| Author | Message | ||
     sunnydays Citizen Username: Sunnydays Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2006  |
Since this seems to be the hot topic lately - I want to get your opinions. What do you think about a woman breastfeeding in public? Do you think it is her right or do you think it should be done behind closed doors? | ||
| FlyingSpaghettiMonst Citizen Username: Noodlyappendage Post Number: 207 Registered: 11-2005  |
Done discreetly in public , it's no big deal. | ||
| Mayor McCheese Supporter Username: Mayor_mccheese  Post Number: 1819 Registered: 7-2004  |
I have no problem with breasts in public. However, I do not like when the baby obstructs my view. Seriously, I don't really care either way very much. Then again, our ability to know that some things should be done indoors is one thing that separates us from animals. But then again, people eat in public all the time, and this is just what babies happen to eat. So really, I have said nothing, and expressed no opinion, but I wrote a good bit down here. | ||
| Chris Prenovost Citizen Username: Chris_prenovost Post Number: 1008 Registered: 7-2003 |
It is a woman's right to breastfeed wherever and whenever she damn well pleases. Women have breasts. These breasts exist to feed babies. It's been that way for millions of years. Get over it. | ||
| Earlster Supporter Username: Earlster Post Number: 1580 Registered: 8-2003  |
What Chris said. Don't want to see it, stop starring. | ||
| Soparents Supporter Username: Soparents Post Number: 2172 Registered: 5-2005  |
A breastfed baby should be granted the same rights as a bottle fed one.... A woman should be able to feed her child whenever and wherever she and the child want. The vast majority are discreet, and the woman should NEVER be made to feel awkward or unwelcome... | ||
| Hank Zona Supporter Username: Hankzona Post Number: 5927 Registered: 3-2002  |
many Americans need to lighten up. and by the way, is this really a "hot topic lately" again? | ||
| K_soze Citizen Username: K_soze Post Number: 542 Registered: 11-2005  |
I have no problem with breasts in public. However, I do not like when the baby obstructs my view  | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 2053 Registered: 10-2002  |
Women should be able to breastfeed wherever...however, as other posters have mentioned, it should be done discreetly - by that I mean I don't want to see another woman's nipple while I'm eating my breakfast at the local diner. I don't want to see it on women who aren't breastfeeding and I don't want to see it on women who are breastfeeding. But, I don't find it offensive at all that women breastfeed in public - I've seen more breast exposure on the beach with skimpy bathing suits than I have with breastfeeding women. Honestly, I don't think I've seen anyone do it inappropriately. It's no big deal. | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2610 Registered: 8-2003  |
"So really, I have said nothing, and expressed no opinion, but I wrote a good bit down here." Well said, Mayor  | ||
| buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 5316 Registered: 5-2001  |
It is funny to me that people get so nuts over breast feeding, but have no problem with dogs taking a dump in a bag that the dog owner has waiting to catch the stuff before it even hits the ground. I see that way more than breast feeding. | ||
| Tuxedo Citizen Username: Tuxedo Post Number: 71 Registered: 7-2004 |
In fact, the department of Health and Human Services issued a proclamation recently that mothers who do not brestfeed their babies for at least 6 months, are doing a huge disservice to their children. It was tantamount to "i forget the word they used." In essence, it's like starting them on cigarettes. If someone gets embarrassed by a someone's mammory glands, good grief. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 8403 Registered: 5-2001  |
Does that mean that a woman shouldn't have a cigarette while her baby is nursing? | ||
| Smarty Jones Citizen Username: Birdstone Post Number: 995 Registered: 10-2005 |
If this is such a hot topic, why on earth has nobody disagreed in what is otherwise a very argumentetive board? Must be a futile attempt to create a debate where none exists....what say you Sunnydays? 5 left | ||
| mjh Supporter Username: Mjh Post Number: 692 Registered: 5-2001 |
Our resident trolls are absent this morning. Where's cerebrus max (not)? | ||
| Parkbench87 Citizen Username: Parkbench87 Post Number: 4749 Registered: 7-2001  |
Sunnydays original post was actually submitted 25 years ago but due to server issues it took until this morning to post. | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 1697 Registered: 3-2002 |
Babies need to eat, so breastfeed discretely whereever needed. As I think back to my daughter's infancy I remember breastfeeding (under a blanket) at mall food courts, upscale restaurants, college basketball games, Giant's Stadium, airplanes, family reunions, beaches, pools, an office retreat, a professional conference dinner, cruise ship lounges, park benches, and once in a great while, at a place actually designed to give nursing mothers some privacy (e.g. the nursing rooms at Babies R Us and at the Short Hills Mall). The alternative is to hide at home for many months, given the absence of good nursing spots in most public places. Now I'm having twins, so I'm moving to the next stage of figuring out how to do this discretely, I fear! | ||
| sunnydays Citizen Username: Sunnydays Post Number: 3 Registered: 7-2006 |
This topic was debated this week on 20/20 and Good Morning America. There were many people they interviewed who took the view that it should be done in private. Maybe they were just trying to create more of an issue than it is, but, I know there are people out there who are of that opinion. I do see breasfeeding moms getting "looks" from by-standers. I happen to agree with all of the posters here (except K_soze). When I was nursing my baby as a new mom, I did feel like I needed to find a quiet place to nurse, but that was mainly from my own insecurity as a new mom, more than the public view. Although my in-laws always exited the room if I started breastfeeding my baby. (They bottle fed their babies and weren''t very comfortable with it). I | ||
| notehead Supporter Username: Notehead Post Number: 3592 Registered: 5-2001  |
Chris P said: Women have breasts. These breasts exist to feed babies. And he's partly right, but I think Mayor McCheese alludes to the real reason breasts are often so (delightfully) prominent. The milk-producing equipment doesn't really kick into gear until pregnancy. The rest of the time, those breasts exist to attract a mate. So, while a nursing woman is not deliberately being sexual, there is a sexual element for any potential mate observing her. Having said that, I have no problem whatsoever with a woman discreetly nursing her child in public. And everybody should read some of the books about human behavior by Desmond Morris. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 8415 Registered: 5-2001 |
The more I think about it, technically, the term has nothing to do with babies. If you are going to feed a breast, it really should be done in private. | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 1137 Registered: 2-2006  |
I will refer all to the thread "Name that boob" ... look at the pictures...concentrate.... focus.... Now tell me which two pics should not have a baby attached.... | ||
| IShep Citizen Username: Twinsmom Post Number: 180 Registered: 1-2003 |
susan1014, as a woman who nursed twins for 16 months, there isn't a way to discreetly nurse twins, in tandem, in public. however, it's not hard to do so one at a time! i never needed a blanket. my shirt and the babies head covered pretty much everything that needed to be covered! | ||
| Mr. Big Poppa Citizen Username: Big_poppa Post Number: 784 Registered: 7-2004  |
I think women have the right to breastfeed in public. However, they should have the decency to offer milk to others in the immediate area. Not sharing is rude! | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 1464 Registered: 7-2005  |
notehead, breasts have nothing to do with attracting a mate. Way to buy into what society has fed us. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 8422 Registered: 5-2001 |
Speak for yourself, Glock. | ||
| Carla Citizen Username: Elbowroom Post Number: 102 Registered: 9-2005  |
Breastfeeding in public is fine. There just needs to be an age limit on the child. I was having breakfast in a diner when a little boy about the age of three walked up to his mom and began sucking the breast of his mom who was sitting down at the table next to us. The sight kinda ruined my eggs benedict. If they are big and walking don't do it in public. | ||
| Wendy Supporter Username: Wendy Post Number: 2784 Registered: 5-2001 |
Carla, I sort of agree but only because the sight or sound of anyone acting way below their age level is a turn-off and an appetite suppressant (were I only suppressed more though). This applies to 3 year olds breast-feeding in public and 33 year olds acting like 3 year olds. Since I am unlikely to be able to do anything about either situation, I say to each his/her own. | ||
| Lydia Supporter Username: Lydial Post Number: 2073 Registered: 5-2001 |
Breastfeeding (at least once you and the baby get the hang of it) is always discreet. Some poster was distressed at seeing a nipple while she ate breakfast - if you see a nipple than it's not (yet) breastfeeding. I nursed both my children until they were toddlers and it worked well for both of us. You unbutton one or two buttons or pull down your jersey, you drape a scarf over the baby/toddler, and you feed them. Nursing is free, it nourishes your baby and reassures the baby that all is right in the world - if some people don't like seeing a baby suckling from their mother's breast - that is really their problem. As Chris P. said - deal with it. | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 2065 Registered: 10-2002 |
Oh gosh! I never actually saw nipple at the diner - I was just using that as an example of what I would consider "non-discreet" breastfeeding. And...that I had never witnessed something like that before. | ||
| LilLB Citizen Username: Lillb Post Number: 2066 Registered: 10-2002 |
Carla's comment reminds me of that Desperate Housewives episode where they encourage a new hire to breastfeed at work and it would be easy for her because she could put her child in daycare there....the kid ended up being about 6 years old and the whole office was mortified... | ||
| Peter G. Magic Citizen Username: Pmagic Post Number: 171 Registered: 10-2005 |
I agree, Wendy. I don't mind women breastfeeding unless the child is three or four years old. Then I find myself hoping the child will bite real hard and teach mom a lesson that it is time for weaning. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 8432 Registered: 5-2001 |
One of my nieces was so old that she would ask for the breast in complete sentences. In public places. My s-i-l reluctantly weaned her when she couldn't figure out how to send the kid to sleep-away camp with her boob. | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 1143 Registered: 2-2006 |
Simple rule..when the kid can say "Mom I am hungry" it's time to put him/her on steak not your nipple. I actually saw a kid insisting on getting some in the waiting room of a doctors office. When the mom tried to tell him later he unbuttoned the moms blouse. She was ambarrassed but she let him do it anyway. That is a little much to see and I breastfed my children too. Glock: Who are you kidding!! | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 2620 Registered: 8-2003 |
I was at an Underground concert at the Maplewood library, enjoying the music in the dark when I saw a little girl on her mommy's lap. I overheard her say "No mommy, the other one" that was a bit much for me to take | ||
| K_soze Citizen Username: K_soze Post Number: 547 Registered: 11-2005 |
Glock, what the hell are you talking about?? If I had breasts I wouldn't leave the house  You do know what they are right? Let me paint a picture for ya......boobs to guys are like light bulbs to moths. That damn poor moth will fly to his death just to bump into your porch light. And watch out for those trick bulbs, they look nice but if you get too close.....zzzzzzzzaapp!! | ||
| combustion Citizen Username: Spontaneous Post Number: 258 Registered: 4-2006  |
Owning a (real) set myself, I can attest that Glock doesn't know what he's talking about. I've had guys try to come onto me who don't even speak english. And by the way, my eyes are up here!!!! | ||
| Chris Prenovost Citizen Username: Chris_prenovost Post Number: 1016 Registered: 7-2003 |
Why, combustion, of course I know what color your eyes are. . . .  Si! | ||
| jeffl Supporter Username: Jeffl Post Number: 1783 Registered: 8-2001  |
Who was at the Maplewood Pool a bunch of years ago when the manager got on the intercom and said, "If you need to breastfeed your baby you must do so in the bathroom!" This followed a woman breastfeeding her baby in the wading pool area. The manager barely escaped with his life. I think it led to a NY Times article too. Anyone else remember this? It was so Maplewood. | ||
| Crazy_quilter Citizen Username: Crazy_quilter Post Number: 371 Registered: 2-2005 |
Probably more people are getting used to seeing infants nursed in public and are getting a little more comfortable with that. In my opinion we need to see more toddlers nursed in public so people can get used to that as well! Around the world the average weaning age is a few YEARS older then it is here. There is still a lot of anti-biotics, nutrition, comfort, etc. for a toddler to gain from nursing. | ||
| Chris Prenovost Citizen Username: Chris_prenovost Post Number: 1020 Registered: 7-2003 |
Yes, I do. Apparently some doofus complained that some woman was nursing her child. The manager did say that over the PA system. |
