Public Breast Feeding

21/04/2009

Comments: 2 readers have left a comment

I’d been wondering what to write about for this entry.

I’ve already covered symptoms (now I can add heartburn) and overall expansion (which leaves you itchy) and they are the main pregnancy related things happening to me right now.

But browsing the headlines I came to the breastfeeding in public issue, which seems to pop its head up every so often.

It’s never offended me to see women feeding their babies in public and really, from what I’ve observed, most mums seem to try to find a quiet corner, or have a blanket over their shoulder anyway.

You wouldn’t see anything much unless you craned your neck, which I think would be more of an issue with the observer than the observee.

Until now, though, I’ve never really considered doing it myself.

I’m not sure how I’ll feel when it comes to it.

Many women have told me I’ll be far less worried after the labour experience, where I won’t care who sees what, just so long as I GET THIS BABY OUT!

I also haven’t been on the receiving end of ‘that cry’ that means ‘hungry’ – the one that turns in to an unstoppable rant if it’s allowed to go on for too long.

I’ve covered up for so long, will I really be able to bare all, even just for that second (hopefully) it takes bub to latch?

It would make matters so much worse if some busybody came up and chastised me about it.

Do people like that say similar things to women who wear tops with plunging necklines, or to men who wander about in Summer without a shirt?

I think in modern society we should live and let live.

The actions of others are always going to make some people uncomfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are doing the wrong thing.

I might get over my prudishness, I might not, but surely that’s my issue and not anyone else’s.

Reader Comments

deb

28/04/2009 at 12:47

Yes totally agree.
I was a discrete breast feeder.
But every now and then I see a woman who 'lets it all hang out' so to speak. Yes, she is within her rights to do so, but it is quite selfish to do that knowing that there are still a few people who are squeamish about it.
I think that like with most things discretion is the key.

Cheryl

28/04/2009 at 15:35

Some of the breast feeders I have witnessed don't know the meaning of discretion, never lone how to execute it.

drop

06/05/2009 at 11:59

I agree with Cheryl and deb.
The attitude you have come across Frances : "Many women have told me I’ll be far less worried after the labour experience, where I won’t care who sees what, just so long as I GET THIS BABY OUT!" is gross.
THEY might feel that way, but observers do not.

"Letting it all hang out" is selfish and rude. I would rather be considered prude if it meant keeping my dignity. To me it is a very personal and private beauty to breastfeed a baby.

Careful public breastfeeding is OK I suppose, but "I" detest the sounds of it, and find it awkward to "look as if nothing is happening". I do wish women would find a private place. There is no need to go out dining or whatever, at the precise time one is breastfeeding because it does not stop there. It includes burping the baby, changing nappy etc.

Other people just simply are not as indulgent to the little one as the parents and not as tolerant of sights, sounds and smells

Danica Surette

23/06/2009 at 08:04

I see nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public. Our society sees womens' breast as sexual play things. Nobody seems to make as much a fuss when women are on magazine covers with low cleavage. Women are not only wives and lovers, but friends and mothers. If we lived in a 3rd world country, we wouldn't be having this discussion.