Comments on: Breastfeeding in Public

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:54:07 +0000

Shyllywlly, that’s awesome that you are continuing to nurse! My 20 month old is also nursing with no plans of weaning any time soon. I also agree with you that as mothers it is our primary responsibility to respond to our children’s needs. I wish I could reach the point, for myself and my family, where I no longer cared what society says. But, sometimes when I am nursing in front of others (family even), I feel incredibly uncomfortable and removing myself allows me to relax and nurse my daughter with greater ease.

Thank you for the encouragement and pro-breastfeeding comment. Breastfeeding is normal and hopefully our daughters will live in a world where everyone accepts it as natural and beautiful too.

By: shllywlly

shllywlly — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:48:44 +0000

I know this post is old, but I just came across it and I felt compelled to comment. I am still nursing my 20 month old daughter. I absolutely love nursing her. (although i could use a little more sleep at night, but that’s a different post.) I have nursed her everywhere. Some places I will never nurse her: in any restroom or under any cover of any kind. It is my God given and natural right to nurse her whenever and wherever I am. I will not cave to societies “discomfort.” It is not my responsibility to worry about another persons comfort level with regards to breastfeeding. It is my responsibility to respond to the needs of my child. If someone is uncomfortable with my breastfeeding then they can avert their eyes.

By covering yourself you are implying that there is something wrong or shameful about breastfeeding. That is not the case. Breastfeeding is a perfectly natural and normal thing. As long as us mothers continue to worry about other’s comfort levels and cover ourselves or try to be “discreet” then we are only promoting the status quo. We should proudly show the world how normal breastfeeding is and educate those who have a problem with it.

By: Green Mamma

Green Mamma — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:18:07 +0000

When I am around other moms, especially breastfeeding moms, I find that acting natural and nursing my daughter comes, well, naturally.

On the other hand, there are times when Annabelle wants to nurse in front of folks (including other moms and adults of my parents and grandparents generation) who seem put off or even disgusted. Those are the times when acting natural doesn’t happen as easily for me.

Depending on my mood, I choose to either a) breastfeed and consider it the onlooker’s problem if he or she does not like to see a nursing mother and child, or b) I search for a more discreet location to nurse when available.

I totally agree that nursing in public is important because it is encouraged by health professionals and government programs and because we need to build a culture that supports breastfeeding mothers.

Amen, Hope. Breastfeeding IS normal!

By: hopealso (hippie dippie bébé)

hopealso (hippie dippie bébé) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:57:59 +0000

Like you I feel it is important to be considerate of others when I breastfeed, but on the other hand I also believe it’s important to remember that we are the models for a new generation. As Mandy pointed out, breastfeeding is actively encouraged by health professionals and government programs because it is *good* for babies!

If we are to inspire a new generation of girls to breastfeed their children, then I think it’s important not to feel pressured to “hide” that fact, on the contrary the more women openly breastfeed, in my opinion, the more it will seem a normal natural thing! In fact, the only time I have experienced out and out uncomfortable vibes has been from people of my mother’s generation who simply are not as accustomed to *seeing* breastfeeding.

Although I do try to be somewhat discreet, in fact my *favorite* nursing mamas are those who just act natural. If they happen to flash a boob, they seem entirely non-plussed. That’s the way it should be! As you mamas have said — breastfeeding is normal!

By: mandy

mandy — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:34:22 +0000

I have it a bit easier right now because my Annabel is only nine months old(still within the publicly “approved” time to breast feed). I do breastfeed anywhere – but I rely on a bit of strange thinking. If the government (via public service announcements) is all supportive about breastfeeding right now (and yay for that) then of course I will breastfeed whenever and wherever I need to (and this has included the mall, public bathrooms, nursing rooms, various benches and shaded exhibits at the zoo, at the material store while I was looking at patterns, parking lots, coffee shops, bookstores, in the park…pretty much wherever I was when Annabel needed to nurse). I do have a nursing shawl that my mom made me – it is pretty much just a skirt with an elastic wasteband – which requires no fussing to put on – but sometimes I forget it. Annabel does love to expose me, but again – if the government wants me to breastfeed my baby then who cares.
I plan on nursing until she is at least two – I just think it is better for her both physically and emotionally. So, we’ll see how it goes as she gets older.
I also don’t know if it is regional, but where I live in New Orleans nobody has ever said anything and when people (adults, kids, families) notice they just discreetly don’t watch but they also don’t leave the area or try to shield their kids from seeing me.

By: Green Mamma

Green Mamma — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:19:59 +0000

Abbie, I have been the mother you described your high school students staring at. I’m not sure whether I was trying to make a point, but I do know that I was in the Museum of Natural History and needed to feed my hungry and crying daughter (she was between 15 and 17 months).

Everyday woman, I agree that a cover of some sort can help a nursing mother have privacy and allow those in the public (who I assume are uncomfortable with the natural part of life that breastfeeding is) to feel at ease. At the same time, I feel like I am in a bind when my daughter wants to tear a cover off and exposes my breast in public. Then I simply tell myself that by breastfeeding my daughter in front of other(s), especially potential parents and their families, that they will come to see that breastfeeding is normal, and not something to be disgusted by, etc.

Michelle, I have definitely gotten stares when nursing Annabelle either in public or in front of extended family. I’m not sure why people have a problem with extended nursing. I fear that people find continuing breastfeeding beyond infancy to be a perverted act or one that indicates a weakness or dependency on behalf of the mother or child or both. This saddens me; breastfeeding is a nurturing activity that encourages inter-dependency within the family. Even husbands can recognize how much they are needed because a breastfeeding mother and her children may call upon a father’s support, by asking for coverage in public, and in simply knowing that dad believes that breastfeeding is benefiting the relationships within his family.

It is my hope that our society will become not only more accepting of breastfeeding mothers and children in the public sphere, but that society also encourages and supports women to nurse their children for at least the 2 years recommended by the World Health Organization.