Does breastfeeding in public offend you?

Contributor: LicentiouslyYours LicentiouslyYours
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
I applaud your hard work, Syd. Pumping is NO fun. Doing it for every feeding is a real accomplishment! Kudos!

IMO, though the whole "blanket cover" thing screams "there's a tit in here!" It calls more attention to the ... more
"I used to get "offended" by a lot of shit I saw "in public" from the way some people chew their food, to people wearing clothes they have no business wearing "in public" to Mountain Dew in a 2 month old's bottle, BUT, I feel it is MY problem for being "offended" and not the person causing the "offense." We can choose to become less offended people, I certainly have."



So well said. THANK YOU!
09/08/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by LicentiouslyYours
"I used to get "offended" by a lot of shit I saw "in public" from the way some people chew their food, to people wearing clothes they have no business wearing "in public" to Mountain Dew in a 2 month old's ... more
You are quite welcome!
09/08/2010
Contributor: AU AU
"EWWWW" is not what I feel at all towards it, but I had to vote that as it is closest to my view? Or maybe I should have said "other"?

Though I am an artist who appreciates bodies, and I draw them nude often--I feel there is a time and place for things? I very strongly feel obvious public breastfeeding is unacceptable. I do not mind if someone is sure to cover themselves while feeding and a lot of people do that and I am happy when we can be accommodating to each others' needs and wishes. I do know some people who are almost aggressive about it, though. I think these people hope that by acting this way, I will be forced to accept and get used to it. Recently, I seen a guest at a wedding keep her breast out during a somewhat formal wedding photo. No one could say anything. Maybe she knew the bride and groom would not mind, but for a wedding photo? My opposition to some like this makes them bristle as if I want their babies to starve. And I do not! I just cannot get used to boobies in public. To me, exposed breasts are a sexual signal. I have always found breasts just as sexual as functional--Like it is to a lot of men. My significant other grew up around women who breastfeed in public and people who are comfortable with being naked around others-and he still is uncomfortable with it. Perhaps it is also notable that we are Childfree? I am not as harsh as some, though. I think if I had a business where women frequented, I might try to have a pleasant area for mothers. But even that might get opposition? Hey, it would be providing a quiet seat! That sounds good to me.
09/09/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by AU
"EWWWW" is not what I feel at all towards it, but I had to vote that as it is closest to my view? Or maybe I should have said "other"?

Though I am an artist who appreciates bodies, and I draw them nude often--I feel there ... more
Post deleted. Never mind....
09/09/2010
Contributor: Jenniae09 Jenniae09
I think it's fine just as long as they aren't asking for attention by ripping their shirt off and announcing they have to do it. My aunt used to do that... If they just act natural about it and cover it I don't care, the child has to eat too!
09/09/2010
Contributor: Persephone Nightmare Persephone Nightmare
I don't mind when women breastfeed in public, but I feel it is polite and courteous when they use a wrap/cover/blanket while doing so.

Someday (hopefully in the far future, lol) I plan on wearing Saris most of the time so that it's easier to breastfeed discreetly and be fashionable at the same time Lol
09/09/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Persephone Nightmare
I don't mind when women breastfeed in public, but I feel it is polite and courteous when they use a wrap/cover/blanket while doing so.

Someday (hopefully in the far future, lol) I plan on wearing Saris most of the time so that it's ... more
I found carrying the baby in a carrying sling, like the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder or the Maya Wrap is really good to keep the baby safe and warm, to help hold the baby, and to use as a "shield" from people's hands (I don't like people grabbing my babies) and also as a nursing blind, if need be.
09/09/2010
Contributor: Passionate Pastor Passionate Pastor
I think it is fine as long it is done discreetly.
09/09/2010
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
~From The Bloggess~

Breast Feeding Will Kill
09/30/2010
Contributor: Isadorabelle Isadorabelle
I don't have a problem with women who breastfeed publicly, but I think some modesty and covering with a blanket or something like that is polite to other people around. Not everyone is comfortable seeing breasts exposed like that, it's just being considerate.

As far as it being in a restaurant setting....well, at least that way everybody is dining. Hehe, I kid, I kid.
09/30/2010
Contributor: Isadorabelle Isadorabelle
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
Yeah, my mother and her mother-in-law battled about it (this was the mid-late 1970's). My grandmother raised her kids in the 1950's where 'you bottle-fed, no ifs-ands-or-buts about it'. She and my grandfather refused to let her nurse ... more
Really? Oh wow. I don't think I could handle a man telling me that. If he wants breasts so bad, he can grow them himself. These are mine to do with what I please.

My grandmother raised her kids in the 60's and encouraged my aunt (and when I eventually have kids) to breastfeed for the baby's benefit. If possible, I plan to and just plan to be as modest about it as possible.
09/30/2010
Contributor: Isadorabelle Isadorabelle
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
The Human Spirit always amazes me.

My grandma was an incredible woman. Had her first baby out of wedlock, with a Gangster boyfriend, was married off to a man she has to "learn to love" when her daughter was about 4, had my dad and ... more
Your grandma sounds like she was a real riot to be around!
09/30/2010
Contributor: Rayne Millaray Rayne Millaray
I breastfed all of my children. Two of them refused to take bottles, regardless of what was in them, until I finally weaned them off my breast, and onto cereal and baby food.

So yes. I breastfed in public. And I see nothing wrong with it.

Until I had kids, I was extremely modest, and I went through a bit of turmoil with public breastfeeding. Especially since I was sixteen when I had my first child. But my son had to eat, and it's not always possible to avoid being out of the house during feeding time. Life happens, and kids get hungry before they're supposed to sometimes.

That being said, I always covered myself. I would put receiving blankets over both of us until we were situated, and then just over my breast while I fed my children. I understood some people saw nudity as a sexual thing, and wouldn't want their children to see my breast, regardless the reason. And I've never really been interested in intentionally offending strangers.

But it's part of nature. It's life. And it's part of being a mammal. And honestly? All of us could use a little more nature, these days.
10/01/2010
Contributor: onehotmomma onehotmomma
I have to comment on this again, for my experience I just had on vacation. My baby turned 4 months old today, and we recently made a trip to Disneyland. I breastfeed her, with a nursing cover. I was sitting on a bench right by where Disneyland workers come and go, so it was like a dead end street. I was Right outside the Mother baby center there (the mother baby center was full) My baby is VERY colicky. She is screaming pretty much if she was awake. I was done feeding her, but still had my nursing cover on, and my baby had her binky in her mouth to keep her quiet. This guy gave me a dirty look, and said that's disgusting as he was walking by. He went and sat on the bench next to me that was on the other side of a garbage can. He got on his cell phone, so I just took her binky out and let her scream. He gave me this "wtf? look" and I said "well you didn't want me feeding her so now she's going to scream." heh. Then of course my bf comes back with my kicking and screaming 2 year old

I don't tolerate rude things like that when it comes to my breastfeeding. Especially since I use a nursing cover, and go to a discreet area. If it bugs someone, that's fine. The rude comments don't need to be said meanly in public though.

On another note, I can't breastfeed anymore She hasn't gained any weight in 2 months, and isn't getting enough iron! boooo.
10/01/2010
Contributor: Love Buzz Love Buzz
It is time people get over women breast feeding in public, it really isn't anything shameful and personally dont get why some think it shouldn't be done in public
10/01/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by onehotmomma
I have to comment on this again, for my experience I just had on vacation. My baby turned 4 months old today, and we recently made a trip to Disneyland. I breastfeed her, with a nursing cover. I was sitting on a bench right by where Disneyland ... more
Mama, have you talked to a Lactation Consultant or a La Leche League leader? Breastfed babies have the RIGHT amount of iron in their blood, but it's sometimes lower than their bottle fed counterparts. Also, any cereal with iron added can prevent your baby from absorbing ALL the iron in your breastmilk by inhibiting the enzyme lactoferrin.

Also, it is common around four months for breastfed babies to "plateau out" on their weight gain for a month or two. Too much solid food can be the culprit, but even completely breastfed babies do this.

They DO NOT teach lactation and breastfeeding in Medical School, so if doctor is giving your grief and your baby is still healthy and growing in height and head circumference, please see an LC or LLL leader. Human milk doesn't just "stop working" unless something is interfering with it, or there is a problem that has NOTHING to do with breastfeeding.

Doctors are usually completely ignorant of breastfeeding and only LCs or LLLls should be helping you.

Good luck. I've seen this problem a thousand times and have never had a client "have to" stop nursing because of it. There is always a solution. Sometimes, it's changing pediatricians.
10/01/2010
Contributor: Sexy Machine Sexy Machine
Doesn't bother me. Its really beautiful. A great bond between baby and mommy.
10/01/2010
Contributor: Andromeda Andromeda
Depends. Doesn't bother me as long as a blanket/cover is used. I've seen a woman whip up her shirt in the middle of the store to feed her baby (wasn't wearing a bra, so everyone in the surrounding area had a clear boob shot). I've also seen a woman breastfeed in the middle of our dining hall, no cover. These are the only two instances in which someone breastfeeding in public bothered me.
10/01/2010
Contributor: sarahbear sarahbear
Quote:
Originally posted by onehotmomma
I have to comment on this again, for my experience I just had on vacation. My baby turned 4 months old today, and we recently made a trip to Disneyland. I breastfeed her, with a nursing cover. I was sitting on a bench right by where Disneyland ... more
My doctor was concerned about my daughter's weight around that age and sent me home some sort of stuff to mix in my pumped milk as a supplement. She still wouldn't gain any weight and he thought she was really small so he asked me to put her on formula, and I did, and she still didn't gain any weight for several months. When I went back he said that she was just a small baby and it would have been fine to continue nursing her...

By that time my milk was mostly dried up. I tried taking fenugreek in a liquid, but it was disgusting, and I didn't have the support system or time (with 3 older kids) to work on getting my supply back up. So, I just quit. I still get a little upset about it. I'd talk to a lactation consultant and get some support, if you still want to nurse. If you're okay with stopping, that's cool too. I just thought I'd offer my story because I wanted to keep nursing but was told I should quit.

Also, high five for allowing the baby to cry and show another butt head why they shouldn't whine about someone nursing their baby in public.
10/01/2010
Contributor: Viktor Vysheslav Malkin Viktor Vysheslav Malkin
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, but I just dont see why people would have to do it in public.
10/02/2010
Contributor: onehotmomma onehotmomma
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
Mama, have you talked to a Lactation Consultant or a La Leche League leader? Breastfed babies have the RIGHT amount of iron in their blood, but it's sometimes lower than their bottle fed counterparts. Also, any cereal with iron added can prevent ... more
I contacted the Le Leche leader about a week ago, and she's the one who told me to feed her all the time. I haven't started baby on foods yet, but now she's on iron shots. We go in for some more testing next week. btw, I don't go to my doctor for any baby related issues. For the fact that I've seen the book "what to expect the first year" In his office. I end up calling my friend who is a midwife, or the lactation consultants lol.
10/02/2010
Contributor: Kim! Kim!
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
OMG. My grandma has a very similar story with her first baby, who was born in the 1920s. The baby was born too early, and weighed about 3 lbs, too. The doctor told her to take the baby home to die (she only went to the hospital because she thought ... more
My grandpa was born around the same time and he was a twin, weighing about 3 lbs as well. They stuck him and his twin sister in their wood stove at first! Both of them lived long lives.


I wish that I had been able to breastfeed my son but I needed to get back on antidepressants at the time and did not feel comfortable taking them and passing them onto him through my milk. I know that some are deemed as "safe" but I don't know that I really trust that label. My next, though, will be under different circumstances (my father and my grandmother, whom I was very close to, passed away while I was pregnant, my boyfriend was an unhelpful douche about the whole thing, and my grandpa was dying) and I fully intend to breastfeed. My son is almost 5 and it still breaks my heart that he was formula fed. When I have another I'll feed him or her when and where they're hungry. I'm not going to make a big show out of it (and no one should) nor am I just going to lift my shirt up like it's Mardi Gras. I'll be discrete but I'm not going to keep the baby totally under a blanket either. I hate being under blankets so why would I do it to my baby?
10/02/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by onehotmomma
I contacted the Le Leche leader about a week ago, and she's the one who told me to feed her all the time. I haven't started baby on foods yet, but now she's on iron shots. We go in for some more testing next week. btw, I don't go to ... more
I'm glad you talked to a LLL leader. The charts a lot of doctors use are based on white, middle class, formula fed babies in the 1960s, when formula was too high in protein, and babies gained weight too quickly. Breastfed babies gain weight differently, going through spurts, rather than gaining on a diagonal line.

You are right about "what to expect" terrible books for new moms. I prefer [italic}The Baby Book] by William, Martha and Robert Sears, or The Womanly Art of Breastfeeeding (you have to get this book, it's one of the best) and Attachment Parenting by Katie Allison Granju.

Also, LLL Kelly Mom Breastfeeding site and Dr.Sears site are good places to go. You also can't beat going TO a LLL meeting or more than one to get the best help.

Keep up the good work.
10/02/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Viktor Vysheslav Malkin
It doesn't bother me, but I just dont see why people would have to do it in public.
Because most infants NEED to nurse very frequently (one of my babies needed to nurse every hour) and women shouldn't have to hide themselves in the house, just because they have a baby. Also, SO MANY babies simply can't take bottles and continue to breastfeed (they get Nipple Confusion and often refuse to nurse after having a bottle) so they HAVE TO nurse where ever they are.
10/02/2010
Contributor: lamira lamira
I really don't care. It's something a mother has to do and the kid needs to eat too.
10/14/2010
Contributor: J's Alley J's Alley
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.
I have to agree with Laurel. I have two kids and my first thought is always...oh she's hungry...feed her before she screams.

I would rather have a quiet baby nursing than a screaming one sitting near me (especially if they are screaming for food).

Look at it this way: Are parents expected to stay in for however long they choose to nurse? No. We go out, we have fun and we nurse. I always covered myself and my daughters though...no need to flaunt the feeding.
10/14/2010
Contributor: Madeira Madeira
I cannot fucking stand when people complain about this, babies need to eat, and you can't expect mom's to hole up in their homes until their babies are weaned. I was breast fed, and I intend to breast feed my progeny
10/14/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Madeira
I cannot fucking stand when people complain about this, babies need to eat, and you can't expect mom's to hole up in their homes until their babies are weaned. I was breast fed, and I intend to breast feed my progeny


I nursed my youngest child for 4 years. (And my others from between a year and a half to two and a half.) She was a preterm baby, was very small, didn't eat solids well, had a damaged immune system from the prematurity and needed MY milk. I sure as hell wasn't going to stay in the house for four years!

After the age of two or so, I'd try to distract her if she wanted to nurse while we were out. By this age, they can usually wait and you can distract them with a cup of water or watered down juice (we NEVER used bottles after the fiasco with my first baby and her Nipple Confusion) and some graham crackers or fish crackers until we got home. But, when they were babies, they got the milk right from the source when ever and where ever they needed it.
10/14/2010
Contributor: Madeira Madeira
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell


I nursed my youngest child for 4 years. (And my others from between a year and a half to two and a half.) She was a preterm baby, was very small, didn't eat solids well, had a damaged immune system from the prematurity and needed MY ... more
My mom breast fed me till I was three (though after the first year mostly just to get to sleep)
10/14/2010
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Madeira
My mom breast fed me till I was three (though after the first year mostly just to get to sleep)
Yay! The worldwide average for weaning is 4.2 years. That means the average age that children wean at is about 4 years 2 months. When you take into account all the babies who are on either side of this age, it accounts for a lot of variation.

Good for your mom. Was she in LLL?
10/15/2010