Women breastfeeding in public- opinions?

[Fassa Albrecht]

From the article:

Mothers from around the country plan to support a Friendswood mom who says she was harassed at a Target store for breastfeeding.
More than 100 different “nurse-ins” are planned in 35 states after hearing about the case of Michelle Hickman.
Hickman and her then 4-month-old son Noah were visiting the Target in Webster last month when he started getting hungry.
“I was taking care of my baby’s needs,” said Hickman. “I was bothered by people wanting to make a spectacle of it.”
Not the customers, she said, but the employees.
“They all came in and started walking and looking like I did something horrible,” said Hickman.

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I'm wondering what the opinions of TBers are on public breastfeeding. Surely a woman doing a natural process shouldn't be treated as something so alien?

I personally don't care if a woman chooses to breastfeed. Most women I've seen doing this are discreet and aren't making a huge deal out of it like flashing a boob or anything. Plus, it stops the baby from annoying others.

[Marial]

I have no problem with public breastfeeding.

[BurningSkies]

Depends upon the booobs.

[Relic]

I think it's a beautiful thing and have no issues with it whatsoever. Though I would caution that there's a time and place for it.

[D.A.R.K.]

Breasts not bombs!

[i_got_a_mohawk]

It should really be a non-issue.

It only starts getting weird if it's a child who should have been weened much earlier! Even then, it isn't really an issue, just, well, odd seeing a 6 or 7 year old being breastfed (well, it isn't right for them in terms of nutrition beyond the first few years, but then again, we shouldn't really be drinking milk at all beyond those years!)

[::::BASSIST::::]

I am absolutely 100% for it.

Its without question the best food for babies. I would hate to think that people would put their ultra conservative views before the needs of a baby.... but I know that they do.

[tekdiver500ft]

I am absolutely all for it. Formula is a formula for disaster, IMO. It is a natural, normal part of life, and is truly beautiful.

[Funky Ghost]

The kid needs to eat and the best food source is breast milk. What's the big issue? My 1st wife breast fed our kids and was discreet enough in public that it was never an issue. It's just a case of people need to get out of other peoples bid-ness.

[Fassa Albrecht]

I'm sure I've seen special tops which have extra flaps and things on them to allow for discreet public breastfeeding.

[MatticusMania]

Surely it couldnt have hurt the lady to take the child out of the store to breastfeed it.
Personally, I dont really care, though.

[chuck norriss]

I'm with Burning Skies but for the most part, count me in. I'll feed from a breast in public.

Loose thought here, don't rip my head off: Perhaps the US should have one state where anything goes, but not necessarily have lawlessness: same-gender marriages, legalized drugs, everyone carry a gun, public nudity/breastfeeding, open borders, no speed limits on the highway, you name it. My guess is that people would flock there then carry on with their lives just fine. And don't say it already exists with California. I live in Los Angeles.

[::::BASSIST::::]

^ Everything except the guns and I'd give it a try.

[Johnny Crab]

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

I am absolutely 100% for it.

Its without question the best food for babies. I would hate to think that people would put their ultra conservative views before the needs of a baby.... but I know that they do.

+10000
Those objecting should be charged with harrassment or escorted away from the mother & child.

Those objecting are brainwashed into thinking in THEIR minds that such a perfect thing is bad or horrible or whatever it is they think. "Formula" sellers probably object as well due to lost $$$.

[GodinFan]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

Loose thought here, don't rip my head off: Perhaps the US should have one state where anything goes, but not necessarily have lawlessness: same-gender marriages, legalized drugs, everyone carry a gun, public nudity/breastfeeding, open borders, no speed limits on the highway, you name it. My guess is that people would flock there then carry on with their lives just fine. And don't say it already exists with California. I live in Los Angeles.

Hmmmm...Canada comes close, but no guns.

FWIW, women being topless in public is quite legal here, except for commercial (i.e. sex trade) purposes.

Every time I've seen a woman breast feeding in public, they've put a drape over the baby's head. There's nothing to see.

[BIG97BEN]

I dot care but I also don't want to watch it. Drape a towel over o get one of those smock things specially made for it. I had a lady whip out boob and feed her kid in the Melting Pot, which is a really nice restaurant, and not cover or anything. The way the restaurant was set up my only point of view out of the booth was her. That's not acceptable.

[chuck norriss]

Formula is evil.

[nortonrider]

breastfeeding
picking your nose
changing a tampon
squeezing a zit
etc....

there are things that people just shouldn't have to see.
showing some respect to others, what ever happened to that?

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

breastfeeding
picking your nose
changing a tampon
squeezing a zit
etc....

there are things that people just shouldn't have to see.
showing some respect to others, what ever happened to that?

As many people are saying, it is more than possible to breastfeed DISCREETLY, and it's a natural process for a woman to do. What's better, a screaming baby or a quiet and happy baby?

I'm reminded of a time I was on the bus to Morpeth, and there was at the back of the bus a woman with a young baby. This baby began to cry rather loudly, and the woman knew what the baby wanted, and immediately began breastfeeding him. She was in a fairly discreet place and was covering herself with a shawl, bothering no-one.

Now someone complained to the driver as she got off, and the driver simply replied 'I'm trying to drive. That baby is being kept quiet and I'm not really too bothered as to HOW that baby is being kept quiet'

[Relic]

One thing to add - this mom put the store in a very awkward position. You have to look at it from both sides. While I personally have no issues at all with breastfeeding, a store is going to be full of people who do and who do not. As soon as she started breastfeeding publically she put the store in an awkward position - they do nothing about it and some will complain, do something and some will complain... Lose/lose situation. Had the mom simply went into the fitting rooms for example the baby would be fed, burped and happy, the store wouldn't have a single iota a of bad publicity and all would be right wit' da world. Again - I'm not saying breastfeeding is bad, I think it's a beautiful thing, but like I said earlier, tact is great and we should all reign in our egos just a tad.