Breast feeding in public? Your views?

[Tasha]

You might look on and think they are over-exposing themselves on purpose but really it might be a Mum NIP for the first or second time (or even the 100th), getting in a real fluster and really wishing that she found this 'BF discretely' thing as easy as so many other people do. Just another thing for Mum's to feel theu are not adequate at I guess.

 

[Dk1234]

I'm not as concerned with children as I am the general population. I mean where I am, I don't know about where all of you are, people have this impression thatBFing moms are super radical and its because people who do the nurse in's or refuse to show discretion. I just think that is a negative view if BFing. I just think that if everyone was just considerate yet proud about it it would be seen as much more normal rather than radical.

 

[MikaylasMummy]

Wow..I cannot believe some things that are being said.maybe without that pridish attitude you would be able to teach your child what breasts are really for so he doesn't grow up with the same attitude as you about something so natural and important being disgusting and rude.i can't believe a mother has this attitude.and I guess your out of luck because the law says breastfeeding women can bf anywhere public,so it is YOU that will have to coop your seven year old up inside til he's 18 to prevent him from seeing a boob he's probably seen on tv a million times.

 

[Dragonfly]

has any one seen these woman that breastfeed naked or something? seems like a stupid argument when most of us would breastfeed not bearing all anyway. I have breastfed in a room of people and they didnt even notice. Yet to see these ones that arnt discrete.

That's my question. We've been talking about exposing a full on nipple, and yet people are acting like we want to lock BFers away for a flash of cleavage. We're only asking for courtesy for those who don't want their kids exposed to nudity.

To those of you who are asking why I wouldn't want my kid to see a breast, do you want to have to explain your parenting decisions to everyone? Or do you just want them to respect them?

As for the 'get over it' comment, I think you need to 'get over' being arrogant enough to think that the only child that matters is yours.

Nipples in babies mouth you dont see much. And no I wouldnt hide myself from children. Thats up to you to do that as I am not doing anything wrong. Nothing to do with respect unless you think breastfeeding is disrespectful. Maybe some respect for breastfeeding mums who arnt made to feel like dirty bitches for feeding their children while you cover your children's eyes and huff at them for exposing your children to a natural act. I wouldnt exactly be sat there naked breastfeeding either or wanting the world to see my naked boobs. But sure dont all breastfeeding woman sit topless flashing.

 

[Foogirl]

The radical label, the "breastapo" thing, the Nurse ins etc, this is media driven and has absolutely no bearing on what the majority of women actually do when they are NIP. They are just feeding their babies. Some with more boob on show than others, but all trying to achieve the same goal - to get their baby fed. Mixing up NIP with the media hyped stuff is just plain wrong.

 

[Dk1234]

https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=ZgmbJso-2-o&desktop_uri=/watch?v=ZgmbJso-2-o

Luvs BFing commercial. Completely appropriate and hilarious.

 

[pinklightbulb]

We don't have any BF commercials here

 

[Randianne]

I don't think we're going to find common ground here. It's so sad that no one has consideration for other parents anymore. The 'only my child matters' attitude is really sad. I guess it's not really a village, is it?

And for the record, I wasn't talking about an accidental nip slip by a new BFing mom. I did that too in the early days. I was talking about those that don't even attempt not to show a full on breast.

 

[midori1999]

I mean seriously you don't see a difference in breasts and mouths? For one we don't walk around topless all day. I am a nursing mother and don't wanna see someone's boobs. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it might make say your teenage son, or some other teenager, some random man walking by, a pastor. Fact of the matter is breast are sexual. Maybe some people don't like that they are but I am proud that they are. My husband can't wait to have them back. Too bad he has gone and knocked me up before I even stopped BFing. You can't change the fact that over time breasts have become sexual to most everyone. IMO people should be mindful of this and not just whip out their boobs. I just don't understand why people think this is so wrong. Its so easy to nurse discretely. i hate she. People say, don't like it, don't look because that's just a poor attitude if you ask me. What if everyone had this attitude about things. The world would be a miserable place. I just think you should be mindful and courteous to those around you. Same as I wouldnt let my baby scream in a public place. It's natural, it's just a baby but it isn't polite. I mean imagine if I said, don't like it, don't listen.

As for the bit in bold, your husband has missed a trick, because breasts are dual purpose, they can feed a baby and be sexual too. My husband loves my breasts, I would go so far as to say he is a bit obsessed with them and he has enjoyed them fully in the 19 months I have been breastfeeding my daughter. Just not while I am actually feeding my daughter obviously, because he can seperate the two purposes and he doesn't find them sexual during breastfeeding.

That said, he doesn't 'get them back', they're mine....

This is the only comment I feel the need to quote because I'm obviously not Ashamed of BFing. I'm so proud I have done it for al long and guess what I've never made anyone uncomfortable. Im 11 weeks pregnant btw and still bfing because bfing is very important to me. I guess I'm just a considerate person. I. Dont think flashing your boobs around makes BFing normal to people, it puts them off. not everyone understands BFing. we live in a world with a lot of different people. Imo those people seeing someone feeding their child in a way with no regard to anyone else, just makes it look bad. I mean serioisly if you want to normalize somethjng you dont go anout it in a way that offends a bunch of people. maybe one day if lots of people nip without making a huge spectacle of themselves, it will be completely jormal and then it wont matter if you flash a boob. fact is it does offend people and it has done more harm than good. Much like nurse ins, I think they bring negative attention to BFing. It's treating BFing like it is some radical thing. but thats just my opinion and i dont expect ANY of you to listen tk it or respect it. I obviously was speaking in terms of our own countries, the comment about countries where they walk around topless has confused me.

My husband could care less if they are being used for another purpose it's me. The last thing I want at the end of the day is someone else pawing at my boobs. I am not an idiot I realize you can still use your boobs however you want.

I think it's particularly pertinent that you chose to ignore my question whether, in order to be considerate to others, I keep my rather unsightly burn scar, which some people may not wish to see and may be repulsed by even, covered. Do you think I should keep it covered in order to be considerate to others?

Nurse ins are something completely seperate to a Mother feeding going about her normal business breastfeeding in public. I actually agree with you I think they can create the wrong impression, but I also think they can have their place. Once upon a time people thought women chaining themselves to railings, throwing themselves under the King's horse and burning their bras was radical, as well as off putting. I mean, those dreadful women, couldn't they behave with some decorum? However, all of those things and what they related to have made the world a much better place for women today.

You keep mentioning women 'flashing their boobs about'. I really do not see how a woman sitting down, feeding her baby, who happens to expose most of her breast to feed is 'flashing her boobs about' or 'flashing her boobs in your face'. Presumably you're not sitting a foot in front of her and the nature of breastfeeding means in itself that a baby or toddler is going to be covering the breast to a large extent.

This link contains a woman breastfeeding and she's pulled her top down to do it. Do you really think she is 'flashing her boobs about'?

https://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01563/breastfeeding_1563610c.jpg

I didn't answer that question because I thought it was a little crazy to be honest. A scar that you can't help isn't the same thing at all as someone showing no consideration for others when it comes to nudity. I hinestly don't understand the comparison.

It's a pity it is so hard for you to understand. You were talking about being considerate of others. People may not want to see women breastfeeding, people may not want to see my scarring. I may not be able to help being scarred, but I could cover up. Same as I could cover up when breastfeeding. But I don't and the law is on my side.

How about I make it easier for you. Some people don't want to see breastfeeding in public at all covered or not. What about being considerate towards them? Perhaps none of us should breastfeed in public at all? After all, we don't have to.

You seem to be avoiding the issue yet again though, is the woman in the photo linked 'flashing her boobs about' or not?

You are very rude. I didn't click on that link til just now and no she isn't. She has a baby in front if her boob. I think you're the one who doesn't understand.

Oh dear, rude and flashing my breasts for all to see...

This thread is about breastfeeding in public. In order to breastfeed in public, you have to actually be breastfeeding, which is going to mean your nipple is either in the baby's mouth or may be visible for a short period of time when you are either faffing about getting a baby latched on, when they fling themselves off to look around or similar.

Women who have finished breastfeeding in public, who are no longer breastfeeding but choosing to leave their breasts out for an extended period of time aren't nursing in public, are they? They have finished doing that and are simply leaving their breasts out.

However, I've yet to see any woman do this and I see a lot of breastfeeding women in my personal and 'professional' life.

 

[Dk1234]

The radical label, the "breastapo" thing, the Nurse ins etc, this is media driven and has absolutely no bearing on what the majority of women actually do when they are NIP. They are just feeding their babies. Some with more boob on show than others, but all trying to achieve the same goal - to get their baby fed. Mixing up NIP with the media hyped stuff is just plain wrong.

That's exactly what I'm trying to say though. If people just saw more of women just feeding their babies it would make all that seem like nonsense and just normal feeding the norm. I mean seriously do all of you sip your boob out and leave it there while you get sorted and then out baby away and stuff before you put your boob back away? Because I think that's the only think anyone has expressed having a problem with. And it DOES happen. I mean if you know your baby is gonna pull off several times and have no means of covering yourself when it happens I think that is showing nudity. If your baby randomly hears a sound and pulls off unexpectantly then I mean that isn't you being non discrete. It's an accident.

 

[Dragonfly]

I don't think we're going to find common ground here. It's so sad that no one has consideration for other parents anymore. The 'only my child matters' attitude is really sad. I guess it's not really a village, is it?

And for the record, I wasn't talking about an accidental nip slip by a new BFing mom. I did that too in the early days. I was talking about those that don't even attempt not to show a full on breast.

Ok . I accept what you think, but can you accept how hurtful it is to be made to feel wrong for breastfeeding your baby? you really do make it sound shameful and wrong. Inconsiderate. That saddens me. If I was on a park bench feeding and you walked past me that would make me feel like dirt.

 

[pinklightbulb]

I don't think we're going to find common ground here. It's so sad that no one has consideration for other parents anymore. The 'only my child matters' attitude is really sad. I guess it's not really a village, is it?

And for the record, I wasn't talking about an accidental nip slip by a new BFing mom. I did that too in the early days. I was talking about those that don't even attempt not to show a full on breast.

But aren't you being equally selfish by wanting your child not to see something natural and acting like it's the end of the world if they see a breast? Bit hypocritical, right?

 

[Dk1234]

I mean seriously you don't see a difference in breasts and mouths? For one we don't walk around topless all day. I am a nursing mother and don't wanna see someone's boobs. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it might make say your teenage son, or some other teenager, some random man walking by, a pastor. Fact of the matter is breast are sexual. Maybe some people don't like that they are but I am proud that they are. My husband can't wait to have them back. Too bad he has gone and knocked me up before I even stopped BFing. You can't change the fact that over time breasts have become sexual to most everyone. IMO people should be mindful of this and not just whip out their boobs. I just don't understand why people think this is so wrong. Its so easy to nurse discretely. i hate she. People say, don't like it, don't look because that's just a poor attitude if you ask me. What if everyone had this attitude about things. The world would be a miserable place. I just think you should be mindful and courteous to those around you. Same as I wouldnt let my baby scream in a public place. It's natural, it's just a baby but it isn't polite. I mean imagine if I said, don't like it, don't listen.

As for the bit in bold, your husband has missed a trick, because breasts are dual purpose, they can feed a baby and be sexual too. My husband loves my breasts, I would go so far as to say he is a bit obsessed with them and he has enjoyed them fully in the 19 months I have been breastfeeding my daughter. Just not while I am actually feeding my daughter obviously, because he can seperate the two purposes and he doesn't find them sexual during breastfeeding.

That said, he doesn't 'get them back', they're mine....

This is the only comment I feel the need to quote because I'm obviously not Ashamed of BFing. I'm so proud I have done it for al long and guess what I've never made anyone uncomfortable. Im 11 weeks pregnant btw and still bfing because bfing is very important to me. I guess I'm just a considerate person. I. Dont think flashing your boobs around makes BFing normal to people, it puts them off. not everyone understands BFing. we live in a world with a lot of different people. Imo those people seeing someone feeding their child in a way with no regard to anyone else, just makes it look bad. I mean serioisly if you want to normalize somethjng you dont go anout it in a way that offends a bunch of people. maybe one day if lots of people nip without making a huge spectacle of themselves, it will be completely jormal and then it wont matter if you flash a boob. fact is it does offend people and it has done more harm than good. Much like nurse ins, I think they bring negative attention to BFing. It's treating BFing like it is some radical thing. but thats just my opinion and i dont expect ANY of you to listen tk it or respect it. I obviously was speaking in terms of our own countries, the comment about countries where they walk around topless has confused me.

My husband could care less if they are being used for another purpose it's me. The last thing I want at the end of the day is someone else pawing at my boobs. I am not an idiot I realize you can still use your boobs however you want.

I think it's particularly pertinent that you chose to ignore my question whether, in order to be considerate to others, I keep my rather unsightly burn scar, which some people may not wish to see and may be repulsed by even, covered. Do you think I should keep it covered in order to be considerate to others?

Nurse ins are something completely seperate to a Mother feeding going about her normal business breastfeeding in public. I actually agree with you I think they can create the wrong impression, but I also think they can have their place. Once upon a time people thought women chaining themselves to railings, throwing themselves under the King's horse and burning their bras was radical, as well as off putting. I mean, those dreadful women, couldn't they behave with some decorum? However, all of those things and what they related to have made the world a much better place for women today.

You keep mentioning women 'flashing their boobs about'. I really do not see how a woman sitting down, feeding her baby, who happens to expose most of her breast to feed is 'flashing her boobs about' or 'flashing her boobs in your face'. Presumably you're not sitting a foot in front of her and the nature of breastfeeding means in itself that a baby or toddler is going to be covering the breast to a large extent.

This link contains a woman breastfeeding and she's pulled her top down to do it. Do you really think she is 'flashing her boobs about'?

https://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01563/breastfeeding_1563610c.jpg

I didn't answer that question because I thought it was a little crazy to be honest. A scar that you can't help isn't the same thing at all as someone showing no consideration for others when it comes to nudity. I hinestly don't understand the comparison.

It's a pity it is so hard for you to understand. You were talking about being considerate of others. People may not want to see women breastfeeding, people may not want to see my scarring. I may not be able to help being scarred, but I could cover up. Same as I could cover up when breastfeeding. But I don't and the law is on my side.

How about I make it easier for you. Some people don't want to see breastfeeding in public at all covered or not. What about being considerate towards them? Perhaps none of us should breastfeed in public at all? After all, we don't have to.

You seem to be avoiding the issue yet again though, is the woman in the photo linked 'flashing her boobs about' or not?

You are very rude. I didn't click on that link til just now and no she isn't. She has a baby in front if her boob. I think you're the one who doesn't understand.

Oh dear, rude and flashing my breasts for all to see...

This thread is about breastfeeding in public. In order to breastfeed in public, you have to actually be breastfeeding, which is going to mean your nipple is either in the baby's mouth or may be visible for a short period of time when you are either faffing about getting a baby latched on, when they fling themselves off to look around or similar.

Women who have finished breastfeeding in public, who are no longer breastfeeding but choosing to leave their breasts out for an extended period of time aren't nursing in public, are they? They have finished doing that and are simply leaving their breasts out.

However, I've yet to see any woman do this and I see a lot of breastfeeding women in my personal and 'professional' life.

If you don't leave your boob out and people don't see anything then Why are you arguing with me? I've bf in oublic, I've bf in a restaurant, I've bf outdoors, I've bf in a park, I've bf at a lake, I've bf in front of my in laws, I e bf in front of my brothers, and I've bf in front of my stepdad. No one but my mom and my husband has seen so much as a nipple. And I have a very, very active huge nurser. Yeah you have to get your nipple out but you don't have to save it around which is the only thing I've expressed concern with. If you don't think that's appropriate eithe then whya re you disagreeing with me.

 

[pinklightbulb]

I once flashed my dad by accident. And I wasn't even BF then. Seeing a breast for a few seconds never killed him and I doubt it would anyone.

 

[Dk1234]

BFing isn't shameful. It's amazing!!!! I just don't think public nudity and BFing go hand in hand

 

[Tasha]

I don't think we're going to find common ground here. It's so sad that no one has consideration for other parents anymore. The 'only my child matters' attitude is really sad. I guess it's not really a village, is it?

And for the record, I wasn't talking about an accidental nip slip by a new BFing mom. I did that too in the early days. I was talking about those that don't even attempt not to show a full on breast.

Funny because you are doing the exact same by saying your child should come before that of the BF baby. Where is the consideration for the nursing mother and her child?

And as I KEEP saying you might see it as not attempting to, but it might not be possible to for some mum's, no matter how experienced they are. Again just because it became easy for you to be discrete (as you said earlier in the thread) doesnt mean it is for everyone.

 

[Foogirl]

The radical label, the "breastapo" thing, the Nurse ins etc, this is media driven and has absolutely no bearing on what the majority of women actually do when they are NIP. They are just feeding their babies. Some with more boob on show than others, but all trying to achieve the same goal - to get their baby fed. Mixing up NIP with the media hyped stuff is just plain wrong.

That's exactly what I'm trying to say though. If people just saw more of women just feeding their babies it would make all that seem like nonsense and just normal feeding the norm. I mean seriously do all of you sip your boob out and leave it there while you get sorted and then out baby away and stuff before you put your boob back away? Because I think that's the only think anyone has expressed having a problem with. And it DOES happen. I mean if you know your baby is gonna pull off several times and have no means of covering yourself when it happens I think that is showing nudity. If your baby randomly hears a sound and pulls off unexpectantly then I mean that isn't you being non discrete. It's an accident.

But again you are putting "conditions" on what women should do when they breastfeed. Abby sometimes pulled off a lot, she sometimes didn't. As I said, anyone close enough to see anything can get out of my face. People should get used to seeing all sorts of women breastfeeding in different ways, it's totally wrong to say "yeah, you can do it, but really, try to make sure no-one actually sees anything"

I really have seen more flesh on show in many more places than I ever have from women NIP. I suspect the reason so few women actually do it is because there are so many "rules" they are supposed to adhere to, its easier just to stay at home.

 

[pinklightbulb]

I feel for larger-breasted women, I honestly do. I have freaking A-cups and flashed sometimes but nobody would've seen much. I don't know how a well-endowed woman is supposed to feed discreetly all the time, and especially not when she's just getting the hang of it. What, she's not supposed to go anywhere till BF is established? That's silly. And even when it is, flashes still happen. The world needs to get a grip, honestly.

 

[Dk1234]

I once flashed my dad by accident. And I wasn't even BF then. Seeing a breast for a few seconds never killed him and I doubt it would anyone.

Absolutely not. It probably did make him uncomfortable though. My point isn't that it is awful and horrible for anyone to see a boob. My 5 year old cousin wlked in whole I was nursing and she had never seen it before and she didn't even ask a question. She looked at baby and moved on, but I wouldn't have wanted baby to pull off at that moment either. My main point is, in order for people of all kinds to view nip as normal and acceptable, I think discretion is a better route to take than not caring about anyone but your baby. I want nursing to be normal and I want nip to be normal. I don't think flashig boob in public helps it.

 

[Foogirl]

I don't think we're going to find common ground here. It's so sad that no one has consideration for other parents anymore. The 'only my child matters' attitude is really sad. I guess it's not really a village, is it?

And for the record, I wasn't talking about an accidental nip slip by a new BFing mom. I did that too in the early days. I was talking about those that don't even attempt not to show a full on breast.

Massive leap to say no-one has any consideration for other parents. Totally out of proportion. This is one situation, and one which is protected by law.

But tell me, why is it ok for your 7 year old to see the "accidental" breast of a new BFing mother in their early days but not the "purposeful" breast of a mother who is more experienced?