Interesting piece on BFing in public & our "view" of breasts.

IselaCid

Breast is Best (As Long as We Don?t See it)!

 My favorite bit...

"When a woman?s body becomes more about sex than anything else, it limits what a woman can do. It becomes something she uses to attract and please others, something others want to control."

Not trying to stir anything or look for a violent debate (a healthy discussion is always great!), just thought some might find it intersting...if not, no worries!!!  We are all entitled to differing opinions!

NewLerma

If my kid was hungry I didn't care where I was, he was fed. There is a big difference between people who flop it out all obvious and make a scene out of it, those girls to me are trashy no matter what.

My favorite retort to people that have a problem with NIP is to take their lunch in the bathroom and see how disgusting it is. Since that seems to be the only other place that I would be able to go.

mediadiva

there are tasteful ways to photograph a breastfeeding mother, and curtious ways to BF in public. I have BF'd in public many times and 90% of the time people around me had no idea what I was doing and if they DID know what I was doing well I think I can safely say I never flashed anyone

 I personally don't want to hang it all out there, anymore then I want to wear a bathing suite in front of work collegues.

Future Mrs.Qualls

 I actually really like that statement.  I dont plan to NIP BUT I do think society is so wrapped up in the sex goddess thing that as a whole we forget that it has purpose and function and God made the human body for those functions- not really for anything else!!

 

mfransdell

I fully agree with that statement. I just dont understand how BFing in public could in any way be considered 'obscene'. Our breasts are there for that purpose and all other uses are just a perk!

MizMac

Great article. ?Have you read this one from the January edition of the New Yorker?

https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/01/19/090119fa_fact_lepore?

tiggernorton04

That is interesting.  It's funny though because the reason we have breasts in the first place is to feed our young!  And it's viewed as gross by so many people to nurse in public, etc.  It's just mind-boggling.

jason&robin

I have no probs with other women NIP. I prefer to use a cover. That's just what makes me comfortable. DS was such a wiggler and he go distracted so easily, he was constantly whipping his head back and looking around. He was never bothered by the cover. It was so light that he could barely tell that it was there.

IselaCid

In the first few months with DS I was very scared to NIP (nurse in public). 

There was one time when DS was screaming and I was in a total panic.  I was practically running through the mall, by myself searching for a "private" place to nurse him.  More people stared at me at that moment than if I would have just found a spot on a bench and calmly fed my kid.  By the time I found one of those nursing rooms we were both in such an anxiety filled place all I could do was cry with him. 

After that I was done trying to please others when nursing in public.  I'm glad I had that experience under my belt because it was able to lead me to other paths and now I know a bit better for #2...but it was not a fun learning experience by any means. 

madhatter2003

Good article.  It always seems like a vast majority of the women that have issues with other women NIP don't have kids themselves, and so don't have experience. Most women I know that NIP do so very modestly.

IselaCid

jason&robin:

I have no probs with other women NIP. I prefer to use a cover. That's just what makes me comfortable. DS was such a wiggler and he go distracted so easily, he was constantly whipping his head back and looking around. He was never bothered by the cover. It was so light that he could barely tell that it was there.

Yeah, I found the cover more useful for the first few weeks when we were both getting the hang of it and again when he was so easily distracted by EVERYTHING!  It wasn't so much to hide my boob, but more to keep him focused so we didn't spend a whole hour trying to nurse with him popping off to look at anything and everything! 

IselaCid

MizMac:

Great article.  Have you read this one from the January edition of the New Yorker?

https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/01/19/090119fa_fact_lepore 

 No, I hadn't seen this...thank you!

 

 

 

orion09

mfransdell:

I fully agree with that statement. I just dont understand how BFing in public could in any way be considered 'obscene'. Our breasts are there for that purpose and all other uses are just a perk!

THIS!!

afg

I think it depends on HOW women NIP.  I will not be one who just lets it all hang out for everyone to see, I think those women do it for attention more than anything.  There are discrete ways to do it. 

You have to remember that some people are offended by men not wearing a shirt or girls in short skirts.  People are people and have different opinions on what's acceptable, plus the idividuals own comfort level.

kenitaw248

I agree so many people think breastfeeding in public is disgusting b/c of the culture in America. In other countries it is not like this, breasts are not just a sexual object.  Women don't hesitate to do so for fear of scrutiny, judgment or bad looks. I don't think I will, just b/c of the ridicule.

IselaCid

afg:

You have to remember that some people are offended by men not wearing a shirt or girls in short skirts.  People are people and have different opinions on what's acceptable, plus the idividuals own comfort level.

While this is true, should women stop wearing short skirts because it offends some people?

MrsWanee

i bought the bebe au laute (sp?) nursing cover mostly just for my own comfort. i think i will still feel weird nursing in public, but at least i will have a pretty cover while i do it and i liked that you can peek down and make sure he's latched on right/doing ok.

Mrs.21

I love that quote and couldn't agree more. I am very much for breastfeeding in public (and not hiding myself like a criminal in the bathroom while I do it), but I had never thought about the control aspect of a woman's sexuality. Very interesting.

It bothers me so much that women can have their boobs hanging out in revealing top and it's fine, yet a nursing mother is made to feel like a perv if she uses her breasts to feed her child in public.

Not starting a debate either! I am more angry at the media and some idiot comments I have heard from friends and family!

cathy_and_matt

The funniest part of the whole thing is that breasts are only sexualized to begin with due to the fact that babies feed from them....it's this whole big circle.

tboneangel87

I know that I will be uncomfortable nursing in public, but I don't think it's my place, or anyone else's, to tell a woman to leave because she is. Though I prefer women who use covers (I've even seen some improvise with an extra cloth napkin at a restaurant), or at least only pull out one breast then those who hang it all out. We were at a restaurant and this woman completely undid her top and let the other breast hang out while she nursed her child. I liked what the waitress said to her: "Ma'am, we don't mind you breastfeeding, but it is against company policy to serve those who aren't wearing shirts. We are going to have to ask you to pull up your shirt and cover the other side. Sorry if this is inconvenient, but it's policy, ma'am" And without a fuss the lady did what was asked.