|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
The Question: Has public breastfeeding become acceptable (without anyone telling us)? Should it be? Why or why not?
The Answer: “Public breastfeeding hasn't become acceptable to anyone I know, Christian or non-Christian. I think it makes everyone uncomfortable, no matter how discreet the mother may try to be. It almost seems a bit obnoxious.” The Answer: “First, there is nothing shameful about breastfeeding. By now, we all know that the antibodies in breast milk help babies to remain healthy and thrive that first six months. That said, about the last thing this gal wants to see in public is someone flashing a boob around. Please! This is just tacky, not to say totally lacking in modesty. If you have to nurse in public, at least drape a scarf or shawl or something to give the rest of us a little privacy!” The Answer: “Definitely! It's nature's way...a little discretion is suggested.” The Answer: “I feel public breastfeeding is acceptable when done discreetly. I mean, that's what God created them for and the mother is giving the absolute best to her child. Give her a pat on the back (after she's finished, of course)!” The Answer: “Ummm...I'm pretty sure that when God made breasts, his intention was for them to nourish babies, not for them to be objects of lust. Babies shouldn't have to eat their lunch in a smelly bathroom just so people aren't offended—would you? If you're that uncomfortable, look the other way.” The Answer: “As long as women are properly covered and modest, I don't see why they cannot breastfeed in public. Babies, especially newborns, have to eat several times a day, and sometimes there is no place to go. This is a natural process that God made, and I don't think that any woman should have to be ashamed of feeding a baby in public.” The Answer: “If ‘public’ means done discreetly in a corner away from onlookers, then it is acceptable. Don't think it should be acceptable? Walk by any Victoria's Secret, and then tell me what you think about such displays in public.” The Answer: “Maybe breastfeeding is natural, but so is going to the restroom. No one wants to watch you go to the bathroom; no one wants to see you breastfeeding. It's not beautiful; it's gross. Get a bottle!” The Answer: “Of course, it's acceptable. What's wrong with you? Just cover up with a baby blanket. I nursed my two; that's what I did. If mothers can't nurse in public places, then those of us that chose the healthiest and best option for our babies (not having stale, leftover pumped milk, or chemical formulas) are effectively barred from being in public, period! You know those little guys have to eat every 3 to 4 hours sometimes? Just imagine if you had to make sure you and your kids are home (not in public!) whenever the baby had to nurse. You'd never get out at all. I don't think I've been any place where it hasn't been acceptable to nurse, barring church service itself, of course—then I used to go to the nursery.” The Answer: “Yes, it is acceptable, but most mothers will be modest about it. They don't like people to stare, and they don't care to have to defend their choice to anyone. So basically, people should mind their own business. And people should stop saying how gross it is.” The Answer: “As long as it’s discreet, yes, it’s acceptable.” The Answer: “In a society that places so much sexual emphasis on women's breasts, this most natural action should be done discreetly and modestly. Those sitting near a mother who very publicly breastfed her infant every Sunday morning in church were most uncomfortable.” The Answer: “Yes, and Yes. If done modestly, I don't see any problems with it. It is the healthiest way for a baby to eat, and mothers cannot be holed up in their house all the time. Because there are ways to do it so modestly that people would not even know you’re doing it, I don't feel that any one should be offended at it. It may gross some people out, but I’m grossed out by people wearing short shorts who have no business wearing them. But I won't go around asking that it be outlawed.” The Answer: “Throughout history mothers have breastfed their infants in public places, without the clamor and uproar that is usually heard in the Western Hemisphere (mainly the US.) Even more slowly it is becoming more and more the usual thing as you sit in restaurants, shop, or ride the train/bus home... But is it really acceptable? Most of the young mothers that I know would not be caught dead breastfeeding in public because they are afraid of being indecent. That, however, is not true in most cases. There are lots of mothers who breastfeed without being indecent. I think the major difference between those who think it acceptable and those who do not is cultural background.” The Answer: “I got all giggly when I read this. Imagine a General Conference where people are practicing their freedom to breastfeed in public?” The Answer: “Just be discreet about it, for goodness sakes! My boys don't need to see your breasts. (And I don't want to—thanks, anyway).” The Answer: “Wow—this is an odd question. I am 7 months pregnant with my first child and I intend to feed him discreetly in public places if he needs to eat, but not openly. For example, if we are at a restaurant, I'll take him into the ladies room for a quick feed, and I am purchasing one of those shawls to go over us so that we are not exposed. I think that breastfeeding in public should be done with discretion, and if someone is going to get ‘lusty’ for a mother who is feeding her child, then he has got bigger problems than a partially exposed breast. Breast milk is the best thing for our babies, completely godly and natural, and should be allowed to be done in public places discreetly.” The Answer: “There's a new surge of activist breast-feeding mothers. They're even doing it on the church pews!” The Answer: “I'm not sure if it should be acceptable. I still feel that women should exit and feed the lil' one in private. I know it is a natural thing, but so is defecating. We don't do that in public!” The Answer: “I am not against it, do what you gotta do, but cover up!” The Answer: “So long as we can't see what's going on under Mom's concealing blanket (breast feeding, narcotic injection, nuclear fission, income tax preparation), then it's okay to do it in public. I won't even mention what guys do with their hands in their pockets in public that is totally unacceptable. Moms Rule!” The Answer: “I think that the actual act of breastfeeding isn't bad in public so long as everything is properly covered up...unfortunately, that isn't really possible. To prepare to breastfeed and to stop requires some tricky moves in order to stay covered up. I think that's too big of a risk, and therefore breastfeeding in public should just be avoided.” The Answer: “Breastfeeding in public isn’t the issue. Modesty is. Women who insist on being respected, but uncover in public, for whatever reason, will never earn the respect they want. Some people seem to equate public breastfeeding with striptease because the women advocating it are militant about their ‘rights’ and make no effort to be modest when they breastfeed. Both sides are missing something. Discretion. If public breastfeeding will be considered acceptable in a society where the exposed breast holds such sex appeal, modesty is vital.” The Answer: “Discreet, public breastfeeding is perfectly acceptable. A nursing mother is doing what is best for her child. She should not be made to feel ashamed for that. Women have been breastfeeding in public for centuries, and often with no more cover than a handkerchief. Today, innovative designers are turning out stylish nursing wear that permits discreet breastfeeding. It is easier than ever for mothers to stay covered without having to go into hiding.” The Answer: “Yes. It should be. God didn't make baby formula, so move over, all you sophisticated, hi-tech dudes. Natural is back and it's better.” The Answer: “It is apparently all the non-nursing people of the world with the problem, as nursing mothers no longer display the level of modesty and class and will nurse anywhere, anytime in front of anyone. It should still be done discreetly, but sadly that is no longer the case. The rest of us don't want to participate in this, and we do not live in a third world country where this practice is accepted. Furthermore, to do this in front of an unmarried man is more inappropriate than in front of females. The men I know are either very uncomfortable or turned on. Is this really what they want to accomplish?” The Answer: “Yes, it should be. Why should a parent be made to feel guilty for someone else's issues regarding the sight of a breastfeeding mother?” The Answer: “I don't think it is acceptable. I am all about breastfeeding. However, I'm not down with women who just slap the kid on in church or other public places. There is this wonderful invention called a breast pump. Utilize it. I think it is quite uncomfortable to know that right next to you there is a woman with her junk all hanging out. Maybe I'm too much of a prude. Don't know. I just think one should maintain a certain amount of decorum in public, and having one's private body parts flailing about isn't necessary.” The Answer: “In the North American culture, it is only acceptable to breastfeed in public if a necessity—in other words, if a secluded private place is not readily available. That should be the preference. If it is a necessity, it can still be done discreetly by throwing a blanket or some other type of covering over the baby and the front of the mother so that she is covered. If the mother is not covered properly and breastfeeding is done in a public place, it attracts undue and unwelcome attention and makes the other people in the room uncomfortable—again, I repeat, in our North American culture. As Christians we strive for modesty and this area would fall into that category. It is evident that God intended for mothers to breastfeed their babies, but the North American culture does require a certain amount of privacy for this to take place. In my own home church, here is a separate room—separate even from the general nursery, exclusive for nursing mothers and infants. No one else is even allowed in that particular space.” The Answer: “Blankets, ladies. If you must breastfeed your child in public, please, please, invest in a blanket. It's a perfectly natural event, but that doesn't mean I want to see it happen. Should women breastfeed in public (covered by a blanket)? If they're comfortable with that, sure. Although I would venture that there are some venues where it would be unacceptable: weddings, funerals, while playing the piano on the platform at church...” The Answer: “Do you eat in private? Neither should babies.” The Answer: “I don't think it is acceptable because it just is rude.” The Answer: “It certainly seems to have become acceptable to some woman I've seen recently in Wal-Mart. I don't think it should be. I'm a new mother, and I know all about the way nature made things to work. But we don't live in a country or continent where it has been normal to breastfeed in public; we have special rooms in malls and churches where we can discreetly feed our children without drawing attention. I think in our culture, it's more of an attention thing for some woman. (Look at me! Letting it all hang out because I can.) I think women should be modest in all things. Everyone knows our culture is completely perverted...so it may be the way God made things to work, but we have to behave comely in our culture. Keep things as pure as we can.”
ninetyandnine.com © 2006, ninetyandnine.com ---------- |
|
|
