Public Breastfeeding

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

Specializes in Lactation Ed, Pp, MS, Hospice, Agency.

this is your opinion, and i do not share it. for me, any clean and self-respecting mother who has a hungry baby and chooses to feed it promptly is appealing.

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thank you grimmy, i couldn't have said it any better myself!

and just to add to this; if i do hear a baby crying in a store my 1st thought (&/or statement to my child):

pick up & feed that baby!

i once got myself in trouble w/a dad b/c i told mom: baby has fallen asleep (bottle in mouth propped & in danger of choking). her dh tracked me down in the store to tell me that i had "insulted his wife!"

to me, what was an insult was that he cared more about his wife's feelings rather then his own baby's welfare. but, once again, it is all in how the receiver takes the imputed info. me: i saw a choking hazard, him: saw an attack on his wife's ability to parent.

:rolleyes: oh well, if she never propped another bottle again, i would only be too happy. babies deserve our time & attention. i realize that there are times & places for propping (i.e. twins, broken arms, ect.), but she had dad w/her to help. (& what about dad feeding baby?)

Specializes in Lactation Ed, Pp, MS, Hospice, Agency.

Something mentioned earlier in the thread really disturbs me, and that's the discussion of 3, 4 and 5 year olds breastfeeding. Babes-in-arms is one thing, but walking talking toddlers is another. That is just really weird and not natural. I know absolutely nothing about babies....never had one, don't know anyone who owns one, but I did always think that a baby was weaned onto solid food at a certain age. Something about that image of a breastfeeding toddler playing with and kneading his mother's breasts is really disturbing. How old is too old?

This surprises me b/c you live in the UK & have much more exposure to traditions of other countries. Over in India & many other countries, they feel that the longer that a child nurses the smarter they will be! Yes, contrary to popular belief, it is completely natural. It is not seen or hear of often b/c we chose to nurse behind closed doors & not discuss this relationship w/others.

The duration of bfing is a private decision made b/t the nursing couple. It is not sexual nor can it be forced on the child. A toddler nurses for the comfort & bonding/connection/closeness that he/she gets from mom (as does she), the milk is the bonus.

I recall feeling the same way that you did. Then, after many problems getting my baby to feed: nipple confusion, thrush, slow wt gain w/supplementation, I made the decision to nurse #1 until he reached the age where he could feed himself. We weaned @ 15m & I missed the relationship terribly... it was my, not his choice to wean. I do feel good that we made it to 15m, however I will always wonder if I did the right thing.

Once again: this is a personal decision for every nursing couple.

~MJ

That's my point. No, you don't need to explain why urine needs to be flushed away, just like you don't need to explain why we handle breast milk with standard precautions like we do all human body fluids. Breast milk is a biohazard - never mind that it doesn't stink. Stinking and waste products isn't what defines bio hazard standards.

In that case, so are tears, and sweat, and spit and airborne sneeze particles...I just don't understand why we let any people out in public AT ALL.

Maybe we should just stay home unless we leave in biohazard suits because, gee, we might get some body fluid from someone else on us!!!

Having breastfed myself, I can tell you that the only place the milk went was into the baby's mouth or onto my breast pads. Anyone sitting right next to me would not have been in any danger of having any "unhygienic breast milk" spilled on them.

You're much more likely to have your food sneezed in by the waiter, the cook, or the people you're eating with than to actually touch a particle of breastmilk from a nursing mother.

Plus there's the whole handwashing thing...I'm certain you've been exposed to far, far more urine (or worse) from unwashed hands while eating out than you have ever been exposed to some stranger's breast milk.

And if you've ever played sports or gone to the gym, gosh, all that sweat that someone else might have gotten on you or left on the sports equipment or in the locker room! We should just dispense with all sports immediately AND close down all the gyms!

In that case, so are tears, and sweat, and spit and airborne sneeze particles...I just don't understand why we let any people out in public AT ALL.

Maybe we should just stay home unless we leave in biohazard suits because, gee, we might get some body fluid from someone else on us!!!

Having breastfed myself, I can tell you that the only place the milk went was into the baby's mouth or onto my breast pads. Anyone sitting right next to me would not have been in any danger of having any "unhygienic breast milk" spilled on them.

You're much more likely to have your food sneezed in by the waiter, the cook, or the people you're eating with than to actually touch a particle of breastmilk from a nursing mother.

Plus there's the whole handwashing thing...I'm certain you've been exposed to far, far more urine (or worse) from unwashed hands while eating out than you have ever been exposed to some stranger's breast milk.

And if you've ever played sports or gone to the gym, gosh, all that sweat that someone else might have gotten on you or left on the sports equipment or in the locker room! We should just dispense with all sports immediately AND close down all the gyms!

:w00t: :yeah:

steph:)

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
In that case, so are tears, and sweat, and spit and airborne sneeze particles...I just don't understand why we let any people out in public AT ALL.

Maybe we should just stay home unless we leave in biohazard suits because, gee, we might get some body fluid from someone else on us!!!

Having breastfed myself, I can tell you that the only place the milk went was into the baby's mouth or onto my breast pads. Anyone sitting right next to me would not have been in any danger of having any "unhygienic breast milk" spilled on them.

You're much more likely to have your food sneezed in by the waiter, the cook, or the people you're eating with than to actually touch a particle of breastmilk from a nursing mother.

Plus there's the whole handwashing thing...I'm certain you've been exposed to far, far more urine (or worse) from unwashed hands while eating out than you have ever been exposed to some stranger's breast milk.

And if you've ever played sports or gone to the gym, gosh, all that sweat that someone else might have gotten on you or left on the sports equipment or in the locker room! We should just dispense with all sports immediately AND close down all the gyms!

Exactly. Even biohazards can only cause damage if you're actually exposed to them.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
And to say "I don't understand" your analogy was actually a polite way of saying I consider it invalid.

Then we have more in common than we thought. Once again, MY point is that the breastfeeding -is -natural -therefore -it -should -be- acceptable -by- ALL -people is an invalid argument.

Something being natural does not equal automatically being acceptable.

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Then we have more in common than we thought. Once again, MY point is that the breastfeeding -is -natural -therefore -it -should -be- acceptable -by- ALL -people is an invalid argument.

Something being natural does not equal automatically being acceptable.

No, because it was never my contention that public breastfeeding is acceptable because it is natural. Natural or unnatural never entered into the equation for me. My contention is that babies need to eat, and if the vessel happens to be their mother's breast, then their right to nourishment is more important than a nonexistent right that some people seem to believe they have to never be offended by things they see in public.

Having breastfed myself,

Er, I mean, having been a breastfeeding mother....

Er, I mean, having been a breastfeeding mother....

I did not even catch that. :coollook: :chuckle

Now, that is a whole OTHER thread.:rolleyes:

steph

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