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Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

Original post by wacky

I have no problem with it..

How about others
Jordan Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

Yeah, I just don't see it as inapropriate to BF your child in public - anywhere or in any situation. The child needs to eat, it's fed. Personally I wouldn't let my boob hang out for all the world to see, I would cover it with a towel to what have you...I also wouldn't walk around a beach in a thong or hang out at a friends house topless - and I wouldn't judge anyone else who did. To each their own.

Nipple attached to bottle = good; acceptable. Nipple attached to breast = inapropriate; bad. Just don't get it.
michele31 Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

I think it is every women's right to feed her child, but I would NOT do it shirtless in public. i would use a bfing shawl or other cover-up. But I think it should be allowed everywhere. If I was at a funeral, a place I do not think babies should be anyway really, but I would go into the lobby or ask the manager for a private area.

Wendy Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

I'm sorry, call me old fashioned, but I do not agree with just whipping it out any old place without regard to the feelings and sensibilities of those around you. I do not have a problem with women who want to breastfeed in public as long as they do it with discrection and are not doing it to make a statement.

I realize that in other countries it is natural to expose your breast and feed, but this is not some other country and it is not a behavior that most people are comfortable with. I for one am not. I do not have a problem with women who cover themselves staying where there are and feeding, nor do I feel that they should be banished to some other place. But if you are going to be blatant then you are going to get stares and whispers and you are going to make others uncomfortable. That is the reality.

I can give you a perfect example of what I mean by blatant: My son works in a large retail bookstore. On this particular day he was in the childrens section shelving books. Right next to the area that he was working in, less than 3 feet away, a woman with a baby sat down, lifted her shirt, opened her nursing bra and started feeding her baby. This woman made no attempt whatsoever to cover herself or to at least turn in the other direction so that she would not be in my son's direct line of vision. He was so embarrassed and felt so uncomfortable that he had to leave the area and explain to his manager why he hadn't finished what he was doing. He felt that staying there would have been disrespectful and he just didn't feel right. Is that fair to him? I don't think so.
NIHA Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

As a new breastfeeding mom, I think it's perfectly fine to BF in public, and a woman can be as open as she wants to be. Personally, I am a little shy and I wouldn't want anyone to be uncomfortable, so I have been draping a small blanket over me. I think some women might be very open to make a statement, but I think the problem with our society is that on the one hand we are so sexual (movies, videos, magazines) but on the other hand we are so hung up about sexuality.
And, why are breasts only seen as part of sex? That is the difference b/t our society and others, in other places, breasts are meant to feed babies, and are not looked at as something that you only see in bed.
Stacey1403 Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

All I have to say is how many of you eat in the bathroom with a blanket over your head?
ThreeTwenty Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

I find it disturbing, I don't need to see this when I'm out somewhere. I think it should be done in private, I mean, it's not exactly appropriate for men to go to the mall, restaurants, etc. with no shirt on either!

I understand the kid needs to eat but god, get a breast pump!!!!
Misty Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

Stacey I do.
Stacey1403 Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

Play nice
Misty Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

eternityawaits Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

I agree that it is ok, but it should definitely not be all 'boob hanging out in the open' at certain times...

If you are at the dinner table I would at least turn to the side a little so you're not giving all the guys a little show
kmcwed Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

I am far from uptight, and I certainly have no issues regarding the human body or nudity.

BUT.... I am put off by a woman breastfeeding in public.

While it may be a natural process, it's also a very intimate and personal process, and in my opinion it should be done as a private moment between mother and child. If privacy is absolutely impossible, then it should be done as discretely as possible.

Just because something is a natural function of the human body doesn't mean it should be shared in public. There are lots of natural bodily functions we would never dream of displaying for all to see.

It's not that breastfeeding is dirty or sexual. It's just extremely INTIMATE. I think that degree of intimacy, however natural it may be, can be very uncomfortable for others to witness. I, for one, would rather not watch.






anna Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

I still feel that there are 2 sides to this topic, and im definately not taking sides.

But having BTDT (been there done that) as far as BFing, I have say that, to all of you that think its that inappropriate, rude, uncalled for, etc.
Maybe you havent been through the excruciating pain of engorgement. This is what happens when you dont feed or pump at your regular schedule. The milk 'builds up' and your breasts become wayyy overloaded and begin to get hard (as a rock) and very sore. Not fun. I cried.
I BFd my son for 3months, so Ididnt even have time to get used to BFing in public, so I never really did. As public as I got was on the couch at my house or my family's homes, with a blanket drape over my arm/baby's head.

When moms are out, not only do the baby's need to eat, which is first priority, but the mom needs to and yes its a MUST that she empty her breasts. Carrying a pump around is another thing that is very cumbersome and requires time and patience. Why should a mom that is out with her child, have to feel obligated to feed him/her any other way than what she is devoting her heart to ? Why should she have to leave the table? If you knew how OFTEN an infant feeds, you'd understand how often this mother would have to 'leave the room'.
Also, Engorgement can be extremely painful, leaking breasts are no fun, and then all of this physical discomfort coupled with 'people in public' really doesnt make life easy. Given the sleepless nights, and emotional and physical toll that BFing can have on a new mom, seeing a mom BFing should make her a hero, not a villain. She should be admired not looked down upon.

Again, I also agree that it should be done with discretion and tact. Wendy, I do think that lady at the bookstore should have covered up a little, at least when she saw him coming. But BFing moms have come to feel so comfortable with feeding their chldren in public, that I feel its one thing thats so harmless to society, why should it be an issue to passersby? There are so many more important things to be worried about.

ETA: Wacky, LOL. My cousin in Italy also, just whipped em out and fed her kids, and continued chatting with us. No one made a big deal about it and it became a 'no big deal' thing. Its as simple as that!
kptoys Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

TwentythreeI understand the kid needs to eat but god, get a breast pump!!!!

I am a breastfeeding mother. My daughter is 13 months and has NEVER taken a bottle so the breastpump that I bought has done me NO good.

I breastfeed in public. If my child needs to eat then so be it. I would, however, never whip out my boob, stick it in my babies mouth, then leave myself uncovered. I have been in public (walking around an Old Navy for instance) where Emma was pulled so close to me you could never tell she was BFing she looked like she was sleeping, heck I got my shopping done and fed my baby at the same time. I have been at parties where I would go into a corner when there were no other places to go (no I would not go sit in a bathroom) covered my babies face and my breast and fed her while the party went on around me.

I am doing one of the most natural things in the world. I am not going to let other people opinions of the subject deter me from keeping the bond I have with my baby. If people do not like what I am doing then don't stare. If people have comments about it then they are not as informed as they should be. To each his own.

As for the people that whip out their boob and feed their babies with no coverage I guess having all their parts exposed for every passer by to see while they have a child coming out of their body they have lost all shame and just dont care.

JMHO - Dont want to offend ANYONE - JMHO

ETA: Anna very heartwarming to read your post above!!!!
Wendy Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

Anna I have been there done that!! I do understand that it's painful for the mom and necessary for the baby to eat, however why not exercise discretion? There are ways of breastfeeding that do not require the mother to be fully exposed in the middle of a public place. This woman saw my son working there and sat down right next to him. No blanket, no turning the other way(which she could have easily done) no consideration for him. Sorry but this is a teenage boy. Trust me there is no teenage boy out there who sees a womans breast and does not think SEX!!!!!!! I'm not saying that it's wrong for a woman to breastfeed in public, far from it, but at least consider those people around you who may feel differently than you do.

nycchic_24 Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

I would have to say that I totally agree with Karen and Wendy on this topic 100 %...as I said before..my brother is 16 and for him to sit there and watch this, is ridiculous. I definately agree with the fact that if a teenage boy sees a breast the first thing they will associate it with will be SEX...

Karen, I totally agree with you that this is something that is and should be extremely intimate! The way the both of you have worded your opinions is exactly the way I feel!
DaniRN Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

I have no prob with it

anna Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

Wendy I definately wasnt saying that you said it was wrong. Actually I agree with your saying it was inappropriate that she wasnt discreet around your son.

Unfortunately, I think its something our country should maybe should add to the school system, to health class? It seems 'kids' nowadays are not ashamed of ANYTHING (not speaking about anyone in particular !! ) so I wouldnt think that seeing a boob would make them uncomfortable. My husband is the first to say that he's uncomfortable when my sister BFs in the same room. Shes very discreet and he still thinks its a bit much. Thats just how he is, and i undersstand that alot of people are that way. Normally I yell at him, because she is so discreet about it, and covered up, but just knowing what shes doing makes him uncomfortable. I guess its really a personal matter to everyone.


Karen-you are MY HERO !!! I always was amazed at any mom that can carry the baby and BF at the same time (standing) so shopping too ! WOW, you go girl !! That is my goal in life !!!

HeatherandNick Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

no problems from me

Wendy Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

Anna . I was just generalizing. I know you weren't saying that what I said was wrong.

Believe it or not there are a lot of good kids out there who are respectful and yes they do get embarrassed. I guess it's just that the kids that don't care are the ones that get seen more. I do think that if breastfeeding were more commonplace and every woman did it, there would certainly be less of an issue with it. But because that is not the case and hasn't been for a very long time, I don't think people's attitudes will change. I do agree with you though that it should be addressed in health class. Unfortunately I think the curriculum in health class leaves a lot to be desired!! Oh well. Maybe once you start teaching you can effect some change!!
anna Posted:

Re: Spinoff from Theresa's Post, Do you think its ok for women to breast feed in public.

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