Babble

 

Just because women nurse in public doesn't mean they walk around topless, it can be done discreetly, no big deal here.

MaryP:

Sign in to vote! http://www.babble.com/useraccounting/login.aspx 

Or click here to join: http://www.babble.com/useraccounting/newuserreg.aspx

1) Every breastfeeding mom knows - when you gotta feed, you gotta feed.

2) Newborns eat every 2 hours - sometimes more often.  Add that time to the time it takes you to pack the car with baby gear and baby, driving time, and you are left with precious time to shop or whatever without taking a little break.

3) Introducing a bottle to a breastfed baby too early can cause nipple confusion, where the baby will refuse to breastfeed because the bottle is so much easier.  (Happened to me!)

4) Some babies never take a bottle.  My little girl screamed at the top of her lungs just at the sight of one.

5) Covering up is great when it works, but babies are stubborn.  Many will just yank the blanket or shirt right off you, or refuse to eat without being able to gaze soulfully into mom's eyes.

6) What's the big deal, anyway??? What's the worst that can happen if you see a little boob?

7) Breastfeeding mothers - unite.  Nurse in public - it will make the lives of moms who come before much easier.

At first, I was a little uncomfortable with nursing the baby in public, but now I have no problems whatsoever with whipping out a boob.  In the mall, in the bookstore, whatever.  I never noticed before I became a Mama, but the world is very hostile to breastfeeding moms and it sucks.  I can't WAIT until someone tries to talk shit while I'm feeding the kid in public!

I agree - I have never been harassed or even asked what's up while nursing in public (which I do, well, almost whenever I'm in public.  Kid's gotta eat!)  But part of me relishes the idea of someone trying to take issue.  They'd be messing with the wrong person. 

Favorite nursing in public story: I was speaking at my brother-in-law's wedding and was given a reading that had to do with kids/generations, etc.  It was an episcopal church.  I was trying to discreetly nurse the babe (3mo old at the time) before it was my turn to read so she wouldn't yelp.  But I had the order of the readings mixed up and lo and behold I had to stand and read in a church while nursing.  I just went ahead and did it and it was honestly the only time I can think of that I even felt like it might be inappropriate.  I was not out to offend anyone and I worried that some of the religious folk would take issue with it.  (We're not religious and I barely ever go to churches save for weddings and funerals so I'm not sure how that kind of thing usually would go down.)  Anyway, my now-SIL's brother who is a minister came up to me afterward and said it was "the most blessed thing he had ever seen." 

Other favorite nursing story: I have the great fortune to work for a maternity advocacy organization and I once gave a report to the board of directors while nursing.  They all commented on how cool it was that we all worked for such a mother- and baby-friendly organization.

Yay for people who get it!

I get sooooo angry at the queasy anti-feeding set.  I am a man, and it drives me nuts that guys can be erotically stimulated by breasts but disgusted by seeing them used for their real purpose.  It would be like a "leg-man" who was grossed out by seeing a woman walking.  Eeewwww, she's taking steps!

Peter:

I get sooooo angry at the queasy anti-feeding set.  I am a man, and it drives me nuts that guys can be erotically stimulated by breasts but disgusted by seeing them used for their real purpose.  It would be like a "leg-man" who was grossed out by seeing a woman walking.  Eeewwww, she's taking steps!

Yeah...:) another man who gets it...lucky family you have.

I'm far more bothered by narcissistic men who feel the need to jog or work out sans shirt.  Keep it in the locker room, fer cryin' out loud.

That said, the only time a mother nursing in public made me feel uncomfortable was when we saw a woman who was obviously into extended breastfeeding.  Her son looked to be well over two - nearly as old as my younger son at the time, who had stopped breastfeeding before his first birthday.  Of course my issue was more with the extended breastfeeding than the fact that she was nursing in public. 

 

I'm nursing in public right now! Well, not quite, but I don't hesitate.

Hi new to this site....Loving it

I am originally from Park slope but now live in Orange County, CA.  I had the ease of just going to my car to nurse but I remember one time i was in a resturaunt and had to nurse my son.

I was covered up and and doing just fine.  An older woman actually said to me "why dont you go do that in the bathroom or something?"  I didnt want to be rude but I was annoyed by it

My response to her was "I will tell you what if you bring your breakfast into the bathroom and eat it off of the toilet I will gladly give my child his breakfast off of the toilet as well"

She didnt particularly like the comment and made a fuss to the owner of the restraunt who happens to be a very close friend of mine and my friend defended me to the hilt stating that the only way you could tell I was nursing was by the little feet sticking out from underneath the blanket.

 

You know what?  It amazes me that people still have trouble with this issue!!  I remember nursing in public 20 years ago and getting a few stares,  but so what!!  I nursed with a blanket over my shoulder when I could.  But whats worse... a nursing baby, contented going to sleep,  maybe a slight view of a breast / or  crying baby,  wet shirt, upset mommy.   I think there are ways to be discreet about it and thats cool,  but I long for the day when no one has to feel uncomfortable at all nursing in public.  Parents feeding and loving their children should be applauded.   I think we are going backwards over this one as a human race,  so I agree with the person that said breast feeders unite! A million mamma nurse in..thats what the we need... and whats with laws banning this??  I really don't understand how anyone could be opposed to this.   It  does my heart good to see that everyone here supports it.

I've been doing the breastfeeding thing here in Buenos Aires where women whip out their boobs with no problem. I try to be a bit more discreet but don't hesitate anyway. I'm a little more concerned about getting back to the States with Caitlyn and having someone make a comment to me because urghh they will feel the wrath of my me and my husbandI.

I nursed both of mine in public many, many times, but I covered up with a blanket more for my own modesty than for the disapproving eyes of any naysayers....but, no one even paid any attention to me at all.  Ever.  I'm not even talking any sideways glances. 

Or maybe I'm just oblivious.  Either way, worked for me.

There is nothing wrong with nursing in public. I just did in Walmart a couple of days ago and I had an elderly lady compliment me for breastfeeding. She was even with her husband. To me breastfeeding is the most natural thing. God gave me breasts so I am going to use them for what they were made for, I don't care if I am outside or not. If you don't like it then don't look.

I had a similar experience in Israel, where both of my kids (now 4 and 2 -- I just stopped nursing the younger one) were born.  Nursing was no big deal there -- women (even religious women who covered their hair) would nurse in public all the time and no one thought twice about it.  I never had a problem doing it here, either.  I didn't have one of those "hooter hiders," either.  I'm not an exhibitionist (far from it, I'm pretty modest), but I think if you just treat it as the most natural thing in the world (like changing a diaper), which it is, you will avoid most hassles.  When I nursed, I looked at my kid, not around to attract eye contact.  Sometimes, like on an airplane, it helps to have a jacket or something so you are not sticking your boob right in other peoples' face.  I found people to be pretty understanding in general.

 Another thought:  if you use formula at all, you could do that when you're in public if you're concerned about breastfeeding.  I know it's not popular with the La Leche thought police to suggest that formula might sometimes be convenient, or that it might sometimes be inconvenient to nurse in public, but if YOU FEEL uncomfortable, then using a bottle that time can get you through the afternoon.  Obviously, pumped milk works as well, if you've got some, except that, unlike formula powder, you have to keep the milk cold while you're on the go.