How do you feel about women breastfeeding in public?
15 December 2009
32 Responses
A Parent asks, Apparently there are still people still confuse a baby’s right to eat with a woman’s right to expose her breasts. Some people still confuse the lactating breast with a sexual organ. Maybe I have no right to tell them they are mistaken.
How do you feel when you see a woman breastfeeding in public?
Also, would any mother like to share a story of people’s reactions to you nursing in public?
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Oh yeah
I think “that mother is feeding her baby.” I guess I don’t really think about it much at all.
I see it as totally normal. I think people wich can see anything sexual in a mother breastfeeding..are sick.
I think it’s great!! I saw a women nursing at the mall, and looked away not out of disgust, but to give them privacy. I wish I could of breast-fed my son longer then I did.
Nursing in public is normal we have to feed our children if that is the only source of food he or she gets. I have done it and will do it again if my baby need to eat. I think some people need to just grow up.
If they stop think of sexual advances when they see it they will come to understand that it’s what a mother MUST do to have a healthy and happy baby!
If I notice (and I usually don’t, because most moms are discreet, and I’m usually minding my own business) I think “Great! She’s breastfeeding her baby AND she’s not afraid to do it where-ever she happens to be.”
I breastfed in public often when my daughter was a baby. I never got any negative reactions — very few reactions at all. (Again, I was discreet, and people were minding THEIR own business.)
I don’t feel anything towards it.
She’s feeding her baby, just as I do mine when I’m out and he’s hungry. I don’t think she should be looked down upon simply because she’s breast feeding. Most breast feeding mommas cover themselves up and respect others while out anyway.
I have nursed at the baseball fields, in restaurants, in department stores (while walking around shopping), in the car and never had anyone react to me at all. It’s my right to feed my baby and anyone who thinks my breast is for a man’s sexual pleasure and should be hidden has another thing coming. I always smile at women I see nurse in public and have struck up conversations over our nursing babies.
Edit* I see a lot of people mention “being discreet.” That is not one of my top concerns when breast feeding since my son is latched on to the part of my breast considered “indecent.” But my rule of thumb is that if I’m showing only as much breast as I would in a summer top or one of my sun dresses I’m fine. No one gets offended at cleavage then so I figure the same amount should be more than fine if I’m feeding my baby.
I think that is a private thing between mother and child. It is natural and not sexual in any way but that doesn’t make it appropriate to do blatantly in middle of a crowded place. There is always somewhere off to the side to have that moment. And i will surely breastfeed my child and think it is the most beautiful thing ever, but that doesn’t mean i should make it a public affair.
As someone who plans to breastfeed, I think you should be allowed to breastfeed anywhere.
I still don’t understand if it’s the act of breastfeeding that is offensive, or if women are actually exposing their breasts in doing it.
I plan to feed my baby when he wants it. But I don’t plan on exposing my boobs to the world. Everyone I know who breastfeeds uses a receiving blanket. I assumed all women would be doing this, but from the sound of it, some women are just whipping it out. I guess more power to you if you feel comfortable doing that. But I wouldn’t do it.
People who see this as sexual are sick!
there’s a baby hanging off it!
I so rarely see it these days…
Before I had a baby, I admit I didn’t fully appreciate seeing a woman reveal herself in such a way, I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea she was “feeding the baby.” I was ignorant.
Now, after being a breastfeeding mother, I truly admire those women who have no shame in doing in public in such a way. I pumped and fed via a bottle, I just couldn’t embrace nursing fromt the breast in public.
My own female family members don’t encourage breastfeeding, let alone nursing in public. It’s a rough road to breastfeed when the support isn’t there…and it’s the most natural human thing to do!
I think the people who dont agree with it are sick.
A mother feeding her baby is a good thing. Boobs are made for eating, not sexual usage.
I think breastfeeding is the most natural thing for a mother to do with her baby.. speaking from personal experience, I was onced asked by a lady at a resturant to leave b/c I was breastfeeding and she didn’t think it was proper, when I said no she went to the manager and the manager told her he has no rights to ask me to leave. so she left, I don’t see how people can act so childish… after all that is why god made breast but now they are seen more of a sexual icon then what they are made for…
I would think – good for her, her baby must be hungry, i remember doing that, any or all of those things.
I did it and it didn’t bother me.
no one ever said a word to me about it. not once.
When a baby needs to eat, a baby needs to eat. Whether it’s at home or out in public. The baby doesn’t care – he/she is just hungry! I breastfed out in public – it was very nerve wrecking. Kudos to breastfeeding moms period and also to those who nurse in public. I think as long as they make an effort to cover up some what, then they just need to be left alone and feed their babies. They’re not doing anything wrong but giving their babies the best start possible!!
i dont think its bad at all.
i would like to see also without offending
its completely norman in my eyes as long as she isn’t exposing her self completely.
Well, I for one am one of those moms who will breastfeed anytime anywhere. I of course try to be discreet. I find though, that the best way to be conspicuous is by wearing one of those huge shawls or “hooter hiders” that come in bright colors and announce to the world “I’m breastfeeding over here!” The best way I’ve found is to position yourself away from the crowd, quickly latch on the babe, then put a little blankie over the face/boob. Maybe it means someone sees a flash of nipple. Oh well. There have been two times I was looked at “funny.” Both times, it was by men my age who I caught eyeing me before I started breastfeeding. When they saw me breastfeeding later, they had this queasy look on their face. Clearly, they wanted to think of my boobs as something other than baby food, and that, frankly, pisses me off and makes me more determined than ever to breastfeed anywhere my baby feels like it.
I have only ever seen a woman nursing outside of my mommy group once, and that was in a restaurant. Her baby was probably about 8 months old, and I thought it was great that she was nursing. Now, I am not certain I would notice at all really – the mommy group I go to has about 20 breastfeeding women, and it just became very common place to see a fussy baby who was immediately nursed. And because it’ a mommy group, people aren’t really discreet about it – they do just whip it out and feed their baby. Honestly, when my baby is fussing and I know she is hungry, I don’t think of nursing her any differently than I would pulling out a bottle.
Anyway, I do try to be discreet, but I don’t cover up because I can be more discreet that way. My first time nursing outside of my house, I was in a car in a parking lot parked well away from other cars and someone pulled up and parked next to me – it was a woman with a little girl who was about 5. The woman looked into my car and got this horrified look on her face and ushered her child away (eyes covered) as quickly as she could. The kid couldn’t see over the door. I have also had people commend me for breastfeeding though. It’s not very common in my area.
as long as the mom makes a reasonable effort not to expose her breast in public, i have absolutely no prob with them feeding their baby anywhere they happen to be
Nothing wrong with it
Harriet
Ohhh the opportunity to VENT WHOOP WHOOP Thank you sir.
Here’s my story:
I was at the grocery store with my then 2 month old daughter. Walking slowly through the isles and nursing her. I was wearing my winter coat and a nursing shirt that covered my belly so when I say you couldn’t see $$$$ you really couldn’t see anything but my babes feet.
So I’m walking and I feel this presence behind me, then beside me, I look and this dirty man is looking at me with a smirk, I look down (consciously checking to see if anything is exposed, nothing is), then back up and he is still GAWKING at me. So I say (confrontationally) “Do you mind?!?!” He chuckled and turned away. GRRRR SO THEN his wife who was behind him and I pipes up (I guess she didn’t like her man gawking as if it was my fault) she says “you know what, there’s places for that” I was pissed now. I said “Oh ya?!” , “YA!” she says, “It’s called a bathroom”.
HAHA so I said “Ya, you two look like the types that would eat your lunch in the bathroom” That got an elderly lady in the isle laughing and the cashiers attention. These people just stood there like cavemen without a clue. The cashier said ” She can breastfeed wherever she wants” with that they started walking away. I couldn’t help but add just as they were leaving my site “It’s to bad your mama’s didn’t love you enough to teach you what boobs are for!” “Ignorant #$%$@#! ”
While mine isn’t everyone’s style I truly believe that breastfeeding publically and proudly (yes tastefully) is the only way our society is ever going to change. Standing up for one’s self and child is part of that.
I havn’t had all bad experiences. With my son whom I breasfed for 19 months and often in public I never recieved any bad comments (the wierd thing is that back then I was a teenage mom ~ you’d think I would have had to deal with it more so then. But lucky it came years later, when I had quite a bit of education under my belt and a whole bucket of confidence.
Another story I must share: On the bus not to long ago with my daughter I was nursing and a little girl asked her mom what I was doing she said “feeding her baby” which is a great answer but both the mom and I could see the little girl was confused. After asking permission, I teached the little girl Ava what boobs are for, once she was comfy the questions came by the dozens and very quickly she asked to see, I again asked for permission from the mom and showed little 4 year old Ava how a baby should eat. The more kids that see it, the more normal and less taboo it will become.
My opinion. Thanks again for the opportunity to vent.
i like it
I am absolutely comfortable with a woman breastfeeding anywhere she needs. However, being in the restaurant business for 20 years, I have seen women go about it by completely revealing themselves. This is unnecessary. While this is the most natural and definitely the best food for newborns, a little discretion needs to be there when preparing to feed. I watched a woman one day simply put a blanket over her shoulder and then open her shirt and bra. Slick and unshowing. Woman need to dress to suit breastfeeding in public, I guess that is the bottom line. Otherwise, its fine with me.
I think it is ok as long as there aren’t small children around and they are covered. A poor mother may not be able to feed their child so they will feed them that way. Also, women should breast feed in a bathroom. Thats why some places have benches in the bathrooms.
I know, it’s a sad world we live in when a child can’t be fed by its mother without people becoming offended.
I’m pregnant myself with every intention of breastfeeding my child – woe betide anyone who tries to tell me I can’t, or that it is indecent. It’s only their mucky minds that makes it something other than a child being fed.
I love to see women NIP. If someone is ignorant and rude enough to make an ignorant or rude comment I’d be more than happy to educate them.
I think it makes nursing mom’s lives a lot harder when they feel they can’t/won’t NIP because then they have to pump or hide… And a lot of covers scream “HI, I’M NURSING HERE! I’M BEING DISCREET!!!” Lmao!
I have been lucky enough not to be harassed in public. I had some lovely experiences in CA, where I am from, since it’s quite common to see moms NIP, and I was actually congratulated for doing so.
It was awful that the only person to give me grief was a friend, yes a FRIEND! Grrr needless to say I no longer speak to her! She actually finds breastfeeding disgusting. I pity her child.
I refuse to use a blanket or cover, since my daughter hated them from day one. I also don’t find it necessary; breastfeeding is not dirty or shameful. If someone happens to catch a glimpse of nipple, they are looking too closely LOL! Plus I’ve never seen any nursing mom dancing on a table with her top off, yelling “come watch me breastfeed; I need attention!” Come on! We are just trying to nourish and comfort our children.
I find it quite pathetic that our culture refuses to acknowledge the primary reason we HAVE breasts! Go ahead and use big fake boobs to sell beer, but the moment a mother nurses….”YUCK! GO AWAY! COVER THAT UP, NO ONE NEEDS TO SEE IT!!!” *eye roll*
Uncomfortable. Period. I don’t want to look but its out there. I breast feed my baby but I do it in private. I live a sheltered nursing life. I dont think the whole world needs to see my baby sucking on my breasts in public. That’s why in some modern malls they have nursing rooms just for this purpose. That’s where I go. If I shop where not available, I go find some place private, less traveled and nurse there. Every one has a choice and preference. This is mine and I don’t hate the mothers right to public nursing. for myself I find it embarrassing. If a mother is covered up with a blanky and does not expose herself while nursing looks more respectful towards the public who have to walk by and see it. If I had to nurse in public, I’d nurse covered up. they know what your doing but can’t see anything either which is great.
woman that breastfeed in public face the same problem that nudists have to deal with. if some people find that a person that exposes any part of his/her body with no sexual intentions sexually provocative, is their problem.
i guess you can do nothing to stop a person nearby to find sexually appealing the act of breastfeeding if he/she decides it to find it so. people find sexually attractive other people even if they are not acting in a sexual way and have their “shameful areas” covered (like if the human body could be something to be ashamed of).
you have the right to expose any part of your body in public as long as your intentions are not sexual. if they find it sexually attractive, oh well. (rolling eyes)
There is nothing more natural than a woman breasfeeding her baby.
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