Bare Breastfeeding in Public: Appropriate or not?

[Rebekka]

I think it's OK - that's what breasts are for. Most people are discrete about it anyway, and the largest part of the breast is not visible because the baby is blocking the view.

 

[Rebekka]

Okay but I find people eating medium rare stakes in a restaurant gross. Should they not do it?

Do you want them more rare or more medium? (I mean, what grosses you out exactly? Because I like mine extremely rare, and I don't want to offend you if we ever were to have dinner together. )

 

[moerunamida]

As long as it is done tactfully and discreetly without showing skin, I think it is fine. I dont want to see anyone naked, reguardless if it is 'natural'. I see enough skin on tv for all these dang bra, body soap, and various other commericals.

 

[KarateCowboy]

Ah see nuthing hrong weeth eet. Zhees eehz naturale, noh? Zhe eez un wohmahn, zher eez ehr bebe, ahn zher eez ehr boobeh. Gohd mehd zhe boobeh fohr zhe bebe, naht zhe boyeeh. Ah sinhk zhat zhe ahppalledness of zhe peepel eez ahn exahmpul of ahoo ovehr sehckshooahlahzed zhe societeee ahz behcohm.

Cette naturale.

 

[Bunnymedic]

Ah see nuthing hrong weeth eet. Zhees eehz naturale, noh? Zhe eez un wohmahn, zher eez ehr bebe, ahn zher eez ehr boobeh. Gohd mehd zhe boobeh fohr zhe bebe, naht zhe boyeeh. Ah sinhk zhat zhe ahppalledness of zhe peepel eez ahn exahmpul of ahoo ovehr sehckshooahlahzed zhe societeee ahz behcohm.

Cette naturale.

Huh???????


Translation please....

 

[KarateCowboy]

Huh???????


Translation please....

Think Monty Python and the Holy Grail

 

[helenofbritain]

Look! A thread made to suit my user title! How considerate of you, Weasel!

Ah see nuthing hrong weeth eet. Zhees eehz naturale, noh? Zhe eez un wohmahn, zher eez ehr bebe, ahn zher eez ehr boobeh. Gohd mehd zhe boobeh fohr zhe bebe, naht zhe boyeeh. Ah sinhk zhat zhe ahppalledness of zhe peepel eez ahn exahmpul of ahoo ovehr sehckshooahlahzed zhe societeee ahz behcohm.

Cette naturale.

C'est tres naturale

Zat eez - 'ow you say? - 'ilarious!!!

But seriously though - the main reason people have a problem with breastfeeding (in my experience as the oldest of ten breastfed babies and the mother of two breastfed babies) is because they are only able to see breasts in a sexual way. Modern society can take a lot of the blame for that

But what people need to remember is that breasts were designed for feeding babies (as udders were designed for calf-feeding). Everything else is a fringe benefit.

Some other observations:

How would you like it if someone asked you to prepare and eat your lunch in a toilet cubicle?
Why should babies have to eat inferior formulas because people are offended by their mothers' breasts?
Where do you see more cleavage? On a breastfeeding mum, or in the beer ad/at the beach/in the movie love scene/out at a nightclub?
How closely are you looking at these breastfeeding women? Seriously - if they are doing it correctly, you shouldn't be able to see anything at all, except as the baby is coming on or off. And even then you'd have to watch like a hawk to see any nipple.
If you don't want to see a woman using the breasts God gave her to breastfeed the baby God gave her, then use the neck God gave you and turn your head. Or the eyelids God gave you and close your eyes. It's not hard.
If you ever come to Australia, please remember that women have a statutory right to breastfeed here, and if you ask us to stop you are breaking the law.

It's about time I got off my soapbox I think.
HofB

 

[Rebekka]

Look! A thread made to suit my user title! How considerate of you, Weasel!



C'est tres naturale

Zat eez - ow' you say? - 'ilarious!!!

But seriously though - the main reason people have a problem with breastfeeding (in my experience as the oldest of ten breastfed babies and the mother of two breastfed babies) is because they are only able to see breasts in a sexual way. Modern society can take a lot of the blame for that

But what people need to remember is that breasts were designed for feeding babies (as udders were designed for calf-feeding). Everything else is a fringe benefit.

Some other observations:

How would you like it if someone asked you to prepare and eat your lunch in a toilet cubicle?
Why should babies have to eat inferior formulas because people are offended by their mothers' breasts?
Where do you see more cleavage? On a breastfeeding mum, or in the beer ad/at the beach/in the movie love scene/out at a nightclub?
How closely are you looking at these breastfeeding women? Seriously - if they are doing it correctly, you shouldn't be able to see anything at all, except as the baby is coming on or off. And even then you'd have to watch like a hawk to see any nipple.
If you don't want to see a woman using the breasts God gave her to breastfeed the baby God gave her, then use the neck God gave you and turn your head. Or the eyelids God gave you and close your eyes. It's not hard.
If you ever come to Australia, please remember that women have a statutory right to breastfeed here, and if you ask us to stop you are breaking the law.

It's about time I got off my soapbox I think.
HofB

Yeah, what she said.

 

[plum]

Weasel: one reason why relieving oneself in public and breast feeding are not the same is that one is sanitary and one is not. One has to do with ridding the body of waste, the other has to do with feeding and nourishing. They are not the same.

Even in Scripture God commands the Israelites to go outside the camp to relieve themselves (Deut 23:12-14). Does he tell breastfeeding women to leave the camp to feed their children? No...

Hello apple, meet orange.

 

[KarateCowboy]

Weasel: one reason why relieving oneself in public and breast feeding are not the same is that one is sanitary and one is not. One has to do with ridding the body of waste, the other has to do with feeding and nourishing. They are not the same.

Even in Scripture God commands the Israelites to go outside the camp to relieve themselves (Deut 23:12-14). Does he tell breastfeeding women to leave the camp to feed their children? No...

Hello apple, meet orange.

Technically, urine is sterile when it comes out.

 

[Linnis]

Urine is not always sterile.

Either way feeding one's child and going to the bathroom are completely different things.

What's funny is a cover or blanket normally gets a nursing mom more looks than not. If she pulls one shirt up and unclasps the nursing bra, really the breast is uncovered for less than 10 seconds and most like me have a burp cloth or something handy to cover themselves if the baby decide to look at the world upside down.

If one is that scared to see a breast should we tell every women who owns most of the tops they sell now to come prepared with a blanket for those who might be offended to see.

Maybe some need to carry blankets and you can put them over your own head until the baby's done eating.

 

[Bunnymedic]

If you don't want to see a woman using the breasts God gave her to breastfeed the baby God gave her, then use the neck God gave you and turn your head. Or the eyelids God gave you and close your eyes. It's not hard.

ha ha

I find this rather funny

 

[koban4max]

I see guys just staring at a woman who was breastfeeding as if it was a sight seeing.

 

[LostUntilSaved]

If one is that scared to see a breast should we tell every women who owns most of the tops they sell now to come prepared with a blanket for those who might be offended to see.

Maybe some need to carry blankets and you can put them over your own head until the baby's done eating.

I never seen it like that. Interesting points. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Weasel7711]

Weasel: one reason why relieving oneself in public and breast feeding are not the same is that one is sanitary and one is not. One has to do with ridding the body of waste, the other has to do with feeding and nourishing. They are not the same.

Even in Scripture God commands the Israelites to go outside the camp to relieve themselves (Deut 23:12-14). Does he tell breastfeeding women to leave the camp to feed their children? No...

Hello apple, meet orange.

There are a lot of interesting commands in the OT about cleanliness that don't apply today because of certain things. I'm sure you don't leave your city and go out in the wilderness for a few days during your period like the Bible commands. People have invented things such as toilets and tampons that greatly get rid of these cleanliness issues. And like another in this thread has mentioned, urine is sterile.

So what if there is a toilet, just no walls. Its still sanitary. I'm sure if there was a dude sitting on a toilet in the middle of times square, you would get weirded out. The body getting rid of waste is just as biologically/scientifically fascinating as a newborn feeding, if you look at the mechanics of it. So why are some people grossed out by it? There really isn't a good reason, they just ARE. The same goes for breastfeeding for some people. And for that reason, all we are saying (those who agree with me) is put a little cover over it.

The main point here: I really enjoy arguing.

 

[Weasel7711]

Urine is not always sterile.

Only if you have some weird infection... or an STD...
A healthy person's urine is sterile because of the ammonia contained in it.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

geez people....grow up already! There's nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public, covered or not (tho I'd prefer them covered)...and it's completely and utterly stupid to compare it to using the bathroom. If you don't like it don't look...if men are turned on by a nursing mother..well that's just sick, not that it's not beautiful, but it's not sexual. Breasts weren't just made for your enjoyment gentlemen, they were made to feed babies also.

 

[Weasel7711]

geez people....grow up already! There's nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public, covered or not (tho I'd prefer them covered)...and it's completely and utterly stupid to compare it to using the bathroom. If you don't like it don't look...if men are turned on by a nursing mother..well that's just sick, not that it's not beautiful, but it's not sexual. Breasts weren't just made for your enjoyment gentlemen, they were made to feed babies also.

Who said it was sexual. And give an argument why it shouldn't be compared to getting rid of waste other than "its just different"

And you even said you would prefer them covered, so whats the argument here?

 

[helenofbritain]

Who said it was sexual. And give an argument why it shouldn't be compared to getting rid of waste other than "its just different"

And you even said you would prefer them covered, so whats the argument here?

The argument is that people are so used to seeing breasts in a sexual way that when they see them being used for what they were actually invented for they go "Eeewww!! Grosss!!! I can't believe that woman has her breasts on in public! I'm so offended!!!"

As opposed to going, "Hmm, well I can see less of her breast than I saw at the beach earlier. And her baby must be hungry."

Seriously. Breastfeeding is not sexy. Beautiful, but not sexy. People who find it offensive better hope their babies aren't born lactose intolerant - because they will HAVE to be breastfed then.

Besides which, breastmilk is PERFECT for babies. Formula will NEVER be as good. Can you name me any other substance that humans can live on exclusively for six months that will allow them to gain at least 3kg, develop their brains, build up their immune system, be free, teach people about the tastes of other foods... I could go on.

Chocolate? No.
Cheese? No.
Potatoes? No.
I could go on.

Breastmilk? YES.

 

[Luther073082]

geez people....grow up already! There's nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public, covered or not (tho I'd prefer them covered)...and it's completely and utterly stupid to compare it to using the bathroom. If you don't like it don't look...if men are turned on by a nursing mother..well that's just sick, not that it's not beautiful, but it's not sexual. Breasts weren't just made for your enjoyment gentlemen, they were made to feed babies also.

I just think that its more polite to cover it or go to a private area if you can. Doesn't have to be a bathroom.

There are certain things that should be done with some discretion in order to be polite and I think this is one of them.

I'm not turned on by a breastfeeding mom trust me but I think its impolite for someone to do that without trying to be at least a little bit discreet. Doesn't have to be real good, all the adults will know whats going on anyways.