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NURSING IN PUBLIC INDEED!
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A suggested logo to be used as an international breastfeeding logo. (From Mothering Magazine's logo contest.)
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NURSING PICTURES...
CAN ACTUALLY HELP MEN, TOO.
Law is on mom's side
Burger King went against the law for asking a mother to leave or refrain from breastfeeding in Utah
Show your breastfeeding support with T-shirts, mugs, mousepads, etc.!
 Find more breastfeeding designs |
NURSING IN PUBLIC...
IS GOOD AND LEGAL!
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Other people's comments
The following comments are from various visitors to www.007b.com, and may or may not agree with the viewpoints presented on this website. The comments are posted here because they might further help and encourage men and women who visit this website; however 007 Breasts is not responsible for this content or any loss/damage caused by reading these.
For US Residents Only
I am not a mother but I am very familiar with issues involved with breastfeeding children and especially with breastfeeding children until a older age. I've been thinking about the issues of public breastfeeding a lot of late, I'm in College in Dublin, Ireland and I had a conversation with a few English and Irish friends the other night, they told me how uncomfortable they are with women who breastfeed in public and with breastfeeding for more then the first 6 months to 1 year. Now I know that these attitudes are not all that different from ones held my most Americans but as I grew up with the children of La Leche League members I have never had to deal with these opinions.
My mother was 35 years old when she had me, I was her first, I was breastfeed exclusively for the first year and in combination with other foods until I was 4, the only reason that I stopped at this point was that my mother became pregnant with my sister and I no longer liked the taste. My sister was breastfeed until she was 6 years old. most people feel that there is something very wrong with how long my mother chose to breastfeed us, both my sister and I have been told many times that it is weird/unhealthy/wrong, I have never been able to see what they are talking about. My sister and I are both very healthy, intelligent women that have every intention of following in our mothers foot steps and breastfeeding our children for as long as they want.
I don't know if it is contacted or not, but both my sister and I have always had a very good relationship with our mother, when I was a teenager and all my friends were fighting with their mothers I still got along very well with mine, I watched the same thing happen with my sister, we never really lost the closeness that we had as small children when we were breastfeeding.
Meade
I breastfed my daughter for 18 months. She is allergic to cow's milk, and milk protein I drank passed through to her in my milk, but once we figured it out, I eliminated it from my diet. I can't imgaine what would have happned if I'd tried to give her milk-based formula.
The hardest part of breastfeeding is definitely other people's reactions. My inlaws acted like they'd seen me completely nude if they ever caught me nursing and I always used a blanket to cover.
Beth
because breastfeeding in public is so taboo here in the USA, my husband and two of his friends have finished a screenplay about breastmilk and all of it's wonderful benefits. The script is stil in the development process and we're looking to get this comedy produced. The only way for "others" see the importance of such a film, we need LOTS of people to visit our page on MySpace. our address on MySpace is www.myspace.com/doesabodygoodthemovie. Thank you soo much and keep BREASTFEEDING!
Tumaini
I am pregnant now and am planning to breastfeed. I have never seen a women breast feeding ni public. I am VERY nervous about attempting this myself. I am worried for both modesty reasons and th reactions that might come with it. If I do become comfortable with the idea, I would definatly use a cover. I've been researching the general view towards public breasfeeding, trying to help my comfort level. It surely didn't help. Many people, especially those who do not have children, think that women should find somewhere private or use a bathroom. Most bathrooms do not have anywhere to sit and be comfotable... plus it is a bathroom. I rarely want to use public restrooms, let alone eat in one. Why should my child? As for room specifically for breast feeding... I have NEVER seen that! It is disappointing to see the negative reactions that I have and I hope that I'll be able to be comfortable enough to not have to go through hours of unneeded hassle to avoid public breast feeding.
I am stunned that there are such ignorant and sensitive people about who will take offense and feel distressed at the sight of other people. What we all need is to become militantly nude! And encourage global warming.
Coll
I am a male and usually like finding more about the things that make women be discriminated. I love women, particularly mothers who bring up their child from childhood to adult to be better persons. Well my recommendation is that women should not be embarrassed but stand for their rights in the society
Adrale Martin
Hi! I breastfed my daughter until she was 18 months old and started pushing me away. I am now breastfeeding my 11 month old son. I have always breastfed in public proudly. Once even while standing in line at Disney waiting for a ride. I love the fact that when my daughter plays with her dolls, she pulls up her shirt and 'nurses' them. When she's on playdates and friends offer her a bottle for her baby, I have to stifle a laugh when she says 'why would I give a baby a bottle?'. She simply has never seen it done. I love it!
Maria Thomson Longwood, FL
It's 50/50 we have laws that permit a woman to nurse in public. I am currently nursing my 18 month son- he doesn't nurse as much as he use to, but when he wants it- he wants it! I nurse in public beecause I believe it is important for women to see it. Sometimes people stare, frown, smile, whatever- It's best for my child! Besides people shove bottles in babies mouths in public-why can't I do my thing in public!
Jamita S.
I breastfed both my daughers, now 23 and 25. I breastfed in public on a regular basis and had no qualms about pulling my shirt up and exposing my breast to feed my child. I don't ever recall anyone commenting or giving me nasty looks, even in conservative Pensacola, Florida. It seems that the more exposed young women's bodies are, as with the current clothing trends expose more and more breast, the less acceptable breastfeeding has become. Men, and lots of women, see the breasts as sex items. To be reminded that breasts are actually for feeding the young, that seems to be way too confrontational! I know very few women who are having babies now, but I encourage any breastfeeding mother to continue to breastfeed as long as possible and anywhere your baby needs feeding. On demand, breastfed babies are so much healthier!
Catharine
The only breastfeeding woman I have encountered was when I was about 7, in a park. She showed her breast to a bunch of kids including myself. She was fully showing her breast to everyone that walked by, no attempt to cover herself.
I have always wanted to breast feed but feel completely showing your breast in the United States is just not going to fly. I would love if the culture here allowed for us to feed our children openly but that is not the way our country is. Of course I do not want to be banished to a public bathroom. I would love to breast feed in public but will take great care to cover my breast when that time comes. There are too many perverts in the USA that would stare, complain, etc. I couldn't take the embarrassment. KC
I am a 28 year old woman.....i remember my mother nursing me until I was a 6 year old little girl. I was straightly breastfed until i was 1 years old. I can remember it tasting sweet warm milk.
She felt strange with my bother and only nursed him until 3 months because he was a male. But with me it was easier... cause i was a female baby. We developed this bond. I urge all women to nurse their daughters longer because they grow to become mothers and if you nurse them longer they will nurse longer too. It's important for mothers with baby girls - to have a mother daughter bond for life.
I am now a mother of a 6 month old baby girl and she loves my milk... she is the most important gift in my life!
ms
My own father was very offended that I would breast feed in front of him without a blanket -- even though my own mother breast fed all of us kids!
And as for being discreet -- My girl needed to eat and so I began to nurse her in front of a friend of my husbands while we were all chatting together in the living room.
He didn't even notice me lift up my shirt slightly to nurse my daughter.
When we got up to see him out the door, my shirt falling down over my breast as my daughter unlatched, he said, "Oh, you don't need to get up if she's sleeping."
I said cheerfully,"It's okay. She wasn't sleeping. I was feeding her."
He was shocked and uncomforatble! The entire time he had not noticed what was really happening. He thought I was only holding my sleeping baby. :)
Elena
elenadahle.comP.S. I breastfed my daughter until she was about 2 1/2.
I think that too many people in the world especially in the United States are losing sight of importance. Too many years have passed over looked by shallow reason for the thing we do in life, and personally I believe if you do things out of goodness it will be taken that way. If its done out of crudeness it will be taken that way. For those whom believe breastfeeding is grose or out of line expressed publically, just know it makes it hard for mothers to doWhats in there heart. If this behavior continues it wont be long and breast feeding will be a thing of the past and thats SAD! So If You see a mother nursing her baby (anywhere) I feel it should be encouraged with great love!
Karen R. Rily
I think it is perfectly natural to breastfeeding anywhere, because after all that is what God made women's breasts for.
Mary
In Tahiti the ladies went without any tops, except at the grociery store. Then they put on a BRA. This was 20 years ago. I doubt it has changed.
Don
Kuddos on the site! My wife breastfed our two children for 2 years each. We both realy enjoyed and promote exclusive nursing. Thank you for standing up for and promoting breastfeeding! Keep up the good work on getting the word out on the benefits of breastfeeding! Thank you also for letting women out there know that the breasts God gave them look, feel and "hang" that way for a reason. Do not be ashamed of your breasts, a real man will love you for you, not your breasts.
AJ
Once I found myself staring at a woman breastfeeding her toddler in public. She was getting embarrassed when I noticed my own staring. I then smiled at her, as if apologizing. I wish she knew I was staring with envy of such a beautiful moment I witnessed because my daughter had gave up breastfeeding before I wanted to. So, sometimes people stare because it's so beautiful! Kya
I myself am not a mother, but I have found America to be rather picky about the whole breastfeeding thing. There are a lot of people that say it is natural and all, but do it in the bathroom or at home. Too many people here think breasts are sexual, and that's it. Women who breastfeed in public usually cover themselves up with a blanket. In my state, there is a law that you cannot ask a breastfeeding woman to leave becuase she is nourishing her child, but the law also says a woman has to be discreet. I've been asking around a lot about people's opinions on breastfeeding (I'm doing a paper on it) and a suprising number of people have told me it's gross, and they don't want to see it.
It may be possible that people are telling me rather bluntly their feelings on the subject, as I am not a breastfeeding mother.
Emily
I think that breastfeeding should be recognoised as a part of life and that it should be done wherever the mother feels comfortable feeding
Sam
I breastfeed my son who I now 10 months old. It is hard to feed him now at his age because so many people look at it like I am crazy. In the beginning people accept it easier and know that you are just trying to keep your child healthy but when they are older people think you are somehow being overly sexual with your child. Some once committed to me that it was like I was raping my child. I think people are just plain dumb. To think about obesity when we give our children canned milk. Aren't we giving his processed food already; where are the vitamins in a can.
Minnie
I think that a man's need to make women refrain from public breastfeeding comes from the same place as a man's need to have women cover their faces, as is forced in some cultures. It's enforcement of "modesty" due to their fear of having to face or repress a sexual feeling, or at least it's hyper-prudishness, enforced on others for the sake of trying to "appear" hyper-moral.
Ken
Myself I feel that as a human nature woman should be allowed to breast feed in any way they want, if it's in their own home or out in public, or any thing at all. It's all a human nature and there is nothing wrong with it. It's not a crime to breast feed, if it's out in public or in your own home. People need to understand that breast feeding is just a pure natural thing, There is nothing wrong with breast feeding no matter where you're at.
best regards & support on breast feeding from: Sheldon
Hi, I really wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading this article. I am doing a report for college and I am so for breastfeeding, I for one breastfed my son until he was 9 months old. I firmly believe in nursing your child and that is the reason why God gave women breasts, despite some of the pig headed views men have. Women keep nursing your child it is absolutely the best thing for your baby.
Autumn Krontz
I really appreciated reading everything. I have three young children. Each has been fed breastmilk exclusively and bottlefed breastmilk on occasion. I still get frustrated with the opinions expressed by so many uninformed people that it is inappropriate to feed my child in from of another person in the U.S. I feel so wierd trying to hide what I'm doing when I am in front of others. I am doing a good thing for my finances and most importantly for the health of my child and myself. Many look at it as disgusting or they just expect unnatural eating habits for my child like going into a bathroom or hiding under a blanket. How can anyone think it would be best for me to buy formula which is very different than breastmilk not to mention expensive with all the items that go along with formula feeding especially when traveling? Not many people seem to know the facts about breastmilk and its benefits, sadly. The way the breastmilk begins watery and sweet and then is fattier and less sweet is surprising information even to some women who breastfeed. Many medical professionals are still uninformed and consequently the mothers equipped to provide adequate nourishment to their own babies. I really would like to see the information everywhere and breastfeeding to be the norm in the U.S.
Crista Davila
I am stunned that there are such ignorant and sensitive people about who will take offense and feel distressed at the sight of other people. What we all need is to become militantly nude! And encourage global warming.
Coll
Absolutely fabulous and helpful article with good links. I have breastfed all my 6 children also in public when needed. Today I would be a lot bolder than I was 12+ years ago. Breast is simply best! Margret Peg
My son is 7 1/2 months old, and we're still breastfeeding. The first time i found it necessary to nurse in public it was in a nearly-empty chinese resteraunt, and it went without a hitch. It did make my husband very uncomfortable, though, and it made me sad to see that he could not seperate the fun, sexual side of my breasts from the function of them. The next time we were out and ds needed to eat, it was at a christmas party for my work, and my husband did ask me to go into another room.
My sister, on the other hand, did not even make it a week. She said it made her uncomfortable, but I believe it was a real lack of education. Even right in the hospital the nurses made her give her daughter 'supplemental' formula. Now my niece has lots of digestive problems including very bad reflux and spitting up so much that she gags on it. I try to tell my sister that she can re-lactate but she doesn't much care. It seems to me that she has bought into the mindset that her daughter is an accessory and that nothing else about her life needs to change.
And that mindset is what really upsets me about my country. There is a ton of information available, there is a huge push for the breast, but at the same time we allow people to believe that having a child will not change our lives, that it is unneccessary to change anything once a child comes along.
Natasha
I have four sons and I breast-fed all four of them. I did use a blanket to cover while I was nursing, but did find it almost always drew more attention to the fact that I was nursing. I noticed mostly women were making comments, sighing and acting disgusted by my breastfeeding. One husband actually said to his wife, "Relax, it's a baby." They even had young children with them. I did think though, what if I was nursing a 9 month old? I have the right to do that in public also. I don't condemn a mother for bottle-feeding, so why should we be made to feel "alienated" because we choose to breast-feed our babies? I always told people, "I figured my body made this milk for a reason and it is the best nutritionally for my babies, so I choose to breast-feed."
Nichole Ireland
This is completely INSANE! Fellow mothers of mine, we need to stand up and make something clear. These are our breasts, our babys, and its our personal choice. I was out at a restaurant one evening breastfeeding my 2 year old when a teenage girl came over to me and asked if I could stop because it was disturbing her. I promptly looked at her and said, "Young lady, this is what being a mother is about, and if you can't handle don't ever have kids."
Rebecca
Its a natural function..How much closer can a mother be with child?Why does everything have to turn to sex or being nude.. We were made without clothes, clothing is mans work,not GODS..We need to be updated like the europeans in regards to nudity,sex etc.WE(USA)are far behind in that category.
Joe
I care on the subject and every male should picture themselves in a position... what if you were a woman (if God chose that) with a two-week child unable to eat solids or drink liquids, but those things your body carried (and naturally placed there as a female mammal) are full and the baby surely is hungry...and the public looks at you like "she's exposing herself"?
I visited many countries for the thrill of travel, but here's my own comment on this issue: Breastfeeding seems to be widely acceptable in EVERY SINGLE NATION IN THE WORLD, except breastfeeding remains a controversial subject in the world's sole superpower: the United States, for some oddball reason. We may not firmly patronize motherhood until in recent decades, but Americans are still learning from the world on one important life source. Americans, like every human being and country, admire their mothers, but to what point?
I visited Canada, Mexico, France, Belgium, the UK, Japan/South Korea in east Asia, Chile/ Argentina in South America... and the variety of opinions on breastfeeding in public from state to state in this country. To my limited knowledge except for my nephew when he was born, breastfeeding esp. in public isn't considered a positive thing, but something shameful for a long time in the USA...except in American Indian tribes done this for antiquity and I'm of Cherokee/French background (my Dad came from France, my Mom is 1/4 American Indian).
In California, it's the urban areas (upper-income professional women, don't forget its' now illegal to ask a woman not to breast-feed in public, and someone told me it's considered "hate speech" on account of her sex/gender according to state law), and multi-ethnic neighborhoods (Cal. does have many Asians, Latinos and Middle-Easterners than most states) that tolerate and strongly practice breast-feeding, but done in secluded spots like benches and behind crowded areas to avoid being bothered in this hyper-sexualized society.
I'm NOT against a woman with her infant who must breast feed for the baby's health sake, and never need to bug her about it. If she feels a need to put a blanket on her front, that's fine... but I can tell you most Americans aren't programmed in a way to act politely and respectfully whenever a woman is breastfeeding her newborn/a month old at a mall, a restaurant, at work, on the bus, with family, or a friend's home (it remains definitely hidden from everyone in most of the US). The land of the free isn't for women and children???
Why you find breast exposure doesn't shock people in Africa, South Asia and Latin America has lots to do with cultural values and religious beliefs, but it may indicate the countries' dietary and health conditions, where baby formula is unavailable or not of good quality. No small wonder for newborn moms and societies in general to advocate and must perform breastfeeding to ensure their young are fed, in places where baby formula isn't around. And I've learned that men in these countries are brought up not to sexualize or shun them, but Americans as much like Europeans and other westerners aren't gender-stratified countries.
I don't judge mothers who choose to use formula, but it's not the best method for the baby to obtain the nutrients he/she needs to grow, unless proscribed by the doctor (the infant may have an allergy to breast milk, although most babies aren't... some health conditions exist for infants unable to digest or handle milk, but I'm not a medical expert on these issues). Just what I know on my nephew now at age 7 when he was a baby... and he struggles with many health ailments from his mother's lack of breastfeeding, not by ignorance... but her physical problems from a troubled pregnancy.
I agree on the attitude of Europeans (esp. the western and northern countries I went to) are comfortable on breastfeeding in public, and the lack of this stigma on women's breasts you find in the US... is surprising for someone to come from a sexually prudent culture (in fact breastfeeding has no sexual connotation to it). Breasts are more artistically expressed in Europe not simply for sexual desire, but to celebrate the wonderful nature of being feminine in non-sexist terms... so had all religions, according to anthropologists studied the significance of breastfeeding in pre-modern cultures, the Greeks or Romans said "mother earth fed the young human race".
Same applies for Canada, Russia, Australia and Japan (all included in the "developed world" category) have national health care groups that actually advocate breastfeeding instead of formulas, unless NECESSARY UNDER A PHYSICIAN'S ADVICE (food allergies, lactose intolerance or weaning after the baby turns a year old). The communists of the USSR and Eastern Europe never frowned on women breastfeeding anywhere they want, then nobody was actually "free" or equal" under a communist dictatorship, a big irony when you'll find the majority of Soviet women were in the workforce and conscripted to the Red Army as well.
I'm glad to know Islamic countries in the Middle East, despite their sexual moral standards are higher than in the western world (Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc. under the Sharia or the common sight of women in veils or burkas, and abide by strict socio-moral conduct codes in dealing with the opposite sex), actually encourage moms to breastfeed, even if done in private (esp. the countryside, rural areas and more conservative villages), and culturally valued the same way like in most countries, regardless of the countries' predominant religion or culture (Europe? Canada? Australia? They have more in common..sort of...to the USA).
Japan and east Asian societies remain more tolerant of public breastfeeding, but their economic and social life is changing into more like that of the west... I'm afraid the Japanese, south Koreans, Indians and Chinese: their health systems and moral standards may become "Americanized", like why the upper-classes in urban centers are less likely to breast feed in public or pushed to have formulas as many working moms resorted to this. It's typical to see Filipina women in their homeland and in the US to breast feed in public (they were formerly a part of the US 1898 to independence in 1946, but we never introduced too much of that bad breast fetish stigma?). As well the Vietnamese, Malaysian and Indonesian public health ads to remind their women: "forget the formula, our beautiful mothers can feed thru their bodies".
It seems from not just personal opinion, but my own experiences of visiting Socialist countries or those with progressive governments are more relaxed on the breastfeeding approach. I've seen this attitude in the UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Holland, and not surprisingly, in many eastern and southern European lands (Italy, Spain, Greece, Hungary and Serbia) that are actually "liberal" on issues concerning sexuality, partial nudity, and the maternal need to breast-feed wherever or whenever the baby require regular feeding. And of course, communists had a high degree of sexual morality like 1950's North America.
I took notice when I was in Chile and what I heard on Venezuela, most of Latin America had a national health crusade to tear down new media-implanted ones and old taboos based on this "machismo" dominance, and where health issues are seriously dare... the governments went on by saying (on TV, radio ads, newsprint and billboards) "go ahead... breastfeed anywhere and anytime... for the health of our nation... do this for the next generation". In southern Cal. where large Hispanic populations are present, I'm so used to see immigrant and Mexican-American women are confident, as moms in breastfeeding their infants.
Be in mind, Chile has a woman president (Michelle Bachelet) herself a physician, also spoke on her experience as a mother; and Venezuela under president Hugo Chavez, is a strong supporter for health care programs and techniques such as breastfeeding and wants more socialized health care for the country's large poor class. There's no need to explain the high incidence of public breastfeeding in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean as much in South America, where political leaders (Argentina leader Juan Peron and his wife Evita had advocated it too) agree with any medical professional, church clergy, celebrities, and millions of Latina mothers...there's no shame in it (even on Latin American TV dramas/comedies).
I'm not advocating American culture is bad nor are our political or religious values, but we're (the US and most North Americans) taught to be very strict in particular to breasts and other "sex organs" or "private parts" not displayed EVER in public (or always get covered up when not in public situations). To let a woman breastfeed her newborn isn't a sin, not a crime in most states and to most state legislators don't even constitute as a misdemeanor. If there's an anti-hate crime in Cal. to protect women (as new mothers) from gender harassment based on breastfeeding, it reminds us of women are specific targets in the freest country on earth!
This morbid fear of exposure by American newborn moms living in the "red states" (more conservative oriented), that I never seen in Cal. or the so-called "blue states" (mainly liberal/secular) where newborn moms are actually excused for bearing their breasts in public, because it's so obvious: the babies need to be fed. I rather not get into the political divide here, but why it's common to run into a breastfeeding mother in Los Angeles, New York, Miami or Seattle may not have to do with state law, but tolerant regional customs when one comes across new ideas and cultural differences, sometimes are picked up and adapted.
To observe and learn about other cultures' response to breastfeeding is affectionate, heartwarming and positive... unlike in most of the US, in part due to our country's puritanical origins like 300-400 years ago (most of those beliefs either vanished or lessened, but this problem on breastfeeding in most US states tells me we didn't change much)... and indeed, the majority of evangelical Protestant sects... unlike most of Christianity (Catholicism and Orthodoxy) has once even told newborn moms not blindly follow on their breasts to nourish their newborn young, when the other Protestants and liberal religious sects disagreed.
And yes, the un P-C media displayed women's breasts in ways to provoke feminists and moralists to react together, despite the opposite ends in the US' "culture wars" to oppose the media's overdoing the somehow degrading sexualization of women's breasts in America is negative and can lead to consequences, in terms of infant health. I'm a 26-year old male who may find women's bodies arousing or attractive, but I realize a woman after she gives birth is changed and the reason is... those boobs do come in handy... for babies' sake. That's been picked up by more liberal elites and upper-income classes in America... but when will the poor, working and middle-classes in the US change their minds on public breastfeeding?
No wonder most of the human race in five continents, the developed world and the third world, the Islamic world and the Western world, in the Far East (the orient) and south of the US border, in sub-saharan Africa and in ex-Soviet Europe, they have one thing in common unlike what most North Americans have believed in: there's no real deal on a mother breastfeeding her baby, in public or in private, and they realized for ages... it's a very healthy thing to do. +
I respectfully disagree with the idea that it is better to attempt discreetness while breastfeeding publicly by using a blanket for cover when possible. This only perpetuates the idea that breastfeeding is somehow shameful, thereby further discouraging women who are already uncomfortable from breastfeeding at all. I never felt any shame and therefore took pride in my right to openly breastfeed my children anywhere we were. This doesn't mean I flaunted it, but I always felt that the more common it became to see babies and toddlers nursing, the less anxiety other women would feel while breastfeeding in public, and the less the public would react as though there was something to react to.
sharla
A lot of my friends have breastfed their babies, but mostly short-term. I think we've come a long way in the last 20 years or so as far as promoting breastfeeding in our culture, but we still have a log way to go. I think the lack of good support is one of the reasons that so many women in the U.S. don't attempt breastfeeding, or only continue it for a short time. The other major factor is that breasts and women's bodies in general are so sexualized and objectified in our culture - and even in our so-called advanced country, a lot of people seem to have a lot of trouble separating the sexual aspect of women's breasts from the functional aspect. Even though there are laws in place protecting women's rights to breastfeed in public, it seems like every month or so there is a new story in the headlines about some woman who was harassed for nursing her baby in public. It's sad. We as a people are theoretically supportive of breastfeeding, but in practice, it makes people uncomfortable. As for me, I guess I'm not very mainstream. I have nursed all of my children for at least 18 months (including a set of twins) and not one of them has ever had a drop of formula, and I am very comfortable nursing them wherever we may be - the mall, restaurants, church, the park - I've done it all.
Lisa
I nursed my daughter for 6 months, I never had a problem with anyone.
When my son was born my husband was not comfortable with him being breastfed, I said if he was a girl you wouldn't have a problem.
So, I stopped at 3 weeks for my son. When my daughter was being breastfed he (my husband would kiss her head and say she looks so sweet) But our son, there seems to be competion.
Anyhow I even had a couple of friends that told me the same kinda thing if it were a female baby its okay, but if its a male child ummm not so much in the liking.
Gina
I think all women that are blessed to be a mother should be encouraged to breast feed their child. It is extremely healthy and balanced diet for a nursing child.
Ronald
First of all, love the website. Secondly,I am disgusted at how public breastfeeding is such an issue in America.Has anyone seen the covers of Maxim and FHM? Those covers could be considered "soft" porn by some standards,but, let the right starlet be on the front and you have everyone and their brother talking about their "sexy" and "provocative" photos.Those mags are displayed in public and you don't hear much about that, but, let a woman breastfeed in public and it will literally turn into a national debate! The hypocracy is appaling.It is NATURAL, NATURAL, NATURAL!!! Why would the most nutritious liquid be coming out of our breasts if it were not intended to be given to the baby? Yes, for most people who have never seen a woman breastfeeding, it is an "oddity", but, that is the time to educate that person/s about the wondrous benefits of breastfeeding.I only bf my daughter for 4 mos but, now I am a (little) older, wiser, and will prayerfully be getting pg with my second in the next few months.I will not allow societies warped, perverted views of my breasts discourage me from doing something that we were meant to do in the first place. And please, don't try to ask/insist/threaten or intimidate me to retire to a dingy,foul smelling, germ ridden restroom whose sole purpose if for people to expel toxins from their body and expect me to be okie dokie with that. As I have heard before, "The most dangerous place in the world to be is between a mother and her child."
Crystal
Great website! I applaud your efforts to encourage women to nurse their babies. It is the best thing we can do to encourage their health in those early months. It's a shame that so many women feel pressured to stop breastfeeding earlier than they would otherwise choose do to social pressures. Please visit http://webpages.charter.net/peekaboob/. Maybe if the breastfeeding mother is more comfortable she will also be more confident, therefore doing something natural and healthy for her child and other women will see her nursing in public and be encouraged.
Keep it up! Amie Lerch
My wife and her Momma's group stumbled upon a great product that really freed them from being worried about breastfeeding in public. She wrote up her review of the Hooter Hider on her blog at http://babytoolkit.blogspot.com/2006/08/breastfeeding-with-limited-exposure.html
Jim
A suggestion: Put a beautiful picture of breastfeeding mom in convenient spots of public places, where moms can feed their child, with a caption. "Give the baby some milk". (Let the picture be a showy one so that those who are obsessed to look at exposed breasts may glance at the picture a 100 times!!)
maryn
Thank you for this link, u right, what the fuss is all about? many statues are nude, no one complains about them, am latina, 54, breatfeed 2 sons and my best friend 2 sons, never had any problems.
Barbie
when I was traveling from california to oregon with my 10 day old son he began to cry in the restaraunt. My father asked what was wrong with the baby and a shyly said "I think he is hungry". My dad looked at me and said, "Well, feed him". It was never a question from then on. My husband and brother also observed this interaction and encouraged and supported breastfeeding. Men can provide women in no so favorable situations for breastfeeding with encouragement and support and it does not have to involve a lot of words. The US is mixed up and breastfeeding initiation is increasing but termination of breastfeeding occurs often before the baby is 6 weeks so the mother can return to work. The US is slowly killing themselves.
wendy
Hello, I think breast feeding is wonderful for children. I breast fed both my children, my little boy until he was 16 months and my little girl until she was a year. They both loved it, are very healthy children, and I never had any issues breast feeding anywhere. I just did it and did not worry about what other people thought. It was a wonderful experience and I would definetely do it again. I do not think we should have to hide in a bathroom or anything like that. I mean really, does anyone else eat there breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the bathroom. I don't think so!!! Anyway, more power to the women breast feeding and keep up the good work. Have a wonderful day, Julie
I grew up in Ghana, West Africa and saw women breastfeeding all the time - my teachers in school, women at church, traders at the market, neighbours - and they did so without cover and without shame. Ghana is a very conservative country, low-cut tops are frowned upon, but breastfeeding is okay, its actually encouraged. America needs to get over itself and its double standards. People can dress scandalously with confidence but women can't feed their babies in peace. This whole being 'polite' and 'discreet' is utter rubbish - its not like they walk around the mall with their boobs dripping. Please people, if it bothers you, look the other way! Formula is over-rated, and a waste of resources (packaging, processing, etc). Breastfeed!
African girl
I feel like people need to reaspect nurseing moms... Everyone has been a baby and didnt u need to eat?? Its not about sex anymore when it comes to nursing a baby! People need to stop being freaks and respect nature!
kim
Whipping out the boob in public.... at first I was very aware of my exposed breasts and even would cover up when in a nursing support group surrounded by other nursing Moms. Silly huh? As time went on I became more confident as a Mother, my son's nursing skills improved, and before I knew it I was nursing anywhere I needed to and would carry a small cloth for my modesty when the baby was latching on and off and for those moments when the curious little guy would rubber neck every 60 seconds to see what was going on. I believe in Mothers nursing their children wherever, whenever, but I also believe we need to respect others and be discreet. If you flash a little nipple don't sweat it...but don't shove it in people's faces either just to make a statement. That is NOT what feeding our children is all about.
K.P.
wow, this has been really informative. My wife is 35 and has 34a breasts, she is now pregnant and thanks to the site, I know a lot more about breats!!
kbernard
i think that breast feeding in publick is normal and is supose to be natural
jone
Hey that cartoon thingy was so imature. i mean how people react to a women breast feeding in public. womens breast are normal and thats how you NORMALLY feed babies. I think that MAYBE, women SHOULD go to in a private place and nurse because your a women and sould have womenly manners. but hey, that just my thought
Tux Johnson
I think breast feeding your child in public is should be a natural thing. I did it with all three of my children. I did not feel the need to cover my breast and my child while feeding. Sometimes I got looks,sometimes I didn't. I feel society has made breasts sexual. Woman were givin breasts for a reason, to feed our children.
lori
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