I agree.  the public has made woman's breasts a sex symbol and in doing so forgetting what they were made for.  I would not cover my childs head if I were breastfeeding, whether it bothered anyone or not.  Tell them to go eat their dinner under a blanket and see how they like it.  I'm horrified by what society has become.  Breast is best. 

I also feel like a woman should be able to breastfeed without feeling like she's doing something wrong. I feel more comfortable covering up, but even then there are those that find it "offensive".

As a mother that has both bottle fed and breastfed I ask that you please do not treat those that have bottle fed their babies like they are less of a mother. 

Comments like....Breast is best! and How else would you feed a baby? can be hurtful. Some mother's can't breastfeed. Motherhood is hard enough and one shouldn't have to worry about the way they will be treated by how they feed their child weather it be breastfed or bottle fed.

I totally agree with you countygirl...I have heard from women who wanted so bad to breastfeed and couldn't. Sometimes I think that mothers who don't have issues breastfeeding can take it for granted. Some people aren't educated about breastfeeding and don't have the support that they may need. I understand that the statement "how else would you feed a baby" can be hurtful because obviously one can even pump breastmilk and bottle feed. But on the contrary, a breastfeeding mother often doesn't understand why a mother who is perfectly capable of breastfeeding chooses to feed her baby formula when it is a known fact that breastmilk is the best nutrition for a baby up to the age of 2. (American Academy of Pediatrics) I think most people believe that bottle feeding with formula is a selfish convenience when one can breastfeed.

Breastfeeding is a very special thing for both mother and baby and that's why I feel our culture should encourage it more and encourage formula feeding only when necessary. Yes, how the baby eats is the mother's choice (except for the few medical conditions that exist for some women that cause them not to breastfeed) but I think when a mother chooses formula she should examine her motives. Are they self-centered (i.e. I need a break sometimes, etc.) or are they what's best for baby.

The real thing here is to remember that we need to encourage breastfeeding whether it is a friendly smile and nod to a nursing mother, going to a nurse in to support a mother who has been discriminated against (check the link above for one coming soon) or telling someone about the benefits of breastfeeding. The direction our culture is headed in regards to breastfeeding is only going to change if we make the change because we are the ones with the knowledge. Let's remember to not criticize mothers for what they choose because education is the best persuasion.

I'm going to join in this discussion in support of mothers everywhere.  I personally am not a mother yet (though I pray that I will be someday), but I look forward to everything about motherhood. 

I think it's great that women who are unable to breastfeed have the option of formula.  Because of certain things that we've done in our society, to our environment, etc. I would think this is an ever-increasing phenomena.  That being said, I think that those women who are able to breastfeed should be able to do so without being scoffed at or persecuted.  Women were created to nurture their children in this way.  Even if you don't believe in God, you can't deny that breastfeeding is natural.  I simply don't understand people who say it's "gross" or "obscene" or whatever. 

letgo has it right.  Just because our culture has over-sexualized the female breast doesn't mean that they are, in fact, a purely sexual part of the body.  For crying out loud, female breasts are designed for child-rearing; their sexual appeal should be secondary in the cases we're talking about.  Men's breasts are fairly useless (no offense), but they get to run around with their shirts off... even if their breasts are as big as a woman's. 

<Sigh>  Just another thing that humanity has messed up with the over-sexualization.  Okay, I'm stepping off the soap box now ; O)

I am a breastfeeding mother too.  I don't nurse in public because I am not comfortable with it (plus the fact that I don't have a nursing bra- I just can't find one that works for me!).  I really really don't mind when other women NIP though.  Before I was a mother, I would have felt uncomfortable with others BFing in public, just because it was something I was never exposed to.  I think a lot of people feel that it is indecent for women to (even potentially) expose themselves in public.  Many claim it is exposing their children to "sexual parts".  I wouldn't mind if my children saw a woman BFing- exposing the nipple might be a little weird, but the rest of the breast isn't indecent when women expose the same areas every day in their normal/swim attire. 

I think it's utterly ridiculous that the woman was kicked off the plane for not covering herself!  At the same time, I think she should have shown some respect and realized that not everyone is comfortable with NIP- and she should have covered up. 

I too ask that people not be judgmental of formula-feeding mommies.  It took me over 2 months to be able to exclusively breastfeed- and in the meantime I had to supplement with formula.  It was tough having everyone criticize me for using formula when breastfeeding was so incredibly painful.  I know sometimes it takes a while for breasts to get used to feeding- I guess it just took mine a lot longer.  And a majority of mothers work now, so formula is a wonderful alternative.  Remember, it may not be the best for the baby, but it's by no means bad for the baby.

I have no objections to a woman breastfeeding her child, I think it is a great thing. I was never able to breastfeed my children and I wish I could have. But I think the big stink about women breastfeeding in public is that some people may not want to see a ladies breasts exposed, and I am personally one of those people. If the breast was covered up and not visible then I could care less.

madkow2747 - have you heard of those glamourmom nursing tanks? They are so much better than any nursing bra, they give lots of support. You should check them out. The lady who is opening the little bundles boutique has them and does free delivery. She is very helpful and so nice. www.littlebundlesboutique.com

As far as the woman on the plane...I can sympathize with her because my 7month old won't nurse with a cover, although sometimes I wish he would so I could cover my chubs. If I had to cover up, my baby would be so fussy and would give me anxiety...maybe she had a similar situation.

I just don't really think it should be about the mom or the people who think the mom should cover up....there is a third person in the picture...the baby.

 

If I may present you with a scenario...... I'm curious how people will interpret this.

 

    Take a woman who has a child, and 15 mons later has another child and is suffering from extreme postpartum depression. She is very educated about breastfeeding and knows that it is what is best for her baby, yet the idea is overwhelming to her. The well being of this woman and her baby is at stake. She chooses to bottle feed her 2nd child so she may take the breaks she needs to keep her health and sanity. Was this woman selfish or did she actually make the best decision or all involved? Weighing that bottle feeding her child wouldn't make her child sick or actually harm the baby in anyway, but that she and her children might suffer from her being overly stressed and depressed if she had pushed herself beyond what she felt capable of doing, what is your thoughts on this?

eekitsaspider - Sorry to hear that you weren't able to breastfeed. but, you said that as long as a mom is covered it's no big deal and that's what we are trying to get at. If a mom wants to cover - great. But if she doesn't want to, or more significantly - the baby doesn't like the cover - she shouldn't have to cover in order to breastfeed her baby.

Maybe I don't like the way some sloppy guy eats his food....nobody asks him to put a blanket over his head. When a girl walks into a restaurant with extreme cleavage/breasts showing or but cheeks hanging out (which this happens often)...no one gives them a blanket. At least the breastfeeding mother has her breast out for a purpose and then is finished within a short period of time. Right?

Another nursing mommy here ... and I have to say that while I am totally ok with nursing in public (covered), I understand that it does make some people uncomfortable.  I read about the incident at the Applebee's and I feel like if the other customer was bothered enough to complain about it, they must have been very uncomfortable with it. They also have the right to enjoy their meal, without feeling akward about the lady nursing the next booth.  Perhaps Applebee's could have handled it better, by offering to move them to another table, but the mom really didn't seem to care about anyone in the restaurant but herself .  She claims her baby shouldn't have to eat with a blanket on his head.... I can guarentee a 7 mo old baby doesn't care... and if he does, he will throw the blanket off.  It is completely possible to nurse covered with a blanket without covering the baby's face.

Anyways - I'm not sure what a nurse-in at Applebee's will accomplish.  It's not going to hurt their business. I think it will just make for an uncomfortable lunch for customers that day, and it makes nursing mom's look selfish and inconsiderate.

Yep... all this from a nursing mother of 3.

The woman with depression would be one of the medical exceptions mentioned and of course would be making the best decision.

But, as a fact, women suffering from post partum depression are better off to breastfeed because it keeps the hormones like oxytocin going in your body which give you feelings of happiness. If a woman was suffering from clinical post partum depression she would probably need medication and "breaks" really wouldn't do anything for the depression. She would probably be lacking something in her diet and a change in nutrition could resolve the depression. They do make breastfeeding friendly meds for that. You just have to communicate with your doctor, maybe do some of your own research.

I don't think it takes postpartum depression to feel like you need breaks...I mean sometimes I think I 'm going to go crazy :). It's okay to put the child in a safe place and step outside for some fresh air and ground yourself when this happens.

Here is a really good article about postpartum depression....you all should read it, you never know when you may need to help a friend. http://www.mothering.com/gu...

Sunshine - you said yourself that if a nursing 7 month doesn't like the blanket he would throw it off. And  as a mother who would like to nurse covered, I can tell you my 7 month old will not nurse with a cover.

In defense of the Kentucky woman, she nursed her baby in the car outside...so to say she didn't care about anyone else is false. She also mentioned she didn't have a blanket as it was summer time.

The thing I don't understand is that if one person has the right to enjoy their meal than so does the other, right? So where do the rights end and start and what are the baby's rights ( who's only voice is his mother's)?

I don't think that the nurse - in is meant to hurt Applebee's business as much as it is to be seen by the public to say "we will nurse our babies when they are hungry." I'm not a crazy lactivist by any means but I do want to be able to feed my baby when he is hungry even if it means I'm sitting at a table with my back partially turned to a restaurant floor and part of my side showing. Sometimes I wonder if it is really the woman (I'm not sure that the complaint came from a woman but I would almost bet in most cases it does...kind of funny?) who is insecure that her husband may be "looking." ???? Can someone enlighten me.

Thank you LucyPevensie!  I'll have to check those tops out!  And LOL about the sloppy guy eating!  He should TOTALLY have to put a blanket over his head!

And, just to add to my previous post about the pain when I first began breastfeeding... Because of the pain, I was absolutely horrified when my son wanted to eat (and of course, with newborns it's pretty frequent).  I was to the point where I didn't even want to look at him.  I really felt that that was an unhealthy place for my son and me- we couldn't bond if I was afraid of him.  It was another reason I decided to not push the breastfeeding quickly and to supplement with formula.  It wasn't a self-centered decision- it was what I felt was best for the both of us.  Chances are, if a mother is unhappy with breastfeeding, the baby won't be happy with it either because he/she will pick up on the stress and bad signals the mother is putting out.

And I didn't even think about a baby throwing off the covering.  My son is only 4 1/2 months old, so we haven't gotten to that yet :)  But it does make sense, now that I think about it.  He looks very shocked if I cover him with something.  I usually have to go to a bedroom/bathroom/car/or any room that locks to feed him so that he can nurse uncovered.  It is frustrating to have to miss out on everything while I'm feeding him- but I think it's better that way.  He's at the age right now where he's almost too distracted to eat if there's anything going on around us!

I'll bet the complaint was from a woman too... Most men who are uncomfortable with a mother nursing in public would feel even more uncomfortable complaining about it!  And honestly, I think most guys don't even mind it.  Every single complaint I've heard about NIP has been from a woman.  Whether it's jealousy for her husband or otherwise, I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me given how crazy some people are!

Yes--I will say it again....How else would you feed a baby and breast is best.  I used to work as an RN for many years and grew tired of women saying reasons why they didn't want to  breast feed: 
I don't want saggy breasts afterward
It will interfere with my social life
I think it's gross
I get free formula
I want to enjoy my glass of wine
It will strap me down--I don't want to be tied to the baby
I still have a life--how am I supposed to go out?
I have also worked with women who tried to to breastfeed and were unable to--some chose to pump then bottle feed and some women decided it was too much work, and others felt it was not worth the hassle.  But at least they tried and the short amount of time their baby had breast milk ensured he had what he needed nutritionally at that stage in life.  What concerns me is feeding a newborn the same formula meant for a 10 or 11 month old baby--an newborn has different nutritional needs.
Another frequent scenario:
Frantic phone call from a friend--she knows of a young women who has a 2 week old baby and is out of the "free" formula and is unable to afford to buy formula...she thought WIC would give her all the free formula she needed (they don't). Now how is she going to feed her baby?  Well if she would of breast fed, this would not be an issue.  Too late now....
All these scenarios are different from women who were not able to breast feed due to various reasons...medications, baby unwilling to nurse etc.  But breast is best....