Reading thru the "how low will u go??" thread got me thinking about this topic.

Does it bother you to see a woman breast feeding in public?? I have seen this on airplanes, in restaurants, the mall, many places. It doesn't bother me unless the woman is being a bit of an exhibitionist about it. There is a way to breast feed where people don't even really know that is what you are doing.

your thoughts???

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I breast fed in public, but I always had a blanket over my shoulder.

I always tried not to breastfeed in public and if I did I covered up, I dont think anyone would of known what I was doing.. I dont think there is anything wrong with breastfeeding in public, If its done discreetly. Alot of people are always saying there is always the bathroom..would you want to eat your lunch in the bathroom? I wouldnt.

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Proud mom to 4 great boys Anthony20,Nicholas16,Michael4,Sean2

I breastfed in public, used a blanket.
Just looked like they were sleeping.

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I didn't feel comfortable breastfeeding in public, but that is just me. My guys were always throwing themselves around and pulling the blankets off....

Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world. It bothers me a lot that people are offended by it. We can sit around all day watching people kill each other but a breast is shown and oh God you would think it is the most damaging thing in the world.
Ridiculous! God made breasts to be milk receptacles.

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I breastfed in public. Even if I didn't cover with a blanket (which I didn't do after a month or two), you really couldn't tell- I would have people walk up to me to look at the sleeping baby and I would have to tell them that she was actually eating!

The way I see it, some people walk around in public exposing far more than I ever did when I would be breastfeeding.

If it's discreet, it's not problem. I do not like women who toss their breast out and feed in public and YES, I've seen it. My mom has had a women come into her office and pull her boob out and lay it on her desk while she uses mom's desk as a "boppy" like pillow OMG!!!!

I was BFing with a blanket in a restaurant when a waitress came by and told me "the man in the booth over there is uncomfortable with you feeding the baby in the dining room. He asked that you do that in the bathroom". I told her to tell him "if he'll go eat his dinner in the bathroom, I would be more than happy to feed my babies his dinner in the bathroom." She giggled and went over....boy was he mad LOL You couldn't even TELL I was feeding my kid (even the manager of the place said so).

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It is a perfectly natural thing to do. I don't have a problem with it (normally). There are always the exceptional situation where the mother is wanting to get attention (at least in my opinion) and is making a show of it. That is when it bothers me.

I breasftfed in public.

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I agree with most everyone else. I tried not to, but I did when necessary. It doesn't bother me as long as it's discreet. I also agree that when done discreetly, most people don't even know.

Lisa

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with 2 of my kids I was able to but the other two even as infants domehow they arms would wave things and grab the blanket off everytime.

I breastfed everywhere, never used a blanket. I never "whipped anything out" but if you were rude enough to stare at me you might have caught a glimpse of something as my baby latched on.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

It drives me crazy when people comment that it is rude or obscene to breastfeed in public.I find it natural and beautiful. I breastfed in public and found myself trying to be as discreet as possible, not because I was shy or felt it was wrong, but because I didn't want to offend anyone who had a problem with it, even though I didn't understand their discomfort.

I am not bothered by it at all. It's one of the most natural things. I wish I could have breastfed my girls, but it didn't happen. I sometimes felt a bit jealous of the mothers who could breastfeed, but my girls are happy and healthy so I guess that's all that matters.

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No problems here.

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Nothing wrong with it, that's what breasts were made for lol...but I wasn't that comfortable back when I had a baby and I didn't do it in public. If I had a baby now, I might!

But once I was at a friend's house - she had gone outside to hang laundry or something and I went to sit down in her
living room and bf'd, with my shirtflap and a little towel covering us...she came back in a few minutes later, looked horrified & asked if she could just give me formula for the baby so I wouldn't have to 'bother with all that'.

OMG I was taken aback...and it was just the two of us at the house (and her toddler who was in a playpen and paying no attention to me lol) I am not sure why people are so weirded out, or if she thought it was weird to do it in front of her toddler, I don't know, just don't get it! Nothing wrong with it imo that's what they are for...

When I was breastfeeding my first child, I was so self-conscious about offending people, not that I thought I didn't belong out in the open. So my first child and I spent many a family get-together by hanging out alone in a room down the hall from all the fun. That stunk!

For my next two kids, I got up the nerve to stay put. I just found the most comfortable chair, and nursed my babies. Nobody seemed to care, and I refused to feel banished to another part of the house. At one of my inlaws' parties, my SIL did come over at one point and said "You *could* go down the hall to our bedroom if you'd be more comfortable there..." I just thanked her and said I was fine where I was. I actually wore a swing styled shirt most of the time, so my babies and my breast were adequately covered.

There are always those who are just feeling *icky* that they know a baby is breastfeeding. It isn't anything they can see - it's just that they realize it's happening, and it makes them uncomfortable. They are the ones who just have to get over it, IMHO.

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I think if a woman is discreet about it by covering herself with a blanket, it's perfectly fine.

I remember one time in Sunday School my husband was teaching and we had a new family in the class and she had her infant with her. She discreetly covered herself with a blanket and the baby nursed while DH was teaching. On the way home, I asked him if he had noticed her and would you believe the man didn't even notice she was nursing?!!! LOL!!

You ladies do realize that breastfeedng is an intimate act between mother and child, right? I would venture to guess that it's the intimacy of the act that many people feel uncomfortable about.

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bite me and get a brain!

I can see the point of view that it IS an intimate situation, but it's not an inappropriate one, IMHO.

A baby needs to eat. It is not supportive of women who are doing their best to breastfeed their babies to suggest that a public place might be a hostile environment to nurse a baby.

I strongly feel that women need to support each other on this point.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

This is probably more along the lines of how I feel.

I don't undertsand folks that think it's disgusting, it's a completely natural event!

"Uncomfortable" isn't really the right word, at least not for me. More like I feel like I'm intruding if I see it. It's a wonderful thing, between a mother and a child. If I've ever seen a Mother breastfeeding, I look away quickly, but not out of disgust, out of respect for their moment.

If that's cheesy, so be it, it IS bonding.

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there used to be this woman down the street from me who would have her shirt up to her arm pits both boobs hanging out flopping along as she walked down the street baby on one arm breast feeding! but many of my friends breast feed in public and kept there boobs to themselves and not always covered with a blanket and no one I knew of were offended! not me!
I wish I could have breast feed but was unable to!

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I actually think it's cool if I come across a woman breatfeeding her child. THere's nothing more natural and nuturing. I think it's a beautiful sight.

While I agree that breastfeeding is a natural thing and I applaud any of you that choose to breastfeed, there are some places that are better to feed in public than others.

I work at an elementary school. We had a mom that used to show up almost daily early with her young baby and breastfeed in the front office. No blanket, no anything. Now we offered her a room to use for her to feed the baby but she refused. Let me tell you, every child that walked into the front office got an education on boobs and breastfeeding. It got to the point where we used to have the same 4th & 5th grade boys "stopping by" the office at that same time every day. We couldn't say anything to her of course, it was her right to feed her child, but I bet if some other parents had seen it, and seen that other children were seeing it, they would have totally freaked out.

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I BF wherever the baby wanted to eat (no blanket either). We BF in restaurants, all over Disney World, on rides, at shows, the works.

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I don't feel a mother should be inconvienced if she needs to feed her baby, but we had one that would stop in during lunch time with 4th and 5th graders, plop herself on the "stage" steps (cafeteria doubled as an auditorium) and feed her "baby", that could walk up to her to be fed.

That I didn't believe was appropriate, but we all have our own opinions. Doesn't mean I am right...

I'm just curious/confused -- why were these moms at school? I don't have a problem w. public BF -- I did it with all 3 of mine -- I just don't get why these moms were spending so much time at school.

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

In this case, I am not sure. Not sure if she was visiting during lunch or helping in the classroom.....

In my case the mom would show up early to pick up her student (she walked with a stroller) and would wait in the office until dismissal. It was almost a daily thing. She would come in sit down plop out a boob and feed her baby. The kids got quite the show.

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I am all for it when necessary and discreetly done.......I will never forget when I was waitressing in college--I brought the food to a table where a mother was bfing, she had a big blouse on and I think a blanket covering.....well this toddler pops out from under and starts chowing down on french fries! This kid was about 2--full set of teeth! I remember thinking "how about some goldfishies or fruit snacks".

I understand newborns NEED to nurse but eventually it is not their main source of nutrition and should not be done in public where there are alternatives.......

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Of course I stand by my original statement that it's natural and beautiful however some discretion is needed especially when plopping out a breast in front of older children who have been taught some modesty and certainly to walk around with your bags of onions bouncing up the street is uncalled for. I do think some women make an issue of it by making a big show and making themselves the center of attention almost daring someone to say something.

Yes breastfeeding is a beautiful thing and like all other things have some self respect when you do it!

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I'd have to say I lean toward this opinion. Having breast fed myself, I do believe it is natural. The human body can do many things that are "natural", but that doesn't mean the whole world wants to or should be seeing it. I never once had to go to a rest room. I always managed to find a place that was private to feed my child. It was a bonding experience for he and I and I didn't care to share that w/the public.

It doesn't offend me when I see someone breast feeding in public in a discreet way at all. I found a way to do it that worked for me, my child and the public. We all have to make our decisions based on own personal ideas and values. Live and let live.....

Well said!

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Anyone who thinks this is inappropriate needs to rethink their position. I have never personally witnessed a woman nursing indiscreetly. Most use a blanket and it really is not a big deal.

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Well, I have. If you think that nursing your baby uncovered in an elementary school front office is ok, you are entitled to your opinion. I don't think it's ok. My kids are all older now, but I sure wouldn't want them learning the facts of life in this manner if they went to that school.

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When the babies were very small, I'd always go to the car. It helped me relax which made feedings go better. In all honesty, I really did not like breast feeding like so many moms do. I tried and tried to like it and breast fed both boys until they were 10 months and then we switched to formula in bottles.

I have never had a problem with it until I saw a Hmong lady at the local pizza place with a little boy who appeared to be about 3. He was sitting beside her eating pizza and every so often you would hear him say something( not english) and she would flip out her boob and he would climb astraddle of her leg and nurse. Pizza in one hand and boob in mouth. that was a bit much for me. she left her boob hanging out ,exposed , while he sat there and ate pizza and then nursed. needless to say, there was people staring and others like us who moved to the other side of the building.

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I don't understand why the principal, secretary or someone say something. The schools that I've been in wouldn't have tolerated this situation.

That might be a cultural thing. In some African countries they nurse WAY longer than we typically do in the US. I agree with Toonces, the front office of an elementary school is NOT the proper place to be nursing your baby. I know my DD LOVES babies and would be very curious as to what is going on, and would want to go watch and see the baby. I think the principle should have asked the Mom to have some discretion.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

i don't know what is the problem with breast feeding here in America.
i came from a country where lots of women wear long clothes and cover their heads (from Jordan), and noone has any problem with mothers breastfeeding in public. usualy they cover up with a blanket, provided that the ones who don't cover up don't act like the woman Littlejo was talking about.

any how when my step sons girlfriend was breastfeeding when she was at our house she had to go to my bedroom, close the door, but few months ago bbefore the prego belly her pants were so low that her crack was showing, so i guess that is ok.

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As for the problem with the breastfeeding going on in the school front office....I am willing to bet that this woman would create a stink. Probably go see a lawyer and try to sue.....
I personally think breastfeeding is great, as long as its done with a little class. I breastfed both my girls. I never felt the need to expose myself to the whole world while doing it. It is possible to breastfeed in public without making a scene, if thats what one really wants to do!
I do have a different opinion of a three year old hanging off a mothers breast. I think once they get teeth, can hold a cup, eat with a spoon, ask for a glass of juice or milk, use a bathroom....then its time to let them grow up!

I have seen many women around here who breast fed in public.Two of them I have to admit disturbed me.YES,I was jealous! One was inside Walmart and the other inside Giant Eagle .They were both hot young mothers who obviously wanted to turn heads as they did not cover their breast up at all! Full breast exposed with baby holding it and sucking it for the whole world to see.Of course what guy isn't going to be drolling over that scene including my boyfriend.
I think if you HAVE to breastfeed in a public place at least use some discretion.Geeesh!

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I would never breastfeed my son in public when he was a baby. I didn't want to feel like people were staring at me. It would depend on who was around at my house too before I would breastfeed, I would always have a blanket in case someone would just happen to stop by. I remember my inlaws coming over and not calling first and I would just about break my neck to get to the bedroom so they wouldn't see me feeding him.

Here's how the elementary principal would have handled the situation when my kids were in that school. Instead of confronting the offending person, she would have made a new rule. No one is allowed in the building until school is out. That particular principal was good at being nonconfrontational. Irritated the beejeebes out of me. I hate the punish the whole group for the wrong doing of one person sort of thing.

There are certain people that I wasn't comfortable being around while breast feeding. However, most people didn't bother me. I never flashed anyone.

I have to say that I have never come across a female breastfeeding before, but if I did it wouldn't bother me. I'm sure the guys just love that stuff...haha!

I just wanted to put my 2 cents in, I BF'd all of mine, and am currently doing so with my new one, my first one was 15 months old, 2nd was 18 months old, and 3rd was 11 months old. All got to the point that they had a full mouth of teeth, were eating other things, but still nursed. The World Health Organization recommends BFing until the age of 2 I believe, it's healthier for the kids rather than giving them cows milk which has no antibodies, or juice which has so much sugar... I do think it should be done discreetly out in public, and I've always done it where people couldn't tell I was nursing, just holding my baby.

Chiming in again....I breastfed my 1st for 18 months...and 2nd for 3 years. Yep.
He did not nurse in public after one year. Any more confessions? LOL

1st one - 13 months (stopped one month before getting pregnant with #2)
2nd one - 18 months
3rd one - almost 22 months - I discontinued once we hit "Independence Day" - July 4th! LOL.

I would not nurse any of the babies in public beyond 1 year old. There is nothing wrong with it, but I didn't want to deal with "the looks" from others. I realize that in the US, it is not a widely accepted practice to nurse beyond a year old (I found that even one year freaked some people out).

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

As a current bf'ing mom, I gotta chime in as well. My little guy is 8 months and we are good for 3-4 bf a day. He arrived 6 weeks early and then also had a heart condition that required a week long hospital stay AFTER he had been released from the first NICU. Two hospitals before the age of 3 weeks...and my milk supply dropped as a result, but I didn't lose all my milk. So, you better bet my preemie with a heart condition got to bf whenever he wanted (and still does)! However, I have always tried to be discreet and cover up in some way if we were in public. He has slurped down milk several times in the backseat of my 4Runner (during the winter and yes, I froze), fitting rooms, or wherever we could find an off the beaten path spot. Now that it is warmer and humid, bf'ing in my 4Runner is out of the question!

I think bf'ing in public should is totally acceptable. After all, most everyone I know eventually eats in public and thats all the baby is trying to accomplish.

I do have a problem when mothers act a little exhibitionist about it all...I think most people can tell the difference between those mom's and those of us who are just trying to feed our chilld and not expose ourselves!

PS--my little guy has caught up on his weight and height...and his heart condition is being maintained by medicine.

First child weaned just before her 1st birthday due to a nursing strike. Second child weaned at a little over 3 years. Third child weaned at 5 1/2 years. Fourth weaned at 5 years. Fifth child weaned at 5 years. Mine *did* nurse in public past a year ;-)

I breastfed my son until he was almost a year old. At that point my nipples became like toys for his teeth and I could not stand the pain any longer.

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