Monday, August 11, 2008

I'm gonna piss someone off with this one

I just read Megan's blog and she had a post about a woman who was asked to not breastfeed in a store and showed up the next day with other breastfeeding woman to protest. (I didn't read the article but this was the jest of it). Megan agreed with this woman, and although I did start a comment on her blog, due to the length of it I decided to make a post. (And, I left a long comment on someone else's blog and she made a point to stay if you're going to make a long comment you should make it a post on your own blog and reference the original post). Here's my stand on it, and I'm allowed to say it here because it's our blog. I do not agree with making a big production of breastfeeding in public. Yes, it's a woman's right. Yes, it's healthier for the baby, yadda yadda yadda. If you want to nurse in public, the least you could do is be discreet about it. And, before anyone asks, no, I did not nurse my boys. It was my choice and I chose not to. There is nothing I hate more than being out in public and seeing a boob being whipped out. I don't care that there is a baby attached to the end. I don't want to see boobs in public. There are many ways to be discreet feeding a baby that do not involve sitting in a corner or covering the baby's head with a blanket. In my opinion, if you are in a place of business and the owner / manager asks you to leave because you are doing something that makes someone else uncomfortable, don't show up the next day to make a big show about it. That just makes you look like a fool and a twit. And, maybe I'm just silly as a non-breastfeeding mom, but *I* would think that if you are going to nurse in public, it would be better and calmer for the baby to be discreet, as opposed to latching a baby on and continuing to walk around while you shop.

18 comments:

Kel P said...

I know that breastfeeding in public is really offensive to some people, and that others take it to the other extreme breastfeeding wherever, whenever. I only breastfed Alan in public when I absolutely had to, and trust me I found a place where there was next to no chance of anyone seeing anything they shouldn't see. And, I usually kept some milk in a bottle if we were going to be out around feeding time. It is possible to feed the way you want and keep it covered!

Kel P said...

P.S. You didn't piss me off :) Keep trying! lol

Anonymous said...

Being a nursing mom, I tried to avoid feeding my baby in public, but if I had to I went in the corner where no one could see. I also learned to plan my trips around feedings. There is also some public places to go ie> Sears Bathroom had a spot.

Mary Lou

Jackie S. Quire said...

I've never been in the situation. I don't have any kids at this point. But if/when I do, and if I'm able to breastfeed them, I probably will.

But here's the thing. I don't think PERSONALLY I would feel comfortable just yanking out my boob in public. It's just not really my style.

So maybe it just comes down to "a woman's right to choose"

Anonymous said...

Oh how I long for the days when a woman couldn't choose, vote, or wear pants.
CL

Rob, Tina and the boys said...

Oh CL I'm soo glad you're back! :)

Megan said...

Pshaw! It takes more than that to piss me off!

But what's this I hear about us having the choice to not wear pants?

Jackie S. Quire said...

I say no to pants! Let us be pants-free!

Valentina said...

I started writing a comment, Tina, but since it was going to be too long, I decided to copy you and write a post on my own blog...

OHN said...

S1, bottle fed~not much choice in that we had 3 days noticed before we picked him up;)
S2, bottle fed because certainly BigD would help with the night feedings since we had a 17 month old--NOT.
S3, breastfed. I had enough to feed a small country. It worked out that I managed to not have to whip it out in public (cause that is just cruel to all in the near vicinity). When S3 was 10 days old Big D took the other two trick-or-treating and I had to stay behind and hand out tooth rotting candy. Welllll...S3 was screaming his lungs out for a meal so I threw a blanket over the both of us and he had a pleasant dinner while I was passing out candy...that was my one time "in public" and not even any of the parents that came knew what I was doing :)

Anonymous said...

At the moment we live close to where this all took place and as Parents and grand parents we think that breast feeding is best for baby, but it is probably best for that to be done where privacy is available. this lady who complained was not told to leave the store, the clerk offered her a place to feed the baby in private and she took it the wrong way and then the whole thing just blew completely out of control. down south here in Ontario it is a little crazy, with things like this getting blown out of all proportion, that is why we are looking forward to moving to Arviat Nunavut in a few weeks.

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan said...

I brought my boobie out in public and I really don't think many people even noticed- and these boobies were huge!!! A baby has a right to eat and I do think if breastfeeding was done by more moms, no one would take notice at all. In so many countries around the world this wouldn't even be an issue. I am just glad I don't live in the States- in some states it is illegal to boob feed your kid in public!!

Anonymous said...

sorry new to blogging. got the url wrong...

Kate Nova said...

CL: LOL. Wait. Was that serious? I like voting! And wearing pants!

Indigo said...

I just returned from Mexico City where I was one of 22,000 delegates to the XVII Global AIDS confeence. What a rush. I scored an amazing bumper sticker there that said
"more boobs in public, less boobs in public office"
and the double o's in boobs were breasts. It was made by the Sex Workers Outreach Project USA
www.swopusa.org
1 877 776 2004

Jody said...

Woman in Europe have their boobs out all the time on beaches and no one cares... its seems to be such an issue back in the states and canada and I don't get this. It makes me sad to come from such a great place, but one that can be so narrow minded about natural things. Feeding your baby is supposed to be the most natural thing in the world and it shouldn't be an issue. If I ever go anywhere where someone is doing something that makes ME uncomfortable, I am the one to leave. Its my problem after all...

Anonymous said...

Looks like a lot of people beat me too it with their opinion. I'd offer mine but as a male, I'm just wary of making myself seem like a boob.

Rob, Tina and the boys said...

Nice Darcy. :)