MAJOR parenting difference. - Page 3

[NSmomtobe]

I'm not American, and like a PP said, the Canadian social environment is more supportive of breastfeeding in general. However, my DH used to object to NIP and when I argued the point with him, he said it was "okay as long as the woman is discreet." His cousin's wife used to leave the room to BF when we were visiting, which he seemed to feel was appropriate. However, since I have had DS, I have not left the room to BF when we have company and I have BF several times in several restaurants without covering up. I asked him if it bothered him, and he said no. Apparently I am sufficiently discreet enough for him despite not covering up.

His best friend's mother insisted that we take the baby to visit her her this weekend. When DS needed to eat, she asked if I wanted to go to a more private room to feed him. I said, "No, I'll stay here if you don't mind." She said she didn't, and DH's best friend jumped up and said to DH, "I have something to show you in the basement." So they went downstairs together and I stayed upstairs nursing the baby and talking to the friend's mom. Afterwards, DH laughed that his friend was so uncomfortable with me breastfeeding in front of him that he had to leave. Good times!

[Xavismom]

I nurse in public, anytime, anywhere, period! And I live in a very conservative state, the majority of which are members of a very modest religion with restrictions on the clothing they wear in public. So far, I've never had any kind of a bad reaction to NIP.

My DH grew up in Japan, and while he has some issues with women wearing skimpy clothing, he is absolutely supportive and almost vehement about my right to nurse our DS in public. I feel very sorry for anyone who ever says anything about it in front of him!

[rparker]

I nursed my daughter anywhere and everywhere in California when she was 0-12 months. I had one negative experience and many, many positive ones. A man came up to me in an airport while I was nursing and congratulated me on breastfeeding my daughter and said that his wife was too I've nursed her fairly frequently in Michigan as a toddler and received no comment. We've also nursed in public in Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan with no problems.

CA has some of the most progressive breastfeeding laws in the US. Fortunately for you, Minnesota does as well! (I live 2 hours away from MN in Michigan where we have zero laws protecting it.) Breastfeeding is not illegal, however, in any state and the vast majority of people will not say a word to you (even if they are uncomfortable). Your partner is right to a certain extent that a lot of people in the US (especially the midwest and south) have a negative perception of breastfeeding and nursing in public... which will never change if women hide the fact that they breastfeed.

My friend's husband had a similar attitude to your partner's, albeit not quite as extreme. She helped him to get over it by insisting that she was going to stay at home with the baby and not go out in public with him if he was going to have issues with her breastfeeding. Another thing that seemed to help was taking him to events with our attachment parenting group so that he could see other women nursing in public and realize that it wasn't at all sexual or obscene.

[MangoMommy]

I hope this is something your partner comes to terms with, and I have a feeling he will, as your baby grows and thrives thanks to your milk, plus the savings and convenience of being able to feed the baby anywhere.

I voted out in the open, though I personally cover myself up, I'm not a big fan of exposing my breast, well, the nipple and areola area. I'm not offended if others nurse totally open though. It should be celebrated!

[JollyGG]

You didn't have quite what I would answer. I never covered up but I did try to be discreet. It was common to ask for a corner booth at a restaurant, find someplace a little out of the way, where clothing that was easy to breastfeed discreetly in. But those were all personal decisions for my own comfort level. I did have one child who was easily distracted and so I usually choose to nurse her in private. But once again that was personal choose not anything else.

Honestly, most people didn't seem to notice when I nursed in public. The few times it made someone uncomfortable they usually excused themselves and returned to me and whatever we were doing when I was done (my father being the only person I can think of who excused himself while I nursed). We were at the zoo one afternoon and my MIL didn't even notice I was nursing until my LO was done.

I'm rather mainstream.

[shishkeberry]

I nursed my DS anywhere and everywhere with no cover. He was such a warm-blooded baby (and now a warm-blooded big kid) that he would sweat and pull the cover off anyway. I once even nursed him while I got an eye exam. The optometrist was very nice about it and said it was the first time anyone had ever done that during one of her eye exams.

[Unconventional1]

Originally Posted by Chryseis

I'm in Iowa and I've found that people here are far more open to breastfeeding in public than other parts of the country. I've breastfed all over Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota without anyone batting an eye. I've only ever had problems in Arizona and Colorado.

That being said, a woman should breastfeed whenever and wherever she feels comfortable. He'll get used to it after he's seen it once or twice and realizes that it's just not that big a deal and that people really just don't care that much on the whole.

Wow really? When I NIP in CO I have no real issues- a couple of looks in 3+ years, but that was it. But holy cow- the looks I got in Iowa- they looked like they wanted to burn me at the stake- maybe it was just the town/community that I was in though.