Does breastfeeding in public offend you?

Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by SaMiKaY
I personally think it's a beautiful thing to see a mother and child connect like that. I do, however, believe she should try to be polite and use a blanket or something so she doesn't offend people like yourself.

It also depends on ... more
The average age of weaning in the world is 4.5 years. The average length of breastfeeding is between 2 years and 7 years of age.

I think when people are "disgusted" by something that is normal and healthy, it is helpful to find out why one feels disgust and maybe learn more about the issue to know.

I have nursed children for as long as 4.5 years. My youngest needed to be breastfed that long. A child this age doesn't breastfeed as a newborn does. My dd only nursed every 3 or 4 days for a minute or two by the time she was 3 and half or 4, but I had people on the website where I Moderated tell me I was "disgusting" and "only doing it for your own pleasure." NONE of these people had ever breastfed a child, knew the sacrifice doing so requires, and most of them either didn't have children or hadn't breastfed.

I know it is shocking to see a child over 2 or so breastfeeding, I know I was shocked the first time I saw a two year old breastfeeding! (How naive I was.) But, my shock came from not knowing enough about Attachment and Breastfeeding, and when I educated myself, I realized that being "disgusted" or almost worse "offended" was MY problem, not the mothers'. I also realized it was my own biases that caused my disgust and I learned my way out of this unpleasant emotion, by listening to what breastfeeding women had to say. And, of course, learning the facts about why some children simply NEED to breastfeed for longer than the few short months "our society" seems to condone (as long as they are "discreet." Really. )

Our need to be "offended" by things that really don't effect us in the least is a choice. I made the choice to let a lot of the things which "offended" me go by the wayside a while ago. It's an ongoing struggle, because we often fear or feel "offense" by the things we don't understand. Believe me, I fight being "offended" by things (like the aforementioned Blue Kool Aid or Mountain Dew or Coca Cola in a bottle) every day, but I fight it and I usually win and the "offended" feelings go away.

Let's save our "being offended" for important things, and things that actually effect our lives. In the long run, how does a nursing child really "effect" someone who might see it? With the exception of maybe desensitize them or even help them be more tolerant of a child's needs.

The only way to rid ourselves of unnecessary feelings of being "offended" is to learn more.
11/12/2011
Contributor: Lornoria Mirid Lornoria Mirid
Breastfeeding is a natural process that has been used by many species for thousands of years. You do not see other creatures trying to hide when they do it so why should humans try to hide it? People just need to chill out and realize that it is merely their own insecurities that have been enculturated in them since birth, nobody is really being harmed.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Kaltir Kaltir
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
That's not always possible. The average newborn may nurse 12 or more times in a 24 hour period. That leaves most moms with no more than 2 hours (at the most) to get the baby dressed and into her coat, make sure the diaper bag is filled, get her ... more
I understand this, but I meant that a child doesn't have to eat 24/7 as in, that child isn't eat nonstop every second of every day. If you are out trying to grocery shop, or where people are trying to eat, I feel there should be a level of thoughtfulness for the other people there. But I don't feel a child should have to wait. I have a daughter. I know a baby can get hungry again at very surprising times, but if you're going to be there, at least attempt to find a bottle and give it a try. Most babies are ok with a bottle from time to time. I've even seen women with those wraps that hold the baby tight to their chest, so the bottle placement in in the nipple area, to help avoid confusion. I don't hold your beliefs against you at all, and I stated why I have my opinion. I in no way am against it because I find it disgusting or anything of the sort. I just don't feel it's proper in many public places. Though I do wish there was an area set aside in larger stores or restaurants just for such a thing. A nice little seating area sectioned off from the rest so a mother could comfortably feel her child in private, or even for those that are afraid to scold their child in front of others. I realize this isn't cost effective for most places, and a day dream really, but it would be amazing for any mother to feel more comfortable doing this, without worrying about anyone else commenting, some creepy person staring, or any children asking questions.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Drakoni Drakoni
I actually think it's better for breastfeeding to be allowed in food areas. Think about it--the baby is eating. That really should not happen in a dirty bathroom.
11/29/2011
Contributor: zeebot zeebot
Quote:
Originally posted by LicentiouslyYours
Really?

Seeing a woman feed her child disgusts you?

And actually, having a child does give a mother the sacred right to feed that child as was intended by nature. There is nothing disgusting about it.
This.
11/29/2011
Contributor: Chirple Chirple
I don't understand how a breast would make someone more uncomfortable just because they were at a restaurant.

It's not like they're changing a baby's diaper on the table - they're feeding them in a way that humans have for thousands of years, along with a ton of other mammals.


I remember a great quote about the subject, along the lines of "heaven forbid young boys see a woman breastfeeding and get it in their heads that breasts are not just objects for their amusement".

I'll admit I'm a bit bothered by the idea that a woman's breasts are so sexual and shameful that they must be always hidden away, even during something as essential and natural as nursing.
11/30/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Kaltir
I understand this, but I meant that a child doesn't have to eat 24/7 as in, that child isn't eat nonstop every second of every day. If you are out trying to grocery shop, or where people are trying to eat, I feel there should be a level of ... more
I have to reiterate, because of this: QUOTE I know a baby can get hungry again at very surprising times, but if you're going to be there, at least attempt to find a bottle and give it a try. NO!!!! Some of us simply won't and all of us simply shouldn't.

Some many babies simply cannot take bottles! I'm a Board Certified Lactation Consultant and have nursed 3 children into toddlerhood and worked with thousands of breastfeeding dyads and I can assure you that Nipple Confusion (which is caused by bottles) is the single most common reason breastfeeding fails.

NO, we cannot "just put it in a bottle and give it a try." What if that "try" results in either a baby who won't eat (resulting in a hungry or sick baby and resulting screaming or illness?) OR a baby who then refuses the breast for the next week? Or forever, if Mom gives up (and often she has no idea how prevalent Nipple Confusion is and does give up, then and there.)

My first one had Nipple Confusion, the only way we got rid of it (I wasn't a consultant then) was when my husband took ALL the bottles, put them into a garbage bag and put them on the curb! It was the BEST thing he could have done. After 4 months of struggling, my daughter was nursing well in less than 3 days of no bottles.

I NEVER had a single bottle in my house with any of my other children. (About 8 years of breastfeeding all told.) EVER! I failed as a bottle feeder and many other babies cannot take even a single bottle without Nipple Confusion. How do you know if your baby will get Nipple Confusion? YOU DON'T! Until you give the bottle and then the kid goes on a nursing strike for the next week, and if you are like a lot of women you assume he's "weaning himself" (which babies under 12 months simply don't do) and give up.

I have spent hours and hours with THOUSANDS of patients whose ONLY breastfeeding issue was that a bottle was given and the baby basically forgot how to suckle properly after only one bottle feeding.

It can take WEEKS to get some babies back on track. Often we have to cup feed, or use a Supplemental Nursing System, or feed with a syringe. Just so someone won't be "offended" in the grocery store by their 3 second glance at our nursing baby? WTF?

My babies were too sweet and good and needing of MY milk directly from MY breast to give a shit what some stranger with issues in the grocery store thinks. He or she (the stranger) will forget about the encounter within minutes or days (unless they really have issues) but my baby may have feeding problems for the rest of our breastfeeding experiences. IT isn't worth the risk.

Using a "wrap" will NOT prevent Nipple Confusion. I can assure you of that. It's the way they hold the nipple in their mouths, the amount of surface area of the nipple, the way the milk comes out of the nipple and the way the tongue, soft palate and hard palate and lips form to suckle, the way human tissue compresses in the mouth, which NO bottle can imitate. A WRAP has NOTHING to do with any of this.

NONE of my babies, with the exception of my first, who had Severe Nipple Confusion, EVER had a bottle. And I couldn't have cared less what people thought who may have caught a glance at them in the store, restaurant etc.

People do a lot of minor things which "offend" others. As long as it's legal (and breastfeeding in public is legal in all 50 states) one is free to do it.

"Thoughtful" you said? What about being "thoughtful" of a baby and he and his mother's bonding and breastfeeding relationship, which could be permanently damaged by a single baby bottle!

I feel not only very very strongly about this, I KNOW about it. It's my Profession. Many babies and mothers have their breastfeeding relationships severely compromised by "a single bottle." Some don't. You don't know until it happens, and hopefully then, the mother will be mindful enough to know she needs to get help (and probably pay a Lactation Consultant) to cure the problem.

When you've sat in 1000 living rooms, comforting women whose babies scream when they see the breast, often from ONE single bottle and you've worked for hours to help her through the trauma... well, I have. I've lived it. I've seen the damage.

The trouble bottles cause many babies simply isn't worth the risk. Especially to simply avoid "offending" some stranger who catches a 3 second glance at a feeding baby.

WHO CARE what a stranger thinks? MY BABY'S NEEDS trumps some strangers issues by a long shot. And, I think most mothers feel the same way.
11/30/2011
Contributor: CuteDee CuteDee
People need to grow up... Breast feeding is totally normal and natural. Are people going to be upset when babies are bottle fed cuz the tip looks like a nipple? How about you eat your meal and worry about yourself? If breast feeding makes someone uncomfortable, be the bigger person and LEAVE!
11/30/2011
Contributor: Nothere Nothere
Whenever it's appropriate to feed a baby in public with a bottle, I feel is appropriate to breastfeed. Baby has to eat!
11/30/2011
Contributor: Willow Wand Willow Wand
Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker
Recently in the news in some random Midwest McDonald's, a woman who was breastfeeding was asked to leave. The lady doth protest too much and proceeded to find other breastfeeding mothers and have a...tit-in? They all gathered at Mickey D's ... more
Actually, where I live topless women is NOT against the law, in ANY shape or form. If men can be topless, it is only fair that women can be as well.

I breastfed all 6 of my kids and have NO problem feeding my child any time they are hungry. McDonald's is a RESTAURANT, therefore a place to eat. I don't eat in the bathroom, I refuse to feed my baby there!
12/01/2011
Contributor: mandaj mandaj
tht what breast are 4. they are put there to feed our children. i also think all women need tht shaw cover. it does cover up and makes things more comfortable. but by no means u should not tell a paying customer to leave cuz they are feeding their child
12/04/2011
Contributor: switzerland switzerland
it doesn't bother me at all. if anything, i wouldn't want to make the mother feel uncomfortable by staring.. but i wouldn't want to ignore her altogether and have her think that i disapprove....
12/04/2011
Contributor: Highmaintenancegirl916 Highmaintenancegirl916
I see nothing wrong with it.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Silverdrop Silverdrop
Eh, baby's gotta eat. I definitely don't find it a "beautiful thing", but I also don't find it a beautiful thing when a weaned child is getting baby food all over their face or a toddler is smearing Happy Meal everywhere or a group of 7 year olds are running amok and making that shrieking sound they do that sounds like they're either having the time of their life or being brutally murdered. I prefer to live in a society where children are being born and growing up than one without such inconveniences though.
01/16/2012
Contributor: BobbiJay BobbiJay
I breastfed my son and sometimes accidents happen and you see a boooby slip but most of the time it was very discreet. I don't see why people get offended. How else do you think all of our ancestors were fed?
01/16/2012
Contributor: Missmarc Missmarc
Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker
Recently in the news in some random Midwest McDonald's, a woman who was breastfeeding was asked to leave. The lady doth protest too much and proceeded to find other breastfeeding mothers and have a...tit-in? They all gathered at Mickey D's ... more
I find breastfeeding sexy.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Darklyvan Darklyvan
There are ways to feed your child in public with decorum. Using a feeding blanket to cover what you can for instance. Obviously there are times when it may be inappropriate, but for the most part it would not bother me.
01/16/2012
Contributor: November November
Quote:
Originally posted by Tori Rebel
I have no issue with breastfeeding in public, and it doesn't personally offend me, but I do think that unless there's a specific reason not to, there's no harm in using a blanket to try and cover up a little since there may be people ... more
This is what I think too.
01/16/2012
Contributor: deltalima deltalima
Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker
Recently in the news in some random Midwest McDonald's, a woman who was breastfeeding was asked to leave. The lady doth protest too much and proceeded to find other breastfeeding mothers and have a...tit-in? They all gathered at Mickey D's ... more
I agree but it everything is covered I might not mind. Nursing doesn't make you better than others.
01/16/2012
Contributor: dhig dhig
i don't mind it at all. most of the breast is covered by the baby anyway.
01/16/2012
Contributor: Moein Moein
Well, no problem for me, but I prefer if she cover her breast when feeding the baby.
01/17/2012
Contributor: leelee leelee
It is a natural beautiful thing but I don't like seeing other people's skin. if they would keep a blanket or something to keep most of it covered I'd have no problem at all.
01/24/2012
Contributor: SkylarrStarr SkylarrStarr
A woman came into the resturant were I work and proceeded to breast feed her baby WHILE she ate her meal...
I had not been so opposed to it, but man...that was a turn off. I don't mind it in public places, but around food seems impolite.

That said, we do live in a free country. If we take away a gal's right to whip out her boob and feed her kid in public, what might happen to some of the rights and liberties the rest of us enjoy?
01/24/2012
Contributor: cathy23 cathy23
I think it's OK if done discreetly and not done to prove a point, get attention, or start a, "cause" reaction.
01/24/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by SkylarrStarr
A woman came into the resturant were I work and proceeded to breast feed her baby WHILE she ate her meal...
I had not been so opposed to it, but man...that was a turn off. I don't mind it in public places, but around food seems ... more
Quote: . I don't mind it in public places, but around food seems impolite. end quote

Uh.... it IS food....
01/25/2012
Contributor: Undead Undead
Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker
Recently in the news in some random Midwest McDonald's, a woman who was breastfeeding was asked to leave. The lady doth protest too much and proceeded to find other breastfeeding mothers and have a...tit-in? They all gathered at Mickey D's ... more
It doesn't bother me, just cover up please
01/25/2012
Contributor: LoveTies LoveTies
Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker
Recently in the news in some random Midwest McDonald's, a woman who was breastfeeding was asked to leave. The lady doth protest too much and proceeded to find other breastfeeding mothers and have a...tit-in? They all gathered at Mickey D's ... more
Wow. I don't even have words.

Im not even going to bother I am just appalled.
01/25/2012
Contributor: Stinkytofu10 Stinkytofu10
breastfeeding is a beautiful thing, I don't understand why anyone would get offended at it. we're all mammals.
01/29/2012
Contributor: longhairmexman87 longhairmexman87
its ok
02/24/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I feel like... It's kind of unfair that the only times breasts are seen as acceptable in public for most people is if they're in a sexual context or a mothering context. Why can't breasts be treated as normal as a flat chest is?
02/24/2012