Breast Feeding in Public
 

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Interesting situation, being in Utah I run into mom's breastfeeding in public all of the time and I've never had a problem with it, that may also come from the fact that I'm the 3rd of 10 kids and saw my mom breastfeeding all of my younger siblings.

Given the many benefits for both the mom and the baby I think I'd make a concentrated effort to become comfortable with it if I ever did have an issue just make sure that I was encouraging breastfeeding versus bottle feeding out of something as silly as social discomfort.

I'm in no way implying that it should not be done.. just wondering how people feel and if they have been in similar circumstances.

Personally, I'm one of those girls that think that breasts should not just be viewed as sexual. If guys can show their chests, why can't women? A man's chest can be just as 'sexual' as a woman's chest. Hence, I believe there shouldn't be feelings of embarassment, etc. from either side. If your eyes wander, they wander. She knows that her breast is out there, and obviously she shows no embarassment by taking it out of her shirt. She also knows that at this time, women's breasts are seen as sexual, and so she'll probably understand your peeks.

Like you said, a woman can't just stay at home.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The family should understand that though. Obviously, the breast is still seen as something sexual. If she chooses to do that in front of you, it shouldn't be seen as perverse- she chose to.

Here's a horrible, horrible story:

I was about 10-11 I think. I was with my parents visiting relatvies (specifically my mothers sister, or my aunt) whom we rarely see. My cousin at the time was maybe just over a year old if that, but he was a riot. I was having a blast playing with him for the past few days. So it's eveningsih and he's sitting in his mother's lab. I'm sitting across the room watching tv or whatever.

He looks at me and does something from his mother's lab and I decide I should go over there and play with him. So I get up and walk over and sit right next to my aunt on the ottoman that was next to her chair. She gives me the DEATH look like what the HELL do you think you're doing. I, being confused am not sure what's going on. Then my aunt utters the pure words of horror. To my young cousin she says:

"I think this side is empty do you want to switch?"

Or something to that effect.

DEAR GOD. She was breastfeeding. And from the look I got, it was very much a "stop trying to sneak a peak you little pervert" look. I paniced didn't know what to do, and honestly I can't remember if I moved from my spot immediatly or stayed there pretending like I had moved for some other reason.

To this day I still feel a certain amount of awkwardness when I'm around her, 12 years later, as if she's never forgotten that one time she thinks I tried to sneak a peak but when I was really ignorant to the whole situation. I swear someday I'm going to be fed up with it and blurt it all out. Maybe never. Maybe that one event is why my whole mother's side of the family seems to not like me.

WORST. TRIP. EVER.

People have a hard time separating boobies from breasts. To me boobies are for fun and breasts are for feeding the baby. People in this country have such hangups about breastfeeding and it's silly. Maybe it's different for me because my wife gave birth almost 6 months ago.

People are also weird about how long babies should breast feed. All of my wife's friends are stopping it right at 6 months and switching to formula. This just doesn't make any sense to us. Babies will ween themselves when they are ready, in most other countries they will continue to partially breastfeed for 1-3 years. There is nothing wrong with it but it is really looked down on here. We'll let our baby decide when she's done with it.

-edit- 10 years is pretty extreme though

See, VitaminH, if I were you then, I would have just said: "What? Are you embarassed of your breasts?" If she said she didn't want boys looking, then you should have asked why. I'm pretty sure she couldn't have come up with a very good answer.

It's obvious that the women know their breasts are sexual. So if they are THAT uncomfortable with men (who are currently sexually obsessed with breasts) looking at their breasts, they should go elsewhere.

I saw a report on TV not too long ago about a woman who breastfed until her son was 8 or so. That was creepy. Once the child has teeth and can eat solid food continuing to breastfeed is kinda strange.

IMO when the child is old enough to verbally ask for it.. thats a little too long.

I apologize if that's the impression that I gave, I actually meant to compliment you on being mature enough about it to be uncomfortable and yet not object.

Amen to this as well! I've got no problem with breastfeeding at all, but at this point you're just giving the child an oral fixation.

But the most important thing is... Does she have a nice rack?

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I have no problem with a woman breastfeeding her baby in public. However I will admit that it seems slightly uncomfortable being in the room when my sister-in-law nurses my niece. And I hate that. I hate the fact that our society based largely on the fears of religious sheeple have conditioned us to think that there is something wrong with the human body.

1 in 9 women get breast cancer in their life. One of the major risk factors for breast cancer is your history of hormonal levels, which includes when you started menstruating, and whether or not you breastfed your kids.

Ladies - please breastfeed your kids, in public or wherever. If a guy makes you feel uncomfortable about it, kick him in the junk, turn around, and keep breastfeeding while facing the other direction.

As for trying not to look, Tres, think of it as an opportunity to practice eye contact. That's what I do.

We have a lot of hang ups as a society. This is one we just need to work hard to get over...

At least your sister in law didn't try it in parliament:
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s793397.htm

For those link averse:
lpm - I suspect VitaminH would be in a less embarrassing situation now, but I doubt too many 11 year olds would say "what's wrong with me looking at your breast?"

My sis-in-law just puts a blanket over her shoulder when she breastfeeds and slips the baby under it. Discreet and polite and utterly without effort. Some people are uncomfortable with breasts in public, which is understandable, and I don't think I'd want folks staring at mine if I were breastfeeding in public.

No problem here either. My wife didn't have to do it with our first kid but since she plans to feed longer with the 2nd (which is on his or her way), the situation may come up. I'd rather have my child (or anyone elses child) get the needed nutrition than have to do without because of everyone elses inadaquacies.

At my sons 1 year birthday party, my wifes (very hot, former stripper) cousin brought her 10 month old son. She breast fed him a couple of times during the party and no one said a thing. Even though the event was attended by people she had never met before, she didn't feel the need to ask everyone how they felt before she began (and I'm glad she didn't).

ehh, deal with it.

As fond as I am of them, breasts have a purpose other than male amusement.

I think the funniest time this ever happened to me, I was working at Toys R Us. Trying to sell this family a plastic outdoor playset thing, and in the middle of the whole thing, she takes the baby, calmly pops out a breast, and starts the kid up.

Thank god for eye contact, she had two men who looked like they had shotguns in their trucks standing next to her.

And yes, a woman should be able to feed the kid wherever. So us men should get used to it.

I have no problem with breastfeeding in public. Quite frankly I want to applaud women who do it. They deserve it.

Trouble is, the "biological need" argument doesn't fly. Unless, of course, I can now pee on park benches because I have a biological need to urinate and why should I have to go to a special room to do it?

I agree that our society is too hung up over our bodies, but the argument in here should be "can women be topless in public?" The kid has nothing to do with it. Having a kid does not entitle you to special privledges. IMO if it's OK to see a man's chest in public, then adding some fat cells under the nipples should not require the person to put on a shirt.

But there are entirely too many people who say "yes, everyone else has to comply with societal norms, but I have a BABY and that means I'm exempt!" If a woman with a kid can expose her breast in public, then a childless woman should be able to as well.

There is nothing wrong with breast feeding in public, or with women having their breasts out in public at all. If someone doesn't like it, all they have to do is look somewhere else. Although, some women should be a little bit more considerate of others... Kalnaur's situation for example, the woman could have excused herself and gone into the restroom, or used a light cloth to help cover herself, or something of that nature. There is nothing wrong with a woman's breasts being exposed, but some consideration should be taken for those around you who might be made uncomfortable by the situation, not necesarrily strangers on the street, but if your in the middle of a conversation with some one? Come on.

I was agreeing with everything you said up till this point. Why not strangers on the street? You don't only owe courtesy to your friends.

Fact is, people in our society ARE uncomfortable with seeing a woman breastfeeding. It's not hard for a woman to find a private way to do it. The towel is an option. Going to an empty room is an option. Going to the car is an option. There's rarely a time when you'd say "oh shit emergency I gotta breastfeed RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!!"

Because in a lot of situations it would become extremely difficult to accomodate said strangers.

Say that the woman goes into a public restroom, what about the other women that come in, should the mother have to go into a stall? Others can't be taken into consideration totally, but at least a small effort should be made.

ahh... I had a similar experience with a hot Icelandic MILF :) got off the plane and met them for breakfast.... baby got some breakfast too... and I got a couple of eyefuls :)

Aside from the fact that it'd probably be better to go into a stall anyway (you can sit down and have a lap to help you hold the baby up - - - dropping infants is bad ;) ) just going into the public restroom was making an effort - that's something a lot of people don't do. I was in a family restaurant a few months ago and watched a woman breastfeed, then change, her kid while sitting at her table. Even ignoring the hygene issues, her actions showed that socially, she has a long way to go.

A lot of this issue stems from the fact that our society, and others, have sexualized the brest to the point that it's hard for people to see it in any other fasion. It's not JUST a sexual toy, but where do you see that in media? No where.

The most natural thing in the world is for a mother to feed her child, at her breast.
There's nothing wrong with it, and women should be able to feed a baby where ever, without having to feel like a sex organ is on display. It's not a mom's fault that her breasts have been pimped by everyone as a sex toy.

Try and look beyond what media and society have pumped into your head. It'll hurt, but TRY to streatch that mental envelope.

Let's switch that up a little.

Changing your baby at the table - No I don't think so. That's for the bathroom. Anyone can see that.

I feel very strongly about this issue. I breastfed my daughter until she was 3. I fed her in many places including the mall. WHY should a woman NOT be able to feed her child anywhere that anyone else can eat?? You wouldn't eat in the bathroom so why should a woman have to take her baby in, let alone into a stall and feed the child. That's gotta have major hygene issues. I don't think that because you are uncomfortable with something you should force that on someone who is only trying to care for their child. Some women show much more skin than that on a daily basis and I don't see you complaining.

On the other hand. I was in such as position as mentioned at the beginning of this thread. I was the woman nursing at the dinner table with the in-laws. My sister-in-law had her fiance with us. He was young - only 19 and you know the hormones are just raging at that time. I was considerate and threw a light blanket (always kept one with me) over my shoulder so that I didn't have to listen to my child cry because they were hungry (they get very insistant - for those of you who don't have kids) so that I didn't have to eat a cold meal. I showed absolutely no skin - less cleavage than you see looking down at a receptionist with a low cut top. My sister-in-law flipped. Right there. She cried out how it was terrible that I was "forcing my 3 or 4 mo old baby to suck on a sex object." Her issues wasn't with the exposure. She was programed to think of the breast as ONLY a sex object. That is not how we were designed and if we are ever going to get society over that notion we must accept women caring for the children as they see fit. My husband and father-in-law defended me and never seemed to feel uncomfortable about what I did.

I don't think a woman should ever have to go in a bathroom or leave her company in order to feed her child. I do think that it's kinder, if it's not too hot out, to throw a light blanket or something over her shoulder so that she doesn't give anyone something to feel uncomfortable with. It's not necessary but it's kind.

Peeing is unsanitary. That is the main reason we don't do it in public. In not too distant past, men would urinate wherever they felt the need. We soon discovered that it was poisoning our water supply and making a stink that was not to be tolerated. We moved it off to toilets (public toilets were once an essential part of a thriving city... today, not so much).

A woman breastfeeding is not walking around topless. Most women who do it are reasonably discreet about it. Any issue that arises from this very natural act generally arise from the person seeing it... A woman breastfeeding is about as erotic as a man peeing.

Women walking around topless is another issue entirely and has no bearing (sorry for the pun) on the issue of breastfeeding.

Watching a mother feed her baby is a beautiful thing, and wanting to watch this is perfectly natural. I had friends come by to watch me feed my daughter, and I fed in public with no hesitation. The fact that she's attractive shouldn't make you feel shame for looking. Embrace it as beautiful, and tell your head to f-off! ;)

You could say, I hope you don't mind me watching, but witnessing a mother feed is an amazing thing. -- Or not!

Just don't feel bad... :)

Wow, Raeanna74, you are a SuperMom!! I agree with every word you said, and commend you for committing yourself to breastfeeding for that long. One of my best friends fed her son 'til he was ready to stop. I think he may have been 5.

I don't know whether to laugh or be utterly horrified...my goodness, the issues this poor woman must have! I hate to break it to her, but they were food sources looooong before they were sex objects. That. Is. Their. Purpose. The fact that we've added sexual meaning to them might make it uncomfortable to switch contexts when suddenly they're being used as they were intended, but sheesh..."forced to suck on a sex object"?!? It's not like you were feeding the kid out of a hollowed-out dildo!

Breastfeeding is a beautiful part of having a child, and I like the idea of Americans getting more used to these kinds of natural and beautiful things of the body, instead of getting even more repressed about expressions of the body in general.

My wife never wanted to breastfeed our boys out in the open in public, but she did all the time with a blanket over her shoulder. In the midwest, I used to see more moms do it in the open, but here in the Northeast I don't see it often at all.

As for eyeing the boobage -- I make it a point to interact with women breastfeeding if they choose to stay in a social setting while breastfeeding. Doing nothing or pretending nothing unusual is hapenening tends to make everyone nervous, and what's the point in that? Obviously, staring isn't cool, but looking and even asking a polite question to someone you know is very cool. It's a two-sided situation -- a woman who chooses to stay in a social setting while breastfeeding has to determine her own level of discretion and comfort with what's she's doing. As a man, I have to assume that's she's already figured that out for herself if she whips one out (or both, sometimes, to switch-hit).

And if it makes you nervous to see a woman breastfeed, it's a great time to think about why. If your reasons are solid, then do something else. I think most people consider breastfeeding intimate but not offensive or sexual in any way.

Women should breastfeed in public.

If they pull it out, you can look. If they give you a dirty look, then you say, "Well, don't pull it out for all to see!"

The End.

...and if they are nice, perhaps they will offer you some.

Hahaha, Stompy, yer crazy.

Anyhoo, I totally agree that a woman should be able to brest feed wherever she feels the need to. There is no reason to be shy about it and people that are offended about it can be offended. If you want a good happy medium, do the blanket over the sholder thing.

Oh. My. Gods. I would have been hard-pressed to not reach over and slap her. How did your husband not up end up crazy as well?
It's these kinds of immature, uneducated reactions that would make me want to cover up... but at the same time, NOT.
My sister breastfeeds when necessary - and no, you can't just put it off. When that kid is hungry, EVERYONE knows it. They're too young to be patient! And I've never noticed anyone freaking out about it. My husband did take a few times to become comfortable with it, but he was never ever rude to her (smart man).
Hmm... maybe this is wrong, but some part of me is hoping to have kids just to see if I ever get a reaction, because I would LOVE to verbally slap one of these idiots!
Breasts are FUNCTIONAL - they just happen to put the "fun" in functional! :D

Breasts are over-rated.

My wife breast fed all three of our kids in public. She would cover herself with a blanket or towel. There's nothing wrong with it. It's perfectly natural. What's un-natural is our Puritan, it's a sex object way of thinking here in the US of A. One of my SILs (Sis In Laws) just had her second baby. She was uncomfortable breast feeding her first in front of me, but now, she covers the baby with a blanket and doesn't seem uncomfortable at all.

Of course, my pervy side says go ahead and look, it's out there, but I'm trying to keep him under lock and key more often. ;)

It just goes back to the fact that in our society, we don't typically see breasts in public. There's a certain shock to it, but I was certainly never offended (I, for one, will never be offended by a breast out in the open), and I think people that don't understand that a mother is fulfilling a basic NEED in a child. I can't say much that hasn't already been said in this thread, but anybody who can't get past their issues about breastfeeding has much greater issues to worry about.

Amen!

I think theres a way of breast feeding a baby almost as if its not happening. I think it would be insensitive to just get 'em out in full veiw and do it. But its totally possible to do it so theres hardly any breast on show.

This just cracked me up... the image is just too funny, creepy, but funny. :icare:

I don't think there's anything insensitive about pulling em out.

In fact, I think it's insensitive to hide them :thumbsup:

I'm not sure where you're going with that, because you don't say.
But, making urinating and breast feeding analogous is not valid. There IS no analogy to be made there, trying it makes a poor attempt at a point.

I mean, if you put urinating and breast feeing in the same "natural function" catagory, I feel a strong sense of limited vision from you. I'd also have to disagree completely and totally. It's not even the same ballpark, not remotely.

There is an advantage to getting out of public: its usually more relaxing for the baby to be in a quiet calm place to eat. If we are out in public my wife usually goes to the car but that is only for the baby's sake. Stores and malls are just too hectic and crazy for the baby to really feel relaxed.

She changed her kid's diaper at the table in a restaurant? wtf is wrong with people?!

I was lucky. My husband and I discussed the decision to breastfeed long before my daughter was born. We were in complete agreement. I had also openly discussed the topic with his parents and when the outburst happened with his sister, he and both of his parents spoke up in support of me. My SIL's fiance even expressed a lack of concern over my breastfeeding. I believe she got her ideas from her friends who at that time were of the type who wouldn't even kiss before they got married.

I ended up having to wean my daughter myself since she did not want to wean. After the first year and a half when she was eating all types of table food the nursing only took place around nap times. Eventually I saw she was only asking for it as a form of comfort. Then I turned to snuggling and reading books to replace the time she spent with me. Once in a while she asks for it but I remind her that she's growing up and doesn't need it anymore. She has since seen other mothers who were breastfeeding in public and just commented to me "That baby is getting a SNACK, right??" To her it's natural and not sexual in any way. Why should we as adults view it in any other way.

Well said, that's a good choice. I think I wouldn't like to be exposed that way either. I like my privacy, I don't think it has to do with being a puritan. I understand that you need to breastfeed in public situations sometimes, but I think covering yourself a little is a considerate thing to do, for yourself and others. Recently I went to my cousin's house whose wife had just had a baby and she breastfed the baby in front of me and didn't cover herself. I didn't mind, we're good friends, but I think if it was me I would have done...or maybe retired to the bedroom while I did. What was said about making polite conversation while breastfeeding, that's what I did, and it wasn't at all embarrassing. More like I was interested, I haven't seen it done that many times and maybe one day...

As for raeanna's story...sex object?!? WTF that's twisted...

As stated previously, both my wife and the other people in the room are more comfortable when you throw a blanket over top. If you don't, the teenagers eyes pop out of their head and the old geezers can't help but look. By all rights, you should be able to take your top right off & let the baby feed, but I think if you took a poll, most people would be more comfortable if a little coverup was used.

When I breastfed, I made sure I had a blanket or something with me when we had company, but I had no problem feeding in front of my family without coverup. I actually haven't seen many women breastfeed in public, and I think it's a shame that women feel the need to go to the car or even worse, to a public bathroom. I can't think of a worse place to feed your child when out in public.

My stepsister breastfed until her daughter was about 1 1/2. I was at my dad's house with a friend, and they were playing chess. She was over there at the same time, and as we were all watching the game, she started feeding the child. She had no problem doing it in front of anyone, and my friend was very uncomfortable and ended up getting his butt kicked because he couldn't concentrate. I guess a lot of people are still not comfortable with the natural reason for a womans breasts.

They are analagous IF you argue that breastfeeding in public is ok because breastfeeding is a natural act. If you categorize breastfeeding as a natural act (don't worry kids, I know it is), then you must categorize urinating as a natural act (yes, I know that is too).

My point is that if you justify breastfeeding in public by saying "it's a natural act and therefore it's OK to do it in pubilc" then you are giving carte blanche approval to ALL natural acts performed in public. Urination, sex, nose picking, whatever.

If you wish to justify public breastfeeding, but at the same time avoid justifying public urination, then you have to more narrowly classify breastfeeding.


I'm not arguing against public breastfeeding, I'm pointing out that the arguments people have made in favor of it in this thread are too weak to survive a logical assault. Find better arguments.

Ok how about this - The infant is eating. They are getting the milk that they are designed to digest. No formula can completely duplicate the antibiotic properties of breastmilk (Though formula's are getting better all the time.) SO Breastfeeding is as normal and natural are YOU EATING. Either you go eat in the bathroom or don't ask an infant to do so as well. That's where you need to be consistent.

There is no NEED for breasts in the practice of procreation. There is a need for breasts as far as nuturing. Though - don't get me wrong they can be quite a nice addition to sex but so can nibbling on the ears and other hot spots but you don't cover the ears do you??

you're not gettng me. An argument was made above that breast feeding in public is ok BECAUSE IT IS NATURAL. If that argument is used, you are setting yourself up for trouble because urination IS NATURAL. You need to find another way to argue it.

And the argument that if I get to eat there, the baby should get to eat there is also invalid. If you make the argument that "the place is for eating, so eating is OK no matter how it is done" then my dog should be able to eat there as well. That's obviously not the case.

The problem is that arguments are being made based on what people feel SHOULD be rather than what they ARE. They feel women SHOULD be able to expose their breasts in public (so do I for that matter - either that or outlaw shirtless men. . . Come to think of it, after all the disturbing sights of shirtless men I've seen at baseball game, maybe that would be the better course ;) ) But in our society, breasts ARE sexualized, like it or not. And if you've ever worn a sexy bra, you're lending support (no pun intended) to that concept. Either work to change that view, or accept the fact that people will be uncomfortable if they see one in public.

Sorry - I can't resist .. this is a blatantly stupid statement. Would you rather have your tax money go to special 'nursing stations' at every lavitory location? What you suggest is that tens of thousands of these 'nursing stations' be implemented to alleviate immature discomfort.

Well, I have my pound of flesh now so I will be quiet.

A woman should have the right to do this, when and where needed. Other people, should also have the consideration to what is being done. I bet any woman that doesn't cover up while feeding, doesn't really care if she's "seen". My wife breastfeed 3 or our 4, and she covered with a blanket when in public, or in other's company. While the child is latched on, what is there to see, but some fleshy boobage. Don't stare, but if you do, don't get caught staring (been there, done that too many times). It's just natural to look, no matter what, but still be considerate.

Um, no you don't. CAREFULLY read what I have written (not just the first 4 words) and then I think you'll see we're on the same side.

I preferred to nurse my twins privately, but then again, they took bottles too. Nursing was our quiet time.
Like or not, breasts are sexualized and all the 'it's natural' rhetoric is not going to change that attitude anytime soon.
Next time you are asked if you are uncomfortable, don't lie and the problem won't come back. You were offered an out-would that more nursing moms would be that polite. The ones that insist on whipping out a tit at the slightest whimper, then give the 'wtf are you looking at?' glance at everyone else who dares to stare do nothing to cease the puritanical mores still floating in our heads.

I do agree with this part. As a previously nursing mother I can't imagine doing that. If I nursed my daughter in public and didn't use the blanket (which I did a few times when it was quite hot) I didn't flop it out. I pulled my daughter up to me while I eased up my shirt or opened the pocket. There was barely any chance to see nipple let alone anything else. I don't see the purpose in flopping it out there. I also caught a few people staring or watching. Most of the time I either ignored it or smiled at them. At which I got some smiles back. Once in a great while I'd get a mean look - funny thing was it was from women - I never got a scowl from a man. It's rude to expect the change in thinking overnight. It is reasonable to do your best to make the transition in thought as comfortable for everyone as possible.

Breastfeeding in public is not a problem for me, I can distinguish from a sexual situation and a nonsexual one. As more people learn to see breastfeeding as a normal thing, on the same level as someone eating a sandwich, the more of the other type will come around.

Breasts are viewed as sexual. That's not going to change. Don't waste your breath.
But to me if a female is breastfeeding, it's just totally different. Most woman who breastfeed try to hide the nipple while the baby's sucking. Which is fine. It at least shows some dignity. :crazy:

Breasts would be viewed as sexual even if we lived our entire lives stark naked. Humans are sexual creature; we view bodies sexually regardless of clothes or not. Clothes have only made us uncomfortable with other nude people (and kepts us warm, and dry etc.)

My husband and I are looking at trying for children in about 6 months time. I have every intention of breastfeeding in public. There are ways to feed your child without flashing your breasts to everyone else, whether it's using a blanket or just positioning the child to block the view. While it is nice to consider the feelings of others, I truly believe that people who totally flip out over this issue are the ones with the issue! It's their problem, let them deal with it. A mother has enough to deal with and doesn't need other peoples hang-ups. I have many friends who feed their children infront of both my husband and myself, and I have never seen any more of their breast then I would if they were wearing a low cut top.
I feel that sending a woman to a toilet to feed their child is unhygenic (some public toilets are a disgrace), and simply ostracises them over something women have been doing since the day dot!

There is still one part of this discussion that hasn't been addressed....the legal aspect. Does anyone know if their state legally allows breastfeeding in public? I found a section in my state statutes which allows a woman to legally expose her breast to a baby for breastfeeding (therefore, bypassing the indecent exposure laws) but I haven't found anything that specifically allows breastfeeding in public. I have a feeling that most governments are afraid to discuss the issue.

I do know that Wisconsin allows breastfeeding. I found a list somewhere when I was reading up on it before my daughter was born. I couldn't tell you where though because I checked every book out of the library on it and got some more through interlibrary loan.Here Is an exhaustive list of the laws made to encourage and protect women who choose to breastfeed their infants.

The Department of Health and Human Services also are given government funding to educate expectant mother of the benefits and methods of breastfeeding. It's actually cheaper for the governmental agencies because they aren't needed to provide formula for these mothers who end up under their umbrella.

Many hospitals are beginning to provide full time on staff lactation consultants as well. When my daughter was born a lactation consultant was at my hospital room door the next morning to assist me and was a great help in getting me started. My insurance also paid for a breastpump because I was having trouble getting my milk to come in (average 2-3 days mine was 7 days).

In my parents generation, it was the common suggestion of Dr's for the women to put the infant on the bottle as soon as possible. They are continuing to find benefits to breastfeeding and there is a countrywide campaign by health departments and professionals to get back to breastfeeding. Many women of my mother's age are unfamiliar with breastfeeding and still think as they were told when they were young mother's that breastfeeding is unnecessary. It will take up to 3 generations to change that thinking.

It pity the politician that tries to outlaw it; it also pity the policeman who tries to arrest for it.

In Oz, it is accepted - hardly anyone blinks an eyelid at it. It is not sexual, but there is nothing stopping anyone looking.

My wife didn't have to do it with our first kid but since she plans to feed longer with the 2nd (which is on his or her way), the situation may come up. I'd rather have my child (or anyone elses child) get the needed nutrition than have to do without because of everyone elses inadaquacies.

my wife and I have breatfed eight children. my wife is "laura ingalls-wilder" modest, and has breastfed everywhere: church, resturants, planes, etc. Never been aware of a single issue. Generally, we nurse until two and half years old. I say "we" because I have had to share my wife's breast with my kid's - kind of a bummer - lately.

If they catch you looking then start hitting the table with your fist and yelling "CHUG CHUG CHUG!" They'll all laugh, problem solved until you get caught looking again...

Haha....chug....

My Mom said she'd breast feed in public all the time. Sh'd just bring along a blanket and cover up. She said even then she'd get a few dirty looks. Never thought that feeding a baby in a way that nature provides for would be so "disgusting". Women should cover up when breastfeeding in public however. Yea it sucks....hehe...but there's going to be people out there who oogle and look and make it something disgusting. At the same time there's people who'd walk by and think nothing of it.

I love women.

I love boobies.

I love babies (in a soppy way).

I approve of breastfeedinng.

I try (really hard) to switch off my perverted thoughts of wanting to see if her breasts "let down" when she comes - I hear that some breastfeeding mothers do, and the concept fascinates me (in a shameful dirty way)....

Maybe you should go to www.tshirthell.com and buy THIS:

http://www.tshirthell.com/shirts/pro.../a442_i_30.jpg

sign me up... i wanna be breast fed in public.

Actually i have no problem with it tittas were born to be free. They are not as forbidden as we are taught they are. in other countries they walk around with out tops and no one thinks much of it

My mother called my wife's breastfeeding of our children "unnatural". http://members.cox.net/wd40/oyvey.gif

It's bizzare when you have to point out to allegedly God-fearing people that breastfeeding is the way God designed it, and to outlaw it in public is to go contrary to God's Plan.

I just have one question.

I can understand the desire to feed a child a mother's milk....but....
is there a reason WHY you just don't bottle it? I mean does it go bad quicker out of the body or something?
I have honestly wondered this. I know for some folks it a "freedom" thing but for others it's just being practical so why bother with the potential drama and just not bottle the breastmilk?

Breast milk can be bottled and fed to the baby that way, and many women do use a breast pump for that purpose. The milk is a lot like any other; it goes bad rather quickly outside the body if not refrigerated.

A woman's breasts have two biological functions: Feeding a child, and giving her sexual pleasure. In that sense, they are secondary sexual organs. I count myself among those for whom observing a nice set of breasts is sexually stimulating, but when a woman takes out her breast to feed a child, she clearly isn't doing it for a sexual purpose, so the sexual function is

The argument isn't just that breast feeding should be allowed in public because "it's natural". There's a bit being left off of the end to avoid redundancy. Breast feeding should be allowed in public because it's the natural way for a baby to eat. We have different standards of behavior for babies and adults. Babies are allowed to eat and eliminate in public. You want an analogy to a man urinating? Put a diaper on him, and allow him to pee in it, and you have one.

The analogy also breaks down when you consider that the penis is a primary sexual organ. It has three biological functions: Urination, providing the man with sexual pleasure, and delivering sperm. For this to be analogous, the woman would have to be exposing her vagina to breast feed; she isn't.

The problem with finding an analogy here is that there isn't any analogous male behavior. Breast feeding a baby is an activity unique to women*. You can't say "If women are allowed to breast feed, men should be allowed to X" because there is no male equivalent.

That said, breast feeding should be treated like any other public behavior. There are polite and impolite ways to eat in a restaurant. We remove hats and close umbrellas upon entering. We use silverware instead of our hands. We wipe our faces with a napkin, eat with our mouths closed, cover our mouths to burp. Breast feeding should be no different; it should be done discretely when in the presence of others.

*It is technically possible to induce lactation in a male. Men have all of the same equipment in their breasts as women, mammary glands and milk ducts and so forth; they just don't become developed in the absence of the female hormones progesterone (primarily) and estradiol (secondarily). Post-hysterectomy adoptive mothers, MTF transsexuals, and even normal males have all be able to produce breast milk, although (in that order) in a lesser volume and with less nutritional value than that of a woman who has recently given birth or a wet nurse (a woman can maintain her milk indefinitely after giving birth so long as she's continually nursing or pumping).

What about the argument that urinating in the streets is unhygenic and breastfeeding is not?

Everthing having to do with a nude or semi-nude body, doesn't have to be sexual. Babies have to eat, and the mother has to feed it. I think thats all there is too it. Urination is unhygenic and dangerous to others. Urine is not sterile. Its a waste product.

Don't appreciate it much.

Take care of your personal bodily functions in private..no need to force your situation on others. These days, it's become a badge of independence and some amount of rebellion to take care of your business in public. Ladies, a little class - be discreet, and feed your babies till they're full and satisfied. In private.

I think breast feeding is kinda ruined for me. One of my best friends growing up's little sister was breastfed until she was five. The first time I saw it happening was when she was about two and a half (which I personally think is too old). The toddler hopped on her moms knee and told her that she wanted her "nummies" now. So in disbelief I asked my friend when we left the room "Does your mom still breastfeed Kelsi"? And her reply, "yeah of course...I was breastfed until I was 4, and she wants to feed Kelsi until she is at least 5".
I am cool with breastfeeding, but my god, why would you breastfeed your kid that long? I understand the health benefits, but I just cant believe that it is in any way appropriate for a five year old whether in public or at home to be doing that.
I now have no intention of breast feeding my future kids, because of how this disturbed me. It actually creeps me out now adays to see a women feeding in public.

I call bullshit. I see people (not just women) showing less class than a woman feeding a child every day. I see it on TV, at the mall, in the park and on the street everywhere I go. People are only unconfortable with breast feeding because of societal restrictions yet society has become accepting of every titty slip from Tara Reid or Paris Hilton being e-mailed across the globe as soon as it happens. I'd rather live in a world where women are not looked down upon due to feeding their babies than one where Hilton and her ilk are admired.

I only know this because the hospital gave my wife a little card that has this on it so she can whip it out if anyone is having uncomfortable sexual feedling about watching someone else eat.

Virginia HB1188. Enacted in 1994
"No person shall be deemed to be in violation of indecent exposure for breastfeeding a child in any public place or any place where others are present."

Also, the comparison of a small child's need for food to some drunk's need to urinate on a park bench is assinine.

In a few months, I'll be breatfeeding, and to be perfectly honest, when the baby's hungry, he's going to get fed. Because I'm shy, I'm going to be modest about it, but he's going to get fed in public, I'm sure.

In regards to what age breastfeeding is apropriate, I lived with a mormon family in Arizona for 2 years, and in which time I met a family relative of theirs who was still breatfeeding her child at 2 years. I found this a little strange, however, it is their family and she can do what she sees fit. The husband aproved. Apparently, this was how they had been raised. According to my mother, it was after I bit her that I was not allowed to breastfeed anymore, at about 7 months. My SO wants me to breastfeed until our son is 1 years old, and my mother is shocked - in her eyes, this is WAY to old.

In all honesty, I believe I'm going to use her rule - I'll breastfeed unti one year, OR until I'm bit. :-D

~Liz

Sexymama puts a towel or baby blanket over herself when breastfeeding in deference to anyone who doesn't want to watch.

I personally think that anyone who has a problem with it beyond this accommadation has exactly that, a problem.

Even though my wife currently breast feeds, there is something about people doing it in public that bugs me and I have absolutely no idea why.

I really can't explain it, hell if you want to beast feed in public be my guest, but it still makes me uneasy for whatever reason.

My wife won't breast feed in public because she is oddly shy. While breast feeding is something that should be done in private (to her thinking) she will go full monty on a nude beach.

Its all about the context for her.

My feeling about this is that the woman can do the right thing by taking the baby
into the women's rest room. Don't they have sofas and or chairs in just about all
restaurants? If she thinks the table full of her friends will not mind,proceed and
have at it at the table. I would imagine most adults are not opposed to seeing a
nice looking breast and besides....a napkin could be draped over the lunch area
with out hurting a hungry baby ....right?

Gilda, you're a freakin' Eloquent woman! I wholeheartedly agree that any activity in public should follow rules of common courtesy- you shouldn't let out massive farts in the middle of a crowded mall, you shouldn't burp like a volcanic eruption at the dinner table, and you shouldn't pick out your wedgie in view of anyone. I think breastfeeding is great- it's natural, it's healthy, and it's very benificial to mother and child. However, if you're doing it in public, there's some common courtsey to observe. Some people have hang-ups about breasts (like the SIL who made the "sucking on a sexual object" comment), just like some people have hang-ups about burping in public. So, throw a blanket over you, and burp into a napkin. I think that if more women breastfed in public in a polite manner, then it would be another small step towards the silly USA getting rid of the stigma that surrounds sex.

Man, I can't wait to move to another country....

Ok, I'm no professional breastfeeder here, I've breastfed once in public, at the table of which I was eating, with my Mom right by my side telling me to quite caring what other people think, the baby is hungry. But there are a few things I would like to point out here...

#1 as it has been said, I'm not going to eat my dinner in a bathroom stall, and no not every bathroom has a sofa let alone are they clean, smell pretty just cuz it's for 'woman' or any of that, it's a place of elimination and the thought is just gross.

#2 Some woman feel to use a towel/blanket to breastfeed is like throwing a big sign out there...HEY LOOK BABY IS SUCKING ON MY BREASTS!..now give me your stares and quizzical looks and even angry faces. Some would much rather do it discreetly and with as little notice as possible, and whether you believe it or not, it does and can happen without everyone knowing.

#3 I don't care what anyones opinion is, I DO NOT at any point in breastfeeding my kids feel my breasts are a sexual object. PERIOD. The second I associate my kids sucking on my breasts as sexual, is a very bad day. So I have to lay that to rest right now. I also don't feel anyone has the right to look at me while breastfeeding and think about sex, as quite frankly that's kinda gross. This is all I can type about this for now...

#4 Yes a woman can express her milk and bottle it, and use it later to feed, BUT that same woman is going to have her milk come in on a schedule, and her babies crying will make that happen even faster. This is a very uncomfortable experience for me. I would much rather let the baby eat and save myself from having to leak breastmilk all over my cloths and be uncomfortable so a few select people with a problem can feel better about it.

#5 I am pregnant with my third child and have been empowering myself to believe I can breastfeed longer with this one then the other two and get over the whole 'society' thing. That I can live my life and let my other kids still be able to go out and have fun in 'public' places like they are used to, and if it means taking the baby and feeding in public, then so be it. Then I see this thread and it really really makes me mad. So what...with two other kids in tow I'm supposed to curl us all up nice and tight in a smelly toilet or choose to stay home all the timein order to 'hide' something that is perfectly natural?? I don't think so...

There are ways to nurse while no one even knows, they make cloths for this kind of thing, baby slings that allow you to nurse while walking and so on. These things I would use, but I don't feel I have to wear a sign all the time like using a towel or any other shield if I'm not showing anything anyways...

I do agree that there are some extremest's out there who will just whip it out without 'consideration' but those kind of people are not me, and therefore I have nothing to say about it.

Well, the breastfeeding I think is perfectly fine... if I can eat at a table, why can't the baby? The changing in not... if I can't pee at the table, why can the baby (well... you get my point I hope).

I don't really care if women breastfeed in public, but I think someone with good manners would not be flamboyant about it. When on private property (like a store or restaurant), the owner of the property has a right to require that the feeding be discreet or even not allowed at all, if that is how he or she feels about it.

As far as I know, urine is completely sterile. It smells, but isn't 'unhygenic' in the least.

I don't care if women breast feed in public. For me it kind of falls into that "if you don't want people staring, don't do it" category.

If you don't want people staring at your ass crack, wear pants that fit. If you don't want people looking at your breasts, wear a shirt that they don't hang out of. If you want to breast feed in public, go right ahead, but don't get all bent out of shape when people start staring. Just remember, you're the one who whipped it out.

To add a bit...It also depends on the situation. I mean, you shouldn't expect the same response from a group of teenage boys in the mall and the old folks in the park when you breast feed. People are going to look, but after that initial thought of "Mmmm...boobie," which forces its way to the forefront, the vast majority of men and women are going to be about business as usual.

Found this in the New York Times today....

edit cynthetiq: fixed article and pasted URL.

IMO, as long as the woman is not obvious about it, I probably wouldn't notice and wouldn't really care. It's something that has to be done...like burping. Doesn't have to be made known to everyone, but it has to happen.