Breast-feeding in public

[Azyael]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,129908,00.html

I guess I had not realized breast-feeding in public had become such an uproar.

Whenever I see it in public, I usually just avert my eyes. Awkard at first, but I'm never offended.

Thoughts, opinions?

[kestra]

I'll never be a mother, but I'm thinking if a baby is crying and fussing, sometimes breast feeding is the only solution. From what I have seen, most mothers do make an effort to cover their breast up.

As a passer by, for me, it 's not an issue.

[Kraxe]

If you have a problem with it, just produce a camera and ask the woman if they mind if you take a picture, and they'll soon cover up.

[Isaviel]

Well I am a mother and I don't like it. I think you can find a place to do it in private. There is no need to be pulling out your breast in public. It makes some people very uncomfortable and feeling very awkward. I think it's common curtsey to find a place to do it in private. If anything ask if it bothers anyone if you do it.

There was a girl at work that would take her breast pump into the ladies room and start pumping. She wouldn't go into a stall or anything and for someone to walk in and see that it's a bit awkward. Mother or not.

The worse part was she would take her breast pump out to the kitchenette area and clean it in the sink there. Why she didn't do it in the bathroom is beyond me but I know alot of men were kinda grossed out that she was cleaning her breast pump in the kitchenette area and placing it on the counters where they all cook their food and make their coffee.

There was another time where I was at a party and this girl just pulls out her boob and starts feeding her child. Alot of people were kind of offended. She could have easily asked if she could go to another room with privacy to do that.

Obviously it bothers me. I don't want to see some girl's boob but that's my opinion and I'm sure others will disagree.

I noticed a link after reading the article that kinda made me chuckle. Just the name of it really... www.weanthatkid.com heh:P

[Ismenia]

Well I breastfed both of my dauthers. I was a discreet one though and would do it in private or cover them up with a blankie while I did it. It can be just as uncomfortable for the mother too! However, there might be situations where it is unavoidable. When you have a hysterical screaming baby and their only form of sustanence is your breast milk, sometimes you just don't think. After months of doing it every two hours or more, you become numb to the whole situation. (nipples and mind ::giggles:: ) Sometimes you might not even think about it cause it is just an automatic thing that you are constantly doing. Of course, I did, cause I was self-concious about it, but there are those who are more open minded.. I suppose. Plus you get all of this literature from your doctor and that LaLeche ( I know I spelled that wrong) Society that advocates for breastfeeding. Sometimes you don't know what to think! Ok that is my 2 cents worth for now

[Isaviel]

I can understand that and maybe it's just me. I've never been comfortable with the whole situation. I've never breastfed because I wasn't comfortable with it. So to me it didn't make sense because things would just be too tense for me and my ex didn't care for it either so that made it worse.

But they do make breast pumps. Can't people just bottle it if they know they're going out in public? The whole idea behind it is that it's healthier right? I mean I can understand if a child won't take to it but I don't know.... just never been comfortable with it and I think where it may be unfair to a nursing mother it's also unfair to others that don't want to be around it. *shrugs helplessly*

[Metiao]

Whenever I see something like this going on in public I just think "Hey, she's being a mother" and just keep on walking.

In this day and age, just about everything you do will offend someone or another. People should learn to just keep on walking, or just to avert their eyes.

Get a life and stop bitching about other's.

[Jolen]

Whenever I see something like this going on in public I just think "Hey, she's being a mother" and just keep on walking.

In this day and age, just about everything you do will offend someone or another. People should learn to just keep on walking, or just to avert their eyes.

Get a life and stop bitching about other's.

Metiao

Thank you. I think this is what a good deal of this country needs to do. This incessant bitching has become common place in our culture. Have Americans just become to comfortable and feel the need to stir shit up? You can see this same trend in frivolous lawsuits. Jesus H. Christ... Only in America can you become rich for being a dumbass i.e. putting HOT coffee between your legs, eating too much FAST FOOD.

Sorry to take this off on a tangent. But kudos for mothers who worry about baby first, and stupid easily offended people second.

J/R

[Graeblyn]

I dunno... I have no control over other people. If they become offended by me, I figure that's THEIR problem, unless I am intentionally being offensive.

I really have a problem with the belief that everyone has to go out of their way to avoid offending people. There comes a point when sensitivity, political correctness, social conformity and the like becomes suffocating, and I think, unfortunately, we reached that point in the U.S. long ago.

And, I suppose my reaction to this issue is consistent. If it bothers you, don't look.

[Isaviel]

It's not even about baby first. It's easy enough to go somewhere private.

What does a mother do that doesn't breast feed and runs out of formula? The baby screams then too until there is food. So taking time to get somewhere private shouldn't be a big deal.