Breastfeeding Pictures Cause Outcry

[Oola]

What are your views on breastfeeding in public, or pictures published on Facebook?

Breastfeeding Photo Ban by Facebook Sparks Global Protest by Mothers (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/facebook/4029868/Breastfeeding-photo-ban-by-Facebook-sparks-global-protest-by-mothers.html)

Should it be seen as explicit and inappropriate, or natural and socially acceptable? Does it protect or hurt anyone by not publishing the pictures?

[Crocus]

While being a totally natural thing to do, I think perhaps one should be a bit discreet when it comes to breatfeading in public. I for one wouldn't put a picture of me breastfeading on Facebook - why would one want to do it? I think it's something to be done in private. I can't think why it would hurt someone by not publishing the pictures Oola.

This is just my personal opinion and how I feel about it, but there's many other opinions about this, I'm sure. It's a matter of personal choice. xxx

[Katelb]

I entirely agree with you Crocus,discretion is definately the word to apply to this issue.I suspect that anyone who wishes the rest of the world to see pictures of them breastfeeding must be a bit of an exhibitionist but for those who find it offensive,don't look at them.
I think it should be accepted that breastfeeding is a normal function ,but definately something to be discreet about.

[eleanor2]

i would never breastfeed in front of anyone.every mother i have seen breastfeeding are always discreet.yet it is a natural thing.it is even a beautiful thing when you think of the loving bond and nurture.some people might want to put the photos on because it is probably at a time when they are breastfeeding and it is the most special thing they want to share.from talking to my daughter and looking at friends sites on face book.you can tell they all put their special meaningful photos on.to show they really love and treasure their children,family friends etc.i have seen a lot worse indiscretion about than breast feeding.

[mrsj]

I have breastfed Pip for almost 10 months now, often in public and I cannot see what is offensive about it, I am as discreet as possible and I strongly believe it is the best thing I can do for him. If people don't want to see, they don't have to look. And there is very little to see anyway, much less than when a woman wears a low cut top. I'd rather see a mother feeding her child than some of the other things on show on facebook.

The WHO recommend that babies are breastfed for at least a year, exclusively for 6 months and that is the least that I am doing. It is totally natural and you form an amazing bond with your child. What am I supposed to do, stay in the house for a year in case my baby is hungry in public? Ridiculous, and I am no exhibitionist, in fact I am very shy but Pip's health comes first.

What do people think breasts are for, for Heaven's sake?

[eleanor2]

true mrsj.good on ya.my niece who is only 21 is breast feeding at moment.she is very discreet.yet even at her young age she wants to do what is best for baby.my daughter will be on her third baby soon.the times we have searched out a nice quiet place for her to breast feed.thankfully lots of places are now breastfeeding friendly.

[mrsj]

Hurray, good for them!! There's a website somewhere that lists friendly places, I will hunt it out and post it on here for you to pass on some time! Sorry if that was something of a rant but it is a passion of mine (b/f not ranting . . .)

[eleanor2]

hi mrs j i understand how you feel by the way happy birthday.just noticed it your birthday.hope you have had a lovely day.HAPPY NEW YEAR.

[jazzactivist]

I can't see a problem with women openly breastfeeding in public, or having their photos taken while doing so and publishing these on the Net. After all, that's what breasts are for. To me, anyone who thinks that breasts are primarily sexual has a bit of a mother fetish problem...

[mrsj]

lol jazz!!!

[jazzactivist]

There must be quite a few around, mrsj! I asked my OH what he thinks about it and he said that he never notices, even if a woman is breastfeeding right in front of him. Mind you, that doesn't surprise me any... Breasts have become this 'huge' sexual symbol in western society, but people who moan about public breastfeeding are just jealous of the baby! Thinking about it this way puts a whole new lens on those people who turn away or glare or tut, doesn't it?

[dragonfly]

I think there was a generation bought up to think bottle was best and breast feeding was for animals. When I had my son in 1973 I told them in hospital that I wanted to breast feed and they thought I was peculiar and I was the only one there who did it. I never breast fed in public (I couldn't breast feed for long or I might have done) but when visitors to the house offered to leave the room I said it didn't bother me if it didn't bother them. A friend visited who had had three children and was fascinated to watch me as she had not tried it with her own. I was lucky though as I had seen my mum breast feeding, my friends had never known anyone who had. I think things have gone the other way now and are getting more natural again.

[Ivy]

When I had my son in 1991 I decided to breastfeed. I must say the only person I had seen breastfeeding before was a gipsy woman on a market in Portugal. My mother making strange remarks about women having to wear head scarf and black clothing but breastfeeding in public made me feel a bit embarrassed at the time but I felt I was doing the right thing and was lucky to have chosen a hospital that supported breastfeeding. I never did it in a shopping mall or restaurant but who ever came to my home had to witness the procedure, but still you can be discreet about it without making a great fuss. I don't think it offensive but I would not like to feed a baby in a shopping mall with hundreds of people passing by. Not with a bottle nor breastfeeding as I believe a certain amount of peace is needed for the baby. Our local Hennes has a baby changing room and next to it a feeding room.

[dinger]

I breastfed all my children and can see absolutely nothing wrong or harmful in anyone doing it in public . once the baby is on the breast there is'nt much to see anyway . Carry on mums I say breast is best for your baby. x

[jazzactivist]

The first person that I saw breastfeeding a baby was my aunt, who was my dad's youngest sister and already had 4 children. I must have been about 6 and was amazed that my aunt lifted her top and fed the baby right in the sitting room. Not knowing exactly what I had seen, I reported back to everyone that my aunt had fed her baby with her chin, which only goes to show my slight knowledge of human biology at the time! More recently I felt very sorry for a friend who used to leave the room to feed her baby, who wasn't a very good eater and sometimes took hours. My friend was so unhappy about it, but apparently the health visitor had insisted that a woman should sit alone with her baby to breastfeed, and that her baby's needs were more important than her own. It was such a lonely time for her, and I am sure not necessary.

[mrsj]

The first person that I saw breastfeeding a baby was my aunt, who was my dad's youngest sister and already had 4 children. I must have been about 6 and was amazed that my aunt lifted her top and fed the baby right in the sitting room. Not knowing exactly what I had seen, I reported back to everyone that my aunt had fed her baby with her chin, which only goes to show my slight knowledge of human biology at the time!

Oh I love that chin story, it has made me and OH laugh out loud for about five minutes. Pip was laughing too!!! Hee hee hee xx

[jazzactivist]

Hope that chin-feeding is going well, mrsj! How is baby Pip getting on? It seems quite a while since we RM-ers were advising on foods without strong smells...

[mrsj]

hello, yes the chin feeding is going well ha ha, back to work on Tuesday for 2.5 days so expressing milk for him to have when I'm away. He doesn't want much in the hours that I'll be away from him though and tends to feed most between 4pm and 7 am, so hopefully I'll manage ok.

Sometimes the strong smells seem a thing of the past but I do suffer from flashbacks now and again which make me feel as if I am back in the middle of the hyperemesis and often I vomit (boo hoo), bt they are getting less frequent now, thankfully.

Meant to add, I am sorry about your friend being told that by the HV, some are excellent but some are definitely NOT!

[Rustic Pumpkin]

It is the most natural thing in the world. I agree that it can cause offense to some people, and taking that into consideration discretion should be the order of the day. It usually takes quite a lot to offend or upset me, but even I drew a line when I was in a shop recently and a woman was breezing round, baby feeding in full public view not even trying to hide anything. Using her free hand she was picking up and examining merchandise which was often then awkwardly handled with the hand that was holding the baby, her husband carrying a shopping basket for her. I didn't feel this was particularly appropriate or sanitary, for the baby or her fellow shoppers. They paid at the till and walked out of the shop and down the street still feeding the baby!

[Crocus]

I think RP has illustrated the fact that there's different ways of breastfeading in public. I agree totally that it's the most natural thing, but I don't think one would've find a mum in older days breastfeading in public. It still is something private between mum and baby I think. I don't have anything against breastfeading in public but there are ways of doing it. What RP has mentioned in her posting above I don't think is the way.

I think every mum could perhaps take into account that there may be people feeling uncomfortable with it, perhaps don't like it at all, even it being natural act, and should perhaps respect that. There are other natural things too we don't do in public. xxxx

[Ivy]

Before our daughter was born I made my son a doll and his dad made him a wooden pram (that was used as wheelbarrow and lawnmower more often than a pram but that's an other story) One day our son than 2,5 years old, rolled up his sweater and stuffed the doll underneath telling me his baby was hungry and he had to feed him:D

[Crocus]

Oh sweet, Ivy! xxx

[dragonfly]

It is the most natural thing in the world. I agree that it can cause offense to some people, and taking that into consideration discretion should be the order of the day. It usually takes quite a lot to offend or upset me, but even I drew a line when I was in a shop recently and a woman was breezing round, baby feeding in full public view not even trying to hide anything. Using her free hand she was picking up and examining merchandise which was often then awkwardly handled with the hand that was holding the baby, her husband carrying a shopping basket for her. I didn't feel this was particularly appropriate or sanitary, for the baby or her fellow shoppers. They paid at the till and walked out of the shop and down the street still feeding the baby!

I agree that they should be able to do it anywhere but why anyone would want to do it walking around a supermarket I can't imagine. I think they must be exhibitionists as they can't be thinking of the baby's welfare. I think it should be a quiet, intimate time between mum and baby and sometimes family. Perhaps she is preparing the baby for 'fast food' 'food on the go' or 'ready meals'

[dinger]

I think it was more acceptable years ago for mothers to breast feed . When times were hard and money short it was the cheapest way to feed a baby . I can remember seeing people breast feeding when I was a child and it was'nt uncommon to see it taking place in front of others .

[franbee]

I am a wholehearted supporter of breastfeeding, fed my own for 6mths and 8mths, and don't have a problem with babies being fed in public. But I find it hard to understand how it is necessary to do so or the convenience thereof? Or is that just me? I used to feed my babies at home then go out, and get back in time for the next feed. Feeding was always a messy business anyway, milk leaking all over us. I know that it is sometimes necessary to feed away from home, and I did so in the car now and then, but the lady in the supermarket takes the biscuit!

[Crocus]

I agree. There's public places and public places where to feed baby. In our shopping centres we have mother-and-baby rooms for changing nappies and breastfeading. This woman who walked up and down the isles, breastfeeding her baby, didn't she perhaps try to make a statement of some kind? Tried to be controversial perhaps? xx

[jazzactivist]

I do agree that breastfeeding in public should be carried out sitting down in comfortable surroundings for the comfort of both mum and baby. Supermarkets are pretty stressful places to be, so walking around shopping while holding a baby who is also feeding must have been hard work! I remember once seeing a mum breastfeeding her older baby while she was walking behind the trolley and her baby sitting in the seat. My friend and I couldn't help laughing when mum turned to pick up an item and her baby hung on there like a suction!

[Crocus]

Oh dear me Jazz, in my mind's eye ..... xx

[Rustic Pumpkin]

This is one image I'd rather not be conjouring in my mind!

[dinger]

OOOOH I hope the baby had'nt got any teeth that would have been painful I should imagine .

[mrsj]

I think the problem with some nappy changing breastfeeding areas is that they are in the same room! Would you want to eat in a public toilet! ;-)

[Ivy]

That's true and Hennes has therefore a changing room and a feeding room, but I must confess they are the only shop I know who provide a feeding room, maybe it's because the are Swedish.