Booby Feeding

PM_Mama00 · #1 07-15-2003, 10:06 AM

Ha... got your attention. Yeeeah.

Anyways what do you guys think about breast feeding in public? This women in a Detroit suburb decided she was gona breast feed in a Taco Bell restaurant while fine-dining with her family. The manager flipped and told her she couldn't do that and that she was exposing herself and that she needed to go in the bathroom and do it. When the woman refused, the manager went and locked the door so no one else could come in the empty restaurant. Here's the link
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2332069/detail.html

Anyways, I definately don't agree with breast feeding in public. Yes, it may be part of a woman's right, but I find it tacky along with changing a baby's diaper in public. I have alot of cousins who have many kids, and every time we'd be over visiting and it was feeding time, they went to their bedroom. I think if I walked into a restaurant to see some woman breast feeding, even tho her breast isn't exposed, I would be totally turned off and disgusted.

rainbowbrightCS · #2 07-15-2003, 10:16 AM

oh I agree. Breastfeeding in natural, but I don't want to see or know its at the table next to me.

Its called respect lady, geesh!

MoxieGrrl · #3 07-15-2003, 10:31 AM

Here is another vote for not breast-feeding. Seriously, I would take the baby to the car or something.

aabby757 · #4 07-15-2003, 10:48 AM

Personally, I think it's fine. It doesn't bother me in the slightest if I see a woman breast feeding her baby. I also think that it's easy for us to judge how we feel/think about it when we haven't been faced with our baby screaming bloody murder and needing food RIGHT THIS SECOND, maybe it's too hot in the car for the mom to go to, maybe there isn't a place where she can sit down in public, etc. I doubt the Taco Bell public bathroom is clean,comfortable enough for her to sit down comfortably and feed her baby. Mothers need to multitask as much as possible and I think we need to cut them some slack.

(I hope I'm not coming across as harsh -- it's just my opinion)

That being said, however, and I don't have kids yet so my opinion may change, I feel it's important to respect and honor my baby's privacy and while I could care less if people see my boob while feeding my baby in the most natural and healthy of ways, I think I am going to be private about it and go to the rest rooms, cars, another room, etc. And bottle my breast milk as much as possible for Taco Bell situations. But, again, I'm not a mom yet and haven't been in the situation where I've have 15 minutes sleep in the last six weeks, I have four deadlines at work, my husband is away on business and all I want is a taco bell meal and my child has the "audacity" to be hungry while I'm sitting down for the first time since I can remember.

CutiePie2000 · #5 07-15-2003, 10:50 AM

Breast Feeding in Public

Quote:

Originally posted by PnguinTrax
Would you eat your meal in a restroom? Why should my baby have to?

I love it when I see a woman BF is public and think it's beautiful. Yes, just 'whipping it out' could be a bit disconcerting, but today's nursing clothes make it easier than ever to discreetly feed your infant in public. In fact, I've had to 'look twice' to confirm that a woman was BF in public, because it was so hard to tell at first glance.

Breasts are to provide nourishment to human infants. They are not there to sell beer or pleasure men. Breast milk is the most complete and perfect food for human infants, constantly (naturally!) changing it's nutritional components to satisfy the changing needs of growing human infants. No other food product on this earth is more perfect for humans than breastmilk.

The average age of weaning in countries outside the US is 5 years of age. In the US, it's 6 months. The Pediatric Association recommends breastfeeding for at least 1 year, preferably 2 years or as long as mutually desirable. Extended breastfeeding is a natural process that has been perverted by American 'morals & values'. Breastfeeding a toddler will not turn them into breast-obsessed maniacs, it is NOT child abuse and it is NOT pornography.

The longer a woman breastfeeds, the better it is for her and the baby. Recent studies have shown that a woman's risk of breast cancer diminishes greatly for each month past 6 months a woman breastfeeds and diminishes even more for BF past a year or two. The percentage risk goes down even further with subsequent children that the woman has and breastfeeds.

You know what? I used to be a "Breastfeeding is gross and disgusting and perverted" kind of person. I did ALOT of research and saw the truth of the matter - it's better for the baby, it's better for me and it's better for the world. Breastfed babies are healthier overall - it helps prevent obesity, diabetes and other diseases. It makes an infant feel secure and loved. I don't support corporate greed when I breastfeed and I save A LOT of money when I breast feed. Breast milk is free. Formula can run as much as $500 a month for the specialty forumulas. Wouldn't that money be better spent in your child's college fund?

I realize that there are many women that can't breastfeed due to physical limitations and are forced to feed formula. Two of my close friends will never be able to BF and it's horrible to see how they are treated by women that don't know their story. But if you are physically able to breastfeed and don't, I think you are doing your child and your own body a great disservice.

Informational links (if pictures of breastfeeding infants offend you, do not visit):

http://www.breastfeeding.com/

http://www.lalecheleague.org/

Pediatric Assoc's statment on BF: http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html

http://www.waba.org.br/

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/

Lucy Lawless (Xena, Warror Princess) is featured (while BF) on
Australia's poster for World Breastfeeding week. It says, Breastfeeding...my best role ever. http://www.ausxip.com/lawless/pictur...ert-poster.jpg

http://www.promom.org/

http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/

Bravo to Pnguintrax!

I don't live in Ontario presently, but I also wanted to point out that breast feeding is protected there by law....
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/guides...tfeeding.shtml
Ontario Human Rights Commission’
WHAT ABOUT BREASTFEEDING?
You have rights as a nursing mother. For example, you have the right to breastfeed a child in a public area. No one should prevent you from nursing your child simply because you are in a public area. They should not ask you to "cover up", disturb you, or ask you to move to another area that is more "discreet".

I think the reason why people in North America find breast objectionable (whereas in Europe, it's not a big deal...hello, watch a shampoo commercial in Germany and you will see breasts on TV) is because North American has a puritan legacy upon which it was founded...and I think we are still seeing our values and mores affected by it today.

Nikki_DZ · #6 07-15-2003, 11:08 AM

Ditto CP2K!

As long as the women uses a towel or some other piece of cloth to cover her breast so there's not a peep show going on, I'm for it. It's a natural process, and I, for one, would rather see it than hear a kid screaming their bloody head off.

DeltAlum · #7 07-15-2003, 11:11 AM

If a mother is discrete, she can breastfeed a child in public and nobody around her will realize it.

All three of our children were breastfed -- thank goodness. The advantages are well documented and enormous.

As in anything in life, a few women who aren't discrete can ruin it for everyone else. Nobody wants to see an exhibition. There have been a number of very public debates involving public breastfeeding -- including a couple of court cases as I recall, all of which were decided in favor of the breastfeeding "couple."

I'm not going to get on the soapbox here, but will simply say that Mrs. DeltAlum was, over the years, a LaLeche Leage Leader District Advisor (and professional lactation consultant) in Michigan, ran the organization in Colorado and Wyoming, was Regional Administrator for the Mountain/Southwest and SoCal, and then on the International Board of Directors for LaLeche League International -- the breastfeeding support and education organization which is active in more than eighty countries around the world. It is a fabulous organization, founded by seven Chicago area Mothers many years ago -- all of whom are still active. All of those positions with the exception of lactation consultant are volunteer.

Obviously, I support the rights of breastfeeding mothers and babies -- provided some degree of discretion is used. To be honest, the way some folks dress in public is more disturbing to me.

CutiePie2000 · #8 07-15-2003, 11:23 AM

I just read that Taco Bell article:

"Jones said the restaurant was nearly empty, and her shirt hid her breast while she was feeding the child. But, the manager of the restaurant apparently tried to put a stop to it, Local 4 reported. "

So
a) the restaurant was nearly empty and
b)her shirt hid her breast...
sounds like this poor woman was doing everything that she COULD to be "discreet", but even THAT wasn't enough.... the Manager was just being a mean and nasty jackass..... Sheesh.

And for those of you who think "feeding in the bathroom" is a viable solution, I challenge *YOU* to take your meal in there and eat it in the bathroom, in a room that reeks of $hit vapours. I for one, have found that at times, I practically have to hold my breath when I "do my business" in a public restroom, because sometimes those fast food restaurants are barely ventilated at all and they stink to high heaven.

texas*princess · #9 07-15-2003, 11:26 AM

I'm with PM_Mama on this one:

Quote:

I definately don't agree with breast feeding in public. Yes, it may be part of a woman's right, but I find it tacky along with changing a baby's diaper in public. I have alot of cousins who have many kids, and every time we'd be over visiting and it was feeding time, they went to their bedroom. I think if I walked into a restaurant to see some woman breast feeding, even tho her breast isn't exposed, I would be totally turned off and disgusted.

Kristin AGD · #10 07-15-2003, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
You have rights as a nursing mother. For example, you have the right to breastfeed a child in a public area. No one should prevent you from nursing your child simply because you are in a public area. They should not ask you to "cover up", disturb you, or ask you to move to another area that is more "discreet".

I have a right to eat my dinner in peace. I don't want to encounter questions from my five year old daughter. If I am in the middle of my dinner when someone decides to feed, it is too late for me to leave.

It is a societal problem, but I still don't want to encounter boobie feeding while I am having my dinner.

When I worked in the restaurants we provided a chair in the restroom if the mother had to feed. But lots of women would just do it right there in the booth, while the restaurant is full. I understand that it is natural, but they need to have some consideration for others. The people dining across from them might not be so liberal. And they are paying for a nice dinner as well. And we wouldn't let any other customer get away with anyting that disturbed other diners.

Edited to add:

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum

Obviously, I support the rights of breastfeeding mothers and babies -- provided some degree of discretion is used. To be honest, the way some folks dress in public is more disturbing to me.

I completely concur regarding discretion. I am all for the right to breast feed in public, if common sense is used. I just really have a problem with it in a restaurant where I am spending a lot of money to enjoy a dinner with the family.
And I was going to mention that men in my family get uncomfortable if one of my sisters or I wear a blouse that is too low cut. I would never subject them to my breast feeding.

texas*princess · #11 07-15-2003, 11:37 AM

VERY WELL SAID Kristin AGD!!!

33girl · #12 07-15-2003, 11:49 AM

The real question is why she was eating in Taco Bell to begin with...if I'm not mistaken what you eat has an effect on the breast milk...poor baby. LOL.

DeltAlum · #13 07-15-2003, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
The real question is why she was eating in Taco Bell to begin with...if I'm not mistaken what you eat has an effect on the breast milk...poor baby. LOL.

HA! You're exactly right!

And to be really crude, what you eat (and the baby as well when he/she begins some solids can really affect the smell of the baby's stools. (Bananas are the worst!)

Well, I said it was crude. Sorry.

PM_Mama00 · #14 07-15-2003, 12:18 PM

I understand that breast feeding is very important and totally plan to when I have children. However there are a lot of products out there to help with this... bottle the milk!

DeltAlum · #15 07-15-2003, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
I understand that breast feeding is very important and totally plan to when I have children. However there are a lot of products out there to help with this... bottle the milk!

Check back in with us when your time to have children has come. I think you'll find that the "products" (which can, in some cases, actually impede the bf process) are not easy to use -- and that the pumping, bottling and storage of breastmilk is highly challenging. And the equipment is fairly difficult to transport and keep clean -- the latter of which is absolutely essential.