breastfeeding in public

I support breastfeeding, public and private!!!

[/quote]Or making it to the bathroom (hello.. I've had five kids, and I pee when I sneeze). lol
[/quote]

haha that was hilarious...been there before :-/

As a mommy who is unable to breastfeed due to medical issues, I have to say I would rather see a baby being nursed in public then being bottle fed, because I know that baby being nursed is not only eating but getting an incredible bond with his/her mother. Breast is best, period, and if you CAN breastfeed but dont WANT to because its "weird" or "uncomfortable" I think you should probably rethink the choice to have kids...

Being a mother means doing everything in your power to give that child the best you can in life, and that includes breastfeeding.

Very well said! If you chose to not do whats best by your child and breast feed because you are worried about a little cracking on your nipple, then that is just plain selfish. A cracked nipple is nothing compared to the pain of pushing a baby out after laboring for hours.

Aint that the truth...my shortest labor was 55 hours...let me tell you I will take 10 cracked nipples any day of the year over that hell!

As a mommy who is unable to breastfeed due to medical issues, I have to say I would rather see a baby being nursed in public then being bottle fed, because I know that baby being nursed is not only eating but getting an incredible bond with his/her mother. Breast is best, period, and if you CAN breastfeed but dont WANT to because its "weird" or "uncomfortable" I think you should probably rethink the choice to have kids...

Being a mother means doing everything in your power to give that child the best you can in life, and that includes breastfeeding.

Very well said! If you chose to not do whats best by your child and breast feed because you are worried about a little cracking on your nipple, then that is just plain selfish. A cracked nipple is nothing compared to the pain of pushing a baby out after laboring for hours.

Aint that the truth...my shortest labor was 55 hours...let me tell you I will take 10 cracked nipples any day of the year over that hell!

Shoot... I had 9 hours, 1 hour 45 minutes (crossing my legs to wait for my mom), 30 hours, 7 hours 43 minutes, and 4 hours 36 minutes (mostly "easy" labors, med free), and I'd *still* take cracked nipples over child birth.

And seriously, to the people that think formula feeding mothers (without a medical reason of course) are selfish and shouldn't have children? Mind your own f*cking business. My son is healthy and happy and does quite well on his formula. I do everything for him but I'm selfish and/or shouldn't have children because I'm not breastfeeding? My kid may be bottle fed, but at least he'll be open minded and tolerant.

Thank you! It really offended me to read that people believed I shouldn't have children because I don't want to breastfeed, and I'm worried about my own discomfort. That's my own deal. Formula is not evil. Is breastmilk better? All signs point to yes. But it is my own choice whether I want to breastfeed or not. Just because I don't want to breastfeed doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to have children.

I dont think anyone said you shouldnt be allowed kids, and if its my post you are talking about, I said maybe you should RETHINK having children, not that you shouldnt be allowed. I stand by my opinion...having a child means you do everything in your power to give your baby the best. Every single time I give birth I mourn the fact that I cannot physically breastfeed because as a mother it is my job to give my baby that. Are my children happy, healthy, and highly intelligent even on formula OF COURSE but breastfeeding offers things that formula doesnt....one of those things include immunities...I mean if I could simply save myself from having to be up all night and day with my three week old son because his big sister got him very sick by breastfeeding I would do it, but alas I cant...and here I am cradling my son in one arm and using the other to type, because if I set him down he will scream because his tummy hurts.

Am I comfortable...hell no...my arm is asleep and my shoulder is aching, but being a mommy means being uncomfortable when your child needs you ;-)

You sound like a great mom and I'm sorry if I twisted your words that way. I wasn't referring to you exactly, as I saw other similar comments in this post. I definitely want children. My mom didn't breastfeed me or my sister, and I don't think not wanting to breastfeed should make you reconsider having children. Plenty of women don't breastfeed by choice and are comfortable with their decision. To each their own. I am okay with the idea of a day of labor, just not with breastfeeding for months and months.

There are many things that people are comfortable with....not all of them are right. Society has taken breasts and turned them into something women should be shamed of. It is a mother's right not to breastfeed that is true, its just not something *i* will ever understand. I know people who are uncomfortabe with the actual act and they pump instead of having the baby latch, which does not always work as pumping is a hit or miss with some women. I just know how I view my role as a mother, and I would literally give up anything in this world to be able to nurse.

I was wondering if you had any children yet

I had planned to NEVER breastfeed in public. The only problem? My babies didn't always agree with my plan! I am PRO discrete public breastfeeding. But hey, it's not my boobs hanging out.

I am AGAINST mothers having to breastfeed in a bathroom stall! Really?! Really?! I don't think any baby should have to eat where people are deficating! Does anyone else like to sit on a toilet and eat? Then why should a baby?

Not sure this is directed at me or not lol but no I don't have children, but when I do, I don't plan to breastfeed. I don't knock anyone else that does though - in fact, I think it's great - but it's not for me and I already know that.

I wish that breastfeeding was the hardest, most uncomfortable part about being a parent. (It was tough and I was glad it was over!) To tell the truth, I would breastfeed all over again if it mean not having to help my kid through middle school cliques, heartbreaking relationships, even just trying to explain to my four year old why some people choose to be mean. Little kid little problems, big kid, big problems.

:noway: Wow, I'm so glad I live in NZ, where breastfeeding is 'generally' seen as a normal part of having babies. I've breastfed all 3 of my kids (and will do so with number four) whenever they were hungry, whereever we are. I've never had anyone say anything to me or even look at me sideways (that I've noticed!). Like all of the other b/feeding mummas in this thread, I haven't 'flopped it out' for all to see, I've simply fed my baby while keeping myself covered (thought this is more about covering my belly and back than my boob!).

Totally agree with the, 'If you don't like it, don't look' statement!

To the OP, it's absolutely your right to choose whether to breastfeed or not, though I'd ask you to consider waiting til you actually have a child, you never know, once you have that babe in your arms you may completely change your mind. It's a truely beautiful experience. Oh and for the record, once you get the hang of it, you shouldn't have cracked nipples for very long. If you do, get someone to help you with latching (midwife, lactation consultant, experience mother etc).

"its perfectly natural"
"its beautiful"
"its best for the baby"
blah blah blah

I think the ones who choose to breastfeed publicly are crying for attention, and they are sure to get it.
Like most men, I enjoy the opportunity to see a breast every now and then, but this just doesn't seem like the right way to do it.
I'd prefer they take advantage of a private spot.

Just 'cause its natural doesn't mean you have to share it with the world.
Other natural things I prefer not to experience others doing in public:
urinating
passing gas
defacating
spitting
vomiting
coitus
sodomy
clipping toe nails or finger nails
clearing a nasal obstruction with a finger
flossing or using a toothpick
etc

honestly, it is a great thing for mother and child to do, however, i totally agree that this should be done somewhere out of sight of the general public. my dad took my family to a swimming hole when i was 6 and my brother was 9, two chicks showed up and took their tops off and start sun bathing. we left. its not appropriate to whip out your boobs for any reason in public in front of children. we were to young to be seeing that, natural or not.

AND - everyone in entitled to their own opinion. we don't have to hate on one another just because we view things differently.

honestly, it is a great thing for mother and child to do, however, i totally agree that this should be done somewhere out of sight of the general public. my dad took my family to a swimming hole when i was 6 and my brother was 9, two chicks showed up and took their tops off and start sun bathing. we left. its not appropriate to whip out your boobs for any reason in public in front of children. we were to young to be seeing that, natural or not.

AND - everyone in entitled to their own opinion. we don't have to hate on one another just because we view things differently.

Are you aware that women don't have to remove their shirts to nurse?

yes, i am aware. i said that you don't need to whip your boobs out in public. if it is covered up, then that would be apart of the "out of sight of the general public."

honestly, it is a great thing for mother and child to do, however, i totally agree that this should be done somewhere out of sight of the general public. my dad took my family to a swimming hole when i was 6 and my brother was 9, two chicks showed up and took their tops off and start sun bathing. we left. its not appropriate to whip out your boobs for any reason in public in front of children. we were to young to be seeing that, natural or not.

AND - everyone in entitled to their own opinion. we don't have to hate on one another just because we view things differently.

Are you aware that women don't have to remove their shirts to nurse?

Exactly. The two are hardly comparable and such a comparison demonstrates how tangled the view of breasts has become.

Also, seeing naked breasts by itself doesn't automatically damage children in some way - it's all cultural. I was raised in a more open environment and I saw naked breasts on women, as did my brother, but they were part of the body as a body - not purely as a sexual object. We haven't been psychologically damaged, nor were the kids we grew up with.

honestly, it is a great thing for mother and child to do, however, i totally agree that this should be done somewhere out of sight of the general public. my dad took my family to a swimming hole when i was 6 and my brother was 9, two chicks showed up and took their tops off and start sun bathing. we left. its not appropriate to whip out your boobs for any reason in public in front of children. we were to young to be seeing that, natural or not.

AND - everyone in entitled to their own opinion. we don't have to hate on one another just because we view things differently.

Are you aware that women don't have to remove their shirts to nurse?

yes, i am aware. i said that you don't need to whip your boobs out in public. if it is covered up, then that would be apart of the "out of sight of the general public."

Honestly, in all the time I breastfed and as many mothers as I know/knew who did it, I never encountered one of these mythical mothers that just sat there topless while they nursed, nipples flappin' in the breeze.

We're going into 2012. The fact that this sort of thing is even an issue anymore should confirm to humanity that we are the most unintelligent beings on the planet.

Breastfeeding - it's what's for baby's dinner! And snack! And breakfast!! I think a woman should be able to feed her baby anytime, anywhere - and covering up should be at HER discretion. Personally, when I had a shopping cart full of groceries and my son decided it was feeding time, it just became an everyday commonplace thing to find a bench in the store or out in the mall - wherever there was convenient seating - and I would feed my baby. I found blankets, towels and those other silly boob-and-child coverings to be too damn tedious, especially when out grocery shopping carting around a million things, so I didn't bother.

Just because other people might have weird sexual hangups is not my concern. I don't go to put on mitts when it's cold out and start thinking later that someone out there might have a glove fetish, so I should "cover them up". That's about how preposterous I find it when people think that breastfeeding mothers should cover up. People used to think women's exposed forearms and ankles were too scandalous, so let's all just wear snowpants and parkas all year round. See? Silly.

My mom and I were just discussing this... I breast fed all of my kids until they were about a year old. I did it in public but always discreetly. I had a nursing shawl I used or a special sling I could nurse in without being visible. The only negative feedback I got was from my own family. They are super conservative and felt it was gross. My mom, to this day, feels breast feeding is somewhat of a sexual thing. She can't quite explain it to me in a way I can grasp. But anyways.... I was always asked to leave the room when I needed to feed the babies around them. I honored their wishes for their comfort as I felt it was the easiest thing to do. However, I would flat REFUSE to sit in a bathroom for anyone. I'd challenge any of you to sit in a public bathroom for the amount of time it takes to feed a baby. Let alone eat a meal there. I can barely use one without sanitizing myself off afterwards.

After reading some of the comments on here I am so glad that the law protects me and my baby instead of people looking for something to be offended over.

IMO if you ever see something inappropriate while I'm breastfeeding you're looking entirely too hard.

I so agree, I can't even beleive this is an issue. My daughter had a woman call security on her for nursing on a bench by the play center while her other 3 children played (and I KNOW my daughter is descreet, she is very shy) Luckily the woman that complained got asked to leave and the security guard apologized for the hassle!.

Funny my daughter noted on the same day there were a group of teenagers wearing bikini tops and short shorts (you know the ones that are stamped sexy or cute on the back) with thong showing through ... she wondered if the lady tried to get THEM kicked out of the mall too! They sure were showing a lot more than she was!