Breast feeding in public? Your views?

[Randianne]

I'm bowing out. Everything I said was based on BOOBS OUT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I'm not taking away your rights. It's not hypocritical to ask you to be considerate.

ETA: Accidents happen. It certainly doesn't mean I like it, but how could I be angry over that? I do realize it's hard. I did struggle with it at first. I just don't want them to see it if it can be helped. Honestly, I don't know for sure how long it would take to bring up sexual feelings. Boobs do nothing for me. I would rather a baby eat and risk my children seeing it by accident. However, if you aren't even attempting to not flash us, it really frustrates me. There is an appropriate age for sex talks, and I don't want to try to explain it before they are mentally prepared. It can cause issues if sexual feelings happen too soon. That's all I'm trying to protect them from.

Baby on boob - Eating. Totally natural.

Baby in lap and boob just sitting there - Sexual.

 

[Foogirl]

so no a newborn or a six month old or whatever would not cover the majority.

lol, try it with a preemie newborn. With a head smaller than your average tattie!

I just got on with it, really.

Awww little tiny baby head... now I want another baby ahahaha why did you have to mention teeny babies! Mine were 5lb at birth and I can't remember them ever being that small now though. I couldn't imagine smaller!

A whopping 3lbs 7 oz at birth, 29 weeks. It seems strange to say it but she was a big one too.

Yeah, I met a new teeny one today. Ovaries = overdrive!

 

[Natsku]

I'm bowing out. Everything I said was based on BOOBS OUT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I'm not taking away your rights. It's not hypocritical to ask you to be considerate.

I'd ask you when does that ever happen but I guess you won't answer as you're bowing out so I guess I'll go to bed. Goodnight all

 

[Foogirl]

Sometimes you have your hands full with a wriggly baby and can't put your boob away immediately after finishing feeding. Sometimes you just forget. That boob looks the same as the boob of a woman who leaves it out on purpose - that boob doesn't magically not offend anyone because it was an accident.

ahh those magical accidental boobs

 

[Foogirl]

I'm not taking away your rights. It's not hypocritical to ask you to be considerate.

And neither is it hypocritical to decline.

 

[Natsku]

Sometimes you have your hands full with a wriggly baby and can't put your boob away immediately after finishing feeding. Sometimes you just forget. That boob looks the same as the boob of a woman who leaves it out on purpose - that boob doesn't magically not offend anyone because it was an accident.

ahh those magical accidental boobs

Dont you know? Magical accidental boobs come with auto-blur!

 

[Tasha]

I saw my cousin trying to BF with huge breasts. She couldn't even co-sleep because the breast would cover baby's nose. I felt so awful for her!

This made me smile, not because I want her to be in that position cos I had the same problem even when we were awake, upright whatever and the mw tried to find postions to help it but it never did I had to hold my breast down away from her nose when we BF. I guess that explains the need for three hands eh?

so no a newborn or a six month old or whatever would not cover the majority.

lol, try it with a preemie newborn. With a head smaller than your average tattie!

I just got on with it, really.

I am suppose to have my next some where between 30-32 weeks, as you know and so that should be interesting

I wish I could be as confident as just getting on with it, I dont think i ever will though as I dont want people to think I am purposely exposing myself.

 

[NellyLou]

I'm bowing out. Everything I said was based on BOOBS OUT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. I'm not taking away your rights. It's not hypocritical to ask you to be considerate.

I'd ask you when does that ever happen but I guess you won't answer as you're bowing out so I guess I'll go to bed. Goodnight all

But this was the whole point they were trying to make.... As long as women aren't purposely showing off their boobs, then nip all you want. Correct me if I'm wrong but that's what I understood. It's obviously rare, but there are some moms who do it for 'shock' value or a laugh to see what reaction they get.

 

[Foogirl]

I am suppose to have my next some where between 30-32 weeks, as you know and so that should be interesting

I wish I could be as confident as just getting on with it, I dont think i ever will though as I dont want people to think I am purposely exposing myself.

Ach, don't worry about it. Accidental boobs are magical and have auto-blur. You'll be fine!

 

[Tasha]

 

[Pearls18]

I didn't find it easy to feed DS 'discreetly' at all due to my size and it was some of the views that have been expressed in this thread that made me feel ashamed of trying to feed DS in public, which led to me feeding in disgusting 'feeding rooms', toilets, but for the most part barely going outdoors for 6 months. When I see a woman feeding in public I look at them with awe and jealousy, I hope I can 'man up' a bit next time. For those of you who see fit to judge a woman for nip not to your standards, perhaps take a minute to think how she has got to that place, she might just have always done it easily no qualms, or she could actually be feeling really vulnerable with it and taken a long time for her to build up her confidence to do it, and yeah maybe she is now proud to not need to do it 'discreetly', whatever, I hope you would never so much as give her a rude looking glance, something like that can shatter somebody's confidence.

 

[Tasha]

I didn't find it easy to feed DS 'discreetly' at all due to my size and it was some of the views that have been expressed in this thread that made me feel ashamed of trying to feed DS in public, which led to me feeding in disgusting 'feeding rooms', toilets, but for the most part barely going outdoors for 6 months. When I see a woman feeding in public I look at them with awe and jealousy, I hope I can 'man up' a bit next time. For those of you who see fit to judge a woman for nip not to your standards, perhaps take a minute to think how she has got to that place, she might just have always done it easily no qualms, or she could actually be feeling really vulnerable with it and taken a long time for her to build up her confidence to do it, and yeah maybe she is now proud to not need to do it 'discreetly', whatever, I hope you would never so much as give her a rude looking glance, something like that can shatter somebody's confidence.

This is exactly how I feel.

 

[NellyLou]

I didn't find it easy to feed DS 'discreetly' at all due to my size and it was some of the views that have been expressed in this thread that made me feel ashamed of trying to feed DS in public, which led to me feeding in disgusting 'feeding rooms', toilets, but for the most part barely going outdoors for 6 months. When I see a woman feeding in public I look at them with awe and jealousy, I hope I can 'man up' a bit next time. For those of you who see fit to judge a woman for nip not to your standards, perhaps take a minute to think how she has got to that place, she might just have always done it easily no qualms, or she could actually be feeling really vulnerable with it and taken a long time for her to build up her confidence to do it, and yeah maybe she is now proud to not need to do it 'discreetly', whatever, I hope you would never so much as give her a rude looking glance, something like that can shatter somebody's confidence.

This is exactly how I feel.

When people say discretely I don't think they mean you can't show anything. If you need to show your boob, do it and feel good about it! It's the few women who leave their boob out while changing their baby's diaper etc that aren't considered discrete in my opinion.

 

[Tasha]

But has anyone here actually seen that? I've never.

Also people have said that if baby pulls away and you know they will and have nothing to cover yourself then that is nudity.

 

[Pearls18]

I didn't find it easy to feed DS 'discreetly' at all due to my size and it was some of the views that have been expressed in this thread that made me feel ashamed of trying to feed DS in public, which led to me feeding in disgusting 'feeding rooms', toilets, but for the most part barely going outdoors for 6 months. When I see a woman feeding in public I look at them with awe and jealousy, I hope I can 'man up' a bit next time. For those of you who see fit to judge a woman for nip not to your standards, perhaps take a minute to think how she has got to that place, she might just have always done it easily no qualms, or she could actually be feeling really vulnerable with it and taken a long time for her to build up her confidence to do it, and yeah maybe she is now proud to not need to do it 'discreetly', whatever, I hope you would never so much as give her a rude looking glance, something like that can shatter somebody's confidence.

This is exactly how I feel.

When people say discretely I don't think they mean you can't show anything. If you need to show your boob, do it and feel good about it! It's the few women who leave their boob out while changing their baby's diaper etc that aren't considered discrete in my opinion.

Unfortunately 'discrete' is a little bit subjective, I might pass by your standards but not somebody else's, should I ask everybody in the room I'm trying to feed in how much I am allowed to show? I get what you're saying but it is a slippery slope and your opinion still makes me feel like I am needing to abide by other people's rules, feeding women shouldn't have to appease anybody, not even those of a 'more lenient standing'. If a boob is out as a result of feeding so be it, don't like it, don't look.

 

[pinklightbulb]

so no a newborn or a six month old or whatever would not cover the majority.

lol, try it with a preemie newborn. With a head smaller than your average tattie!

I just got on with it, really.

Awww little tiny baby head... now I want another baby ahahaha why did you have to mention teeny babies! Mine were 5lb at birth and I can't remember them ever being that small now though. I couldn't imagine smaller!

A whopping 3lbs 7 oz at birth, 29 weeks. It seems strange to say it but she was a big one too.

Yeah, I met a new teeny one today. Ovaries = overdrive!

*is now a big PLB puddle of newborn-baby love* I'm never getting another baby OH is a very bad four-letter word for this!

And 3lb 7oz... that is so small! My niece was born at 33 weeks and was about that weight. (I myself was a 32-weeker, 4lb 6oz.) Tiny, tiny babies... damn you OH for dashing my dreams....

This made me smile, not because I want her to be in that position cos I had the same problem even when we were awake, upright whatever and the mw tried to find postions to help it but it never did I had to hold my breast down away from her nose when we BF. I guess that explains the need for three hands eh?

Sure would. If we can have extra nipples in places why can't bigger-breasted women have extra hands? Would make sense!

 

[overcomer79]

One of the things that turned me off to breastfeeding was the attitude that I didn't want to be associated with. "i can do what I want and the law can't touch me hahahah"

Which incidentally a lot of people where I live have perception that all breastfeeding moms are like that because that's all they have encountered.

You want it appear normal? You don't have to leave your nipple exposed while you get your baby. This attitude is why it ISN'T normal to see nip in my area.

The world won't change on "I can do what I want because the law protects me"...it will change on consideration. Good luck.

 

[pinklightbulb]

The law protects us because it IS natural. It's there for a reason. It shouldn't have to be at all if it weren't for society deciding BF is somehow sexual/OTT.

 

[overcomer79]

well blame society then. I'm just telling you my experience.

 

[pinklightbulb]

I am blaming society, and anyone who thinks a mother showing a breast during nursing is tantamount to flashing her privates or something. Let's be real. Babies can fuss and pull off any time. Newborn, infant, older baby. No mother can promise to be 100% discreet nursing, 100% of the time. That's just life.

So if others can't grow up and accept they might see a bit more than they want to, that isn't the nursing mother's problem-- it's on the offended party to turn away or leave. Baby needs feeding, this trumps anything else. A baby can't fend for itself but a grown-up can walk away if they're that bothered. (And take their children with them, if they're worried about their kid being traumatised.)

I don't know why you would be turned off BFing because of a few overzealous NIP mothers. That seems a poor reason not to want to BF to me, but I don't want to get into that. If you want to set a better example, maybe it's on you to provide that, assuming BF works/worked for you? Not blame a few stupid women for turning you off at all?