I just do not get all the fuss. It's so easy to be discreet--I breastfed in public all the time, and not only did no one ever say anything to me (other than an occasional wink or wave from older women), but I think a lot of people didn't even notice what I was doing.

I'm with you, Chyna. I am very discreet....well, most of the time. I was at the pool yesterday and trying to nurse my 9 month old with a towel over my giant exposed breast(swimsuit breastfeeding is a little harder to be discreet with, hence the towel in 95 degree weather) while my 5 year old played in the kiddie pool by my feet. All was going well until the baby pulled the towel off and looked up at me to laugh. Exposing my nipple for all the pool to see. GOt a couple of looks, but oh well.

OK- I don't see that many women on the video saying it is awful to b.f. in public--- they keep showing clips of the same two women that liken it to "showing someone's butt"(the same "there's so many PRODUCTS!" woman) and the one who feels it is a private thing between a baby and mother.  That said, obviously I am in the "it's what they are there for" camp, and if my baby is hungry, I am not going to wait an hour to get off the subway and find a gross public restroom to huddle in with my hungry baby for the sake of some puritanical prude's discomfort with the female anatomy.

and as an added side note, in NY State not only is it LEGAL to BF in public, it is LEGAL for women to be topless generally wherever/whenever they want!  They passed that law in 1994 I believe.  Just a little information for ya- the law is on your side, NYS nursing mamas.

I whipped it out whenever we needed to, sometimes if we were in a very crowded place I might use a blanky.  But for the ost part no stares, no comments, no biggie.  Maybe I'm lucky.

I don't mind other people breastfeeding in public- more power to 'em, not weird at all.  But it wasn't that long ago that I was fighting for some privacy from the parents and siblings, or telling guys to keep their hands to themselves.  That makes it feel awkward to all of a sudden whip one out, you know?  So it's the car or restroom for me and my kiddo.

I do cheer on anyone else that nurses in public, but to me, nursing is a special, private moment that I share with my daughter.  It's when I get to cuddle her and have her all to myself.  It's more than just a meal.  Plus, I'm pretty shy about exposing myself and I'm not good at nursing in such a way that you couldn't tell what was going on.  So, it's not for me.

I have nursed everywhere - churches (including Notre Dame in Paris - if it was good enough for Our Lord, it's good enough for my kids!), airplanes, government buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, outdoor festivals.  Everywhere.

In almost 3 years of nonstop nursing (two kids, and tandem for 9 months of pregnancy + baby's first 9 months of life, before I weaned big sis) I have only been given a hard time ONCE, in St. Thomas in the courthouse when my friends went to get their marriage license.  I was hot, baby was thirsty, no brainer, but the security guard was a complete asshole about it.  I made a scene.  It was kind of fun, actually.  By then I'd been breastfeeding for 2.5 years, so I had plenty of times to ready my comebacks.

One time an older man approached me at the mall, and I was sure he was going to let me have it, so I squared my shoulders, made eye contact, and started mentally preparing my speech about how Indiana Law gives me the right to breastfeed everywhere.  He gestured toward the baby and said, softly, "God bless you, Mama."

Then I resolved to stop making assumptions about people.

Really, it's just a boob.  You see more at the beach or in a catalog than you do when most women nurse.  Get. Over. It.

Amy @ prettybabies.blogspot.com

I generally try to adapt to the situation and the people I'm around.  If I think it will make whoever I'm with uncomfortable, I'll usually use a cover or go into another room.  But if the people I'm with seem like they're ok with it, I prefer to just do it.  My baby gets really sweaty when I use the cover, and he seems to cut his feeding short when I use it, so I prefer not to if I can.  

I have to admit, I was really nervous about it while I was still pregnant.  I ended up having a c-section, though, and after several days in the hospital with random nurses grabbing my boobs and cafeteria people coming to collect trays while I fed, I totally got over any shyness I felt.

I'm a teacher. I didn't breastfeed in public because I felt like I never knew when a former student might be just around the corner...with a camera phone. I was overly paranoid, I know, but in this day and age, that kind of picture would be plastered on the front page of the paper with the caption "Area Teacher Exposes Self in Public" and that would be the END of my career.

Pessimistic, I know. But better safe than sorry.

And BTW, I fully support any woman feeding her child anywhere at any time. I just wasn't comfortable with it myself.

"there are so many products", sure there are but try keeping a determined baby under one!

It's true, you know- you do generally see more in a swimsuit/ lingere catalogue (or on the beach, on MTV, on the street...) than you do when someone's breastfeeding. I like to have quiet time with my baby when he's feeding if I can, only because we don't get that much of it otherwise. But if he's hungry at the mall or on a plane? Then he gets to eat.