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.

[Q.]

Help me to understand why you wouldn't want your child to be educated about it?

On that DAY. That MOMENT. I never said I didn't want them to learn about it, but maybe I didn't want them learning about it THEN AND NOW. Maybe I felt at that given time it was inappropriate for them to learn about it. Maybe it will confuse them further about something or gosh darn it, maybe I just don't want them knowing until next month or next year.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Then you tell me Q, how do they handle it in Europe and Asia and Australia? Or maybe someone from those areas can enlighten me? Why is it such a HUGE issue here in the States????

Maybe it is time for you to examine your own hangups in this area, if it's such a huge deal to you. What makes anyone think of breasts as sexual objects to be totally obscured from view, when in reality, they being used as nature intended? I have to wonder; what will you pass on to your kids in this area? I am just curious why this bothers you, an OB nurse, so much????

And yes, "look away" if you are offended IS an answer. Til you find another one that is better. My rights end where my nose does; same goes for you. Like I said, this is not a Mediao show or Hooter's here...it's feeding a baby.

[kersti]

Here in Germany, thankfully breastfeeding in public places is a normal and accepted practice. (Except for those 13 yr. old boys, of course:rotfl: )

I did it myself because if your child is screaming, and there is no place else to go....

Even though I do think that breastfeeding in public can be done discreetly. There is no need for both boobs to be hanging out all over the place-that just invites gawking and makes me wonder about the breastfeeding mother.

[LydiaNN]

Yes but perhaps on that day, I didn't WANT them to be educated on it. As a parent I have the right to decide when they learn something, don't I?

No, actually you don't have the right to decide when a child learns something that they observe from being out and about in public. You have no control, and no inherent right to control, the actions of other people. So if exclusive control over what your children witness and learn is a goal of your's, it becomes your responsibility to restrict their outings to those places where they aren't likely to run into people with different ideas.

[Q.]

Where does it stop? I don't think overweight men should wear tight Speedos at the beach. Do I get to tell them to change into boxer type trunks?

:chuckle No, but I wish you did.

I think though we can draw the line at exposed "private" parts. I just don't want to see boob or nipple, breastfeeding or NOT.

[CuriousMe]

Where does it stop? I don't think overweight men should wear tight Speedos at the beach. Do I get to tell them to change into boxer type trunks? I don't think anyone should be walking around with huge tattoos. Do I get to tell them not to come into any building that I have to occupy? These are my problems, not their's. I don't actually understand the motivations of women who don't choose to be discrete, but I sure don't think I have some right to insist that they are.

I haven't heard the word "insist" from anyone but you....I think request is closer to it.

Unless your point is to stir up folks to prove a point....why wouldn't you be discrete. Tight Speedo's at the beach and tattoos are accepted parts of society (despite personal feelings...and you still might see a more conservative person sniff and roll their eyes at it)....I don't think that blatant public breastfeeding is. Now it's fine to not like that....but that doesn't change it.

OK, so I guess I'm up to .04 on this one :)

Peace,

Cathie

[LydiaNN]

:chuckle No, but I wish you did.

I think though we can draw the line at exposed "private" parts. I just don't want to see boob or nipple, breastfeeding or NOT.

But you don't see the breast or nipple when a woman is breastfeeding. The baby's mouth covers them. So it is just knowing that they're there that seems to bother people.

[SmilingBluEyes]

No, actually you don't have the right to decide when a child learns something that they observe from being out and about in public. You have no control, and no inherent right to control, the actions of other people. So if exclusive control over what your children witness and learn is a goal of your's, it becomes your responsibility to restrict their outings to those places where they aren't likely to run into people with different ideas.

absolutely right. I see SO much that offends me. Thongs hanging over the backs of lowrider jeans really make me ill. But it's not for me to tell others how to dress, really is it?

I have the right to ignore it or not to look. And I look away FAST when I see things like that.

I have the responsibility to educate my kids when these things come up...that or keep them locked up til I deem it a fit time to discuss human lactation and sexuality. I would (and have done so) teach my kids that from a young age, that way they think no differently.

[Q.]

No, actually you don't have the right to decide when a child learns something that they observe from being out and about in public. You have no control, and no inherent right to control, the actions of other people. So if exclusive control over what your children witness and learn is a goal of your's, it becomes your responsibility to restrict their outings to those places where they aren't likely to run into people with different ideas.

Sure. But certain things in public are a given and I can deal with. I DON'T expect to see a couple copulating at the mall, therefore I feel comfortable taking my kids there. I DON'T expect to see nudity at the mall, therefore I feel comfortable taking my kids there. Because of this, I wouldn't take my kids to see Mediaography, or to a nudist beach, or to Mardi Gras, or to a bar, because the liklihood of them seeing something I don't want them to is high. But I should be able to reasonably expect that at a mall on a Sunday afternoon I wouldn't see that kind of stuff, you know?

Again, this is why the upset with Janet Jackson. Nobody expects to see a boob during a football game. Its hard enough to censor what your kids are exposed to, on top of now being on alert during things that wouldn't NORMALLY have that kind of content...

[LydiaNN]

I haven't heard the word "insist" from anyone but you....I think request is closer to it.

Unless your point is to stir up folks to prove a point....why wouldn't you be discrete. Tight Speedo's at the beach and tattoos are accepted parts of society (despite personal feelings...and you still might see a more conservative person sniff and roll their eyes at it)....I don't think that blatant public breastfeeding is. Now it's fine to not like that....but that doesn't change it.

OK, so I guess I'm up to .04 on this one :)

Peace,

Cathie

Actually, there are still places in the United States where women who breastfeed are asked to leave public places and some are even issued citations, so I would have to disagree with your assertion that "request" is an appropriate word. And I guess you just are going to ignore the fact that twice now I have said that I don't understand why some women aren't more discrete, but I guess acknowledging that might prove that I'm not trying to stir people up, so I can understand why you're glossing right over what's plain for all to see.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Here in Germany, thankfully breastfeeding in public places is a normal and accepted practice. (Except for those 13 yr. old boys, of course:rotfl: )

I did it myself because if your child is screaming, and there is no place else to go....

Even though I do think that breastfeeding in public can be done discreetly. There is no need for both boobs to be hanging out all over the place-that just invites gawking and makes me wonder about the breastfeeding mother.

Makes sense to me! An example of how another country does not get all "up in arms" over something so normal and natural, and NOT perverted as breastfeeding.

[FutureAustinNurse]

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.

Are you planning on having kids?!?!?! Or do you just not get out much??? I take it your mom didn't breastfeed you huh?

You'll see, maybe it's just because you're young, or maybe it's your religious background, or maybe you had something tramatic happen to you regarding breasts but you do descibe yourself to a T. You don't plan on going into Mother/Baby of L & D do you?!? :rotfl:

I'm fairly conservative, but I sure as Hades will breastfeed my baby (number 3 thank you very much) whenever she needs to no matter where we are. Yeah I use a blanket because I'm modest & maybe I'll resort to a bottle if I have to because I'm driving or in a situation where I myself feel uncomfortable but I'm thankful for my right to comfort & feed my child where I please blanket or no blanket. I've seen many breastfeeding women with their child nursing quietly in public and NEVER have I seen a bare breast! Where in the world do you people live that just see women "whiping" them out or letting them just "hang" out for the masses to see?!?! And if they do - WHO CARES?!?!? Don't you have something better to do than worry or be "offended" by someone who is minding their own business?? Who knows you might be "offending" them in some way yourself. I understand that children might see but really like others have said that's what breasts are for & better yet it's a great way to either remind young children or 13 y/o boys (:chuckle ) that their mom did it too, or shows that they & their future spouses have a choice in how they feed their children for the future.

Geez - we're looking to possibly have a female candidate for President but we can't be ok with breastfeeding moms??? Rediculous!