Breastfeeding in public...

It's a natural part of life. I do not believe it to be inherently disgusting or tacky--I think our society is too puritan and is conditioned to think that something as beautiful and pure as a mother feeding her child is dirty and x rated.

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I don't think it's "dirty" or "x-rated," but I agree with mef, in most cases. I guess it depends on the circumstances...

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What I don't understand a lot of the time is why can't a woman pump beforehand and feed the baby through a bottle? That is what my wife always did.

If I'm seeing major cleavage on a sidewalk -- I'm not too happy with it, but it's certainly not disgusting, as it is a natural part of life.

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I don't know that I really have a particular opinion on the issue, since I tend to figure somewhere along the lines of "whatever floats your boat," but to the people who are upset over the opinion that is IS disgusting, maybe people are finding it such because there are just too many women who *aren't* being discreet about it. You all say that there are discreet ways to do it, but you're telling me that if someone whips out their entire breast and makes a big production of it, you're not going to be a bit put off by that?

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And personally, I probably wouldn't either. But, our culture is sort of bred to turn away from things like that.

... this is also a really personal issue, especially in discussing the choice to do it or not. This thread is going to get weird.

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I'd be uncomfortable sitting next to Barbara Walters!Or, for that matter, next to any jerk who would make such a foolish comment...
If nursing is handled properly-that is, one's shirt is pulled UP- then the baby lays across and nothing is "showing". If you are offended by this then should we then assume that you are not a fan of plunging necklines or those tops made from little triangles? Would you be upset if a woman wearing a very revealing dress was seated 10 yards away from you in a restaurant?As for the idea of "pumping and bottle-feeding", the nipples are entirely different(like you didn't know!) and many infants can not handle the "confusion" that results. All of my children were nursed "in public" and no one ever said anything about it-in fact, it was done so discretely that poeple would often try to see the "little one" and wonder why the baby wouldn't turn and look at them!

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Is there a difference between breastfeeding in public and urinating in public or masturbating in public? They are all natural.

Should distinctions be made? If so, where?

Oh my. Jose, I hope you were merely playing the provocateur with that comment. Breastfeeding is a baby's way of eating. We don't normally find eating to be something that needs to be done in private, unlike bodily elimination or sexual activity.

I have no problem with it, but it helps to be considerate of the people around you. It's a beautiful thing, really - to compare it to urination and masturbation is absurd - anything baby-related is always wonderful!

I agree. In Africa, or other areas where clean water is often unavailable, it makes sense to breastfeed for four or five years. Not here though.

Why should a mother feed her baby in the bathroom? Would YOU want to eat lunch in a bathroom?

Breastfeeding is THE healthiest way to feed a child. No, I'm not bashing mothers who don't breastfeed, but the fact is that the best food for a developing baby is breastmilk. In a culture where twelve-year-old girls can walk around in shorts with a half-inch inseam and halter tops cut down to the navel and not turn heads, why is it still so offensive for a woman to simply feed her child?

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