Another spin off: Are some Christian denominations more bfing friendly?

[indie]

Whenever I hear about people having problems with bfing in church it seems like it is usually churches like Churches of Christ, Baptist, non-denmination/evangelical, and similar types of churches. When I hear about positive bfing experiences in church it is usually Catholic, Episcopal, and similar churches. I'm wondering what everyone else's experience have been. Are there any denominations that are more bf friendly or does it just vary by congregation?

[leafwood]

I'm Catholic and have had very positive experiences BF in at least 3 separate churches. I have not atteneded any other congregations, so I can only comment on my own experience.

[JamesMama]

I'm Pentacostal and I'd agree with that sentiment. No one DEMANDS that I go to the nursery, but I can tell people are squirmish about it. None of the other moms with younger children bf'ed.

[octobermom]

I'm Catholic no issues nursing in church. Our DD will also attend the school eventually and they have several teachers who bring their infants to work and nurse them in the classrooms while teaching.

Deanna

[CelticMomma]

Hmm, I'm Catholic and my church is borderline on tolerance. Nobody has ever said anything while nursing in the congregation, but a nursing room is available. And, forget about bringing kids to events. Even the baptism class I went to didn't really have many babies there. Most of the parents left their baby with a babysitter!

[Mommy Piadosa]

I've been to about 5 evangelical, chrasmatic churches in my area- (2 were Foursquare) and have had no problems at all.
(maybe so-cal is more liberal?)

[wendy1221]

I used to be Catholic and my mom nursed w/ no problems. I seem to remember seeing more nursing than bottlefeeding at Mass when I was a kid in the 80's. My dad's family is Methodist and I used to go w/ my grandparents sometimes when ds1 was a baby. No one ever said anything to me or them about my NIP, but all of the moms there were bottlefeeding.

My dh is Jewish and I am in the process of converting. I have found our local synagogue to be much more supportive of nursing than any other church I've been in. I include nursing my toddler. I am tandem nursing and I have nursed them both there several times since Liam was born.

[Britishmum]

Lots of nursing, sling-wearing moms at our Episcopal church.

[shayinme]

Originally Posted by JamesMama

I'm Pentacostal and I'd agree with that sentiment. No one DEMANDS that I go to the nursery, but I can tell people are squirmish about it. None of the other moms with younger children bf'ed.

: I'm Baptist and like you no one has ever demanded that I go to the nursery but frankly I have never see another Mama nurse in the sanctuary and there are other BF'ing mamas at church. I just would not feel comfortable nursing in the sanctuary and really it does not bother me to hang in the nursery, I have actually gotten to know other Mamas doing so.

Shay

[lena_girl]

I have always attended evangelical/charasmatic churches. When I lived in rural areas every mother breastfed and it was just normal. Slings were normal too. In bigger places it has always been accepted but not something you see everywhere. Now we live in Southern Cal. and every church we've tried is much less child and breastfeeding friendly than I'm used to. I'm not used to going to a church where it's expected that kids will be left in the nursery. At one we tried they even had signs up that asked for no kids to be in the church. I had to keep my 1 1/2 year old who doesn't want to be left in a nursery back in a dark cramped cry room where there wasn't enough room for all the kids, parents, and stuff and was impossible to actually Worship the Lord. I've never had a problem with her disturbing others during service in the main part of a church.

[MountainLaurel]

Originally Posted by indie

Whenever I hear about people having problems with bfing in church it seems like it is usually churches like Churches of Christ, Baptist, non-denmination/evangelical, and similar types of churches. When I hear about positive bfing experiences in church it is usually Catholic, Episcopal, and similar churches. I'm wondering what everyone else's experience have been. Are there any denominations that are more bf friendly or does it just vary by congregation?

It only makes sense that denominations that are more *ahem* sensitive about bodily issues (e.g., nakedness is sinful, don't touch yourself down there, sex is for procreation only) would likewise be less-friendly toward breastfeeding. I've read stories on MDC about women whose family members were taught in church things like "If you breastfeed a girl, she'll become a lesbian." I would guess denominations providing that sort of information would be less likely to support NIP.

[JamieCatheryn]

My church, a midwest Calvary Chapel, is very pro breastfeeding, but rather anti NIP. It's great that breastfeeding is pretty much a given there, it's just most of the people there are a bit prudish regarding anything approaching nudity. Example - when we had a pool party everyone but my husband swam fully dressed (he wore swim trunks and no shirt, and got funny looks). Pretty weird.

[Attached Mama]

in my experience it just depends on the particular group of people and leaders

[ellie_may12]

I was raised southern baptist and NEVER saw anyone BF. I now attend an assembly of God and that is very pro-bf. The pastor's wife bf 5 kids! There are 3 of us Bfing moms now.

[wombat]

Not that I go to church a lot but I've noticed differences among Catholic congregations, my ILs parish church is rather old fashioned and seems to be 99% white. No one has ever said anything to me but I can feel the discomfort sometimes. I'm not part of their parish though, just visiting. I remember during my dd's baptism that my ILs became pale and speechless when my dd started to fuss and the priest asked if we had her bottle. They just looked at me worriedly, like I was gonna whip a boob out at the font. But dd stopped fussing, so I didn't need to.

The Catholic churches in my area though seem to segregate into ethnic groups. I imagine nursing in the mainly hispanic congregation would pose no problems - I've noticed a lot of hispanic women nurse openly on the local buses, even nursing toddlers.

[Awaken]

I do think that the acceptance of nursing probably has a lot more to do with the general area, and whether bf is the norm or not- I mean, if most people in an area bottlefeed, then regardless of what denomination the church is, it just makes sense that the people there would be a little more squeamish of seeing a nursing baby, kwim?

I've attended many different nondenominational/evangelical churches and have never had a problem, or had anyone say anything negative. I nursed my newborn in church with no problem. Now he is 5 mos. and goes to the nursery, where I nurse him openly (some of the old ladies ask me if I want a blanket, or to go in a quieter area of the nursery, but I don't get the sense it's out of embarrassment, just that some moms would want privacy so they are letting me know it's an option.) I usually decline and sit out with everyone else and chat, and I've never gotten any strange looks, people usually just make comments about nursing their own kids. He has a fun time in the nursery and it makes it easier for me to concentrate on the service, and all the ladies get their baby fixes for an hour!

JamieCatheryn- Love Calvary Chapel Except the swimming with clothes on is kinda strange

[OnTheBrink]

I used to be Catholic and am now Episcopalian. Both have been great about breastfeeding. And my kids have given them lots of opportunity to complain!

I've attended and nursed at a Lutheran and a Methodist church and felt very uncomfortable. But that was very likely just those particular congregations.

Incidentally - this has all been in South and Central Florida, if that matters.

[BurgundyElephant]

Most of the LDS Moms I know BF, but they all go in the nursing room (which smells like stinky diapers, IMO). I have only known one woman in all the wards I went to who did it in the main meeting.. and all the other women talked about it.

[frenchie]

I attend a Protestant church and lots of mommas bf. I always nursed in the nursery rather than lock myself in the bfing room. We have a lot of young couples with little children...and being in So Cal, a lot of them are hip to AP. I meet more AP mommies than not.

[~Nikki~]

I attended an Anglican church, growing up (and still go if I happen to be back home on a Sunday). There always seemed to be a baby or two attached to a boob somewhere in the pews. I nursed my own child during church service, and nobody seemed to care. There were many extended breastfeeders that went to my church, when I was in my early teens. I can remember one woman that nursed her 5 year old during the receptions after the service. Breastfeeding was pretty normal in our church. We had a nursery, but it was usually empty. :P