So I went to church, and baby got hungry...

[saimeiyu]

... which is kind of unusual, since she usually sleeps, but, me being me, I just popped out the boob and started feeding her, totally all prepared to retort to anyone who said anything, "Well just how did you think Mary fed Jesus? Formula?"

... And I am happy to report that the only things said to me were:

Oh! that's so cute! Where did you get that thing? It looks really handy! You can stand and sit and not stop feeding her!" (in reference to my moby)

Oh, that's adorable. She likes to eat, huh?

and

Oh, I'm SO GLAD you're breastfeeding your baby. I saw you back there feeding her and I just thought, Oh, that's so peaceful and holy! It makes me happy to see that.


... I thought the holy comment was a bit odd, but then, it's how God intended it, and how Jesus was fed, so, I guess that's true, huh?

Anyhow, I was glad about that. It made my day.
I just thought I'd share that.

[bobbirs]

: lets eat I am glad you had a good experience!

[TattoMomK]

CRAZY! I was thinking the exact same thing on Sunday if someone should say something about me feeding the baby:

Just how do you think Mary fed Jesus? It certainly wasn't similac in a gerber bottle!

And any Catholic worth their salt isn't going to say anything against our Blessed Mother.

That did not exclude me from a big-heuvos comment after Mass though. Some lady came at me and literally demanded to know if we had baptized our baby yet. I was so shocked by this intrusion I just said "he's ONLY a month old!" : Like it's your business? Good night! It wasn't a polite inquiry, it was a demand to know...but she was interrupted. Whewww.....

But yeah, like you I only got positives about NIP'ing in church. It feels good! Glad you had such nice responses!!!

[ktbug]

I always thought it was pretty holy. I'm not a churchy person, but I have my own personal definition of holiness, and breastfeeding a babe is right there with the absolute stillness of being in the middle of a forest during a snowfall.

[yarngoddess]

Nice to hear about a positive experience.

[mommyddeville]

That is SO good to hear! What wonderful comments!

[amandaleigh37]

great to hear that!

[GooeyRN]

Cool! No one ever made comments to me in church yet.

[~Megan~]

I hope the support continues! I find that most people are fine with breastfeeding an infant but a mobile baby or a toddler completely freaks them out!

[rachelmarie]

What nice comments!

We went to church with dd for the first time this past Sunday and I was also all ready to use the Jesus was breastfed line.

[amitymama]

Lovely.

[frickchen]

I wish I could BF DD in church. She refuses to stay in the nursery, so the nursery lady keeps bringing me a crying baby and I end up out in the hallway with her. (I'm glad she brings her to me rather than letting her CIO.)

We have these tiny chairs where you sit elbow to elbow and I never got the courage to BF her so close to someone. Now she's a wiggly 11 month old who will kick the person next to me if I try.

Anyhow, it's great to hear of positive experiences!

[Meredith&Alexander]

Of course it's holy. He was hungry, and thirsty, and you nursed him. Who else is "the least of these" but a helpless baby?

From Matthew 25:

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'



How's that for a theological leap?

[moonfirefaery]

Positive feedback is good. I was nursing at Pump It Up last week, and another mother complimented me for it. I was kind of nervous because some of the parents there seemed like they might be a little prudish, but no one said anything but her. It was nice. It makes me feel weird either way to have people comment on it, but positive is better than negative.

[Meiri]

and breastfeeding a babe is right there with the absolute stillness of being in the middle of a forest during a snowfall.

Or listening to the ocean or a stream...watching a gorgeous sunset...etc

[KittyKat]

I always love when I see one of these topics... and it has such a positive outcome!

My church has lots of BF moms. There is an infant nursery for those who want to use it, and it has three big cushy rocking chairs for the nursing mommas, and the service is piped in through a speaker (they can turn it down or off if it's disturbing a sleeping baby).

I made a sign with the International Breastfeeding Symbol for the door that says "Nursing Mothers Welcome Here" and asked the nursery coordinator if we could put it up so visitors would know there was a comfy spot to nurse if they wanted. Of course they put it up!

DD gets distracted though, so I take her in one of the classroms in back when she wants to nurse halfway through.

I think churches should of ALL places be most welcoming of mothers and babies.

[MommytoTwo]

That is awesome. I wish someone would say that to me!

[tuansprincess]

Finally! A positive church bf situation! I'm extatic! :

[MyBoysBlue]

Originally Posted by Meiri

Or listening to the ocean or a stream...watching a gorgeous sunset...etc

The most serene moment of my life was feeding my babe. We were camping in the Rocky's and I was sitting up on a bank looking over a lake at sunset. This was my view. Luckily I had my camera. It was just so peaceful and holy.

[Tine]

Originally Posted by ktbug

I always thought it was pretty holy.... I have my own personal definition of holiness, and breastfeeding a babe is right there with the absolute stillness of being in the middle of a forest during a snowfall.

Amen, sister. Breastfeeding is surely one of the holiest things (maybe the only holy thing) I've ever done.