Public Breastfeeding

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In a discussion I had with my brother in law today (who is a future nurse!), I learned he is uncomfortable with public breastfeeding unless there is a blanket involved. I know some folks wouldn't even like it with a blanket! I strongly feel that, as nurses, we should be doing what we can to support and advocate for breastfeeding and shed it in a positive light. I couldn't believe that a health care professional would feel differently. Obviously, this is coming from the United States (sigh).

I'm someone that usually works to make people feel comfortable in situations, but if my baby needs to be fed and some guy doesn't like it, well then he doesn't have to look! My baby comes first. That's how I feel about it. Guys will say that we shouldn't expose our breasts because they are too sexual, then agree that breastfeeding isn't sexual, but still say that we should hide it.....I cannot follow the circular reasoning.

I want to raise sons who know that breasts, as sexually appealing as they may be to them when they are older, are made to feed babies. That a uterus carries babies and lady partss birth them. I believe that this gives men a truer, deeper respect for women and for all human beings ... our bodies are not just sex objects! I saw a funny T-shirt that said -- Breasts: Not just for selling cars anymore!

I wanted to see what other nurses thought about this, on a personal level as well as a public health level.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

I fully support breastfeeding. If you choose to breastfeed, and you choose not to pump, and you choose to not be a hermit.....then you most certainly have every right to breastfeed your child in public. Please do it tastefully, as I have a 13y/o younger brother with wandering eyes who doesn't view it as a natural thing and will stare:p There was a big debate about this on the Dr. Phil show a couple months back. Can you believe one woman said, "What gives you the 'right' to breastfeed your child in front of me while I am eating (referring to public resturaunt)? It grosses me out!":angryfire Truly narrow minded and self centered.

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Wow, asoldierswife. That's awful. I'm glad I didn't see that one.

Not only does that fact that it's legal in all 50 states give her the right (http://www.ncsl.org/ programs/health/breast50.htm), but so does the responsibility of being the best mother she is able to be in her situation. If you don't like it, don't look.

I agree that it's best to be discreet though, too. But wouldn't it be nice if your brother DID see it as a natural thing... Like, "oh, that's what mothers do"....rather than flashbacks to the soft-core Media we see on TV everyday? I dream that boys can be raised in that way...to still appreciate breasts sexually in that appropriate context, but to be able to understand them in the motherly, nurturing context as well. I know that viewpoint is hard to find in this neck of the woods...

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
Wow, asoldierswife. That's awful. I'm glad I didn't see that one.

Not only does that fact that it's legal in all 50 states give her the right (http://www.ncsl.org/ programs/health/breast50.htm), but so does the responsibility of being the best mother she is able to be in her situation. If you don't like it, don't look.

I agree that it's best to be discreet though, too. But wouldn't it be nice if your brother DID see it as a natural thing... Like, oh, that's what mothers do....rather than flashbacks to the soft-core Media we see on TV everyday. I dream that boys can be raised in that way...to still appreciate breasts sexually in that appropriate context, but to be able to understand them in the motherly, nurturing context as well. I know that viewpoint is hard to find in this neck of the woods...

Yes that show was very intense with views from both sides and it really sparked me to exam my own feelings on the issue (I am not a mom yet) and I don't have any problems with discrete public breastfeeding. But mom shouldn't be forced into the dirty bathroom, or outside in the car, if baby is hungry.

As for my little brother.....raging hormones and sexualization (is that a word?:chuckle ) of everything on tv from gum to body soap really gets in the way of reason.

The way I look at it is much like yourself. If you don't like it, you don't have to look. That is how I deal with ugly people:rotfl: And to keep wandering eyes at bay (like young boys and dirty old men) keep yourself covered as much as possible. Other than that, go for it! Completely natural.

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How does your BIL feel about women in tight sweaters, low-cut blouses, snug tee-shirts showing the nipples and such? Seems like that is just taken for granted nowadays, while the natural function of the breasts - to nourish babies, is looked at as somewhat obscene. What a screwed up point of view!

And, although I do feel it most women would want to be tasteful, and not flaunt their breasts while feeding, it certainly would be nice if children were raised to think of breastfeeding in public as natural, and not something to gawk at or snicker about.

As far as being 'grossed out' by a woman breast feeding in full view of others eating in a public restaurant, ya wanna know what grosses me out? Seeing teenagers bent over and half their butt crack showing over the low cut pants they choose to wear. But I'm told that is stylish!

In Saudi Arabia, where many (if not most) women cover their faces, breastfeeding in public doesn't raise an eyebrow.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
How does your BIL feel about women in tight sweaters, low-cut blouses, snug tee-shirts showing the nipples and such?

not my brother in law.....my 13 year old brother

edited to add:

and I am sure he gawks without prejudice haha

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Sorry for the misunderstanding, soldierswife - I was addressing that question to MarySunshine, about her BIL, the future nurse.

And, yeah, I'm sure a 13 year old boy gawks at all boobs. :rotfl:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
Sorry for the misunderstanding, soldierswife - I was addressing that question to MarySunshine, about her BIL, the future nurse.

And, yeah, I'm sure a 13 year old boy gawks at all boobs. :rotfl:

you are very right..misunderstanding on my part as well:imbar

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Specializes in Neuro, Acute, Geriatrics, Rehab, Oncology.

Noone has a fit if someone pulls out an artificial breast ( bottle and nipple) do they???? I hated scrounging for a place to feed my children when they were fussy, I was frazzled and there was no nursingmother's area. If I had it to do over I would have decided earlier than I did that my infant had every right to guzzle to his hearts delight and not worry about people who I did not know or care about!When I visited my family my brother made a disgusted noise when i discretly fed i the living room. Believe me his tune changed when he had breast fed children of his own. On the other hand, i had a family friend( male) pull the blanket back I had covering my nursing son to stroke his cheek. THAT made me uneasy!

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

This just happened to me the other day...I was in a pt's room hanging IV fluids I think then when I turned around to leave the room there was the spouse of my pt breast feeding right out in the open...I thought it was great! I told her "good for you" and we had a short discussion about how everyone in the room (even the pt in the other bed) thought it should be more widely practiced and not a shamefull thing to do.

Wip them breasts out all you wonderful breastfeeding Moms...and no I'm not some freak with a fetish...he he

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

This issue always makes me think of that movie, "Meet the Fokkers":chuckle

It is ironic to me that America can accept sexual undertones in almost every product ad, explicit language on tv, violence, etc.....but then frown upon public breastfeeding as being preverse or unnatural.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
This just happened to me the other day...I was in a pt's room hanging IV fluids I think then when I turned around to leave the room there was the spouse of my pt breast feeding right out in the open...I thought it was great! I told her "good for you" and we had a short discussion about how everyone in the room (even the pt in the other bed) thought it should be more widely practiced and not a shamefull thing to do.

Wip them breasts out all you wonderful breastfeeding Moms...and no I'm not some freak with a fetish...he he

It is great to see there are men out there who can separate the sexual use vs. the intended use of breasts:) . My husband has not quite reached that sophistication yet.....:p

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