Breastfeeding in Public

[soilbabe]

Breastfeeding in public has once again made the news.  What the heck is the big deal? 

Girls and women of all ages bare just about every possible inch of their bodies in clothes that would make a stripper blush and that doesn't even get a raised eyebrow.  Been to a beach or a highschool classroom lately?  Last week in church a young lady was scantily clad (what were the parents thinking?) on her way up to communion.  I had to chastise myself that at least she was in church and I had no right to judge.  No one else seemed to notice. 

I heard tongiht about  a mom breastfeeding discretly in a Target store was subjected to abuse by store employees and management.  They were concerned that her actions might be offensive to patrons. 

An innocent mother and baby doing a perfectly normal, natural act that is in no way suggestive or immoral should not attract even the tiniest bit of attention much less derision and criticism. 

My DDs and DILs all breastfeed as did I.  I support their choice to provide a healthy start for their babies.  They are all discrete, thoughtful women who are also not ashamed of breastfeeding as if it is somehing dirty.  I would hate for any of them to be hassled by some idiot with an agenda.

What is wrong with our society? 

[linda/IL]

Ridiculous isn't it?  I was glad to see the back lash that came from it.  Mom's sitting in while breastfeeding in protest. 

Also agree with other assesments.  We have a very sweet young girl, tall long legged thing, that wears skirts very short.  Don't know how she sits in those.  But she's a good kid as far as I know and helps teach the little ones on Sun. 

When I was a kid, back in the stone ages, we had the nuns come for 2 wks. of summer catechism and we were lectured on no gum, don't cross your legs in church, taking your coat off was a "show" of your clothing, and of course we had to have something on our head-hat or lace covering or scarf.  How times have changed!!  Along with their habits.

All a person has to do is watch prime time TV to see a lot mor skin on commercials and every where else.  Sometimes I'm a little ambarrassed in mixed company. 

[Kay/NC]

I thought this war was won...but there are still some idiots who haven't fotten the memo yet, I guess. 

I also nursed oru three kdis...and NOBODY did back then, at least where we came from .  To synopsize the kind of "support" I received form my own mother, she opined that the decision was "n-word-ish" and that "no educated woman would choose to do THAT!"

So, of course, I sought out a La :Leche LEague group,. and ignored her sage wisdom...I had dealt with enough baby pigs to know what happened to the ones that didn't get colostrum...and we ended up wiht the healthiest kids in the community. 

Fast forward to today: I nave totally supported daughter's decision to breastfeed Winn.  He is growing like a weed, and they make a wonderful nursing pair. 

When they come over here, I made a comfy chair in my bedroom, and a changing place on my bed, for them to have privacy and quiet.  If thehy want to sit wiht us and nurse, that is fine, but I offere them the private spot, and they prefer it when more folks are over. 

She nurses in the car when they are in town.  Frankly, that is more sanitary than in a restroom.   Very few places here have lounge rooms set up for nursing moms. 

I think once they get in the practice,adn can concela her breast better, when he is bigger, then it will be easier to nurse discreetlhy in public.  I would pity the fool who interferes with this Mother Tiger. 

Here's the one that I want to ask you: What do you thiknk of a male family member who parks his chair right in front of them and stares???  Happened to me once at a family reunion, and one of SIL's relatives did this to her already. 

[Nebrfarmr]

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@Kay/NC wrote:

I thought this war was won...but there are still some idiots who haven't fotten the memo yet, I guess. 

I also nursed oru three kdis...and NOBODY did back then, at least where we came from .  To synopsize the kind of "support" I received form my own mother, she opined that the decision was "n-word-ish" and that "no educated woman would choose to do THAT!"

So, of course, I sought out a La :Leche LEague group,. and ignored her sage wisdom...I had dealt with enough baby pigs to know what happened to the ones that didn't get colostrum...and we ended up wiht the healthiest kids in the community. 

Fast forward to today: I nave totally supported daughter's decision to breastfeed Winn.  He is growing like a weed, and they make a wonderful nursing pair. 

When they come over here, I made a comfy chair in my bedroom, and a changing place on my bed, for them to have privacy and quiet.  If thehy want to sit wiht us and nurse, that is fine, but I offere them the private spot, and they prefer it when more folks are over. 

She nurses in the car when they are in town.  Frankly, that is more sanitary than in a restroom.   Very few places here have lounge rooms set up for nursing moms. 

I think once they get in the practice,adn can concela her breast better, when he is bigger, then it will be easier to nurse discreetlhy in public.  I would pity the fool who interferes with this Mother Tiger. 

Nothing wrong with any of that, my sister in laws would just cover with a baby blanket, and half the time you didn't even know what was going on.  Wasn't an option for us, as our kids are adopted.

Here's the one that I want to ask you: What do you thiknk of a male family member who parks his chair right in front of them and stares???  Happened to me once at a family reunion, and one of SIL's relatives did this to her already. 

Creepy, but on the other hand, maybe making a point similar to the 'if you don't want people to watch, don't do it' type of thing.   However, on the third hand, maybe just a pervert.  Who knows?

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[manureseller]

I'm of a different opinon of sorts I guess.  I have no problems with breast feeding in public but be descrete about it.  Don't go whipping your boob out where all can see it and feed the child.  Use a blanket to cover up if necessary.  Just my thoughts and how I would do it if I was in that situation.  Now, for Target to get a p*ssy about it is stupid on their part and the breast feed sit-in is just plain annoying as well.  Stores need to make places for mothers to breast feed as it's part of nature.  They would get better press if they started doing this and the area doesn't have to be huge but comfortable. 

Now on to what people actually wear out in public.  At Christmas Eve services there was a young lady who was dressed in a very short leporad print skirt and what I call stripper heels.  She had a slinky top on etc.  My first thought was she looked like a hooker and next was how could her mom let her out in public like that???  My niece is 16 and likes to dress in such a manner.  We've had discussions about it in the past and she has gotten somewhat better.   I've become convinced that no one looks in a mirror anymore before they leave the house and that parents should still have a say on what their kids wear.  After a child leaves the house then it is up to them to show maturity in their dress but looking at the fashions I just don't see it happening.  I even buy clothes for my nieces 1 size up (they are 8 and 6) because of how tight fitting they are made. 

[merryyon]

I breastfed for two reasons....one it was the BEST thing for them and two...who wants to wash all those bottles??

Really, looking at the health of baby calves, both bottle fed and nursed did it for me, I cannot imagine how much more ill Spencer would have been if I  had not breastfed him. 

[Kay/NC]

This is what i mean, Merryon, that the health of the child is the key.  Our little GS has had nothing but mother's milk, and was still having bad gas pains, verging on colic.  The pediatrician told our daughter to give up all dairy for now...because the cow's milk proteins pass throught the mother's milk to the infant. 

This is not the same thing as lactose intolerance...it is a foreign protein in her milk that was making him sick.  They have been improving his tummyaches for a week now, buit it can take up to a month for the whole situation to resolve itself. 

Can you IMAGINE how pitiful this baby would have been on a milk-based formula?!?

More on the llines of the original topic:The real problem, with the bad breastfeeding reaction by ignorant people, and the sexiness of young girls' wardrobes, is this:  The hypersexualization of what ought to be non-sexual ages and actions. 

Children in grade school are in what is known as a "latent" period naturally, in regards to sexuality...that is, the issue is at rest, as there is no need for anyone outside the reproductive stage (pre-pubescent) to even THINK about "being sexy".  When you see a kid that age dolled up like a streetwalker, it is not because they have some need to attract a mate...it is that some adult has their head in the wrong place. 

Those clothes would go out of the stores tomorrow, if parents had the sense to stop buying them. 

[Kay/NC]

Yes, we both felt the man in question - two different men, in fact - were acting very pervy. 

I think that once a baby has its act together, and the nursing mom can carry on without exposing herself, public breastfeeding is fine.  While the infant is very young, and they are both learning to coordinate their actions, it is better to have a quiet, unharried spot to relax. 

This may sound weird, but I am offended by a man's bare chest, more than seeing a nursing pair at the task of breastfeeding.  I don't want to be confronted by anyone's nipples...but, if I am, and it is due to meeting the needs of a child, that is better than just showing off erectile itssue.   

[turkey feather]

I too breast fed my last child. I do like to see it done with some discretion using a little cover up. That is probably what started this whole thing, maybe she was too exposed?

[Kay/NC]

Thirty-firty years ago, decent department stores had very nice ladies' lounges, with comfy sofas, and that was a quiet place you could nurse.  That amenity seems to have fallen by the wayside, but, I have seen Nursing Rooms in some malls. 

Honestly, I don't see why anyone would want to nurse in a store...I mean, I wanted to sit down adn put my feet up, and catch my breath for those precious minutes. 

I don't know the details, but did Google the story...here's one example:

http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/29/9805898-got-milk-target-does-readers-share-stories-...

I think this or another one says the company has apologized.  It should. 

Didn't realize that 45 states have passed laws to protect Nursing in Public (they are called "**bleep**" Laws).  Who knew?