WHY WHY WHY is this???

I am breast-feeding my son- he's 1 month old.

I understand people may not want to see my breast, or want thier small child to see my breast ( due to the can of worms it would open--just keep it simple until they are older/ready).

However. how is it that women are so afraid of my nipples, for crying out loud? I was at the OBGYN getting my check up yesterday and this woman acted like I was pole dancingin the waiting room even though I was hiding my business under a blanket!

Breast are used to sell everything from bubble gum to Campbell's soup to fundraising for the freaking Space Program yet let a woman use them for what they are intended for and Sadie, bar the door!

Honestly. The girl that freaked out was looking at an Entertainment Weekly Magazine with a half naked Brittany Spears on the cover and my boob offended her. I'm no Brittany Spears, but they aren't THAT bad!

I have some news for these folks:

If you have a problem with me feeding my son, then please feel free to hide your head under a blanket.

Also, NO I will NOT go to the bathroom to nurse my son! Do you feed your kids on the toilet??

Sorry, just had to rant.

Been there myself and agree with you 100%.

I was able to breastfeed each of my children for about 9 months. Fortunately, I never had a problem with others. I did occasionally get a look, but nothing I became offended by. I always used a blanket in public. I do understand that I should be respectful enough to not just whip it out for all to see, but God intended them for a primary purpose and that is the nourishment of my children! If my children ever see another woman breastfeeding and ask questions, I will gladly explain what she is doing. I don't see anything wrong with children being curious about something so natural. Obviously I liked being in a private environment, but infants don't usually want to wait for you to find another place. Fortunately, I never had any bad scenarios with others getting offended by my breastfeeding. MD - Good luck in the future.

Next time just tell her that you noticed she was staring and ask her if she's hungry! That should make her mind her own business.

My little girl and I saw a lady breastfeeding her baby and I explained to my daughter what she was doing. I think it lost something in translation because when she told her dad about it that night she said, "We saw a lady milking her baby!" Kids are awesome. Keep up the good work, Momsy. Your baby has the only opinion that matters!

My ex-husband was one of those people who thought women should only nurse in a closet somewhere away from the rest of the world. I nursed our daughter despite his objections. His father actually told me that formula was more nutritious for a baby!! WTF?? Our daughter is now 12 years old and healthy and fit as a fiddle. The ex's other two children, who were never nursed, have all sorts of asthma, allergies, and tubes in their ears. My daughter had one ear infection her entire life. She isn't allergic to much of anything, and she doesn't get the sniffles and never kept a snotty nose.

I think that some women are offended by other women doing what is best for their children. Really, have you ever had to grab your kid by the arm to keep them from darting into the street and then give them a smack on the bottom? The women who give you a dirty look then are the same ones who shoot you a look if you breastfeed your baby. You can find those women at the doctors office with their snot nosed little monsters running around like chickens with their heads cut off!

Kudos to you for having the guts (and boobs!) to nurse your baby! You are taking care of your baby in the best possible way and the rewards will outweigh the dirty looks and inconvenience by a landslide.

I breastfed all three of mine way before it was "the thing". I actually belonged to the LaLeche league. (This explains the breast reduction and lift two years ago!)

Who gives a hoot what idiots think? That's what the girls are for. I was in the hospital with my last child, my husband, my boss (whose wife had just had TWINS and was breastfeeding them) and this girl I went to school with were all visiting. The nurse brought the baby in to be fed. Husband and boss were just oblivious. They just kept talking. The woman ran seriously, screaming from the room.

Of course, she was extremely unattractive and had probably never been in the room with a naked boob and another person in her life (including her own).

For what it;s worth, I can think of no image more beautiful than a mother breast feeding a baby. That is just too freaking cool.

You know what I just realized?? I am just as guilty as the next guy.

Why did I feel so compelled to put this in the Shoals Woman section rather than out there for general discussion? Was I afraid to offend the men?

I am burning up now to realize that I have censored myself.

I'm off to post this in the general discussion, based soley on the principal of the thing.

You guys posts are hilarious...I also breastfed both of my girls...now 19 months and 4 yrs... I think you should take the advice from It's All Me and ask her if he or she would like some the next time someone is gawking! Did she look at you in disgust, because I can see how someone would be shocked at first, but then when they realize what you are doing...that's when they should turn there heads and not make it obvious...It's human nature....

Hello Ladies,
I'm in total agreement. I am so tired of people looking at me so strange. I get most of the complaints from family. I have male family friend who just swears I am scarring my 3 month old son for life because he sees my breast. Geez people are so touchy. I have just moved to Florence. Does anyone know of any breastfeeding support groups?

Julie

See if you have a local La Leche League. They are awesome. They pioneered bonding and support for nursing mothers back in the olden days of the 70's.

I think bf'ing is wonderful. I breastfed my two daughters and I plan on bf'ing this baby. I'm not trying to offend anyone but the people that give you the dirty looks are usually the same people that would give you looks if they saw you getting formula on WIC. In this day and age it just seems like you can't win for loosing. I also feel like if they don't like it then they can go eat on the toliet or put a blanket over their head while they eat. If their are/were children around I would try to hide as much as possible but as far as adults, they can turn their head. Oh and it would be nice if some people knew that places like Wal-Mart will not let you use the dressing room to bf (well, they didn't 10 months ago) and the toliets don't have lids on them. I could go on and on about this but, I think most of you agree that some people act so immature about breastfeeding.

From a male perspective, you do what you gotta do. This world has too many 'politically correct' people who no longer live in the real world with the rest of us. My wife breastfed for 4 weeks and wished she could have gone longer, but her work made her come back after 6 weeks (6 weeks earlier than we expected) and we were not prepared for it, forcing us to go to formula (we had not began pumping and storing to build up supply.)

As I was saying, don't worry about what other people think. Do what is best for you and your little one, there are too many other more important things to worry with....

Michael

A friend's wife breastfeeds their baby.

She is extraordinarily discrete about it. There is a preponderance of specially designed clothing and bras for breastfeeding moms, and the times the baby nursed, I was quite unaware of it because I NEVER saw any exposed flesh.

She always held the baby close to her breasts, and thus, it was never an awkward moment. Sometimes, for her own or her baby's needs, she would go to another room to nurse, while others she would stay put.

And they are a wonderful and devout Christian couple, both whom are highly educated.

There is an enormous body of scientific evidence which supports that which we as Christians know already to be true, especially as it relates to breastfeeding. For example, the health of the child and bonding are but two most notable examples.

If, when others express their disgust or hatred either visually or verbally, there is no need to be returning insult for insult, or giving dagger-like expressions with our eyes because someone hates what lovingly God has created, and is done in modesty.

In fact, the more attention given to such rabble-rousers, the more credence they're given. Simply ignoring them is the best course of action.

And kudos to you for doing what's best and right for your childrens' health!