I know many of the people who read my blog are pro-breastfeeding. I pretty much know y'all's opinions, but I have to ask...
What is the big deal with breastfeeding in public? I've seen no less than 3 news stories where people are all a-twitter (a-titter?) about Maggie Gyllenhaal breastfeeding her kid at a park. Is it really that gross? I wouldn't do it in public, I wouldn't want everyone seeing my boobs... I wouldn't care about doing it in front of my close friends and family though (female, natch). But seriously, why do people get so freaked out? There was a baby breastfeeding on the front of a parenting magazine that my doctor's office carries. In the next issue, there were so many complaint letters, one comparing the picture of a baby breastfeeding to the cover of Playboy!! Bwah?
So what gives? If you're against breastfeeding in public, why?
3 months ago
4 comments:
I breastfed hailey exclusively until she was 10 months old but i still have a hard time when people just flop out a boob. It is one thing to discreately feed your baby but it is a whole other story to plop out a boob and keep it all in full view where every person usually stares uncomfortably. Unfortunately i have a small problem with overshowing yourself during feedings. On the other hand i am 100% for breastfeeding and dont think we should have to hide in a bathroom to feed or anything just become more discreat!Cover up most of the boob with your shirt and the baby's mouth should cover the rest, i used a blanket to keep the baby focused on eating and the people focused on anything but my breast. I was very shy about it and tryed to keep everyone looking at something else besides me.
I agree with the previous commenter. I am all for when a baby has gotta eat, feed the baby, but as she said, why "flop out a boob"...I have seen proof that you can breastfeed without major boobage. The Maggie G pics bothered me because she whipped out her boob (although I have seen worse)...Nursing bras and those little sling thingies are there for a reason...also keep in mind I have seen full niqab and abaya Muslim women breastfeed in public--no boobage can be done. I agree some babies do not like fabric over their heads but there are still ways to cover the top of your boob.
I tried breast-feeding in public once. Nearly got arrested. So what that I'm waaaaaaay past the age when most people breast feed. I was hungry!
Anyway, I think most Americans are a bunch of puritanical oafs who really need to deal with the human body. Now if you're walking around Wal-Mart with your boob out sans infant, we have a problem. (Of course, that sounds like any MS Wal-Mart, doesn't it?) If not, hello, it's the back of a baby's head and about as much boob as you'd see in a properly worn bikini bathing suit.
PLUS it's a damned natural process for goodness sakes. Get yer minds out of the gutter, folks. Just cuz you put your head there for dirty reasons doesn't mean the kid's lying there thinking about the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
I'm a public breastfeeder -- I have to be, or else I'd never leave the house, not with twins who eat every 2-3 hours. I used to use a blanket or burp cloth when the girls were teensy, but nowadays (eight months old), they think that snatch-the-blanket-off or lift-the-shirt is a fun game. Mostly, I aim at showing less boob than your average teenage girl at the mall.
I don't get the controversy over the Maggie G photos, either. Yes, she was pretty exposed, but you'd see almost as much if she were a starlet in a low-cut dress. Medieval and Renaissance art is full of images of Mary nursing Jesus in almost exactly the same pose; if it's good enough for the baby Jesus, it works for me too.
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