Moms Talk: Breastfeeding in Public

Loslobos July 22, 2012 at 10:23 pm

I was asked to leave a private business because of the color of my skin.. What is that called again?

Loslobos July 22, 2012 at 10:43 pm

No it's not REALLY hard to understand. There is a thin line of discrimination there and I am so happy that you made it so easy to understand. This law has alot of "legs" and should be passed, if not the thin line of discrimination will become alot thinner.

Earnest July 22, 2012 at 11:01 pm

One of the most natural things in the world and the puritanical degrade women for taking care of their babies as nature intended. It is disgusting the way people view nursing a child as something dirty. "Be discreet, restrict your time out of the house, go pump your breasts and carry a bottle with you, so we can pretend that babies don't nurse."
If you want to talk about what shouldn't be seen in public, let's talk about the people that pick their noses in public, and how about all those men that grab their crotches and adjust themselves in public. Yet, never do we see a business owner ask any of them to excuse themselves to the restroom, wash their hands, or refuse service.

Loslobos July 22, 2012 at 11:02 pm

Yep that comment explains alot. You do KNOW they make catheters. I guess pumping in public is ok with you then. Issue solved!

samantha July 23, 2012 at 12:11 am

As a mom who is currently breast feeding, I think it's sad you're even having this discussion...it's a breast and there is more exposure in daytime TV than what I show while nursing.
No one ever tells a bottle feeding baby and mom to "go to the bathroom" and I'm not sure very many people actually eat their meals in a bathroom either...

Colleen Friedl Brooks July 23, 2012 at 01:16 am

Maybe we should be concerned with men running or mowing their lawns shirtless. They are exposing way more than I do when I breast feed my daughter.

Ashley July 23, 2012 at 02:06 am

Here's something CRAZY: I've actually seen more breast and more "private" areas of a woman's body at the MALL than I have at my biweekly Breastfeeding Support Group containing upwards of 20 moms ALL breastfeeding their babies!

Kimberly July 23, 2012 at 03:15 am

Wow, look what I've missed while I was gone. JDBroomall, I just have to say that you keep insisting that you are for breastfeeding, and your opinions are merely about the law, but I think you've gotten a bit emotional in your responses. (As you earlier told me to keep my emotions out of the conversation). Are you really comparing peeing in bottle to feeding an infant? No wonder your wife had to pump throughout the day just so she could get out of the house with the baby. Feeding a hungry child should not be banned by anyone anywhere. Public/Private-doesn't matter. When a baby is hungry she's relying on her parent(s) to give her what she needs. If she needs food she has a basic HUMAN RIGHT to be fed. You don't have a basic human right to expose yourself in public and pee in a bottle. Breastfeeding women are feeding their babies - what is there to debate about?

Earnest July 23, 2012 at 03:48 am

JDBroomall, your comment is moronic.

Loslobos July 23, 2012 at 12:39 pm

Here is the issue JD. Where is the "private property" line end or start. Let me give you an example because it really is that SIMPLE. We were in a "private business" we asked if they minded if we nursed. The answer was no. A few minutes later, we were asked to leave. We did, so we obeyed... We go across the street to a public park.. Under a tree, in the shade... And still asked to leave by the shop owner. So see its not that SIMPLE, every business should have a place for nursing moms. Smokers have an area to smoke.. There is a law and a penalty for this. So see it really is that SIMPLE. Every business needs an area for nursing moms as the law is asking for.
"a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk."

Frances Stein July 23, 2012 at 01:12 pm

Exactly. It's alright to view a woman's breasts in connection with violence or sexual innuendo--to see them in action fulfilling a basic human function--OMG---some people freak out! It so backwards.

Frances Stein July 23, 2012 at 01:16 pm

I'm sooooooooooo glad that I'm not married to someone with such old-fashioned and narrow-minded views about a woman's role in society as are expressed by one respondent. Thank God for women's liberation or we'd all be wearing balls and chains in our kitchens and unable to think for ourselves!!!

Frances Stein July 23, 2012 at 01:17 pm

You are so right on!

Frances Stein July 23, 2012 at 01:18 pm

Your comments make you sound like a horse's ass. How about that?

Frances Stein July 23, 2012 at 01:19 pm

OMG

Frances Stein July 23, 2012 at 01:20 pm

Precisely, E.S. What is wrong with some of these people?

Frances Stein July 23, 2012 at 01:25 pm

And to withhold breastfeeding when the infant is hungry because one happens to be in a public place with the potential to 'offend' so many, in my view, shows a lack of parental knowledge concern and possibly neglect. Sometimes you didn't pump quite enough or perhaps you were delayed. The infant is crying, breast milk is leaking....it happens to the best of us no matter how well one prepares for outings.

charli July 23, 2012 at 01:53 pm

First of all I can't believe that we are spending this much time on this subject when there are many more things going wrong with the world. Furthermore I am never going to listen some man tell me how to schedule my day. I have a two month old and I breast feed. I don't even want to think about breast feeding in public but sometimes it has to happen and its not always every 2 or 3 hours sometimes its every hour. I'm not going to be housebound because of you narrow minded people and if I ever hear about a place in P-ville or where ever I will not go there and make sure that every one else hears about it. People are allowed to take their children out to dinner so if you don't like it stay home! I'm pretty sure no one is rolling up to 7 Stars with their boobs hanging out with a baby attached!

Joey July 23, 2012 at 02:11 pm

Children are a protected class under federal law and have a right to be fed when hungry. Is that REALLY that hard to understand!

Wunderbear July 23, 2012 at 02:18 pm

To J.S.: why shouldn't an infant be nursed at the table at a restaurant. A dog eats from a bowl on the floor. An infant is a human just like you, presumably, so why not at the table?
People need to get over themselves and their Puritan heritage. It's all natural, the way it was intended by the Creator himself. The benefits of Breastfeeding are not only to be found on an individual level, but the long term health effects benefit our society as a whole, through lowering the cost of healthcare. If everyone was nursed we would save billions on healthcare.

Rick July 23, 2012 at 02:41 pm

I am completely for a womans right to breast feed in public, but your argument is full of holes. First, why does it have to be an all or nothing conversation, breast feed all you want, but show some modesty and cover yourself. See because I dont let my sons be flooded with all kinds of images of scantily clad women or violence, because I am their parent. But when a woman decides that she is going to nurse on the bench at East Goshen Park with no cover on, she has now made it my responsibilty to have a conversation with my children that I may not feel they are mature enough to handle. Again, there is a common sense resolution to this debate that neither side seems willing to come too.

cristina July 23, 2012 at 02:58 pm

I am all about modesty and covering up, that being said Rick you are perpetuating the problem, breasts should stop being thought of as only a sexual object for the enjoyment of men. The conversation you should have with your children is how that mother is feeding her baby, that it is very important and perfectly normal in this situation. Then you can explain if you feel the need anything else Otherwise that should suffice Educate your children.

Amaryllis July 23, 2012 at 03:14 pm

Children ARE NOT a protected class under federal law, and breastfeeding laws are enacted on a state by state basis. In some states private businesses are compelled to put up with this, in others they are not. But as far as allowing children on the premises, every business has the right to let them in or not let them in, hence restaurants that don't let children in under a certain age. In fact, even in states that do compel private businesses to allow women to breastfeed, they can avoid this problem simply by prohibiting children under a set age. If you don't allow them under 8 or 10, they aren't going to still be breastfeeding.

Joey July 23, 2012 at 06:40 pm

A women should sue ( civil rights violation) if she is forbidden to nurse in public. This is really about discrimination against women. Women do not have to "put up" with it .

Ted Merriman July 24, 2012 at 04:42 am

All this controversy is raised about it, but few know that breastfeeding was shown on the television program "Sesame Street" of all places 35 years ago. Little fuss was made about it then.

Anonymous July 31, 2012 at 03:45 am

JDBroomall - the quote Mulderbudge used is DIRECTLY from the Freedon to Breastfeed Act. You are ot well versed in the law. See the following government link and note Section 3: General Rule...
http://www.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_102857_14206_607962_43/http%3B/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/health/content/internet/health_services___resources/maternal___child_health/breastfeeding_awareness___support/bfh/bf_tabbed_template_test/legislation.html

Anonymous July 31, 2012 at 03:48 am

Read this government link...... It specifically states Private Property....
http://www.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_102857_14206_607962_43/http%3B/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/health/content/internet/health_services___resources/maternal___child_health/breastfeeding_awareness___support/bfh/bf_tabbed_template_test/legislation.html

Nancy Kelly September 20, 2012 at 09:32 pm

I am saddened to see such a lack of support for breastfeeding moms and their babies on this comment thread. It's great to be well-versed in the law, but also know and understand how breastfeeding works before making bold comments about how to do so. My second baby refused bottles. What should I have done? How about on those cold winter days? Just imagine I am in a pizza shop or a mall on a cold winter day. My baby needs to eat. My toddler needs to eat. How do I handle that situation? Do I take my baby outside in the freezing cold winter so she can eat? Do I make my toddler stop because I have to go outside? I will tell you how I handled it... I nursed her right there wherever I was. I did not use a cover, but my entire body and breast were not exposed. If someone asked me to stop, I would not. Luckily, I have never been asked to stop. I have had a few odd glances from time to time, but no business owner ever asked me to stop nursing my baby in their establishment. Why? Because the law protects me? Well, I think it is far more complex than that. Intelligent business owners know they need to keep their customers happy. Look around a mall... who do you see there? Every third person has a stroller. I guarantee a savvy business person will think long and hard about speaking to a woman about covering up or leaving if their business is important to them. We are moving in a direction that is accepting of breastfeeding. Laws support nursing women. We are moving towards acceptance!

Tom Mills March 27, 2013 at 08:26 pm

The first woman I saw breastfeeding other than my mother was my friends mom and I was about 7 years old. She did it openly without a cover. Nobody had to explain anything to me as I knew that breast were for feeding babies. Another friend of my mom breastfed her baby very openly without cover when I was 12. She was the extreme of letting it all hang out. I was a boy going through puberty at the time and it wasn't a big deal. I think it's an overblown issue. To me if you don't like it go somewhere else. If we see a woman slap her child in public we look the other way and say nothing, but let her feed her child with a breast and all of sudden she's the most immoral woman on earth. Don't let us catch a glimpse of her nipple because that's just disgusting! Give me a break!

Richard Weisgrau March 27, 2013 at 09:17 pm

So well said. Bravo!
My wife breastfed over 30 years ago. I can remember a confrontation with a couple who thought public breastfeeding was outrageous. I can recall saying: "You see breasts as erotic stimuli. My child sees them as a food source. I think my child has it right."