| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 6:18:26 AM |
Breast-feeding in public
It is saddening to learn that nursing mothers have to stage a protest for the right to breast-feed their babies in a retail store that objects to the practice. Nursing mothers should have the freedom and indeed should be welcomed to breast-feed whenever and wherever the need arises. Babies have no concept of right and wrong or society's standards. They know however when they want food or comforting and fuss when they are denied either.
Pressuring nursing mothers to refrain from breast-feeding in public raises stress levels in the mother and I have read alters their milk as well. This negatively impacts the baby and impairs the feeding.
All mothers who have breast-fed their infants in my vicinity have done so with discretion and dignity. I have never found need to object.
I applaud and encourage nursing mothers who have the courage to breast-feed in public. They nuture their babies in the best way known to mankind.
I have difficulty tolerating anyone so prudish to object to public breast-feeding. Perhaps they were bottle-fed?
For the record, lest you think otherwise, this thread is not about topless women, public nudity, or voyeurism. It is solely the matter of a mother providing the best nutrition for their babies in a timely fashion.
Do you object or support and encourage nursing mothers to breast-feed their babies, including in public? | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 6:27:56 AM | | Obviously no harm can ever come of breast feeding in public. Therefore, no one should have any need to object. Anyone who objects to breastfeeding in public has issues. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 7:19:31 AM | OR
Sadly what happens in cases like this where women are forced to push an issue with something so simple and pure, that great levels are taken to do it. I have witnessed in my life pro tests surrounding breast feeding and women end up nursing in public with out discretion, only making the cause seem worse to those that struggle with the concept. This only makes what should be natural, seem even harder to do.
I am one parent who back in the early 80's had no issue with nursing in public. My first time doing so was on a crowded beach where I was camping. At no time were my breasts ever exposed to anyone other than my baby. In fact, I am sure some people had absolutely no clue what I was doing.
I am all for breast feeding in the fashion to which it was meant for
"Demand Feeding" !!!
Yea to all Mothers that can
CC | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 7:35:15 AM | CC ^^^
I agree, it is regrettable that some women in their struggle to sway opinion on public breast-feeding have resorted to what some consider inappropriate extremes, "over the top".
This appears to have back-fired and may have created the opposite effect of what they wish to achieve. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 7:54:53 AM | I agree, it is regrettable that some women in their struggle to sway opinion on public breast-feeding have resorted to what some consider inappropriate extremes, "over the top".
This appears to have back-fired and may have created the opposite effect of what they wish to achieve.
How exactly can you push this issue to "extremes??" What is the most "extreme" thing you can possibly do?? Breast feed for a long time? Breast feed in a restaurant?? What exactly does it mean to be an "extremist" breast feeder? Whatever it is, I can't imagine it is anything too harmful!!
It's stupid how conservative some people are. I personally don't care if women walk around topless, or completely naked, whether they have a baby or not...I don't care if guys do either! And I don't care if everyone does so in the parks where children play...I just don't see the big deal.
I DO however, see the harm in discouraging breast feeding. There is no formula as good as the one nature created. Mothers who want put in a bit of extra effort for the health of their baby should be encouraged, not the opposite!
Unfortunately everyone here seems to agree, damnit, I want to have an argument ha ha.
All I know is I wish I could get breast-fed in public.... that's awesome to me... I like bewbs A LOT
Ha ha! funny!! | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 8:38:36 AM | There should be a law against eating hot dogs in public and squirting condiments all over your shirt, or those that drink slurpees and slurp so loud, then those that lick ice creams and show their tongue in public ( how rude) , bubble gum poppers that pop so loud and irritate the heck out of me, the wheezer who snorts while they eat, the diners at restaurants who believe they back in the pagan era ( manners are lacking)... and the list goes on.
Makes breastfeeding in public seem like no big deal in comparison to what I have seen out there in the wide world. POP  | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 11:49:37 AM | Looks like a few saw the same story on the news........
Breast feeding in public should'nt be an issue, anytime, anywhere.
I have no idea why this stores being so weird.
However........People being people, if you're not willing to be discreet about it, people will look, anything out of the norm will attract a glance........
That one lady on the news was so proud of her breast she pretty much had it hanging out like a ballon on a stick........no wonder people looked.
It appeared as some took great offence to the lookers.......that'll never change, if you don't want the gazers looking, be a little more discreet.
Good lord, don't billboard something then complain it worked...... | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 12:00:15 PM | I find it absolutely hilarious that people would have issues with a woman feeding her child (and most mothers I've seen doing it are usually covered up or have their shirt pulled down a bit to have some modesty) but have absolutely no issues with the hundreds (if not thousands) of sexually-related advertisements we see on a daily basis. Because, after all, a woman fully clothed giving her child food from her breast is WAY more indecent than the near naked Victoria's Secret model splayed across a rug, her body in an oddly suggestive position with a 'come hither' look to her eye.
If I had children, I'd rather them see nature in it's most purest form than ads themed way beyond their years making them grow up too fast.
Oh and to the woman on news 1130 yesterday who said when she sees a breastfeeding mom she thinks the woman doesn't have a home: Are you serious? I can't fathom how you'd come up with that conclusion - I mean really! That's like saying anyone who uses the public washroom doesn't have a home! | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 12:22:36 PM | I see no problem at all with breast feeding in public. It is what breasts are for.
I don't have a problem with little kids running around naked at the beach either, but I would have a problem if they are walking down the street naked.
Not sure if this is off topic, but I want to know what people think how long a child should breastfeed. I think Yoko Ono breastfed her child til he was in school or something like that. I would find it kind of weird to see a 5 year old go up to mom and start breastfeeding.
On Canada Day I attended festivities at a packed park to watch some live music. This lady had her large breasts hanging out and her toddler was walking and playing around and every once in a while the kid would go up between mom's knees (she was sitting) and suckle on mom's hanging down breasts for a few seconds and then toddle off again. The mom didn't use discretion at all. She just kept them hanging out all the time in case the kid wanted to come back. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 12:52:43 PM | IMO: I breast fed both my children, whenever where-ever I was always discreet. Being a modest person and leary of perves trying to look at my breasts, they never got the chance, it was not difficult to be discreet.In our country it is a shock to see somebody displaying body parts our bathing suit covers, we teach our children appropreate attire meaning:private areas remain private.It is confussing for the children seeing someones private areas on display in a public place( As they know better) I was for years, a member of La lac league in my City ( a group organized for the sole purpose of supporting breastfeeding mothers) I as a breast feeding mother support it whole heartedly as HUMAN mothers milk is the best food for any baby ( that is a known fact) I know breastfeeding mothers need NOT display there breasts to the general public having managed to to so my self for two children from birth to cup. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 1:01:03 PM | | This is only one of many reasons that breast feeding is still on the decline world wide. I can relate a number of stories that I myself encountered while breast feeding my own two in public in the late 90s early 2000s and having ( typically males) come up to me while I was discretely feeding ( at no time were my body parts exposed to anyone other than the baby) the still babes in arms at the time and asking me if I couldn't "go into a bathroom to do that" or " how dare I subject them to seeing such a thing" ( often in a food court where they themselves were eating). Luckily for me I had my children later in life and had the self confidence not to hurrily pack up and leave the place but to stand ( on in this case sit) my ground and ignore the people involved. It was even prolific in my ex in laws place where I was asked to go into a bedroom to feed the children while I was in their house! Lack of support of breast feeding mothers is one of the reasons most younger new mothers "give up" on breast feeding their infants, while at the same time both the American and Canadian Pediatrician organizations are trying to encourage breastfeeding for the first year! Until society as a large embraces and incourages new mothers in their attempts to breast feed this downward spiral isn't likely to stop! At the time and place both my children were born I was the only new mother in the ward at the time that was actively trying to breast feed, the advantage to this is I had the full time support of the lactation nurse at the hospital. I found it a sad state that out of 25+ new mothers on the ward at the time I was the only one that was almost militant about breast feeding insisting that signs were placed on the basinet stating that they were NOT to recieve any bottles from the nursing staff! The nursing staff actively promoted bottle feeding to the new young mothers on the ward. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 1:18:07 PM | vandbmom ^^^
... having ( typically males) come up to me while I was discretely feeding ( at no time were my body parts exposed to anyone other than the baby) the still babes in arms at the time and asking me if I couldn't "go into a bathroom to do that" or " how dare I subject them to seeing such a thing"
That is ludicrous behaviour. Kudos for ignoring the idiots. Other women should ignore them and their kind too.
in my ex in laws place where I was asked to go into a bedroom to feed the children while I was in their house!
No wonder they are your ex -in-laws.
The nursing staff actively promoted bottle feeding to the new young mothers on the ward.
What a bizarre philosophy! There is so much evidence that mother's milk is the best thing for an infant, especially in the early stages of development, and then have staff of a health-care facility encourage less-healthier feeding options, no doubt because it was just easier. It takes time and patience for many new moms to master breast-feeding and the bottled forumua is the easy way out. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 1:20:55 PM |
The nursing staff actively promoted bottle feeding to the new young mothers on the ward.
There was a time when society actually thought formula was better than breast milk. 
Vandmom - what year was this? I don't think they do that anymore. At least I hope not. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 3:45:33 PM | When I was having my children, bottle feeding and keeping the baby in the nursey over night was common practise unless the new mother asked for 24 hr care.
Today, I was fortunate enough to be part of my grand daughters birth 6 months ago. There is a huge push now for breast feeding again and also in room 24 care with the mothers unless their health was unstable.
They even have medication now for Mom's to take (Domperidone) that helps to induce/increase breast milk for those that appear to have trouble producing for whatever reason.
But as many here have mentioned, there will always be the Doo Doo Bird in the crowd that has an issue, usually a prudish one at that.
CC | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 5:26:40 PM |
All mothers who have breast-fed their infants in my vicinity have done so with discretion and dignity
You are fortunate then. Many times I've seen women who lack discretion or consideration for those who, rightly or wrongly, are uncomfortable seeing naked nipples in public.
As mentioned above, there are many ways to do the deed with discretion in public. It will still give those of us who enjoy the sight the warm fuzzies, without embarrassing those who are not yet ready for the full deal.
JMO
B. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 5:34:28 PM |
I see no problem at all with breast feeding in public. It is what breasts are for.
But not all they're good for thank goodness, as for the rest of you who are offended by the site of nipples ...never go to the same beach as me....
Women are allowed to go topless now so what could be the harm of using them to feed?
Must be the jealous who didn't get breastfed when they were young... | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 6:01:12 PM | | mon cheri .. my children were born in 1997 and 1999 although they were not born here in BC but rather in Arizona .. things can be a little backwards in some places I guess. I was absolutely confounded when I was asked by the nursing staff with my first what formula I would be using .. for the thought of using formula was absurb to me .. I hadn't even considered at the time of the children's birth doing anything but breast feeding ... to me mothers that didn't breast feed and "choose" to feed formula were either unable to feed naturally or their babies had some condition in which they couldn't latch for some reason! I wrote it off at the time to being a foriegner in a strange land! | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 7:05:20 PM | I believe that when it comes to whether or not breast feeding is what is best for a baby, that what is best for the Mom is really what is best for her baby. When my son was a new born I found that I was having so many problems trying to breast feed that by the 5th day (they actually kept me in that long as I was just a kid), I was exhausted, in tears and feeling like a total failure because I wasn't "getting it". One nurse who came along to support me told me quietly (because she must have been fearful of being ostracized by all the militant breast feeding nurses), that all of her children were bottle fed and that they had all their marbles. I asked her for a bottle and when she produced one, I began bottle feeding him and everything went really well after that. What was really neat was that my kid's Dad was able to feed our son too. I had been so conditioned to think that if I didn't breast feed my children, that I was a total failure and that my son would grow up allergic to everything he ate, die of heart failure and above all else, be an emotional wreck who had bonding and attachment issues making him scarred for life (gotta love what too much reading can do for you when you are that young). He's now the most awesome nurturing Dad to his two children so my fears (and other people's educational biases) were totally unfounded.
A couple of years later, when my second child was born, I had absolutely no problem breast feeding as I had it all figured out...and also because we were flat broke...but I made sure that she was used to having a bottle or two a day as well... so that her Dad could also share that special bonding time (and get up in the middle of night sometimes...enlightened self-interest...and give me more sleep). Same for my youngest 4 years after that. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 7:20:19 PM | celticlass ^^^
I understand your frustrations. The ex and I wanted what was best for our child and the information of the day lead to our choice for breast-feeding. Mom did the best she could. The baby was not the most peaceful however. At some point a regular visit to the doctor produced the declaration she was underweight for her age (the baby!) and prescribed supplementing breast feeding with formula. Mom just wasn't, as she said, a "good cow".
Formula supplementation proved to do the trick and got her back on the desired growth curve. She was then a happier baby too. The little tyke was merely hungry before.
Of course bottle feedings (and diaper changes) were often my domain and an important part of my bonding with child. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 9:29:18 PM | Mon sweet cherie, where have you been all my life... mwah mwah mwah!
Very cute name.. reminds me of pepe le pu
I think it's time to cut off breast feeding at 3 yrs IMO. I stopped breast feeding my child one week before age 3, and I wish I had done it a little sooner. My child preferred boobie over regular food and lost out on receiving proper nutrition during that time. I loved breastfeeding. Would do it again if I could. lol
I also see no problem letting it go on longer, as long as the child is getting adequate nutrition. I think it's okay to let them hang out too.
I find it offensive that people object to breastfeeding (in public) in the first place. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 11:23:26 PM | | Babies should always come first no matter what the circumstances are. I don't have kids, but I have a friend with two kids. She has a little boy almost two, still breast feeds him in public. She always has a blanket that covers him partly for air, so he can have some privacy. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/8/2008 11:53:37 PM | I nursed my firstborn 'til he was 14 months old but stopped when he started giving me little nips when he was full, just so he could chuckle when I yelled "Ouch!". The second kid was nursed only for 4 months due to medical issues but I wish I could have nursed him longer than that. Breastfeeding was an awesome bonding experience & I nursed on demand, anytime, anywhere. This was back in 1985-1989 & I don't recall anyone making a huge issue out of it, mind you I never let them hang out like the lady did on Canada Day at a public park so the kid could come back & suckle whenever he wanted. Even I would object to anyone being as indiscreet as that.
When I'm hungry, I eat in public, so why shouldn't a baby? However, when socializing with family or friends, I never hid in another room to nurse my baby in private like I've seen many women do these days, even around family, which I find really weird. I always discreetly latched the kid onto my breast & continued socializing & chatting. I would probably have gotten upset if anyone demanded that I nurse my baby in private.
IncognitoGuido: I have also breast-fed adult males in public but always discreetly of course. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/9/2008 12:44:45 AM | | As far as breast feeding in public...to each their own. Sure...make a statement if you have to but I think it's a little odd when an older child aged 4-5 reaches for their mother's breast. I think that when a child is old enough to drink well from a cup, aged 18 mos - 2 years, that breast feeding should stop. When they start to get teeth...it hurts. Yes...it is a nice bonding time and they go to sleep easier....but whose needs are really being met after that. Cuddling is nice but when a child can meet their nutritional needs from a cup, why continue with breast feeding. | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/9/2008 1:01:57 AM | I think once they have enough teeth to chew food, they will often choose food over breastmilk , other than for closeness and comfort with Mama. And why should they be deprived of that?
I agree often what's best for Mama is best for Baby.
I have two kids and breastfed my first for only 3 months , and the main REASON i switched to formula was I was uncomfortable showing my breasts in public ! My son I could only bf for six days as for some bizarre reason, i have extreme post pardum while breastfeeding. (back to normal within two days of quitting...sigh..)
If I ever have another I'll give it another go, a seasoned mom this time around with no issues about bearing my boobs in public PLUS I'll be prepared for post pardum and try to work through it.
I don't think there is any one right way for people to live!! (anyone read the "Ishmael" books by Daniel Quinn?)
 NO ONE RIGHT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE
after all, isn't that the main reason behind all human-caused pain in the world? | |
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| Breast-feeding in public
Posted: 8/9/2008 1:21:22 AM | I think that it is entirely acceptable as long as you make sure there is enough for everyone that wants some.
It is like opening a box of chocolates and eating them in front of your other dinner guests without offering to share. | |
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