Proposed WI Law Related to Public Breast Feeding

[Aristotle]

This issue got debated on Dr. Phil a couple days ago actually, which was quite a coincidence.

It was actually a woman on each side of the issue, and both of them were super gung ho.

The pro-public lady had ZERO concern for anyone else which I thought was lame.

The anti-public lady was a blithering idiot who thought she was being flexible when she said "I don't mind if they breast feed, just not in public." Like duh, that's the whole issue nimrod.

[Gromgor]

This problem, as I feel most problems in this country are, stems from a lack of general respect for each other. People should respect a mothers need to care for her child by not harassing, gawking, or doing other annoying shit. Mothers should respect the fact others don't want to see your boobs when a kids head is in the way. (That sounds bad, but think about it. It's hot and sexy when it's not breastfeeding time. It's a "rude display" when it is breastfeeding time.)

People just need to respect other people.

[Thalia]

It amazes me that this is such a issue. It's a boob. There's a baby.

I'm curious to hear from people outside of the US as to whether this is an issue at all in their countries. People have been doing this since the beginning of time. Formula companies really pushed their product and breastfeeding fell out of style in the '60's I believe. It still is not the most common form of feeding a baby in the US.

It seems every time this debate becomes public, they find the bra waving liberal to take the spotlight and she demands her right to show her breasts to all. I think that this hurts the cause.

And Salimar, I'd have to say more women asked me to go elsewhere. I really was not asked many times. Nursing blouses were pink, with bunnies and ruffles and not something I would be caught dead in, but I did use a blanket and my kid was a piggy who didn't care if you held him upside down as long as he got fed. I don't think having more women ask you to relocate says anything really, except that a man might be hesitant to approach a strange woman with a baby on her breast.

The only time I was ever embarassed really was when I was talking to my two sons. One was 5 and one was 8. I said something about nursing the youngest and the oldest asked what it meant. The 5 year old replied, "It means I sucked her nipples."

[Lokrian]

Originally posted by Thalia
It amazes me that this is such a issue. It's a boob. There's a baby.

Yeah, it's as if people forgot that's what those are actually FOR. I don't get it. My mother breastfed my two half sisters, and while obviously I was not around ALL the time, it seems to me that in the mid 80's it had become sort of vogue to breastfeed. Maybe I am wrong. Like I said, since it wasn't me, I may have missed a lot of the angst. I'm sure Mom would not go out of her way to describe to me the travails of breastfeeding in public.

Originally posted by Thalia
The only time I was ever embarassed really was when I was talking to my two sons. One was 5 and one was 8. I said something about nursing the youngest and the oldest asked what it meant. The 5 year old replied, "It means I sucked her nipples."

Kids are such fun.

[Jidoe]

Originally posted by Thalia
I'm curious to hear from people outside of the US as to whether this is an issue at all in their countries. People have been doing this since the beginning of time. Formula companies really pushed their product and breastfeeding fell out of style in the '60's I believe. It still is not the most common form of feeding a baby in the US.

I never paid much attention to this, but to be quite honest, I don't remember ever SEEING someone breastfeeding in public, which is quite odd considering breastfeeding is rather popular here.

I really don't care if someone breastfeeds in public because it disturbs much less than a screaming baby, plus it is basic needs, so it's quite silly to get annoyed by it.

All in all, I have probably never paid enough attention on the matter of public breastfeeding to actually notice it, but I highly doubt it would disturb anyone (except for religious folks).

[Salimar]

Breastfeeding in public is not a problem in Spain. After all, television is full of seminaked people, beaches are full of topless people and there is not an overreaction over nakedness.

I remember there were loads of women breastfeeding children when I was a child. We were loads of kids in the park with the respective mothers and babies, so it was a common scene. As Jidoe said, the image is not common anymore. I think the reason is that most women work and they breastfeed their children in child care centres or at home. Plus, Europe does not have many children anymore.

My dearest friend breastfeeds all her babies. At first, I felt like I should avert my eyes if she was breastfeeding and talking to me at the same time. I guess that is the kind of embarrassment that most people who complain about breastfeeding in public want to avoid. I think this feeling can be experienced by either men or women.

However, I believe some women might complain for insecurity. Women at times complain to their partners about looking at other ladies. More even if the woman in question has postmaternity big, luscious breasts. But this is just a conjecture.

I think breastfeeding in public should be considered as something natural. Perhaps some people will try to take a peek from time to time. Well, while it is discreetly, I do not see any harm on it.

Salimar

[Belaraiya]

Originally posted by Salimar
At first, I felt like I should avert my eyes if she was breastfeeding and talking to me at the same time. I guess that is the kind of embarrassment that most people who complain about breastfeeding in public want to avoid. I think this feeling can be experienced by either men or women.

When my yummy mummy friend has to feed her son, I just look over her shoulder, or something not really obvious until she's got him settled, then just continue the conversation as per usual. Nothing against feeding mothers, it's just watching her struggle out of a medieval bodice and fumble with a maternity bra gives me the giggles. Either that, or I hold her son so she can have both her hands free, so you can focus on the child.

My cousin said she was actually more offended by people obviously going out of their way not to watch her "popping out a tit", as she puts it. Having an ample chest before even getting pregnant, she was used to people staring. Stick a baby in the general area, and it was like she was a leper. Maybe people just don't know where to look, like Salimar said, or they are just trying to be polite? I dunno, it doesn't seem that big of an issue here in Australia, at least on the west coast.

Note to self, when a small child is at that highly impressionable age, don't EVER laugh at his mother struggling with a maternity bra. Especially if he is sitting on your lap while she's fiddling with her top... my friend's little boy now laughs everytime she goes to feed him. The moment she reaches for her bra, he starts giggling because his Aunty Li did it last time.