breastfeeding in public

The private thing for me is that it involves a personal part of a woman's anatomy. No, eating shouldn't be done in private, but when a baby is feeding from a woman's breast, it should be (in my opinion).

It's no more a "personal part" of a woman's anatomy than it is a man's except that society (and people with messed up heads-in my opinion) have made it such taboo. But ONLY when they're nursing babies. Have you seen the covers of magazines? There is MUCH more breast showing on most magazine covers than a person could even get a glimpse of if they STARED and tried to see a boob while watching a woman breastfeed.

<<yes, yes

<<yes, yes

<< yes, yes


<< no, no???

<< no, no???

Really... we live in a back a$$wards world.

very good sorry i missed this one

I see nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public as long as it is done in a discreet manner. It is a natural part of life!

It's no more a "personal part" of a woman's anatomy than it is a man's except that society (and people with messed up heads-in my opinion) have made it such taboo. But ONLY when they're nursing babies. Have you seen the covers of magazines? There is MUCH more breast showing on most magazine covers than a person could even get a glimpse of if they STARED and tried to see a boob while watching a woman breastfeed.

@frugalmomsrock, I just LOVE that you posted those pictures. Perfect illustration of how ridiculous people's objections to public breastfeeding are. Thank you. :flowerforyou:

OP, you don't have to breastfeed, but please don't judge women who do.

I don't at all. I think it's a great thing! I just don't want to see it in public.

I just posted this to see the general consensus about the topic! I had a feeling I'd be in the minority (or the only one lol) but I like to educate myself on different topics and see different sides of the issue.

Novel idea coming up: if you don't want to see it in public, then by all means feel free to NOT FREAKING STARE if you happen to see a woman preparing to nurse her child in her space.

or maybe just don't go out into a public area where a recently pregnant mother might possibly be with a potentially hungry baby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXERUn2mJKU

I am pro Breastfeeding, I work on Maternity and we sell new moms apron like things so they can cover up while in public.. you should be able to sit on a bench in a mall and feed your baby YES but discreetly and have the baby and breast VERY hidden

You work on the maternity ward with itty bitty teensy weensy babies that don't care if they're covered. Older babies care not for blankets.

I prefer to throw blankets on the heads of people who feel the need to stare....

So true!!!! Older babies do NOT want to be covered while they are eating!! Love this: "I prefer to throw blankets on the heads of people who feel the need to stare.... "

Totally pro-breast feeding wherever and whenever hungry babies want o be fed. Except a bathroom stall. Why would anybody want to eat or be fed in a stall? Ugh.

i was such a bad mom that i did that to my kids as babies... gah, i was so in line for mom of the year back then, breastfeeding my babies in privacy, even if it happened to be in a stall...

Hey, you did what you felt comfortable with at the time. No way would I call that "a bad mom"!!! You were feeding your babes in a spot you thought was appropriate at the time. Clearly, you are a loving and amazing mom! Me, I am a little weird about any idea of mixing eating and bathrooms stalls, it just doesn't jive with me
Plus, I am a straight up LACTIVIST and will nurse in public. It made a big difference for me nursing and having the full on support of my husband, family, and friends, even other nursing moms encouraging me to be comfortable anytime and anywhere.

Why is this an issue in nearly 2012? As long as you cover yourself out of respect for others it shouldn't be an issue. I nursed my kids and would never go sit in a bathroom stall to do it. This Country is so uptight about stupid things. This energy should be put into other issues like why are people homeless, hungry, etc.

Ok one last post and I swear im leaving this topic alone. Had enough of it on babycenter. I will always try to be considerate of those around me. That's why I shower and brush my teeth daily. I don't have to but I do. However a womans right to bf in public is legally protected. Like it or not.

To those without children I think sometimes you underestimate the power of a mothers instinct. If my kid is hungry and I have the power to feed him there is nothing you can do or say to stop me. And if you try...gods help you!

Yes.

As ok with doing it in public as I am I also don't feel that exercising my right to do so at the expense of someone elses insecurity is right either!

This in itself reads as judgementa. Perhaps it isn't insecurity. That person may have lost a child or be unable to have one at all. You don't know what another person's situation is.

I don't know why the OP seems defensive about her position. Most of the posters agree that a blanket or modesty cover is preferable for all kinds of reasons. Nobody should be asked to leave for breast feeding unless the place doens't allow children (and there are places that shouldn't). Nobody should be able to whip out a boob in public. You really don't see men in stores doing it either. Maybe it's an issue of context?

As ok with doing it in public as I am I also don't feel that exercising my right to do so at the expense of someone elses insecurity is right either!

This in itself reads as judgementa. Perhaps it isn't insecurity. That person may have lost a child or be unable to have one at all. You don't know what another person's situation is.

Well, if that's the case, then ALL children should be locked up in their homes anyway-so that the ones who may not be able to have children or who've lost children aren't able to see them and get all sad and teary eyed over someone else's ability to procreate.

My gosh, people.

And it isn't exactly "WHIPPING OUT A BOOB" to breastfeed.

Again, I say (in general): grow up, people. Boobs is boobs is boobs. Every freaking mammal on Earth has them. The great apes aren't sportin' no bras, and their junk looks just like ours... 'cept for a hairier!

I feel like some people see this as a manners issue, some people a rights issue, and then a few people as a sexual issue and can't deal with it (dude who compared it with sodomy). Unfortunately, people display horrible manners all the time (not offering seats, pushing people over, not using thank you or please, talking loudly on cell phones, eating and being really messy, leaving the shopping card full of trash and crap, etc.) Breastfeeding in public just doesn't seem to be in the same category to me. Covering or not covering is up to the mom and her preference.

If there were offensive public habits I would like addressed, it's handwashing. That is certainly something that can physically affect other people. I feel like vomiting when I see someone use the toilet and then not was their hands. But I really can't do anything about it, can I? Just like those who feel discomfort when seeing someone breastfeed can't really do anything either.

But I truly feel breastfeeding is not a public health concern, but damn, wash those hands!

But if you must breastfeed in public, please think of others when you do so, and be modest about it so people like myself that aren't comfortable with it aren't made to feel awkward, and don't force others into feeling bad for their feelings.

Likewise. When you eat in public, be mindful that there are people around you... and it makes them shudder and nearly vomit at the sight of seeing you chew. Please, don't force them to feel bad because you feel the insane need to eat.

As a long time nursing mother I personally see nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public...BUT not everyone is as open to me and I personally don't like making people uncomfortable because I think something is okay. I've nursed many times in a dressing room st a store or in the bathroom because other people do not need to feel uncomfortable with what I'm ok doing.

Only if the dressing rooms and bathrooms were completely filled would I do so in an aisle. And I'm VERY comfortable feeding my children in public...done it at parks, under trees on a walk, etc. But there are private places to do it at stores.

As ok with doing it in public as I am I also don't feel that exercising my right to do so at the expense of someone elses insecurity is right either!

I really appreciated reading this and agree completely that just because something is comfortable with one person, does not mean it's comfortable with another. Thank you for posting this!!

So, every nursing mother should cater to everyone else's "discomfort" at expense of feeding her baby because it might maybe someday somewhere somehow offend someone else?

Woah...I never said to do so at the expense of feeding a baby. I'm am extended nursing mother of both of my children and NEVER did I not meet the needs of my hungry child. It literally takes no more than 2 minutes to go to a dressing room or bathroom (about the same amount of time to find a far desserted corner in a store) to do so. And why should I not care about other's feelings. Too many people only think about themselves and their rights. Yes it's my right to do so but if it's going to make someone uncomfortable why would I do that? How do I know that the person in the store didn't just lose a pregnancy or can't get pregnant and because I just have to exercise my rights I've caused them a great deal of heartache and pain. No thank you. I will always meet the neefs if my child but I don't have to be selfish and not think about how it could negativelly affect someone else.