Breastfeeding In Public

[The Reno Kid]

Belching out loud and feeding a child are on two different scales and cannot be compared. A mother feeding her child in public is equated to a immature child? Come, come now. Tell the child to make the small sacrfice of missing lunch or dinner because you are offended by their mommy's breast.

You are missing my point. It is common knowledge that many people in our society object to public breastfeeding. (If it wasn't, this rather lengthy thread would never have been started.) My objection is primarily to the blatant disregard of the feelings of the other people who share public spaces. It is rarely right to knowingly cause offense when it can easily be avoided. It is not an undue imposition to ask a mother to retire to a more discrete setting and cover herself with a light blanket. No exposure, no missed meal, no problem.

 

[fortworthgal]

Am I the only one who thinks this thread is slightly out of place?

This is a hot button topic and I'm not sure what it has to do with the vintage lifestyle.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Am I the only one who thinks this thread is slightly out of place?

This is a hot button topic and I'm not sure what it has to do with the vintage lifestyle.

We allow discussion topics that have nothing to do with the vintage lifestyle, so as long as people remain civil and respectful of the fact that their opinion is not the -only- rational opinion, I feel like this is a valid topic for discussion.


To steer it back onto vintage a little bit....anyone have any idea if their existed special breastfeeding undergarments like they have now? or did someone really have to undress completely to feed the little one?

 

[LizzieMaine]

1930s-era Sears catalogs offered the Waterproof Front Nursing Brassiere -- "Indispensible for Mother's Comfort!" -- 49 cents. The cups had buttoned flaps that could be drawn back for nursing. You could also get the Maternity Gown with Concealed Buttoned Nursing Sections, in "generous sizes," for 89 cents. This garment had a tie neck and a flap front which could be discreetly lowered on either side to accomplish the necessary purpose.

Of course, the cultural mores of the time suggested that nursing moms wouldn't be out and about much -- so this gown was definitely more of a specialized nightie for around the house than a garment for street wear.

 

[BellyTank]

I'm actually a little offended that people actually HAVE a negative opinion of 'public' breast feeding, or even feel the need to speak out about it. The people here, both Men and Women, who have absolutely ZERO first hand experience of breast feeding WILL change their opinion when the baby comes.

Our Baby has just turned one year old and has been weened off the breast- Mum is going back to work and others will be caring for Baby- practicality.

My Wife is a modest person but had no qualms about feeding when out and about- at a Cafe or other public places- a blanket, or shawl offers Mum and Baby privacy- privacy is nicer for the Baby too, rather than the hustle and bustle of public life.

Breast milk in a bottle still needs to be warmed up-

B
T

 

[RedShoesGirl]

This country is the most obese country in the world, in no way will a child die of starvation because of a missed feeding.

of course not, but if the baby isn't fed he/she will begin to scream and then it is offending people's ears.

A person is at home far more than not, either carry a bottle or go somewhere private.

you must be kidding. private like a nasty public bathroom with all the gross germs? or sitting in a hot car instead of a cool furniture showroom? a bottle instead of the breast is ok? feed it but be sure not to expose the breast?

What is socially acceptable here won't be somewhere else, therefore arguments that "Well, this country does it" is baseless and not effective. Society at large has all but declared that breastfeeding is something that shouldn't be done in public. It just is.

i didn't hear society say a thing like that. i really thought society had figured out more important things to worry about in the 70s sometime.

and when it comes right down to it, i don't give a flying duck what society thinks! boy is that inconsiderate of me. darn.

It's not illegal. If you want to breastfeed your child in public, with no attempt to hide it or be classy about it or go somewhere more private if possible, then by God, have at it. Apparently this country is no longer about being considerate of others.

you that keep bringing this up about being considerate — how about being considerate of a mother who has a hungry baby, painful breasts that are full of milk and needs to feed her child. let's have consideration go both ways boys. let's feel for that poor mom instead of getting in a huff.

you have a choice to make about what offends and what doesn't. choose not to be offended, it is so very simple.

and life is just so much more pleasant when one doesn't depend on others for one's well being. you just can't expect other people to know the set of rules by which you live. (the collective you here) what is offensive to you may not be offensive to others. who "counts" the most? the invisible person that is offended or the person not?

consideration is a two-way street. give up the "old-fashioned" repressive notion that breasts are only sexual toys. would those of you offended at the site of a nursing mother be offended by those same breasts in a bikini? prolly not. and those boobies are a lot more revealed that one sliding out of a blouse into a baby's mouth.

i wonder if this is just a world view that has swung around again to the repressed 50s?

rsg

 

[Miss Neecerie]

I'm actually a little offended that people actually HAVE a negative opinion of 'public' breast feeding, or even feel the need to speak out about it. The people here, both Men and Women, who have absolutely ZERO first hand experience of breast feeding WILL change their opinion when the baby comes.

Our Baby has just turned one year old and has been weened off the breast- Mum is going back to work and others will be caring for Baby- practicality.

My Wife is a modest person but had no qualms about feeding when out and about- at a Cafe or other public places- a blanket, or shawl offers Mum and Baby privacy- privacy is nicer for the Baby too, rather than the hustle and bustle of public life.

Breast milk in a bottle still needs to be warmed up-

B
T

Question for you BT. How long have people on any wide scale been breastfeeding in public in Denmark?

My reason for asking is that in the States, it's a much more recent development in terms of it being at all widespread, and as new things go, it takes a few decads to have general population acceptance.

America is at heart a conservative and puritanical nation, and that really needs to be remembered when discussing this. Whether this should be as it is or not, to debate that side of it is rather pointless. Cultures are what they are, they can change but slowly over time.

To bring this back to the Golden Era again, we need to remember that 'I Love Lucy' was the first 'on tv' pregnancy and that was in 1953! And it was even then still somewhat behind closed doors...and it was still somewhat shocking to network tv.

 

[Rosie]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap Very well said RedShoesGirl. Since you have said it so eloquently I will bow out of this discussion. Everyone has their own opionion and that is fine.

 

[jake_fink]

I'm actually a little offended that people actually HAVE a negative opinion of 'public' breast feeding, or even feel the need to speak out about it. The people here, both Men and Women, who have absolutely ZERO first hand experience of breast feeding WILL change their opinion when the baby comes.

Our Baby has just turned one year old and has been weened off the breast- Mum is going back to work and others will be caring for Baby- practicality.

My Wife is a modest person but had no qualms about feeding when out and about- at a Cafe or other public places- a blanket, or shawl offers Mum and Baby privacy- privacy is nicer for the Baby too, rather than the hustle and bustle of public life.

Breast milk in a bottle still needs to be warmed up-

B
T

:eusa_clap hear hear! :eusa_clap

Our little guy was a big eater and my wife didn't have a lot of success with the pump, so it was next to impossible to stockpile enough bottled milk for every outing. Breast feeding in "public" was necessary. Since it generally doesn't come with a pole dance or an invitation to leer, I find it impossible to see a problem with it.

Would you prefer this kind of "modesty":

 

[jake_fink]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap Very well said RedShoesGirl. Since you have said it so eloquently I will bow out of this discussion. Everyone has their own opionion and that is fine.

Snap!

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Consider the topic closed

Everyone has pretty much had a say, and since its now changed in tone from a discussion to a much more accusatory and less understanding of others opinions tone, I am considering the discussion over.