nursed. In the meantime, she sat there and talked like nothing was happening. She didn't even try to lay her son across her lap so that her shirt could hang down. The newborn's mother made a comment about how maybe she should cover up some and was informed that breastfeeding was natural and if people didn't like it they didn't have to look. The mom with the baby got up and left to feed somewhere else. Now please tell me, was the toddler's mother wrong or right in how she handled her breastfeeding?
My point wasn't that I thought that the sight of you breastfeeding would turn my boys into lust freaks, it was about respect for others. Yes, bodily functions and breastfeeding are two different things. We live out in the country where every tree is considered fair game when needing to pee. My boys have rules though. If we have company, they must use the bathroom inside. Once again, teaching them about respect for others.
I am so glad that your oldest son is comfortable with your breastfeeding in front of him. It promotes a open relationship with him that most mother's don't get to achieve. I am also lucky enough that my sons can come to me with questions about girls, sex, and their body's changes. Please don't take offense to my next question because I'm not asking it out of spite, just wondering how you would handle a situation in case I also come across it as well. Despite your openess and advocacy for breastfeeding, what would you do if your oldest son came to you and voiced that he was uncomfortable with you breastfeeding his sibiling in front of him or his friends or in public? Would you respect his feelings and change how you did things or would you continue as you were?
As for your boys finding women who are comfortable breastfeeding, please also teach them to be accepting if their wives are unable to breastfeed. My husband never asked if I was going to breastfeed, but if WE were going to breastfeed. I tried with all 3 kids and was never able to keep an adequate supply and ended up switching to formula. He really wanted me to as he thought it was the best way to feed our children. If he was disappointed that I couldn't, he never let it show. It was his understanding that allows me to keep trying with every child. Maybe this time I will get lucky and be able to breastfeed, but I am also relieved knowing that he will support me either way. If you have any advice that would help me, I would love to hear it. My doctor and nurse tell me that there are a small percentage of women who just can't. I would love the opportunity just once to have that 'bond' that nursing mothers talk about. If you are so concerned about teaching boys that it is a natural thing to beast feet the young then show them a mother dog that is taking care of her puppies now dogs walk around and show everything and they dont care but this instinct was put in animals and we are not animals. You know there have been several female teachers in the news resently who have been teaching young boys about sexuality perhaps you do not disagree with this. Perhaps you may want to take your family to visit a nudist camp so that you can get them conditioned so that they have an opinion that one breast is as good as another. You just dont want to cover it up. Why not let you sons find out about breasts after they get married. Is there something wrong with that? |
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October 17, 2005, 12:02 pm PDT
Quote From: tica1213 I am a mother of three who breastfed each child for two years. I breastfed anywhere and anytime that my children were hungry. And yet I NEVER exposed my breasts. There were many times that friends and/or strangers would look at me and or talk to me and yet not even know I was indeed breastfeeding. I live in Florida, where by law I can breastfeed in public. I agree that woman should be ale to breastfeed her baby ANYWHERE. I also know that there is no need to expose the breast while nursing. There are specially designed clothes for discrete nursing and there are ways to cover up so that the worl does not see the breast. I do not find it an unpleasant thing to see. I actually feel sad for little babies whose mom's chose to not breastfeed so that they are less tied to the baby and more freedom to come and go. How a mom cannot want to hold a child to her breast to feed him is beyond me and yet I understand that it a choice for everyone to make. Mothers who do not breastfeed there children do not love their children anyless than those who do. I am glad thati did and would never think of offering my baby formula when I have two breasts that work just fine. I also think that mom's who say they tried to breastfeed and quit after only days or weeks, didn;t try enough. Rarely does a mom not have enough milk for her baby. Ignorance, stress and lack of support or usually to blame.
Marta P. Miami, Florida There ought to be more hearts and minds like yours. |
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October 17, 2005, 12:10 pm PDT
Quote From: darguill If you are so concerned about teaching boys that it is a natural thing to beast feet the young then show them a mother dog that is taking care of her puppies now dogs walk around and show everything and they dont care but this instinct was put in animals and we are not animals. You know there have been several female teachers in the news resently who have been teaching young boys about sexuality perhaps you do not disagree with this. Perhaps you may want to take your family to visit a nudist camp so that you can get them conditioned so that they have an opinion that one breast is as good as another. You just dont want to cover it up. Why not let you sons find out about breasts after they get married. Is there something wrong with that? Why should boys or children in general have to wait until they are married to learn about body parts and their functions?
My daughter is 3 years old.. she knows the difference between a vagina and a penis and knows what breasts are.
I think bottom line is proper education is the key and breastfeeding in public should not be such the big deal that everyone is making it out to be. I chose to breastfeed and did so EVERYWHERE but did so discretly I think that is the key here folks.
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