Public Breastfeeding

[MarySunshine]

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.

[prinsessa]

It is simply a food delivery system. It has nothing to do with urination or lady partss or sex.

steph

:yeahthat:

Thank you!!! I'm so sick of people compairing bfing to urination.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

:yeahthat:

Thank you!!! I'm so sick of people compairing bfing to urination.

Obviously, me too. :)

steph

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Obviously, me too. :)

steph

Ditto.

We're SO open about sex, etc., flaunting everything everywhere , but when it comes to basic, natural b'feeding, all of a sudden, this is soooooooo "discomforting"...

I just don't get it. :stone

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Neither do i.

I wish people had the same attitude about public displays of nude tackiness that some do being against public BF.

[Q.]

Ok, about the "nurse-in". BF in public is one thing, but i REALLY have a problem when someone is BF as a demonstration (refering to the ABC newslink) and not out of nutrition for their child

:yeahthat:

As far as urination having anything to do with BF, that has to do with the defense that BF is "natural" therefore it should be allowed in public.

Being "natural" imo isn't a good defense in and of itself because there are alot of things that are "natural" dosen't mean it is acceptable. Sex is natural, however not acceptable in public; nudity is natural however not acceptable in public. I think that is the point. Defend BF because it's a method to feed a baby - not that it's "natural."

[Q.]

Ditto.

We're SO open about sex, etc., flaunting everything everywhere , but when it comes to basic, natural b'feeding, all of a sudden, this is soooooooo "discomforting"...

I just don't get it. :stone

But this is assuming that the SAME people who don't have a problem with scantily clad women are the same people who are uncomfortable with BF openly in public.

For all we know, the SAME people who abhor the Hooters girls also abhor public breastfeeding.

[LydiaNN]

:yeahthat:

As far as urination having anything to do with BF, that has to do with the defense that BF is "natural" therefore it should be allowed in public.

Being "natural" imo isn't a good defense in and of itself because there are alot of things that are "natural" dosen't mean it is acceptable. Sex is natural, however not acceptable in public; nudity is natural however not acceptable in public. I think that is the point. Defend BF because it's a method to feed a baby - not that it's "natural."

Public urination is actually illegal, so it should not be and is not "acceptable". It is unhygenic, and there are "accepted" places to do it, which are called restrooms. As far as that goes, men urinate in front of one another all the time in said restrooms.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

For all we know, the SAME people who abhor the Hooters girls also abhor public breastfeeding.

Mmm, no, to me, there's definitely a difference.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Public urination is actually illegal, so it should not be and is not "acceptable". It is unhygenic, and there are "accepted" places to do it, which are called restrooms. As far as that goes, men urinate in front of one another all the time in said restrooms.

That's why the urination arguement doesn't wash (so to speak) with me.

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

Haven't had time to follow this entire thread, but here's my $.02, anyway...

I fully support breastfeeding anywhere. Yes, it's a little awkward when you first see someone. For me, at least, if the same woman were running around topless, pretty much anywhere but church, I'd happily gawk. I'm not obsessed with breasts, but in many instances they are quite pretty, and more interesting than, say, ankles. But I don't feel comfortable leering at a woman breastfeeding, so I'm never quite sure whether to look away or what. I'm not saying it freaks me out. It's a momentary thing, I get over it quickly, maybe say hello and go on about my business. I do admire the gracefullness of a woman who breastfeeds discretely--it seems more genteel--but I don't believe it's strictly necessary. Again, except maybe in church, I'm not offended by a woman exposing her breasts, even if she's childless (and I rarely go to church).

That said, a few years ago, when my job included emptying wastebaskets in patient rooms, I was floated to the peds floor one night. A couple of times, I came to rooms with signs posted saying: Please knock--mother may be breastfeeding. So I knocked, and was told to come in (always did knock before entering a pt room, anyway.) I went in, got the trash, and the mother was indeed breastfeeding. So I thought it was nice to put the signs up so I wouldn't be startled.

Haven't actually encountered a breastfeeding mom since becoming a nurse. Seems like if I did, the appropriate response might be to correct any errors in technique I might notice. Then again, maternity wasn't my strongest suit, so I'd probably just say hello and go about my business, unless I noticed something grossly wrong.

[Q.]

Public urination is actually illegal, so it should not be and is not "acceptable". It is unhygenic, and there are "accepted" places to do it, which are called restrooms. As far as that goes, men urinate in front of one another all the time in said restrooms.

Okay, but public urination is illegal BECAUSE it's unacceptable. And why is it unhygenic? Because its a body fluid? Isn't that what breast milk is, a body fluid? We certainly treat it as such in the hospital.

All I'm saying is that "because BFing is natural" isn't a good defense argument. Because something is natural obviously isn't reason enough to accept certain things in public, as evidenced by our society finding public urination, sex, nudity, etc. unacceptable.

[LydiaNN]

Okay, but public urination is illegal BECAUSE it's unacceptable. And why is it unhygenic? Because its a body fluid? Isn't that what breast milk is, a body fluid? We certainly treat it as such in the hospital.

All I'm saying is that "because BFing is natural" isn't a good defense argument. Because something is natural obviously isn't reason enough to accept certain things in public, as evidenced by our society finding public urination, sex, nudity, etc. unacceptable.

You're a nurse and you need me to explain to you why urine needs to be flushed away by a plumbing system and not deposited in stairwells, elevators, subway cars, etc? It's unhygenic because it is a human waste product, not to mention that the stench of it can make you gag. I'm beginning to wonder if you're entirely serious with these remarks.