Breastfeeding in Public

Brutal Peanut

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Oct 15, 2010
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People think that breastfeeding is sexual, because of the boobies. Breastfeeding and pumping milk for my baby was probably the least sexiest thing I've ever done. I don't think there is anything wrong with breastfeeding your baby in public, seeing as I've done it - but I have to admit that I get a bit creeped out if the child is way old enough to be weaned and is still clinging to the breast; but I've never confronted anyone about it, I just think it in my head. I've read articles where the some breastfeeding women are trying to say that one should breastfeed their children until well up to 12 years old. - yeesh.
 

Siege_TF

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May 9, 2010
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I have a general disinterest in strangers doing anything that's not entertaining, and I don't consider breastfeeding to be entertaining. I'd say the only place it's inappropriate would be behind the wheel of a vehicle. I'd rather have a breastfeeding woman than a crying baby in the middle of a restaurant.
 

Belaam

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Nov 27, 2009
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Absolutely don't care.

Um... unless the kid is like 3+ and then it starts making me feel uncomfortable. Mainly because I have memories from about three and up and I'm fantastically glad none of them involve me nursing or I might have developed some really odd hang-ups.
 

Something Amyss

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Dec 3, 2008
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Colour Scientist said:
Does it make you feel uncomfortable when you see a woman breastfeeding her child in a public area? If so, does it always make you uncomfortable or is it okay provided that her breasts are completely covered?
It doesn't make me uncomfortable.

Alternatively, do you just see it as something natural and non-sexual, something women should be free to do whenever and wherever they please?
The act of breastfeeding I definitely see as non-sexual, despite being attracted to breasts.

Do you think that instead of possibly making people uncomfortable, women should have to go into private areas, such as bathrooms, to breastfeed?
I think as a whole society should grow up. At the same time, this may be a reasonable compromise.

Do you think that women who do so are exhibitionists? Should they just always have bottles prepared to feed their child when out and about?
Exhibitionists? No. Should women carry extra equipment around? Doesn't seem necessary to me.

But mostly, I think we need to grow up as a culture.
 

Blood Brain Barrier

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Nov 21, 2011
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The comparison with urinating doesn't work for me. Urine is unpleasant, no one likes it and you can't help but breathe in the smell. Breastfeeding creates no mess, there's barely any exposure, no smell and it's nowhere near the level of disposing your human waste in public.
 

Qwurty2.0

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Apr 21, 2011
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I don't generally care. I live in the U.S. and don't see it all that much so if I came upon a woman breast-feeding I would probably be a little surprised at first, but I would think "meh" and move on with my life.

I have seen some women who breast-feed and make if incredibly noticeable for those around them, I.E. "look at me, I'm breast-feeding in public as obnoxiously as possible, but I'll get pissy if you ask me to be more polite".

Basically, it doesn't bother me unless you are setting it up to get yourself attention.
 

cathou

Souris la vie est un fromage
Apr 6, 2009
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Dirty Hipsters said:
2. You'd have to explain to me exactly why it's worse for a baby to drink from the bottle. You said that it's not the same as drinking from the breast, and I believe you, and you also said that babies can refuse to drink from the breast after using a bottle, and I believe that as well, but that's not an explanation of why it's bad.
we are talking breast ilk from the breast vs breast milk from a bottle here, because obviously breast milk vs formula is very different.

there's an emotional and psychological benefit for the baby to feed directly from the breast, skin to skin contact, the odour of the mother.

And if the baby quit drinking from the breast too soon, and you want to give it breast milk in bottle means that you must pump it. It's pretty exausting and complicated. you have a tons of bottles to wash every day, you must connect yourself to that buzzing pump 6 to 8 time per day (dont even try the manual one, it's too exaustive after a while), plus you have to carry a lot of thing for storing and heating the milk each time you go out.
 

Mrkillhappy

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Sep 18, 2012
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I have no problem with someone breastfeeding in public boobs are boobs & a babies got to eat right. I actually find it funny seeing people freak out about breasts, it's like they can't deal with human anatomy.
 

Guestowel

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Oct 9, 2008
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Colour Scientist said:
Alternatively, do you just see it as something natural and non-sexual, something women should be free to do whenever and wherever they please?
I don't think it should be a matter of "where they please". The focus here shouldn't be on the woman, but more the fact that the baby needs to eat. My wife would drape a blanket, or a breastfeeding cover over our son to protect her modesty. That was her choice, and made her more comfortable. I really don't see much of an issue here, because we live in a really left wing city, and public breastfeeding is culturally accepted, and supported.
 

Colour Scientist

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Jul 15, 2009
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Qwurty2.0 said:
I don't generally care. I live in the U.S. and don't see it all that much so if I came upon a woman breast-feeding I would probably be a little surprised at first, but I would think "meh" and move on with my life.

I have seen some women who breast-feed and make if incredibly noticeable for those around them, I.E. "look at me, I'm breast-feeding in public as obnoxiously as possible, but I'll get pissy if you ask me to be more polite".

Basically, it doesn't bother me unless you are setting it up to get yourself attention.
Out of genuine curiosity, how does a woman breastfeed obnoxiously?

Like, what way would she have to act for it to go from a woman feeding her child and a woman being attention seeking?
 

Agayek

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Oct 23, 2008
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Colour Scientist said:
Out of genuine curiosity, how does a woman breastfeed obnoxiously?

Like, what way would she have to act for it to go from a woman feeding her child and a woman being attention seeking?
Some combination of:
-Make a production out of the affair
-Set up to do it in the middle of a crowded, busy area, obstructing some portion of the crowd in the process
-Loudly declare what she's doing
-Cause a scene in some fashion either while or shortly before the baby eats

All of those would be pretty obnoxious breatfeeding, and I've seen all of them to one degree or another.

Of course, it'd be pretty obnoxious in general, so I wouldn't say the problem is breastfeeding so much as attention-whoring and being obnoxious.
 

seventy two

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Mar 7, 2011
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On a personal level I do not care, if it shuts the kid up, then I may even be for it. With that said breastfeeding does make some groups uncomfortable,and while women should have the ability to breastfeed in public, it should not then become taboo to request that they do not in a particular situation. The most common example thrown around is usually restaurants, and I side with the establishment having control over whether to allow it, as it has the potential to be disruptive even if not intentionally.
 

FPLOON

Your #1 Source for the Dino Porn
Jul 10, 2013
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Well, ever since I saw my aunt breastfeed my cousin at the age of 6, I have not cared one bit about breastfeeding in general... So no, I don't have a problem with breastfeeding because I just don't give a fuck... Besides, I've only noticed two mothers in public so far, in my life, breastfeeding and one of them had a blanket that had a pretty cool design on it at the time...
 

Caiphus

Social Office Corridor
Mar 31, 2010
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Colour Scientist said:
Does it make you feel uncomfortable when you see a woman breastfeeding her child in a public area? If so, does it always make you uncomfortable or is it okay provided that her breasts are completely covered?
Maybe a little bit. It doesn't happen nearly often enough that I've been able to measure my reaction. I'd probably have to stop myself from staring. So it would proooobably make me about as uncomfortable as someone having a really, really large forehead. Or a bad wig. Maybe.

And women who breastfeed can do what they want. My possible discomfort doesn't mean they need to go through the rigmarole of shoving their baby's head into their shirt or whatever.

Colour Scientist said:
Alternatively, do you just see it as something natural and non-sexual, something women should be free to do whenever and wherever they please?
I certainly don't find it sexual. And it's one of the most natural things in the world. Not that that would particularly matter, I guess. Being natural or unnatural probably isn't a factor in whether I'm comfortable being around it, or whether they should do it. I mean, urinating in public is also natural and probably non-sexual. Probably.

[small]Depends on what you're urinating onto.[/small]

But yeah, they can do it wherever they please. Within reason, I mean. Don't do it while skateboarding, you maniac.

Colour Scientist said:
Do you think that instead of possibly making people uncomfortable, women should have to go into private areas, such as bathrooms, to breastfeed?
They can if they want. They don't have to.

Colour Scientist said:
Do you think that women who do so are exhibitionists? Should they just always have bottles prepared to feed their child when out and about?
Maybe some of them get a kick out of it. Never asked. Next time I see a woman breastfeeding, I'll sidle up right close to them and whisper in their ear "Aw yeah, you fucken like that, don't you?". I'll come back here and tell you all about it once the bleeding stops, and the police let me go.

And they can have bottles if they want, again I'm not going to tell them what to do. I don't think I was ever breastfed, so presumably my mum just plugged a bottle into my face whenever I wouldn't shut the fuck up.

Colour Scientist said:
You don't have to stick to these questions, I'm just interested in people's opinions on the subject in general.
I'll stick to the questions all I Goddamn want, Colour.
 

Drathnoxis

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To everyone saying that breastfeeding is completely non-sexual:

Many women feel aroused during breastfeeding and can even orgasm. This article makes reference to a study that claims arousal during breastfeeding is fairly common
In a 2000 study of breastfeeding women, 40.5% of the participants reported feeling sexually aroused at some point during infant suckling. 16.7% reported being aroused frequently during breastfeeding. In a more recent paper that reviewed several studies between 33-50% of women described breastfeeding as erotic (and 25% of those women said they felt guilty about it).
http://naturalparentsnetwork.com/sexual-feelings-breastfeeding/

So I would say the line is probably more blurry than most people are making it out to be.
 

Qwurty2.0

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Apr 21, 2011
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Colour Scientist said:
Qwurty2.0 said:
I don't generally care. I live in the U.S. and don't see it all that much so if I came upon a woman breast-feeding I would probably be a little surprised at first, but I would think "meh" and move on with my life.

I have seen some women who breast-feed and make if incredibly noticeable for those around them, I.E. "look at me, I'm breast-feeding in public as obnoxiously as possible, but I'll get pissy if you ask me to be more polite".

Basically, it doesn't bother me unless you are setting it up to get yourself attention.
Out of genuine curiosity, how does a woman breastfeed obnoxiously?

Like, what way would she have to act for it to go from a woman feeding her child and a woman being attention seeking?
I was trying to think of a better word for obnoxious (but being up at 2:30 A.M. makes thinking difficult :( ). The only real situation that came to mind was when a women sets up in a very public, open area and then gets offended when she sees someone looking at her. Or if an employee or someone asks her to cover up a bit more because people are uncomfortable (I don't see anything wrong with it, but just because I think it's fine doesn't mean the majority will let it fly).

I saw a YouTube video once where some middle aged women set up in the back of their vans in the front of a parking lot (a place where they knew people would notice) and then got mad when the store asked them to either cover up better or go somewhere else. That's obviously not the same as your average mom breast-feeding her child, but I'd doubt you'd deny that there aren't women who do such things (like guys who wear a dress "just cuz'" and then confront people who look at them funny, i.e. people who do it to make a point rather than because it's harmless).

No offense intended. :/
 

Amir Kondori

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Apr 11, 2013
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As long as the mother makes at least some effort to be discreet about it, i.e. a draping something over her and her baby, or just using her clothes to try and cover up as much as she can, then I am OK with it.
 

Smooth Operator

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Oct 5, 2010
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I personally don't mind it at all, and of course it's natural that is our natural bloody form. The problem with the whole situation is society, society has taken things so far as demonising natural human form... one step further even, it has become illegal to display it in public.

And that is the hill from which the bullshit snowball starts rolling, people expect you to condemn exposed body parts, you are expected not to look, expected to fear it, expected not to be aroused, mothers are expected to hide, expected to condemn anyone looking, expected to not be aroused,... so on and so forth till the end of bloody sanity.
So until there comes a time when societies can once more cope with the human form I suggest a bottle, at this time you can only expect everyone in a room with exposed breasts to suddenly get judgemental as fuck per decree of the all powerful and holy peer pressure.
 

likalaruku

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Nov 29, 2008
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All I know is that if I see a bare breast, I'm going to stare at it. Staring at tits is a human thing, not just something men do. It's usually the woman breastfeeding who feels uncomfortable from being stared at. Not sure if my being a woman makes them feel more or less awkward though.