Why do people think breastfeeding in public = major exposure and obscene displays?

[LilacMama]

I have had more than a few people (mostly men) discuss breastfeeding in public as a bad thing because of all the nipples/spurting milk/giant naked boobs that the public shouldn't have to be exposed to.

While I, personally, don't really have a problem with seeing a nipple and think people should just get over it, I can't help but wonder where the idea of hoards of naked breast feeders is coming from in the first place. I have NEVER seen someone's fully exposed breast in public while they were trying to feed their child. Not once. Ever. I see lots of ladies nursing babies discreetly.

Where are these women who are"obscenely" flashing everyone right and left?

I'm guessing the real answer is "they don't actually exist."

[KristyDi]

I can only assume that these people have never seen anyone NIP. Or they have but haven't noticed. I personally have never seen anyone flashing major boob in the process of nip. I think most moms just care about feeding their kid. They're not looking to be a side show.

But the idea of ZOMG A BOOB IN PUBLIC!!! And people can't imagine less than a spectacle.

[minkajane]

I've never been much on discretion. A few times when DS was little, I wore a low-cut shirt where it was easier to just pop my boob out the top than lift from the bottom. So I did. And I didn't use a blanket. So I'm sure more of my boob was visible than some people would be comfortable with. But honestly, I saw teenage girls displaying a lot more and nobody suggested they hide in the bathroom or accosted them, even if they did disagree with their modesty.

I'm guessing people that make comments like this have never actually seen a woman breastfeeding and assume it involves removal of all clothing from the waist up, milk pouring out of the breasts, and that famous woman who "whips out her boob" and lets it hang there for a few minutes before and after breastfeeding. Most likely, they've seen women breastfeeding and didn't even realize it because they thought the baby was sleeping or didn't see the baby at all.

[llamalluv]

IMO? They get the idea from television and movies. Remember the scene from that Jim Carrey movie, "Me, Myself, & Irene"?

[Twinklefeet]

i have no idea where the idea of the exhibitionist-mommy comes from, but now that I am one of the women out there "exposing myself"(i.e. nursing in public), I have my snappy comebacks prepared... I hope I never have to use them, but I do carry a spare blanket in the diaper bag in case anyone needs to cover their head so they can't see me feeding my son!

[OTMomma]

Sorry, its me. I like to dance topless on tables and squirt the milk into the baby's mouth from 10 feet away.

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by OTMomma

Sorry, its me. I like to dance topless on tables and squirt the milk into the baby's mouth from 10 feet away.

[jennifer_lc1]

i admire you mamas that do it in public - i just feel naked and can't. so i pump before a big outing.

ppl who are offended by it are pretty ridiculous though.

[butterfly_mommy]

Maybe they saw me nursing DS when he was a newborn and I had crazy oversupply and overactive letdown. I Have big boobs and well it was easier to pull the boob out from the top of my shirt (giant naked boob) and sometimes DS would start choking and pull off and well there is the milk squirting everywhere nipple : Sorry everyone

Actually I have never had anyone say anything to me, and I am not discreet, I try but It seems impossible and when DS is hungry discretion is the last thing on my mind...he is loud

[julie128]

OTMomma, you must also be the one doing the "extreme breastfeeding" while bungee jumping!

But, seriously, I have seen full-on breast while friends were nipping. One is a pediatrician. One says she won't nip, but she doesn't consider a playground to be public because it's only women and children who are there (no men). People may have seen my breasts, if they were looking, I wouldn't really know--or care, while breastfeeding anyway. I'd care if they were just ogling my bare breasts. How that would happen, I have no idea.

A question that I have is this: why is it that it's socially acceptable to dress our little girls up like tarts, but it's not socially acceptable to breastfeed that same little girl?

[kriket]

Originally Posted by julie128

A question that I have is this: why is it that it's socially acceptable to dress our little girls up like tarts

Because boobs are sexual. As soon as you have boobs they must be sexualized.


thats a joke.....

[SpiderMum]

I admit I'm not very discreet when I'm around some of my family or friends. Mainly because I'm still new at this and I save all my nursing clothing for when I actually have somewhere to go. I mean, a lot of people might only see a nursing mother when they're visiting them at home right after they have babies...usually the least discreet time. Perhaps they assume that's how it'll always be. When I'm out I haven't had too much trouble nursing discreetly. Getting DD latched on can be an issue...but I usually make sure nobody is staring and if I have a sling I use it to shield myself at least while I'm latching her on. After she's latched, I'm not worried about covering her up. Her head and my clothing covers up more than enough. If I pop my breast over the top of my shirt, I'll use the tail of my sling to cover the top of my breast...although it's more so I won't be cold than anything else.

[PassionateWriter]

im sorry but i dont think discretion should be anywhere in the discussion re: nursing in public. i try (for my own comfort level) to nurse my children w/o showing too many ppl too much of my breasts but sometimes its just too hard to do and i just do not care what some uptight ppl are going to think. and i refuse to give my kids bottles and all the associated problems that come w/ that (for me and my kids) just to appease some uptight puritans.

i was in our music class a few weeks ago and a little girl got hurt and was crying. it took her mom 10-15 minutes to finally get up, go get her nursing cover and FINALLY nurse the little girl. I felt so horrible for the little girl. Yes, its great the mom is nursing but this wasnt even a food need..it was a comfort need and the little girl had to wait sooo long in order to get that comfort. Why? b/c our society has made this poor mom uncomfortable nursing in a music class w/ a bunch of women and children. and that just makes me sad.

so...all the boob i show..i show for the future of NIP. if we all stand up and show what it means to NIP (w/o the need for discretion), i am hoping the next generation will have it better.

[OTMomma]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

.

so...all the boob i show..i show for the future of NIP. if we all stand up and show what it means to NIP (w/o the need for discretion), i am hoping the next generation will have it better.

Amen Sister!

[honeybunch2k8]

Originally Posted by minkajane

I've never been much on discretion. A few times when DS was little, I wore a low-cut shirt where it was easier to just pop my boob out the top than lift from the bottom. So I did. And I didn't use a blanket. So I'm sure more of my boob was visible than some people would be comfortable with. But honestly, I saw teenage girls displaying a lot more and nobody suggested they hide in the bathroom or accosted them, even if they did disagree with their modesty.
.

That's how I feel. There are boobs everywhere, but as long as they're not used for nursing I guess it's ok.

[Breeder]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

im sorry but i dont think discretion should be anywhere in the discussion re: nursing in public. i try (for my own comfort level) to nurse my children w/o showing too many ppl too much of my breasts but sometimes its just too hard to do and i just do not care what some uptight ppl are going to think. and i refuse to give my kids bottles and all the associated problems that come w/ that (for me and my kids) just to appease some uptight puritans.

........

so...all the boob i show..i show for the future of NIP. if we all stand up and show what it means to NIP (w/o the need for discretion), i am hoping the next generation will have it better.

Yes ma'am!



*bolding mine*

[Nautical]

I wonder if these men have ever been to an art musuem, where it seems like every other woman in a portrait is sitting with one breast exposed. I know that's how I like to be. In fact, every night when I get home I just pop out one breast and leave it exposed...just hoping someone will come along and paint my portrait.

[Swan3]

Originally Posted by OTMomma

Sorry, its me. I like to dance topless on tables and squirt the milk into the baby's mouth from 10 feet away.

WHAT? I thought it was me making zapping sounds with my boobs and spraying people on the street.

[honeybunch2k8]

Originally Posted by Nautical

I wonder if these men have ever been to an art musuem, where it seems like every other woman in a portrait is sitting with one breast exposed. I know that's how I like to be. In fact, every night when I get home I just pop out one breast and leave it exposed...just hoping someone will come along and paint my portrait.

In that case I want someone to paint my portrait,too!

[RomanGoddess]

I'm not sure how one can latch a baby withOUT exposing a bit of nipple. At least for me, it was not possible. Once DD was latched, however, nothing showed.

I wish people would just get over it.