“Mothers have a right to breastfeed where they go with their baby, even if that is out in public. It does not matter whether the mother goes to a public or a private place, or even whether they are in a state with legislation. No one has the right to tell a mother how to feed her baby, especially a way that increases the risk of illness to both mother and baby! Legislation has been enacted in nearly one-half of the states in the U.S. because they want to clarify this right, and in some cases, provide a remedy for mothers told to stop breastfeeding.”
So even states without legislation it’s perfectly legal to breastfeed whereever you want.
I am genuinely curious: what exactly does “obvious” mean to you? I mean, when the baby is latched on, you can’t see the nipple anyway, so are these women taking their entire tops off and exposing the other breast as well, or what’s going on here?
I have never seen a woman being overly obvious about public breastfeeding, so I am interested to find out exactly what “overly obvious” means.
I feel vaguely uncomfortable with it, probably because it’s not something I see often and I feel like I’m invading the woman’s privacy (even though of course I’m not). But that’s my problem, not hers. So no, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.
Definitions for “overly obvious” may vary. This is the crux of the debate you’re trying to instigate.
Exposing both breasts IMO is not necessarily being “overly obvious”, but breastfeeding with both breasts exposed while sitting at a terrasse (that better be decaf!) facing the busy street while singing loudly and off key is. If you’ve never seen this you should be thankful. Again, not icky, just really, really embarrassing for all in attendance.
Hmm. I must admit it makes me feel a little uncomfortable. I have no real problem with them doing so - Certainly they’re completely entitled to it - but I still can’t shake the slight nagging feeling of embarassment. Generally I try to just carry on as normal.
Thankfully, breastfeading isn’t a real issue here in (East) Germany. When my wife was still feeding our little one during the day (down to twice a day now) we noticed how nobody cared or seemed to notice even when we were once caught in a suddenly busy park area.
But we also live in a place where many women (and men) swim and sunbathe topless or fully unclothed and people generally seem to have fewer hangups about their bodies.
Yeah, when I was in Germany, I noticed a really different attitude toward the naked body. I went to an indoor water park in Berlin called the Blub several times. (Love the name. Blub Blub Blub!) In the locker room, men, women, and children were changing their clothes. Nobody seemed freaked out by, or even particularly interested in the incidental nakedness that occurred. It just seemed so sensible to me!
What I find inappropriate is your choice of words.
You are right to feel upset about her bringing the child when you specified adults only though.
Still, she did come (presumably because you invited her) to show her (as a guest) support for your marriage and the kid didn’t cry, so I think you should cut her a little slack and get the fuck over it.
Excuse me? Smoking pot in public is ** illegal **. Breast feeding is ** not **.
I don’t understand why a man with size 40DD breasts can walk around outside totally topless, but a woman breast feeding is wrong somehow. We’ve had several women breast feed in our office, and nobody said anything.
There was a “Mad About You” on this very subject. When one of Ira’s 10 year old Little Leaguers saw Jaime breast feeding, Paul asked him if it didn’t make him uncomfortable. “Hey, the kid’s gotta eat.”
Should I ever encounter one of these “earth-mother” acts I think I will do the following:
Buy a cup of coffee from a nearby coffee shop and proceed over to the mother in question. Then, I will politely interrupt the feeding mother in question and ask:
“The coffee shop was out of creamer, could you oblige me with a squirt or two?”
If nothing else, it would catch them off guard. Should they called my bluff, I would think that this person was definitely worth knowing.
jjimm, the woman at your wedding did commit a terrible faux pas, IMHO. But it wasn’t breastfeeding her baby during your wedding; it was bringing her baby to your wedding after being specifically asked not to.
I am getting married this September. My sister-in-law and I will be the only breastfeeding moms in attendance. The only problems I see with feeding our kids would be interrupting the ceremony (what with me being the bride and her a bridesmaid), and trying to move our dresses out of the way. Wedding attire isn’t exactly designed for that sort of thing, ya know?
jjimm, perhaps the mother at your wedding thought that was the only way to keep the infant quiet. It is the wrong setting though, IMHO. After all, you wouldn’t expect a grown-up to get out a knife and fork and have dinner in the pews.
This is the coolest thing I have ever heard of!!! How do I get one, say for a movie theater? University lecture hall? Concert hall? Restaurants with live music? How handy!
