BellaOnline Forums Family Daughters What is your stance on public breastfeeding?

I am 100% for public breastfeeding. My first daughter never took a bottle so if I wanted to leave the house for any amount of time, I had to get over my inhibitions and deal with brestfeeding her in public. I always tried to be relatively discrete, but I was never one for feeding my sweet baby in a stinky bathroom. I think if a person doesn't like the site of a woman breastfeeding her child, then s/he shouldn't look.
I am also in favor of breastfeeding in public because it is the best advertising that breastfeeding can get! <img src="/images/graemlins/heart.gif" alt="" />

I think seeing a woman breastfeed makes some people uncomfortable. I breastfed both of my kids and I am an advocate...it is so much better for the baby. I never did it in public though, even at home I would drape a blanket over the baby and my shoulder. Connie

I never had a problem nursing my daughter in public. I started when she was three days and nursed until she stopped asking to nurse in public. She's nearly three and she just doesn't ask anymore to nurse in public. But when she does ask we do. I would never cater to those around me when nursing my daughter. I am by nature a modest person, so I was discreet, but oftentimes my daughter would push my shirt up, or we would take a few minutes to get her latched on, and what people saw people saw. If they didn't like it they didn't have to look. I get offended seeing people bottlefeeding their babies, but I don't get up and ask them to take it to the bathroom. Every baby has the right to eat when they're hungry. I never used a blanket over us, I found that that brings more attention to it than just using a good nursing shirt. I've had a man two feet from me and my baby and we were conversing without him realizing at all that she was eating, he thought she was sleeping. When he did realize he was uncomfortable and got up and left. His choice!

My daughter has also never used a bottle, never had a drop of formula. To me it was a huge inconvenience to think about bringing something when my breasts made the perfect food for her on demand.

I agree there is no problem about breastfeeding in public; I'm a little put off that it's now becoming an "issue". I'm expecting my fourth nursling, and I never hesitated to feed my babies when they needed feeding. There is nursing clothing you can buy that minimizes exposure (really it's more the exposure of the belly when the shirt is pulled up that people notice, and nursing clothing eliminates that), and if you keep a quick hand at the ready, you can always cover up if baby pops off. I don't deliberately nurse out in the open; I try to find a more private area if I can, but I will not perch on the edge of a toilet in a stall to nurse, and I will not resort to bottles or make my babies go hungry, either. Public nursing is SO not a big deal unless people make it that way.

Here in the Bay Area, there is a lot of activism about breast feeding. Reading about all the "lactivism" lately, I liked one woman's comment that mothers are caught in a cycle that because people don't see it, they are uncomfortable, and because people are uncomfortable, they don't want to see it.

I think getting women the right to breast-feed wherever and whenever the baby wants would be a good beginning towards removing the sexual stigma that female breasts seem to carry when they are in public view.

Should they nurse more often in public so that society becomes accustomed to the site of a mother breastfeeding her child?

Yes.

Arly Helm, MS, IBCLC

People should breastfeed more frequently in public so that society becomes more accustomed to the sight. I always hated feeling like the public thought I was doing something 'nasty' when I choose to breastfeed in public.

I have nursed my daughter in public on many occasions, but I try to be discreet about it.

All breastfeeding women should have the right to nurse whenever and wherever the need arises. (just like a bottlefeeding mother does). Our society is so hung up on "breasts" being a sexual thing! Breasts should be used for the purpose they were put upon our chests for. Women should be discrete when nursing. Unbutton a couple of buttons at the BOTTOM of your blouse, pull up from the bottom and don't display the breasts. I breastfed all of my children exclusively for 6+ months and continued the nursing relationship for over 2 years with each of them. I feel I showed discression when out in public and did not call attention to myself. If a Mom can anticipate their baby's needs and put them to the breasdt before they cry, chances are no-one will even know the baby is nursing.
Go for it...the benefits are many! If someone doesn't seem comfortable...then DON'T LOOK!
Yvonne
www.doulawithlove.com

Adults eat when they want and where the want, why is it an issue when babies need/want to eat or be comforted in a public place?

I nursed my son on over 30 first-class flights where he traveled like a complete angel. Many business men (and some women) would scowl as I sat down beside them with an infant, but when the flight was over the majority of them (and many others in the first-class cabin)commented on what a great baby he was. Partially this was due to the fact his needs, feeding and otherwise were being met on cue.

There is plenty of public behavior that is offensive these days - breastfeeding should not make the list.

Breast feeding is a beautiful thing between mother and child. It is too bad men cannot experience this. Spread the beauty.

I am 100% for it and live for the time that bf is the cultural norm, so others will be for it too.
Here's to that time coming soon...
Cheers

I'm an advocate for breastfeeding and in public too - only wish that I'd had the guts. I breastfed my three children all up to the ages of approx one years old. I tried not to breastfeed in public unless absolutely neccessary and can even remember once sitting on the toilet in the shoppping mall just to feed my middle child due to lack of facilities - in England we don't have too many facilities available for breastfeed mothers. Mothercare is the best store for encouraging baby feeding/changing rooms etc.

Go for it! I nursed all three of my kids when and where they needed to be breastfed. I think I was discreet,but I nursed them in the mall, in church, in restaurants and on planes. I doubt many people knew what I was doing, but if they did they didn't "see" nearly as much skin as is shown in lots of ads for clothing or lots of other things these days. I really do not see what all the fuss is about. And I wish more woman would just do it and not question if it is okay or not.

I think it definitely depends on the place. If i was at a nice restaurant and someone started doing it, I would prob. feel uncomfortable but if someone did it discreetly at a park or something i wouldn't care at all.

I am saddened that people don't understand the importance of breastfeeding. It is what nature intended and I cannot stress enough that if it weren't for breastfeeding, years ago, babies would DIE. Yes, that's right there was no formula. I also think that people that are uncomfortable with it are those that couldn't do it for "whatever" reason. It's extremely difficult (I know, I have a 2 1/2 year old that I fed for 12 months and I now have two month old twins.) Society should be proud of these moms who give of themselves for their childrens benefit. Anyone can shove a bottle in a babies mouth but the dedication required to breastfeed is enormous.

There is a balance between nursing rights and public concerns. C'mon, people, there are modest ways of nourishing your baby in the most public of places that are both comfortable and non-intrusive. I figured it out without having to be apologetic or compromising my views, so why is this such a big deal?

Wow! It is ridiculous and I am udderly appalled that anyone would have the nerve to downplay breastfeeding. We try so hard to do what's best for children by censuring what they watch and listen too, by keeping them warm when it's cold. But when it comes to making sure they start off in this world as healthy as possible we have issues? I'm just not understanding this at all. Women should be commended for doing what's best for their child and having the courage to breastfeed in public when so many are not. It makes me very, very angry to hear that people feel uncomfortable around it. Do me a favor and DON'T LOOK!!! It's just that simple.

I breast feed almost everywhere. Asking to cover up is sometimes too much to ask - on a hot day, when I did try to cover up, my baby girl got all sweaty. I do agree there are some limits - two weeks ago at a business lunch I didn't fed my baby at the table, but went outside on a bench. I don't know why anyone should care what strangers think anyway. It's your right to nurse in public, and it should be taken!

I suppose we should feed babies formula, as God intended?

I'm all for it. I breastfed both of my children, well beyond 2 years each, and had no problem feeding them in public. I think it would be sexual and inappropriate to have my husband suckling in public, but when it's your child, then it's the most natural thing in the world and folks that are uncomfortable with it should just get over it.

There are many, many great works of art of mothers nursing babies and toddlers. (See http://www.promom.org/gallery/index.php)

I think all the people upset about breastsfeeding in public are upset about suckling (no amount of blanket coverage will negate the babe suckling.) Otherwise the anti boobers would be using their energy to protest Victoria's Secret, MTV, VH1, etc.

I think the problem has nothing to do with breastfeeding at all but with the breast being used as a sexual instrument. It's kind of hard to get all hot and bothered when you have an image of a baby on the end of a nipple locked in your head.

It's a form of control. Thank goodness women have wisened up and are fighting for their rights to breastfeed when they want, where they want. It's time the breast was de-sexualized a notch.

My two cents.

I think public breastfeeding is great, but I also think that a bottle feeding mother should not be critisized for her choice. Some people just can't breastfeed, because of lack of milk, work, etc. Both ways are fine. No one gets "uncomfortable watching a baby drink a bottle and shouldn't when they are nursing either.

Breastfeeding is a beautiful and wonderful experience and I for one (having nursed 3 babies for approx up to 12 months each) am so thankful that I persevered with it when the going was tough at first! If other people have a problem with us baring our breasts to nurse our babies - then to hell with them!!!

I spent 9 years breastfeeding my 5 children wherever I was - I wore a loosely fitting shirt or blouse and lifted it up far enough for baby to latch on but not expose my breast.

I am unfortunately not suprised that this is such an issued but nevertheless disgusted that it is. Breastfeeding is the most natural thing a mother can do for her child and the fact that anyone would be "uncomfortable" with it just proves how breast obessed we are as a society. My family and I were in an amusement park last week (HerseyPark) when my 8 month became hungry. I chose a bench that was out of the way and got a blanket out and nursed him. Within 10 minutes I was approached by a SECURITY GUARD and told that there is a private room in the first aid building for that and that people consider what I was doing to be offensive and that this is a "family park" . I was so appalled at these comments that I told him I will nurse my child whenever and wherever I feel like it. He then told me that other security officers would approach me if they saw me nursing in the park. I will just say that my husband and I had words with the park manager and needless to say we won't be back to Hereypark unless the change their policy and I strongly encourage other families to do the same. I am going to try to get some friends from my breastfeeding group to have a "nurse in" at the front gate of Herseypark. I won't be made to feel like a criminal or ashamed for doing something good for my child.

story - a woman was in a waiting room (at the hospital of all places) and was nursing her newborn. Another woman approached her and said "We're humans, not animals, give that baby a bottle, you're making my son uncomfortable."

Can you believe it? The only reason her son noticed was because she pointed it out.

My baby has every right to eat in public as anyone else does. If you dont eat in a bathroom my baby shouldn't have to either. If you don't like looking at it, don't look.

I have never understood the problem, really. No one would be here today if our ancestors didn't breastfeed, and formula hasn't been around all that long.

I guess if they aren't jiggling on a dance floor they aren't supposed to be "out"...it's sad.

I've breastfed 3 of my 4 children, in public and elsewhere. Thankfully there are laws in many states to protect nursing moms!

meg

It's the proper tool for the proper job.

My oldest son would allow me to have a blanket over my shoulder and his head. No one knew when I was breast feeding.

My youngest son has always gotten over heated. At the age of three months he would pull the blanket off because it made him too hot. It was never a desire expose myself, but I wasn't going to make my son physically uncomfortable just because people are uncomfortable with the bodies that God gave us.

I nursed my daughter anywhere she wanted until she chose to stop nursing at 27 months. Like so many others have posted, breastfeeding is not only natural, it's the right thing to do for our children... anywhere, anytime.

What's all the HOOT about? Sadly,Americans have lost sight of what the mammary glands are for because western culture has sexualized the breast so completely and so successfully. Visit any non-western culture and you'll see bare-breasted women who 'wear' their babies alongside men who don't give a HOOT about boobs, knockers or titties. Silicone implants would be a non-issue.
I think the time has come for lactating mothers and their babies across the country to take back their breasts! How? Organize 'nurse-in's at businesses who cultivate and thrive on the sexualization of the breast. What better place to start than at "that" restaurant? Now, wouldn't that be a HOOT?

I absolutley think that breastfeeding in public is 100% okay. What's more natural then feeding your baby the best food available? I think most woman are going to try and be descrete when doing so but even if they aren't I don't see anything wrong with it. It's completly natural and our society needs to encourage mothers to do so, not discourage them.

I have no problem with it so long as the boob isn't hanging out for all to see....

It is a natural way to feed babies and should never be frowned upon.

Who cares if it is hanging out for all to see? In many cultures breast are just another appendage, like an arm or leg. They are only sexual because we, society, have made them sexual. In countries that do not sexualize breast the women go around topless, and you do not see any men walking around sexually aroused because of it.

But I think we need to be fair about all of this. How can we say it is okay to breast feed in public and then ostracize Janet Jackson for showing her nipple?

As long as it is done with discretion, I do not have an issue with women who breastfeed publicly. I do NOT think that they should be sent off to the restroom, but I have great respect for restaurants and business who provide a lounge for women to use to breastfeed. At same time, a woman who is willing to drape and shawl over herself and her baby as she breastfeeds is not revealing anything to the world and should feel perfectly comfortable feeding whenever and whereever her wee one demands.

I breastfed my daughter until she was three years and eight months old and I certainly breastfed her in public. If I couldn't have I don't think I would have gotten out much. She nursed a lot!!

I saw a woman breastfeeding at the airport yesterday and it made me long for a baby. It is such a wonderful experience.

I have never understood the issue about it and even though I am not a very outspoken woman, if anyone said anything about it to me I would have jumped up on my soapbox. There is nothing more valuable to a precious baby.

Oh my GOSH & WOW! is my reaction to it when I see a lady breast is out there (the one that I saw). Its fine with me the child have to eat like any and everything else. Okay the first time I saw a lady breastfeeding was on a subway in Brooklyn I was shocked I never saw anything like that except in church nursing room. I didnt have my sunglasses I just couldnt help but to stare (dont ask me why I was in shock ok it was a breast I know I have a pair too)Its not the fact that she was just breastfeeding in public but its the safety of the mom and child that shocks me because there are alot of freaks everywhere in NY. But to all the hot mommas out there just want ya'll to know I cant wait to be a hot momma and breastfeed too!

Well With the Janet Jackson issue, that is something totally different. She was popping it out for a baby. She was popping it out for the world to see.

I breastfed both of my kids until they stop by themselves. The comment I ever received on several occasions (usually by upper class white men in the mall) was "You should take the baby in the bathroom to do that." I would ask them "Do you eat your lunch in the bathroom?" Of course they said no, and I would tell them then my child is not going to eat his lunch in the bathroom. Most would walk away then, I only had one guy be persistant and eventually a security guard came by and ran him off LOL