I breastfed each of my three children for 18 months each. I was an older mom so I just got over myself as far as being concerned over what other people thought when I was out in public and needed to feed my baby. I knew it was best for my babies and that is what I cared about, not strangers' opinions. I tried to cover up my boob with a blanket when I did it in public, but just never made a big deal about it. It was quite the shock to my husband's family (all bottle bed babies) when I would just whip one out and feed the baby sitting in the living room talking, but I don't care. They got over it eventually and I think it was good for them. When you have confidence, people tend to not mess with you. Going off to a private room to nurse implies that it is somehow shameful or embarrassing, which it should not be. That is one reason I am not sure about nursing rooms in bathrooms and that kind of thing. It kind of perpetuates the idea that nursing your baby is something to hide, and it is not. I agree that the more people who just do it (in a tasteful way) in public will make it normal and socially acceptable, to the extent that that matters to some mothers. The bottle feeders are the ones who should get mean stares, not us.
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I breastfed each of my three children for 18 months each. I was an older mom so I just got over myself as far as being concerned over what other people thought when I was out in public and needed to feed my baby. I knew it was best for my babies and that is what I cared about, not strangers' opinions. I tried to cover up my boob with a blanket when I did it in public, but just never made a big deal about it. It was quite the shock to my husband's family (all bottle bed babies) when I would just whip one out and feed the baby sitting in the living room talking, but I don't care. They got over it eventually and I think it was good for them. When you have confidence, people tend to not mess with you. Going off to a private room to nurse implies that it is somehow shameful or embarrassing, which it should not be. That is one reason I am not sure about nursing rooms in bathrooms and that kind of thing. It kind of perpetuates the idea that nursing your baby is something to hide, and it is not. I agree that the more people who just do it (in a tasteful way) in public will make it normal and socially acceptable, to the extent that that matters to some mothers. The bottle feeders are the ones who should get mean stares, not us.
May 12, 2011 - 8:15amThis Comment
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