Neither squicked out, nor offended. I’m not aroused, either. I’d find it weird to be aroused when babies are involved.
I couldn’t work where I work (Children’s Department of a large public library) if I had a problem with breast feeding. It’s very rare to actually see a whole breast hanging out during breast feeding, and I see numerous breast feeders every week. I do two weekly baby story times (birth to 1 year) and women breast feed off and on during the entire program. Sometimes there is audible smacking and slurping coming from the audience! It keeps the babies happy and quiet. It is perfectly normal and healthy. And I like boobs. 
If I’m uncomfortable, that’s my own damned problem. Feed away.
I don’t care, if it keeps Mr Baby from crying behind me on the bus, I say feed the kid
I breastfed in line…every single gosh-darn line, silly hungry boy…at Disney World. I’ve breastfed in a church…in the crying room way at the back. I’ve breastfed on planes. So yeah, I’m okay with breastfeeding an infant in public. I feel that once they are toddlers and able to walk and talk and ride a tricycle they should be old enough for the patience to NOT yank your shirt up in public and cry “Milk, Milk!” at the top of their lungs (not my kids) and I feel you should try to be discreet about it…but other than that, I’d rather see someone breastfeeding than see all these silly pacifiers in mouths 24/7.
It’s fine by me. But if the kid undocks and says “Other side, please,” I’m gonna laugh. And yes, that did happen once.
Arrendajo - As a hijack - I’m curious if babies that little get anything out of storytime? Aren’t they still pretty much at the “ohh…my mobile floats above me!” stage? Is it more a social time for the mothers?
StG
I know someone like that. Her daughter’s 2 and a half and she feeds her by just taking just her entire top half of clothing off. The daughter then feeds for a bit, pulls away, feeds for a bit and pulls away, so most of the time the mother is really just a half-naked woman who happens to have a toddler with her. I wasn’t offended, but I was uncomfortable.
But anyway - nah, normal breastfeeding is not offensive or uncomfortable at all to me. I breastfed my daughter in public loads of times, though most of the time I reckon people couldn’t tell that’s what she was doing.
My system is to wear 2 scoop neck tops, pull the one on the inside down and the one on the outside up- thus only nipple exposed. No boobs flopping about (except in the privacy of my own home). An unbuttoned cardigan for a little side shielding if it isn’t too warm as well.
This thread was prompted by Irishbaby being sick with a virus over the last few days and going off all her solid food- she ONLY took breastmilk. We flew back home from holiday in Spain and my only option to prevent a dehydrated, unhappy baby was to breastfeed almost constantly from the minute we arrived at the airport until we got home- checking in, queuing for security, waiting at the gate, on the plane- I breastfed throughout.
Like I said, I was as discreet as possible and nobody actually gave me any grief, but I’m wondering how freaked out everyone else actually was, even if they were too polite to say anything.
People probably thought I was a total weirdo, but really, that wasn’t my top priority at the time.
Discretion is important. I have no problem with breastfeeding. I have a problem with public breastfeeding on demand of a four year old (my kids didn’t even get snacks on demand at four). I have a problem with the “whip it out because its my right and if it offends you, fuck off” attitude of a very few breastfeeders.
I have two little sisters whom I saw breast-fed. Four of my sisters have breast-fed in front of me, starting when I was about 15. Breast-feeding is blah.
That said, I know of a woman who got put toa “church trial” in a Presbyterial church in Memphis because some of the parishioners felt she was being provocative by breast-feeding within VIEW of the sanctuary. That is, she would take her baby out of the sanctuary and sit in an area of the church where she could still hear the service over speakers when she had to breast-feed, and some persons felt that was still indiscreet and that she was trying to seduce the male church members. :rolleyes:
The program has developmentally appropriate activities for the very young. Generally, by the time a kid is around 8 months old they will respond to puppets, bubbles, very short stories, especially if they involve movement or tactile activities. But in truth the program is directed towards parents, offering them resources and information on developing early childhood literacy and a love of learning in the very youngest kids. I would much rather do programs for babies; they are generally not mobile. I can’t imagine doing a program for a bunch of toddlers - we do them, but they’re on my days off.
How old is the baby? People might not even have noticed. (ETA: I just realised you meant this happened recently so she’s 11 months old).
When my daughter was really tiny she breastfed constantly - for hours on end. So I also had to breastfeed her while doing anything else I needed to do, including going to the shop, getting the train, walking to campus and going to a lecture. I had her in a high sling and wore a breastfeeding top and often people would ask to see the baby, then be surprised when I told them that she was feeding.
But I’ve seen a few women with very large breasts who have to hold their breast up for the baby to feed from it. I imagine that’s harder to do discreetly.
Last time I checked, breastfeeding was natural, good for the baby, and encouraged by all the major sages of my religion.
But, honestly, I’m a little squicked out by it. I recognize that this is mostly my problem and not the mother’s. However, I do ask that moms be as discreet (or is that discrete? I don’t remember which is the math term and don’t feel like looking it up just now) and not uncover more flesh than necessary.
I have no problem with it in theory but would be a bit uncomfortable if an entire breast was out. Even still, I consider that my problem not the nursing mother’s problem by any means.
I nursed DoperBaby until she was 15 months. I used a Hooter Hider when out in public or even with family or friends who would be uncomfortable if they saw some boobage. This thing was amazing! It allows for the full coverage of a light blanket with the added security of a strap around your neck. Plus it also has a rigid neckline to provide some breathing room for baby and allows Mom to see baby at all times, something sorely lacking in a traditional blanket setup.
100% OK with it, not really comfortable with it if it’s visible. The short version is that female breasts are larger than necessary and serve as a visual sexual cue for males in addition to the primary function of feeding an infant. It’s not a function of arousal to see breast feeding, it’s just the fact that something considered a sexual body part is publicly visible. I’ve rarely seen a woman breastfeeding and in all cases there was nothing visible so I’ve never been uncomfortable to date.
Given the number of women who breastfeed I assume the reason I rarely see it in public is because most are able to time it to a private location.
Breastfeeding in public? Fine by me. That’s what breasts are for, after all.
Been there done that for two years.
Thankfully never got even a funny look here in New Jersey. However, I am in favor of discretion whenever possible. Modesty when breastfeeding is ideal. I think Maggie Gyllenhall took (link may not be work safe) it just a bit too far.
I’ve seen more side boob at the Oscars.
Ah, the woman responsible for my kink. No, she’s not doing it wrong. She’s doing it just right.