I couldn’t believe some of the posts that I have seen where people were bashing nursing mothers for choosing to breastfeed her baby in public. Most of the posts that I saw said that breastfeeding was gross and they were complaining that they were offended because they saw a mother breastfeeding her baby in public (mostly in restaurants). When we were created, God designed our bodies so that we could feed our baby. A woman’s breast were created for one purpose: feeding a baby. As a mom, I think it is frustrating and crazy that humans have turned a women’s breast into a sexual object. As a breastfeeding advocate I often worry about new mom’s, many probably don’t realize that they have a legal right to breast feed their baby where ever they are and they don’t have to cover up.
Disclosure: The opinions reflected in this post are my own and may be different from your own opinions.
When I breastfed my own children in public, I never experienced any problems that some women do when they are breastfeeding their baby in public. I know that I would have been mortified if someone approached me and told me that I couldn’t breastfeed my child where I was at. I always nursed my babies when they were hungry and I often nursed somewhere that was comfortable. It didn’t matter if it was in the mall, at the grocery store, or in the church lobby. I always covered up with a blanket just because I am fairly modest and choose to cover up while I was breastfeeding my baby. I am on the heavier side and I was more self conscious about showing my belly fat than I did about covering up a small amount of my breasts while feeding my baby.
Continue Reading: Tips to How to Handle Confrontations While Breastfeeding in Public
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23 comments
I don’t mind women breastfeeding in public because it is natural part of life. However, I read an article where a woman was walking around with her boob hanging out, not covered up while feeding her baby in public. That’s the only thing i have a problem with. If you are going to breastfeed in public, just throw a little blanket over your shoulder to cover the boobie up.
Thank you Amber for sharing your opinion. I feel as if some clothing choices often show more than what a breastfeeding baby does.
Covering up with an older baby is more difficult than a newborn but it is up to a mom to decide. I hope that breastfeeding becomes more acceptable. Things are slowly improving but it takes mom’s standing up for their rights to breastfeed in public if they chose too.
I breastfed all 3 of our kids and thankfully I was never asked to stop breastfeeding in public. But I also am pretty modest so I always found a quiet spot and typically used a cover up.
Thank you for sharing Kari. I am a modest person so I chose to cover up as well.
I agree 100% with you! I personally use a nursing cover just more out of modesty. I don’t think there is anything wrong with moms without covers. What bothers me more is how this is even an issue when our society does not have an issue with ads etc. that show women in hardly any clothes.
Thank you for sharing Amber. I agree our society thinks its okay for you to wear less clothes than a nursing mother does. Hopefully, things change but I think it is going to take a few years and women standing up for their rights. 🙂
I also breastfed all four of girls and luckily never had anyone come up to me about breastfeeding in public. Anyone who has the nerve to make harsh comments towards a breastfeeding mother should be ashamed of themselves in my opinion. We should be celebrating breastfeeding for all the benefits it provides both mother and baby!
I agree Heidi. I am thankful that no one ever said anything to me either.
Totally agree with what you’ve said about breastfeeding. I recently did an article about the situation here in the UK on my dad blog: http://dadsthewayilikeit.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/breastfeeding-why-dads-are-important-too/
I really don’t get why some people have an issue with breastfeeding in public.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting on this post. It is nice seeing a dad who is supportive of breastfeeding. I think education will improve the awareness and help other’s understand that breastfeeding is a natural process. 😉
I breastfed all three of my children, and I never had any “complaints.” Modesty is the key!
Kristi thank you for sharing your breastfeeding experience. 🙂
I for one believe in a mother’s right to breastfeed in public or anywhere else for that matter (and I am not even too picking on modesty!) . I have travelled the world and have seen beautiful strong women proudly (actually, no, just as a matter of course) breastfeeding their children and I think it is a bit puritanical (and a double edged sword too if you think about it) to give any woman any kind of difficult time about breastfeeding.
I agree that it is a touchy subject and I think if someone gives a breastfeeding mom trouble for feeding her baby that it says more about them. 😉
I was luckily never asked not to breastfeed in public. That person would have had a bad day and I fed my baby whereever and whenever. And I wore nursing shirts, so i was mostly covered up, but never used a blanket or anything. This is a great post with some great information for new mothers. Good job!
Thank you for sharing your story Raine, I am not sure how I would have handled the situation had someone asked me to leave. I am thankful I was never put in that position.
I don’t see anything wrong with breastfeeding in public. I do think it should be covered, but I am a very modest person.
Thank you for sharing your opinion April. 😉 I chose to cover up for the most part but if I had to feed my baby I would have done it as discretely as possible if I didn’t have a blanket or nursing cover to use.
Thankfully my wife never had any problems with breast feeding in public. Maybe in Holland things are more open. I think people who have problems with seeing mothers breast feed are only serving to show their own ignorance.
I agree with you Paul. I am thankful that the Internet allows us to talk about these types of subjects and raise awareness. But your a are right a person who comments negatively about a mother feeding her baby is ignorant and it reflects poorly on them.
The only place I was asked not to breastfeed was in a church NURSERY, in a rocking chair, with my back to the door, covered with a baby blanket. So I went out in the rain and fed my baby my van. Good thing I was already a Christian! Vent over…
I meant, fed my baby IN my van, lol!
Amen, Christy! I couldn’t agree with you more. Women who breastfeed should be celebrated. They are doing what’s best for their baby, and breastfeeding is not easy. Great post!