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 LDRP; Education.
I fully support nursing in public...no discretion necessary. Not every baby goes along with the "be discreet" idea. Do what's best for you and the baby. Cover up or don't cover up. That should be based on you & your baby's comfort, NOT a passerby.

I nursed in public, and if my kids weren't tired, they wanted NOTHING to do with a blanket on their heads.

Okay, but to play devil's advocate here, what if I am out in public with my children who are not mature enough to separate out that a breast is used to feed a baby (but not always - let's not knock the women who chose NOT to breastfeed) and are thus forced to see you very openly and NOT discreetly feeding your baby? What about the comfort of me and my children and my choice on when they should or not see a breast or have the discussion about it?

That's why discretion should be used imo. That way both needs are met in the middle: mom gets to breastfeed and the mom with children too young to understand won't be exposed to something she doesn't want them to yet.

I think breastfeeding should be done somewhere private (where there will be no disruptions) and w/a blanket. I personally don't think it's very tasteful to be showing your bare breasts, whether you're breastfeeding or at Mardi Gras.

I don't care if it's "natural," it shouldn't be done in a public area w/o some kind of cover. I think it's rude to have your boob hanging out for whatever purpose it is serving. I don't want to see that crap. No one can convince me otherwise. If anyone thinks I'm closeminded, frankly, I don't care. I have a right to my opinion.

"If anyone thinks I'm closeminded, frankly, I don't care. I have a right to my opinion."

And fortunately mothers can nurse their babies in public, regardless of your opinion.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

I don't care if it's "natural," it shouldn't be done in a public area ...

I might get flamed for this, but I also think that "natural" isn't a good defense. There are ALOT of things that are natural, doesn't mean people want to see them! :chuckle

As soon as mothers with bottles need to hide in the corner to feed their babies, I will encourage nursing mothers to do the same (ok, no I wouldn't, but still). After all, bottles are modeled after breasts, are they not???

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
As soon as mothers with bottles need to hide in the corner to feed their babies, I will encourage nursing mothers to do the same (ok, no I wouldn't, but still). After all, bottles are modeled after breasts, are they not???

No, they aren't in the least. I can tell you that my breast is MUCH more soft and voluptous than any Playtex VentAir or Dr. Brown's bottle. And I know that my husband isn't turned on by those bottles either. :rotfl:

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
I think breastfeeding should be done somewhere private (where there will be no disruptions) and w/a blanket. I personally don't think it's very tasteful to be showing your bare breasts, whether you're breastfeeding or at Mardi Gras.

I don't care if it's "natural," it shouldn't be done in a public area w/o some kind of cover. I think it's rude to have your boob hanging out for whatever purpose it is serving. I don't want to see that crap. No one can convince me otherwise. If anyone thinks I'm closeminded, frankly, I don't care. I have a right to my opinion.

Uh, okay. I don't think anyone said you didn't have a right to your opinion. But I must say your language is a bit crass. Breastfeeding isn't about having your "boob" hanging out, and feeding a baby certainly isn't "crap". And the breast is NOT hanging out when a baby is fed. Hello, the baby's mouth is closed over it.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I feel that if done with tact and not flaunted for all to see there is no problem with breastfeeding in public. I did with my daughter, who will be 15 on Monday, and never recieved any comments of nasty looks.

As to anyone who suggests that a baby eating in public is disgusting, what about them? Aren't they eating in public as well and I would hazard that most babies have better table manners than some people I have endured. :rotfl:

I think breastfeeding should be done somewhere private (where there will be no disruptions) and w/a blanket. I personally don't think it's very tasteful to be showing your bare breasts, whether you're breastfeeding or at Mardi Gras.

I don't care if it's "natural," it shouldn't be done in a public area w/o some kind of cover. I think it's rude to have your boob hanging out for whatever purpose it is serving. I don't want to see that crap. No one can convince me otherwise. If anyone thinks I'm closeminded, frankly, I don't care. I have a right to my opinion.

First of all, even w/o a cover there is very little to see. I don't want strangers to see my breast anymore than they want to see them. Second, if you don't want to see someone b/f then I suggest you don't go out in public, as it may occur there. It may seem rude of me to say that but I am also entitled to my opinion. B/f moms and their babies have just as much right to be in public and to nurse as you do. Since you are the one with the issue, I suggest you stay out of public places as much as possible.

Q. ~ It's a simple fact that breasts produce milk to feed humans. If a woman chooses to utilize that God given ability, why should she be concerned about who sees it? Your kids should know that babies are fed by their mom's breasts or by formula & bottles.

I mean honestly, I've seen many nursing mothers and I rarely see any part of her boob. Where do you all find these women that are flinging their boobs & milk around :rolleyes:

I had only one problem in the 6+ years that I nursed three children. There was little to see but the lady was offended anyway. I find that in most of the stories of someone being offended it is a woman, not a man, who was offended.

A funny story about my daughter. When she was four, and had seen both of her brothers nurse, she was at a family function. Her 16 year old cousin was playing dolls with her. Her cousin gave the baby doll a bottle. My daughter became very offended and grabbed the bottle away from her. With a straight face she told her cousin "That isn't how babies eat!" and proceeded to put the baby doll to her chest. She didn't raise her shirt, perhaps because you could never see her moms breast when she nursed in public, but proceeded to feed her baby.

Another funny story is when my cousin's daughter, who is 2, was laying in bed with her. She only nursed for about six months but my niece is currently nursing. She asked her mom if she could have ninnies (our family word for nursing breasts). Her mom told her that she didn't have any more milk in her ninnies. She looked at her mom and thought for a minute and said "orange juice in ninnies." :rotfl: Of course, my cousin and her husband were laughing then.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Why is this such an issue in the USA? Most of the rest of the world has no problem w/it. I have/had no desire to breastfeed in:

A dirty bathroom

My hot (or cold) car

Behind a building

In a dark corner

Someplace very uncomfortable or unsanitary

So I would discreetly nurse my kids in public, not "whipping anything out" but nonetheless feeding them when they needed to. I remember at a state fair here in WA once, I went to sit in a nearly empty food tent (it was very hot and I needed to get my daughter out of the sun) to nurse. One of the workers had the nerve to march up to me and say, "only people eating here can sit here" and I said: "OBVIOUSLY my daughter is EATING so BACK OFF" (yea I was hot and cranky and so was my baby). She slunk off and did not bother me again.

I am sick of people thinking it's not right to be able to nurse in public in the USA. Time to GET OVER IT.

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