Thursday
May132010
50 Reasons for Breastfeeding Anytime, Anywhere
Thursday, May 13, 2010 
Once again, there has been an incident where someone went up to a breastfeeding mother and told her she had to cover up or leave. Once again, the media feels to need to create a breeding ground for ignorance by asking questions like "should there be any restrictions on breastfeeding in public?" The answer to that stupid question (and yes...there are stupid questions), is simply NO. There should not be any restrictions. There is a myriad of reasons why women should and are able to breastfeed anytime, anywhere.
Human Rights
1. It is illegal to discriminate against or harass a woman because of her sex, including pregnancy and breastfeeding. (or if it isn't where you live, it should be!)
2. Telling a woman to cover up or to strip down is a tactic used to control women.
3. Telling women not to breastfeed in public is a mechanism for marginalizing women.
4. Child's right to eat. Period.
5. Child's right to eat without a blanket over their head.
6. Child's right to eat under sanitary conditions (i.e. not in a washroom).
7. Child, especially baby's, right to eat when they are hungry and in need of nourishment (not according to a schedule arbitrarily imposed to convenience others).
8. Person with disability's right to use the handicapped stall in a washroom when needed, rather than having to wait for a shunned nursing mother to finish nursing or pumping in there.
9. Because a baby's right to nurse is more important than your non-existent right to not have to look at things you do not like to look at.
Logistical reasons
10. To avoid nipple confusion (giving a bottle or pacifier before breastfeeding has been fully established can cause the baby to reject the breast).
11. Because it is a lot easier to just nurse anytime, anywhere than to try to plan the nightmarish logistics of having enough pumped milk with you for the time you will be out, as well as finding a private place to pump before your breasts explode.
12. Because babies often will not allow you to put a blanket or nursing cover over them and will push it off.
13. Because it is hard enough as it is for new moms to get their baby latched on properly, without having to worry about whether they are covering every inch of skin all of the time while doing so.
14. So that mothers can toss a diaper and some wipes in their bag and then go out, rather than being weighted down by having to prepare and lug around a huge diaper bag full of bottles, formula and/or pumped milk on ice, nursing covers, etc.
15. So that moms do not always have to be on the lookout for somewhere to warm a bottle while in public.
16. So that moms do not always have to be on the lookout for somewhere private to express their milk while in public.
17. So that when a mom ends up stuck somewhere longer than she planned, she doesn't ever have to worry about running out of food for the baby (or getting a breast infection because her breasts haven't been emptied in a long time).
18. So that a mother's older children are not prisoners of their younger sibling's need to nurse - a nursing mom can go with her older child to the park, to swimming lessons, to school pick up/drop off, etc.
19. So that breastfeeding moms do not lose their place in line by stepping out to nurse a baby in a private place.
20. So that other women do not have to wait even longer in line at public restrooms because all the stalls are full of breastfeeding moms.
21. So that breastfeeding moms do not end up with a soaking wet shirt when their milk lets down in public because their baby is crying.
22. So that breastfeeding moms do not need to leave their companions hanging in the middle of an interesting conversation by saying "excuse me while I go into the other room to nurse for 30 minutes."
23. Because frequent nursing helps mothers to maintain a good milk supply (inadequate milk supply is the most frequently cited reason for giving up on breastfeeding).
24. New moms have enough to worry about in their sleep deprived state without having to make special arrangements in order to accommodate your opinion about how they choose to feed their baby.
Financial reasons
25. So that mothers do not need to purchase unnecessary bottles, breast pumps, infant formula, nursing covers or other apparatus just to make a few squirmy people feel comfortable.
26. So that mothers do not waste gas going back home between errands in order to nurse at home, rather than in public.
27. So that mothers continue to be good consumers, spending their money in stores, cafes, restaurants, movie theaters, airlines, resorts, sporting events, and more all while nursing their child (instead of staying at home).
Societal reasons
28. To allow women to continue to be full participants in society even when they have an infant.
29. To cut down on unnecessary noise from babies and toddlers who are crying, when it could easily be fixed through the nourishment and comfort of their mother's breast.
30. So that you don't have to listen to a screaming baby while waiting for the bottle to be warmed up.
31. So that you don't have to wait longer for your meal or drink because the waiter or flight attendant is busy heating up a bottle.
32. Because nursing in public is a better (easier, quieter, more attractive) alternative to pumping in public and then feeding a bottle.
33. Because it is actually a lot more discreet to nurse without a cover than to have one of the "HELLO LOOK AT ME I'M BREASTFEEDING" covers over your baby.
34. Because if you are staring with your jaw open at a mom who is breastfeeding in public, you might miss some of the truly atrocious things that you would otherwise have been exposed to in public.
Normalizing Breastfeeding
35. Because breastfeeding should be seen as normal, and not something that needs to be hidden in the washroom or under a cover.
36. Bottles, rather than breastfeeding are often seen as the universal symbol for baby feeding, despite breastfeeding being the preferred method of feeding and more imagery of breastfeeding is required to combat this.
37. The infant formula and baby bottle industry flashes images of bottle feeding all over the place and since there is no money in the advertising of breastfeeding, breastfeeding moms are needed to combat that imagery with the "real thing".
38. Most women haven't had the advantage of seeing their mothers, aunts, and sisters breastfeed, so it is important for them to see others doing it so that they can learn how it is done. The 2 minute whirlwind breastfeeding positioning education given in the hospital just doesn't cut it compared with years of observation.
39. Women in certain socio-demographic groups have never seen another woman breastfeed and that is a huge barrier to them considering breastfeeding their own babies.
40. Women who do not nurse in public or who use nursing covers are likely to wean their baby earlier than those who nurse without a cover in public, which could mean that they do not meet their own breastfeeding goals and and that fewer women meet the goals prescribed by health authorities, such as 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding until at least age 2.
41. Children need to see breasts being used to feed babies before they are introduced to them as sex objects. This means that they should see their own mother (if possible) and other mothers breastfeeding, so that they understand the natural function of the breast.
42. Images of sexualized breasts are everywhere - from advertising to women walking down the street. If there is no breastfeeding in public, but sexualized images of breasts continue to be flaunted in public, our youth will grow up thinking that breasts are only sexual. This will make more women think it is "icky" to breastfeed and make more men have the attitude of "no baby is going to suck on those tits, they are all mine."
Just because
43. Because babies like it.
44. Because breastfeeding is beautiful and I'm sure there are more people who appreciate seeing babies being breastfed than there are people who oppose it.
45. Because mothers do not deserve to be belittled or humiliated when giving the best thing there is to their baby.
46. Because an awful lot of women show more breast when they are not breastfeeding than breastfeeding mothers show when they are breastfeeding.
47. Because I don't like the way you look, but you don't see me debating your right to be in public or suggesting you should undergo surgery or change your wardrobe before leaving the house.
48. Because companies like facebook continue to have screwed up policies that do not allow breastfeeding photos, but yet serve up ads with topless women in them.
49. Because you can turn your head or avert your eyes.
50. Because even one of these reasons is a good enough reason for continuing to ensure the rights of breastfeeding mothers and breastfed children and because every one of these reasons is more important than the "ick, I don't want to see that" excuses of those who oppose it.
Those are my 50 reasons. Which is your favourite? What did I miss?
Image credit:jakekrohn on flickr
Reader Comments (229)
[...] heh... if you're exposing your genitals to breastfeed, you're doing it wrong! Breastfeeding is not a health code violation. Breastmilk is not a dirty bodily fluid, it's FOOD! And you have to feed your baby when practical, most people understand that. Have you read this post? It's amazing: http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/0...time-anywhere/ [...]
Thanks for linking to this on Twitter today. Got to read it all again and relive my first tentative months feeding my son: the initial anxiety about nursing in public, how quickly it went away and how proud I am to live in a community where it's the norm to breastfeed in public. I want it to be the norm for every other woman out there. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I totally agree, though it would be cool to see a list of reasons that bottle-feeding a new born is ok too. The amount of times I have been feeding my child a bottle in the quiet space of the much improved nursing rooms only to be told by other mothers that I don't need to be in there, assuming they mean because I am not breastfeeding is pretty unpleasant. I do a million other things that make me a great mum to my three kids, but I choose not to breastfeed because of the pain it causes me every time I have tried and I get the third degree every time I feed my child a bottle in public.
I'm sorry that you get shamed for bottle feeding, Becca. That is truly unfair and cruel. When I was supplementing my son with formula and expressed breast milk with a bottle in public I felt like I was "on display" far more than when I simply breastfed him. But no one has ever kicked a bottlefeeding mom out of IKEA.
Thank you for this. I am loving all of the positive comments. What a boost for a breastfeeding mother! I nursed all my babies whenever and wherever. Parks, museums, zoo, restraunts, malls, libraries, church. I have had just a few ignorant people confront and harass me, which is an awful experience. Makes you fearful to ever leave the house again. But overall I have had smiles and nods of encouragement from strangers of all ages and that makes such a huge difference. It takes courage for a woman to breastfeed in public. Breastfeeding women need to hear support and encouragement. So the next time you see a mother meeting her childs needs at her breast, give her a thumbs-up and an "atta girl!" If we ever hope to make a difference, we all need to support and promote breastfeeding in this country. As women, shouldn't we do more to support each other?
As long as women's bodies, especially the breasts, are super-sexualized in our culture, breastfeeding in public is going to have an element of awkwardness. But it's easy enough to just look away if you feel awkward. It's not "easy enough" to make other arrangements for your baby, in fact it's quite tricky at times. And parenting, I don't care what people say, is already filled with *enough* challenges as it is... we really don't need ONE more. Loved the article! Thanks for writing it!
[...] There is no shame — or at least, there shouldn’t be any shame — in breastfeeding a... This is what a toddler nursing looks like: [...]
One of my facebook "friends" just had a status with the whole "breastfeeding is great, but not where I have to see it" thing. Then I flipped over to this blog, noticed this post on the sidebar, and I really want to share this on facebook RIGHT NOW. Maybe a bit too passive aggressive, though. But I do love this list!
Respect for others is just as valid a concern as feeding your child. Using the restroom is a human right too, but for decency's sake, we've chosen to restrict that activity to a private setting. I'm not comparing the two, all I'm saying is if a simple cover makes everyone comfortable and the baby couldn't care less, why not be a little accomodating. It's not like we don't have bigger things to worry about with much more difficult solutions.
The woman who wrote this obviously has some men-issues. She completely lost me when she stated that this is somehow just a ruse for men to control women. I mean, cmon, you can't be serious. Are women controlling men by insisting that men keep their genitals covered up? And I can already see some women beginning to get spun up over that statement, but the fact is, that regardless of the function of exposing yourself, there are those around us, driven in part by the American culture of making nudity and sex taboo, that are going to be made very uncomfortable and in a civil society, that should be taken into account.
It's really no different that someone going to restarant with an unruley child and couldn't care less whether the child disturbs the dinner of those around them. It's rude, it's self-centered and it shouldn't be tolerated.
What you may not realize, Chad, is that "covering up" isn't always possible. The older a baby gets, the more active they are. They want to play with the cover and move it around, or they cry under it, making nursing impossible. Another thing is that no one (that I know of anyway) is advocating for a woman just hanging her whole breast out in a restaurant or other public place for obvious "display." The issue is that even for those who use their own clothing to cover *most* of the area exposed, there is sometimes a little extra exposure when putting the baby on or taking them off the breast because of the "mechanics" of doing so. Because of this temporary phenomenon, people freak. I also disagree that this could be compared to an unruly child in a restaurant. Loud noises are just not the same as a woman peacefully feeding a baby as far as intrusion on other diners goes. It's what they make of it, not what is actually happening, that is the issue.
I can appreciate everything you just said Cathy and would say that if you've made that simple attempt at being considerate of others, than in my opinion, you've done your part. And I would also, personally, agree with you that peacefully feeding your baby is NOT the same as the unruly child, but that opinion is not shared by everyone. Maybe I'm not offended hearing the word "damn" in public or seeing someone spit on the sidewalk. That doesn't imply that everyone feels the same.
You can only go so far to appease people, I get that. I'm not advocating turning your life upside-down because of a few uneducated jerks, but so many people these days couldn't care less about anyone but themselves and that attitude is slowly eroding our respect for one another and our communities.... just try.
I can see where you're "coming from" Chad, but I think that sites such as this one and others that are big on breast-feeding advocacy are not coming from a position of "I can do what I want so just screw you" but instead exist as a way to educate people on what is *normal* so that harrassment can cease. **Many** of us have been harrassed. For example, I was sent to the restroom by a store employee of a large hardware store when I had wanted to nurse sitting in one of the chairs in the "choose your interior designs" department even though I was *using a cover* (the baby was very small and not playing with it yet). This was on a day when the store was not crowded and hardly anyone else was around. The restroom had nowhere to sit but a toilet, and even though it was next to the employee break room, I was not offered that place, only a toilet. Had it not been for breastfeeding advocates on the internet, I might not have eventually learned that I had a *legal* right in my state to breastfeed anywhere else that I was allowed to normally be. It is for the reason of taking baby-feeding-by-breast back into the normalcy it experienced for centuries of human history, before breasts got the reputation of being something "naughty" or "dirty," that sites such as this exist, not to flaunt one's "rights" in others' faces.
Also, a case in point about the "normalcy" of the past: My 95-year-old grandfather tells me that he remembers a time when seeing women breastfeed was a normal thing, and that children were often breastfeed at least until age 3. It was all about context, as far as that kind of thing goes, because people knew it was not something sexual. It is that kind of normalcy that we would like to see the world get back to. It the deep-seated thought that breasts are "naughty" or "dirty" that makes people freak, IMO.
Well said and point taken. I don't disagree with any of it. It's unfortunate that our society can't seem to draw that distinction. Your point about raising awareness resonated with me too and I'm glad there are venues for it.
And just so I'm clear, if put in the position, I would vehemently defend my wife or any woman that received harassment over this issue, regardless of the "level of exposure", because as it turns out, treating a woman with disrespect over such a thing is far, far worse than anything else we're talking about.
But, the way it has been presented in this article seems to take the tact of "I'm going to do what I want and I couldn't care less how it affects other people". I don't think that is how responsible adults approach issues like this and I would hope that other forums take a slightly less antagonistic approach.
Chad:
I don't have "men issues", but I do recognize that there are ongoing inequalities between men and women and that there are things men do to try to control women.
One of those things is telling women how to dress, whether that is to "cover up" or "strip down". This is true not only in the breastfeeding context, but certainly also in that context.
If you haven't seen it, you may wish to watch the video that I created on that topic: http://www.phdinparenting.com/2011/02/20/coveringup/
Chad, Cathy said some great things, so I don't have much to add. I just want to say that I absolutely agree that acting high-and-mighty and making a big show out of exposing one's breasts while nursing as a way of proving your rights is not the way to go about it. Fortunately, most of us who advocate nursing in public do not behave in that way. We just want to be seen as normal mothers feeding and soothing our children in a normal way. By nursing in public in a casual everyday way, I hope that more and more people will grow to see it as being normal and not get offended by it. And no, I don't think that men tell women to cover up as a way to control them... maybe it happens from time to time, but the vast majority of men who ask women to cover up or leave while nursing are just having a knee-jerk reaction based on what society has told them about breasts. Most times I'm sure they don't realize that it may make the woman feel like she is being told she must become a second-class citizen and stay out of the public eye until her child has weaned.
I breastfed my children in the 1960s with no problem. Sometimes there were questions from children because they thought I was denying the baby milk because they saw I did not use a bottle. They were concerned about the baby.
I believe attitude is key. It certainly is a right to breastfeed the baby but we do not have to be confrontational. We just need to behave as though it is normal, which it is.
Like I stated earlier in the year on this site, I don't consider myself ignorant. I'm well educated and have been in the military for almost 30 years. I have worked with people from all walks of life and have experienced many cultural differences around the world. I understand your view on public breastfeeding and its natural and all that...but there are a lot of natural acts that are not appropriate for the American viewing public. I have seen more than my fair share of natural acts from many third world countries and most of it not pretty. Drawing off my cultural experiences here and around the world, I believe breast feeding in public is a natural act we should kept private. I know it can be done discretely, but discretion is like common sense and common sense is not so common. Those are my thoughts – Thx Rog.
Roger,
I agree that the ability to be discreet is sometimes lacking, and I understand your viewpoint, but I think you are unaware of some of the reasons why it MUST be done in public sometimes -
1) babies need to eat when they are hungry. I assume that most of the natural acts that you have seen in your travels were performed by adults or older children, who are able to wait when necessary. Babies have no logic or patience; when they need something they need it NOW and can't wait for mom to get somewhere where it is considered "appropriate".
2) Mothers have other responsibilities besides taking care of one particular child - groceries need to bought, other children need to go places, etc. Even if a mother could afford to stay home with her child(ren) 24/7, (since very young babies need to eat quite often), and let others do chores outside the house, she would still need to have adult interaction at some point or she would go crazy. That is not a healthy parenting situation.
3) Breastfeeding is clean and leaves nothing to show when it is over, unlike other natural acts such as expelling waste or copulating. I can't think of any natural acts that are considered inappropriate for public that don't leave something behind.
4) Breastfeeding is not a cultural norm, and it should be. By breastfeeding in public, quietly and unobtrusively, women show their communities that it is not something to be ashamed of or something only exhibitions do. They show other women who might have thought otherwise that breastfeeding is an acceptable and appropriate option, and help people be aware of the healthier alternative. It is a way that breastfeeding mothers can support each other without saying a word, in a society where breastfeeding mothers often need all the support they can get - and advocates for infants who deserve human milk if at all possible.
5) Many people suggest the bathroom as an appropriate place for women to nurse - you did not mention this and I hope you won't suggest it unless you are willing to eat your meals sitting on a public toilet. Remember - nursing often takes quite a while.
No disrespect intended, but it sounds like the difficulty you have with it is that women who breastfeed in public are trying to change the cultural norm, when you prefer it the way it is. I also think it is important to note TopHat's comment above (#83) that it is segregation to ask a breastfeeding duo to go elsewhere.
Impressive, I get breast milk until the age of 6 years and very closely with my mother. This article very good and I would recommend to other friends, thank you.
Yes to all numbers one through 50! Thank you.
[...] anytime, anywhere. In fact, I loved it so much and feel so strongly about it that I wrote 50 reasons for breastfeeding anytime, anywhere and Would You, Could You, Nurse in Public? and made my Covering Up is a Feminist Issue video. A [...]
because I don't like seeing you bottle feed your baby but I don't make you go and hide while doing it!
I agree that breastfeeding is beautiful, but I also believe the world doesn't need to see your nipples. I have friends who nip in public, and that's fine, but I am extremely uncomfortable during it. I don't see why it is so hard to grab a nursing cover. I've nursed 2 very healthy babies, but always used a cover. I've never heard of anyone's baby refusing to be covered. My friend's 3 year old still likes being covered, it's fun to be under a "tent". No one but my hubby and my OB need to see my nipples, and the fact that I can always see pervs who like to watch you, a perfect stranger, nip your baby is disturbing. Covers don't weigh that much and don't add that much to diaper bags, and it's always the one gift I make for people having a baby, and they love it. I'm not about to go ask someone to cover up, or heaven forbid, to leave because they are nipping, but I dont appreciate my husband or my son's being able to see someone's nipples while we are at a restaurant or park... Sorry.
Beth, I assume that your husband and son are both able to control themselves sufficiently to not be driven wild by the sight of another woman's nipple?
Fine, you feel uncomfortable (which is exactly the kind of attitude that more nursing in public seeks to challenge and eliminate - the more it happens, the more it's normalized), but are you really saying that your discomfort should trump a mother's need to feed her child? (Also: you did read the many points made above about babies who don't actually like being covered up when they're feeding? Just because some babies tolerate it doesn't mean that that holds true for every baby. Would you want to eat your lunch with a blanket over your head?)
Exactly right Anna. People should be thoughtful and respectful of others. Mothers feeding their children aren't the only people that warrent respect, as most understand. When in public places, please keep in mind that the people around you didn't decide you should have a child, you made that decision. As a responsible parent, you need to jugle the two, sometimes at odds considerations, feeding your child and doing what you can to foster a respectful environment for others.
And let's go ahead and dismiss the notion that the cover is bothering the child. It isn't.
chad, children are inevitable. just because some people have chosen not to have them doesn't mean they have the right to not see them in public. we need to have children in order to continue the human species - basic biology.
i'm not going to go pull my shirt off to nurse so i can deliberately make others uncomfortable, but even if i covered ourselves under a blanket, i am sure there are people out there who would still feel it was disrespectful by virtue of the fact that i was nursing in the same building where they were at the time. we can't appease the varying degrees of comfort levels of every person out there, and that applies to topics other than nursing, such as how we dress in public, how we speak, etc. being intentionally disrespectful would be when i make everyone around me listen to my baby scream because i won't nurse her, or because i'm trying to force her to nurse under a blanket.
Well, that came off a bit condescending, I assume not your intention. Regardless of basic biology, children are NOT inevitable and even if they were, your having a child doesn't constitute a responsibility on the rest of the world.
It is everyone's responsibility to be respectful of others, and as a parent, it's our job to teach our children respect for others. And until that lesson is learned by the child, the responsibility falls to us to make sure our child doesn't create an uncomfortable or disrespectful environment.
Having said that, I don't disagree with what you said next. No, you can't please everyone, and you shouldn't have to try. What you should do is make a reasonable attempt. I believe that's the issue being discussed in this forum.
Since basic decency rules established in our society (not my rule, I'm not trying to argue the merits of our society's rules - It is what it is) dictates that topless women in public places is not appropriate, the most obvious solution is a cover. Anyone that would give a woman breast-feeding who has made that very basic effort to be respectful, should be confronted for being a callous, arrogant a** and escorted out.
I used a cover but found it not very effective once the baby became old enough, to "play" with it (around 7-8 months). Push, pull, push, pull, a sort of hide-and-seek, but the effect was not very "covering." It's just a whole lot easier to wear loose-fitting clothes or a shirt over a tank, which is what most moms do. To compare it to being topless is like comparing apples to oranges.
no, didn't mean to be condescending, sorry if it sounded like that... was typing with a newborn on my lap. by saying children are inevitable, i mean that the human race isn't going to keep going if people don't have children - in a way, the rest of the world is somewhat responsible for today's children in that we need somebody to be having children in order to continue - that is all i meant. so, to see children in public doesn't mean we have to enjoy it when people let their kids run wild or anything like that... just that we have to accept that children are a part of life, and must be in order for human life to continue.
cathy, that is exactly how i nurse too. the cover can almost become more of a distraction and cause more to be exposed with an older baby.
[...] I have to admit before my babies were born I could never picture breastfeeding in public. But eventually I got tired of hanging out in the bathroom and decided to let Rebecca eat where she wanted. And it didn’t bother me one bit. I covered up with a baby blanket and was perfectly modest, but we were all much happier. It just got a little bit awkward when they slurped loudly or sighed a little too happily. Nevertheless, see if you agree with all of these reasons! [...]
This is by far the best article i have ever read on the topic. Thank you.
I love this article. Breastfeeding awareness is so important.
Could I please post this information on my blog? (Linking back to here of course?)
mommystoes.wordpress.com
[...] Update: check out the great link I just added – 50 Reasons to Breastfeed Anytime, Anywhere. http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/05/14/50-reasons-for-breastfeeding-anytime-anywhere/#.Tr7z7j1Fuso [...]
Bronwyn:
Thank you.
You are welcome to link to the article, but not to copy and past the full article on your blog.
This article was very informative. I am 31, have never wanted childern, and most likely, will never choose to have them. I used to be one of those people who glared at breastfeeding mothers, not because I found it indecent, but because I did not find it fair; if I have to wear my top at all times, so should they. Many of the women on hear made a very valid point in stating that many women (myself included) expose more of their breasts in their general attire than modest breastfeeding mothers expose while tending to the physical needs of their child. I will NEVER again look upon a nursing mother with disdain. Asking a nursing mother to hide something so innocent and natural is absurd and attempting to herd them into unsanitary conditions, such as public restrooms, is inhumane, disgusting, and flat out rude. Next time I see woman publicly breastfeeding, I will think of my ultra v-neck halter tops, smile to myself, and be grateful I live in a country where I don't have to completely cover in head to toe, where women have the right to choose to breastfeed, bottle feed, or plain not have children at all. :-)
I agree with this article whole heartily..it really brings things into retrospective..
but when I was nursing I couldn't help but worry about other children that were not mine who saw ma peak of my breast because..as a child I saw a mom breastfeeding and because I did not know, it really made me scared and disturbed. breastfeeding wasn't something I knew existed..anyway, keep on nursing!
[...] used tactic to oppress women. We also agree with Phdinparenting that there are more than 50 Reasons for Breastfeeding Anytime and Anywhere. In a bottle-feeding culture, it is understandable that not everyone is completely comfortable [...]
LOL! I have to start using this!
The world needs fewer people, not more. At this point, children are a liability and not a gift to the species.
I think moms should be able to breastfeed pretty much wherever they want, but let's not pretend that they're doing the rest of us a favour by continuing to fill up this vastly overpopulated planet.
sounds like a visit to http://overpopulationisamyth.com/ is in order...
basically, at our current rate, we'll reach peak by 2050 and then begin to decline in numbers rapidly. we'll be left with a much larger percentage of elderly as compared to young people, putting a strain on things such as social security, not to mention the numbers of working-age adults and the strain that will put on the workforce.
I am pretty sure the 12 month stipulation was removed in 2011.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-58-101 et seq. (2006, 2011) permits a mother to breastfeed in any location, public or private, that the mother is authorized to be, and prohibits local governments from criminalizing or restricting breastfeeding. Specifies that the act of breastfeeding shall not be considered public indecency as defined by § 39-13-511; or nudity, obscene, or sexual conduct as defined in § 39-17-901. This law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-58-101 et seq.) and § 39-13-511(d) were amended in 2011 by Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 91 (SB 83) to remove a provision permitting mothers to breastfeed only infants 12 months or younger in any location. (2006 Tenn. Law, Chap. 617; HB 3582)
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-1-305 (1999) requires employers to provide daily unpaid break time for a mother to express breast milk for her infant child. Employers are also required to make a reasonable effort to provide a private location, other than a toilet stall, in close proximity to the workplace for this activity. (1999 Tenn. Law, Chap. 161; SB 1856)
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/breastfeeding-state-laws.aspx
Chad, I have a 5 year old son (who was bottle fed because I had NO support Breastfeeding) and he ignores women breastfeeding because he understands that it is normal. Also, I have several friends who breastfeed and even when they "try" to cover up the baby/child will remove it. Most recently, I had a mother at my house who covered up to latch her 4 week old son and HE screamed, flailed his arms, and kicked until the cover was lying on the floor. He HATED it and would not latch until it was off. Obviously, it bothered him and it bothers my other friends 10 month old. Babies want to see mommy's face.
How do I unsubscribe from this thread?
The e-mail you get notifying you of a new comment has an "unsubscribe" option in it. Just follow those instructions.
[...] 50 brilliant reasons for breastfeeding, anytime, anywhere (more breastfeeding resources and inspiration [...]
I nursed all three of my kids, the youngest is now 20. I didn't have too many people say anything to me. I even nursed my youngest while I was volunteering at my middle child's classroom. The teacher remembers to this day how natural I was with a baby at my breast teaching the kids or reading to them as they sat in a circle around my nursing baby and me. My mother in law tells me now how progressive I was back then when she didn't understand why I would nurse the babies and for such a long period of time. She now applauds me. Once I was nursing my oldest at a friends house (she was nursing her baby too) and her mother in law made some nasty remarks. We set her straight on how important it was and that it wasn't a sexual act. She was all about the sex. Now my daughter is nursing her own baby and I am proud that she is. act natural and educate the ones who don't like it for various reasons and you should be fine.
Thank you for writing this. I appreciate and agree with everything you said.
That said, nursing in public without a cover just isn't for me. Reading many of these things makes me feel like, even though I am still doing all that I can to breastfeed my baby, somehow using a nursing cover is contributing to the oppression of women (is nothing ever good enough?). My two eldest were breastfed until they were 11 months old, and my 7 month old will BF for as long as he wants to, too. I nursed all three in public with a nursing cover because I'm not comfortable exposing myself. Granted, I live in NYC so nursing in public is already a spectacle and I'm not willing to draw attention towards me or my baby mostly for our safety's sake. Maybe that makes me overly paranoid, but regardless I know that showing my breasts in public isn't something I'm comfortable with. There was a time when my youngest was 4 weeks old that I asked to use a fitting room at a store in Times Square to nurse him and was denied, and it was then that I realized that not only am I judged, but I'm also discriminated against- and THAT was a feeling that has stuck with me ever since. And of course that makes me livid.
I don't care what other people think, especially when it comes to my children, but for me and my body I'll keep what is a very personal thing between my son and I, between my son and I. It's almost my way of making OUR time even in the middle of NYC.
Marry me.