breastfeeding in public
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Not a problem, but it is polite to be discrete. Not everyone is comfortable with it. Easy to kind of cover up. My third was breast fed everywhere. Just dress appropriately
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Not a problem, but it is polite to be discrete. Not everyone is comfortable with it. Easy to kind of cover up. My third was breast fed everywhere. Just dress appropriately
As for formula being child abuse? Breast is best byt.....You have to do whats best for the family and for you. I was too sick to breast feed my first, but did for my other two. What ever works and as long as the baby is healthy. It should not be so stressful.0 -
You know, if everyone quit paying attention to this crap, it would go away.
A mother breastfeeds her kid, and we're shocked at the sight of a boob. Remember people- we live in a society founded by people who fled England because they wished for the freedom to practice a stricter , more repressive version of the Christianity that was practiced in England. Which leads us to this: boobies are sinful. We've had this crammed down out throats from birth, in one way or another, by everyone from Madonna to the woman who sells bras at Sears. THIS IS NOTHING NEW. Which is why this woman staging a breast-feeding "protest" is a complete moron.
Women who whip out their breasts in public to feed their babies know exactly the kind of reaction they are going to get. Their are a couple options here: be cognizent of your surroundings and discreetly cover up the boob- no one is banishing you to a bathroom or making you sit in your car, they are just asking to not see a full breast- or you can stage a protest and make yourself look like an idiot. So either fall in line and act like a normal, semi-functioning adult member of society or make a stance and be prepared to deal with the reaction.
People and their causes...I swear...0 -
You know, if everyone quit paying attention to this crap, it would go away.
A mother breastfeeds her kid, and we're shocked at the sight of a boob. Remember people- we live in a society founded by people who fled England because they wished for the freedom to practice a stricter , more repressive version of the Christianity that was practiced in England. Which leads us to this: boobies are sinful. We've had this crammed down out throats from birth, in one way or another, by everyone from Madonna to the woman who sells bras at Sears. THIS IS NOTHING NEW. Which is why this woman staging a breast-feeding "protest" is a complete moron.
Women who whip out their breasts in public to feed their babies know exactly the kind of reaction they are going to get. Their are a couple options here: be cognizent of your surroundings and discreetly cover up the boob- no one is banishing you to a bathroom or making you sit in your car, they are just asking to not see a full breast- or you can stage a protest and make yourself look like an idiot. So either fall in line and act like a normal, semi-functioning adult member of society or make a stance and be prepared to deal with the reaction.
People and their causes...I swear...0 -
Why do you care why I chose to feed my babies formula? They are mine and it was my choice. I chose to formula feed, as is my right. I don't have an issue with what you feed your babies, why care about mine? It is not abuse and it is not any less my choice, or more abuse, because I didn't try to breast feed first.
Hey, I didn't say it was abuse, the other poster did (I just said I hoped what she meant was a little less offensive than her bold child abuse statement, did not mean to make it seem as though I was agreeing with her), I said that it was my opinion that women should try breastfeeding first.0 -
100% with you, then, Improvised. I think that is the easy answer to the whole issue, honestly.0
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100% with you, then, Improvised. I think that is the easy answer to the whole issue, honestly.0
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I don't know about you, but I never had to teach my baby to latch on. They already have that instinct.
I attempted to nurse all three of my kids. My oldest was a preemie and wouldn't latch on no matter what I did. The other two each had their own issues but both nursed for a really long time. I know plenty of women that tried everything they could to nurse and it just didn't work out for them. If nursing was so simple for everyone, more people might do it.
You took my statement entirely out of context and left out the post I was directly responding to. Good job!0 -
I absolutely hate and am sick to death of moms picking on moms.
Some breastfeed. Some don't. Some can't. Some do it in public. Some do it only in private.
Some work. Some don't. Some can't.
Some have natural labor. Some use pain killers. Some have emergency C-sections. Some have elective C-sections.
These are just some of the things that some women like to judge other women about. Isn't momming a hard enough job without all the extra unwanted opinions and judgements? Let's leave breastfeeding moms and bottlefeeding moms alone. They are doing their best. Breastfeeding has been defended thoroughly here, but bottlefeeding is easily defensible too.
Bottlefeeding is fine. It might not be a nutritionally perfect as breastmilk from a mom who eats a perfect diet, but it is not harmful. Many babies would starve without it. Maybe mom works a lot and cannot pump enough to feed baby. Maybe mom has a unknown bacteria that mom and baby keep passing back and forth until both are very sick (what happened to me and my mom). Maybe mom can't produce milk at all. Maybe baby has trouble latching. All sorts of things can go wrong. All sorts of decisions must be made. I have never seen a bottle-fed baby who was damaged by it.
Moms need to stop hating on moms.0 -
Why do you care why I chose to feed my babies formula? They are mine and it was my choice. I chose to formula feed, as is my right. I don't have an issue with what you feed your babies, why care about mine? It is not abuse and it is not any less my choice, or more abuse, because I didn't try to breast feed first.
Hey, I didn't say it was abuse, the other poster did (I just said I hoped what she meant was a little less offensive than her bold child abuse statement, not agreeing with her), I said that it was my opinion that women should try breastfeeding first.
Women should do what they're comfortable with.0 -
I don't know about you, but I never had to teach my baby to latch on. They already have that instinct.
I attempted to nurse all three of my kids. My oldest was a preemie and wouldn't latch on no matter what I did. The other two each had their own issues but both nursed for a really long time. I know plenty of women that tried everything they could to nurse and it just didn't work out for them. If nursing was so simple for everyone, more people might do it.
Even if you have trouble breastfeeding, the instinct is still there. Have you heard of the rooting reflex? They do that because they are looking for a breast nipple.0 -
Why do you care why I chose to feed my babies formula? They are mine and it was my choice. I chose to formula feed, as is my right. I don't have an issue with what you feed your babies, why care about mine? It is not abuse and it is not any less my choice, or more abuse, because I didn't try to breast feed first.
Hey, I didn't say it was abuse, the other poster did (I just said I hoped what she meant was a little less offensive than her bold child abuse statement, not agreeing with her), I said that it was my opinion that women should try breastfeeding first.
Women should do what they're comfortable with.
I agree. But I stand by my opinion as well. With so many known benefits to baby, not to mention financial savings, I think women should first try to breastfeed. Seems illogical not to (and I think it's sad that there are women out there who are turned off/not comfortable with using their breasts for what they are intended - not referring to anyone in this thread, just in general). But in the end, it is each woman's choice and either way a woman should be able to feed her baby in public without ridicule.0 -
Well, I certainly wouldn't appreciate seeing a woman walking around Target in a "next to nothing bathing suit" either. Can't say that I appreciate my children seeing thongs on the beach, either, for that matter. Do what is natural to you, but you don't have to draw attention to yourself for an agenda (as many women in this new campaign for breastfeeding are doing).Also, I think we have things a little backwards. It's okay for woman to walk around the beach with next to nothing, but a crying sin to show a wee bit of skin when feeding a baby?0 -
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BAHAHAHAHAHA
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I have to say, while your sister's employer isn't being particularly nice, they are accomodating her more than many companies do. Even the states that have laws to protect pumping/breastfeeding in the workplace usually only address "reasonable accomodations and time"...nothing about compensation. It sounds like they have a place other than a bathroom for her to use and are allowing her to take the time. Would it be nice to pay her? Absolutely. But I completely understand it from a business point of view and managing expectations in the workplace. She is paid for the time she is working. While there are a number of devices and gadgets for hands-free pumping...it is still distracting. I participated on many a conference call when pumping...but I couldn't possibly have run a meeting!
I understand not rocking the boat, but I would challenge them on the actual timekeeping. Are you saying that she is docked for (2) 15 minutes breaks when she is only using 20 minutes? I would take that up with the labor/workforce organization...if nothing else than to clarify the legality.
Even though I live in the US, I am very fortunate to work for a Swedish company where the head of HR breastfed her children. We have a nice little lactation room to use. However, during the year that I pumped during work hours, I noted a number of instances where mothers on hourly compensation took advantage of the fact that their pay wasn't being docked for the additional time that they needed to pump their milk. I'm not saying that I never took a few extra minutes, but I also was on salary and travelled so I regularly exceeded 40 hours a week without additional compensation. It also isn't to say that I never had to defend the time it took or be flexible about it.Breastfeeding is a legally protected right in every state of the union. No woman can be legally asked to leave just because she's breastfeeding.
Employers, however, need some serious education. I am very proud of my little sister who has chosen to breastfeed her son. But when she went back to work and needed to pump several times a day, her employer insisted on docking her pay. Yup, you read that right.
They won't let her pull out the pump and do it discreetly at her workstation (for the record, she works at a customer service call center, talking on the phone all day, so it's not as though any customers would see her doing it). They have told her she must find a private conference room or go into the bathroom, and do it on her own time, not while working. So she has to wait until her scheduled break or lunch times. Her 30 minutes for lunch works fine. But it takes at least 20 minutes to pump, so when she uses her break times for pumping, she always goes over her scheduled 15 minutes of break time and is docked pay for being late back to her shift. They count time in 15-minute intervals, so basically she's working an 8-hr day and only getting paid for 7.5 hrs, just because she's committed to giving her baby the best nutrition and her employers are a bunch of prudes. When she spoke to HR, she was informed that she should just be grateful she's not receiving disciplinary action for taking such long breaks. She won't rock the boat, because her husband has been unemployed for the past three years and this crappy job is all that keeps them afloat, she's terrified of losing her job. But being punished for being a nursing mother is just wrong.0 -
Making some low fat air-popped popcorn. I'll sit back and watch the anvils fly past.
it is definitely one of those topics!
the reason i posted this is because i'm against it in public. i understand it's natural and it's the best for your baby. i am a nursing student so i've been taught that over and over. i don't think it should be done in public however. it's not because it's sexual at all, it's just because it should be a private thing between you and your baby. i don't care to see you take your breast out in public and have your baby latch onto it. if i'm in your hospital room or your house, i have no problem with it. but i dislike seeing it in public. i also know i will not breastfeed my future children so that might also have something to do with it as well.
My four kids all received breastmilk and three of them also got formula. We had total success with one of my kids and she only wanted breastmilk. Here is the thing. A baby receiving a bottle is not looked at funny. Babies eat frequently. A trip to the mall for instance might not be able to occur without at least one feeding. I am all for being discreet. I mean I didn't make a big deal about preparing a bottle nor did I make a big deal about breastfeeding the baby. I just did what I needed to do. I fed my daughter anywhere I went. I did look for the most discreet seat at a restuarant or the mall, I would go in another room sometimes at a party etc, I did ask my husband or another kid to sit in a certain spot while I was getting situated etc so that I wasn't obvious but a baby that has no interest in bottles..nor should they, shouldn't have to go hungry, especially when others are eating...ie the person sitting next to me noshing on pizza etc. I did get one nasty comment from someone at the mall once, who after a lot of looking, staring and investigating, asked if I was feeding a baby. It needed to be asked as it wasn't that obvious. This rude *kitten* then told me he was calling security and that I should be kicked out of the mall. I was in the food court while my other kids were eating. I quickly pointed out 6 women who were exposing way more breast than I was...as I was exposing 0 breast....and said that he can do what he wants as far as security was concerned but when security approached me I would ask that those 6 women also get removed...and then I saw 3 women also feeding their babies bottles and said those women needed to be asked to leave as well...he swore at me and walked away looking confused. Discretion is one thing...I am all for discretion...but a woman should never have to hide, go sit in another room or let her baby remain hungry out of fear of offending someone else...0 -
I'll tell you what. This won't end well. So long as people are faced with teh option of formula feeding, this will always be an issue. Until the only option is breast, people will expect moms to hide in restrooms. I don't cover babies head witha blanket but, i am discrete. And by am, I mean was. My kids are a bit too old for that. If people don't like it, screw em. People don't like lots of stuff. You have to be thick skinned to have kids. And to nurse them. And to bring them to restaurants to eat. And to hold true to whatever you believe in. Cloth is better, cloth is stupid, extended rear facing is safer, extended rear facing is dangerous, baby wear, don't baby wear. SHUT UP!!!
If the kid didn't come out of your body, its none of you damn business.0 -
Actually, if it isn't done in public, it's none of anyone else's business. You do it in public, you make it everyone else's business.SHUT UP!!!
If the kid didn't come out of your body, its none of you damn business.0 -
Breastfeeding is a legally protected right in every state of the union. No woman can be legally asked to leave just because she's breastfeeding.
Employers, however, need some serious education. I am very proud of my little sister who has chosen to breastfeed her son. But when she went back to work and needed to pump several times a day, her employer insisted on docking her pay. Yup, you read that right.
They won't let her pull out the pump and do it discreetly at her workstation (for the record, she works at a customer service call center, talking on the phone all day, so it's not as though any customers would see her doing it). They have told her she must find a private conference room or go into the bathroom, and do it on her own time, not while working. So she has to wait until her scheduled break or lunch times. Her 30 minutes for lunch works fine. But it takes at least 20 minutes to pump, so when she uses her break times for pumping, she always goes over her scheduled 15 minutes of break time and is docked pay for being late back to her shift. They count time in 15-minute intervals, so basically she's working an 8-hr day and only getting paid for 7.5 hrs, just because she's committed to giving her baby the best nutrition and her employers are a bunch of prudes. When she spoke to HR, she was informed that she should just be grateful she's not receiving disciplinary action for taking such long breaks. She won't rock the boat, because her husband has been unemployed for the past three years and this crappy job is all that keeps them afloat, she's terrified of losing her job. But being punished for being a nursing mother is just wrong.
Breast pumping isn't breast feeding. I work in an office and I have worked in call centers. Someone pumping at their desk is inappropriate and that is not working - in the sense of work the employer is paying them to do. I don't get paid for my lunch hour.
I don't get paid for certain leaves like an annual Dr's appointment - and I couldn't care less. If people show up late to work regardless of the reason - depending on the employer - they are not paid, if they are it's a benefit. I am not saying I agree with the 15 minute interval thing... I am saying - it's up to the individual employer whether or not they are going to pay someone for working when in fact they are not working. Why should someone get paid for not being there? Sometimes we are - and these are called benefits, not entitlements. Benefits vary from company to company. I don't expect to get paid when I'm not doing my job unless it falls under my benefits.0 -
People make it their business by choosing to take offense to something they don't have to look at. Nobody is holding your face 3 inches away from the breast, making you watch, so look away or walk away.
Actually, if it isn't done in public, it's none of anyone else's business. You do it in public, you make it everyone else's business.SHUT UP!!!
If the kid didn't come out of your body, its none of you damn business.0 -
I have to say, while your sister's employer isn't being particularly nice, they are accomodating her more than many companies do. Even the states that have laws to protect pumping/breastfeeding in the workplace usually only address "reasonable accomodations and time"...nothing about compensation. It sounds like they have a place other than a bathroom for her to use and are allowing her to take the time. Would it be nice to pay her? Absolutely. But I completely understand it from a business point of view and managing expectations in the workplace. She is paid for the time she is working. While there are a number of devices and gadgets for hands-free pumping...it is still distracting. I participated on many a conference call when pumping...but I couldn't possibly have run a meeting!
I understand not rocking the boat, but I would challenge them on the actual timekeeping. Are you saying that she is docked for (2) 15 minutes breaks when she is only using 20 minutes? I would take that up with the labor/workforce organization...if nothing else than to clarify the legality.
Even though I live in the US, I am very fortunate to work for a Swedish company where the head of HR breastfed her children. We have a nice little lactation room to use. However, during the year that I pumped during work hours, I noted a number of instances where mothers on hourly compensation took advantage of the fact that their pay wasn't being docked for the additional time that they needed to pump their milk. I'm not saying that I never took a few extra minutes, but I also was on salary and travelled so I regularly exceeded 40 hours a week without additional compensation. It also isn't to say that I never had to defend the time it took or be flexible about it.Breastfeeding is a legally protected right in every state of the union. No woman can be legally asked to leave just because she's breastfeeding.
Employers, however, need some serious education. I am very proud of my little sister who has chosen to breastfeed her son. But when she went back to work and needed to pump several times a day, her employer insisted on docking her pay. Yup, you read that right.
They won't let her pull out the pump and do it discreetly at her workstation (for the record, she works at a customer service call center, talking on the phone all day, so it's not as though any customers would see her doing it). They have told her she must find a private conference room or go into the bathroom, and do it on her own time, not while working. So she has to wait until her scheduled break or lunch times. Her 30 minutes for lunch works fine. But it takes at least 20 minutes to pump, so when she uses her break times for pumping, she always goes over her scheduled 15 minutes of break time and is docked pay for being late back to her shift. They count time in 15-minute intervals, so basically she's working an 8-hr day and only getting paid for 7.5 hrs, just because she's committed to giving her baby the best nutrition and her employers are a bunch of prudes. When she spoke to HR, she was informed that she should just be grateful she's not receiving disciplinary action for taking such long breaks. She won't rock the boat, because her husband has been unemployed for the past three years and this crappy job is all that keeps them afloat, she's terrified of losing her job. But being punished for being a nursing mother is just wrong.
The majority of companies clock hourly employees by 15 minute intervals whether you know it or not. By law, the "15 minute intervals" are rounded. Which means she could use 17 minutes on a break and only get clocked out for 15 minutes. If she takes 23 minutes or more, she is getting clocked out for 30 minutes. It averages out to exactly what she works in over 90% of timecards across the U.S. From an employers perspective, why should they pay her for doing things that do not benefit or increase productivity for the company? Please know that I am not bashing her pumping! I am just saying that she is actually not bad off in terms of her compensation while pumping.
On the "formula is child abuse note," I'd like to know how many of the breastfeeding moms who say formula is terrible for your kids & don't provide all of the nutrition that breast milk provides have had to give your babies iron supplements around 9 months? Unless you are in the extreme minority of breastfeeding mothers, you have. Formula fed babies don't have to take the extra supplements that breastfed babies have to because the formula really is PERFECTLY created for their nutritional needs. Also remember that whatever you ate during breastfeeding goes to your baby...so all that junk food that you ate....straight to the baby. Fantastic nutrition in those chips & cookies...too bad all that crap is missing from formula. PLEASE stop bashing moms who choose to bottle feed whether or not they ever tried breastfeeding!0 -
I'm currently still breastfeeding my baby girl. If we're in public, I make sure to cover everything up. I know that not everyone is comfortable seeing someone breastfeed for whatever reason and I don't want someone (namely a kid) walking by and saying, "mommy, what is that lady doing to that baby?" I also don't want to just flip a boob out in front of everyone - I'm a little self-conscious I guess.0
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I'm currently still breastfeeding my baby girl. If we're in public, I make sure to cover everything up. I know that not everyone is comfortable seeing someone breastfeed for whatever reason and I don't want someone (namely a kid) walking by and saying, "mommy, what is that lady doing to that baby?" I also don't want to just flip a boob out in front of everyone - I'm a little self-conscious I guess.
Why shouldn't everyone know what breastfeeding is? Shouldn't children know what it is so that THEY aren't weirded out by it like everyone else seems to be?0 -
This is a touchy subject...obviously!
I am huge on breast feeding! I breast fed both of my kids but I NEVER did it in public...and to be completely honest it is NOT natural that is why you have to "teach" your baby how to latch on and so forth. I learned that from my lactation consultant.
I always pumped when my babies weren't hungry so that I had milk ready when we were out and about and so that my husband could share in the feeding duties.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjDQN9keKQk
No. It IS natural. It isn't because baby needs to learn anything. Baby knows EXACTLY what to do-even if the mom is not confident enough to get that... Your LC didn't "teach" you that. There isn't an LC in the freaking world that would say that BF isn't natural. You misunderstood what she said. Just because it's natural doesn't mean mom doesn't have some things to learn.
Not everyone CAN pump. It's a fact that baby is better and more efficient at emptying a breast than a pump. I can nurse my baby into a little fatty, but can only squeeze maybe half an ounce with a Medela pump in style. I'm not putting myself through that for anyone when I can plug baby into the tap and be good to go. Pumping also degrades some of the natural properties in the breastmilk that don't survive. Also, when there is a saliva transfer, anything that baby may have come in contact with in recent MOMENTS are transferred through the receptive tissue of the areola and immediately sent up to your immune system to begin making antibodies-this response takes approximately 15 minutes to complete! You don't get that with a pump.
I have BF my babies, and my husband is bonded with the babies just fine and dandy even though he never once fed them their milk. There are other ways for daddies to bond with babies. It's a fact.
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I'm all for women breast feeding. Only in America (the issue was a Target in Texas and also in the Midwest where the "bible belt" is) is it usually an issue. Anywhere else around the world it's not uncommon.
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ahahaha, we're not prudes here. the employee offered the mom a dressing room and she flipped out and said the employee invaded her privacy.... um... ok. personally, so not to make myself or others feel uncomfortable, i always did it in a bathroom stall if i had a hungry baby and was out and about. (yes, my own babies...)
My understanding is she was not "offered" a dressing room to use; she was asked to use a dressing room instead. There is a difference; one is an attempt to make the mother more comfortable at the expense of the store and the other is an effort to make the employees/customers more comfortable at the expense of the mother. My 3rd son will be born in Feb, he will be fed by his mother when and where is necessary, regardless of how uncomfortable it may make others... I love bewbs too; but there is nothing sexual about breastfeeding.0 -
They should not do this in public. They should pump ahead of time. Being a mom is not easy by any means. It cant be good for your child to be rushed in a target store breastfeeding your child. Think about the baby and plan or dont go out. If women can control it at work than women can control it in public!0
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On the "formula is child abuse note," I'd like to know how many of the breastfeeding moms who say formula is terrible for your kids & don't provide all of the nutrition that breast milk provides have had to give your babies iron supplements around 9 months? Unless you are in the extreme minority of breastfeeding mothers, you have. Formula fed babies don't have to take the extra supplements that breastfed babies have to because the formula really is PERFECTLY created for their nutritional needs.
Interesting statement there about iron supplements. I would like to see a credible source for that information. My wife breastfed both of our sons, and they never needed iron supplements. The brief reading I just did on the subject suggests that iron in breast milk is actually more readily absorbed than from other sources. Unless the mother has a problem with anemia, I don't see why it would be an issue.0 -
Some Mom's don't have the option of breastfeeding. I personally would have loved to breastfeed my kids but my milk was not there. My mother wasn't able to breastfeed either. Some women can't, that doesn't make them abusers, just mothers that can't.0
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Oh, come on. Thats like saying they should see sex so they arent weirded out about it. Sex is just as natural as breastfeeding... No children shouldnt see either one without their parents approval. Parents have this right, not strangers in public.I'm currently still breastfeeding my baby girl. If we're in public, I make sure to cover everything up. I know that not everyone is comfortable seeing someone breastfeed for whatever reason and I don't want someone (namely a kid) walking by and saying, "mommy, what is that lady doing to that baby?" I also don't want to just flip a boob out in front of everyone - I'm a little self-conscious I guess.
Why shouldn't everyone know what breastfeeding is? Shouldn't children know what it is so that THEY aren't weirded out by it like everyone else seems to be?0
This discussion has been closed.
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