Breastfeeding Poll

[sammie]

I nursed both of my boys. On the rare occasion I needed to nurse in public (the airport, the zoo) I would try to find someplace private and I always covered myself....and I would appreciate it if others did also. BTW...I say rare occasion because when we would go to the store, go out to dinner etc. I would always nurse before we went.

[Meeko]

To me, that's covered.

Me too.

[Lavender]

Can't vote. I always nursed discreetly but did not always cover due to different circumstances.

[Kaddidle Care]

I voted uncovered, but this is how I looked nursing:

http://www.zazzle.com.au/mother_brea...92060724511961

That's the "under the shirt" method I used. Baby is covering the breast for the most part, shirt is covering most everything else. I used a T-shirt so it was looser. Whey they are little you can cover them loosely but 6+ months up and they will grab the shirt and pull it out of the way - they want to see what's going on.

[Oneluckymom]

I voted uncovered, but this is how I looked nursing:

http://www.zazzle.com.au/mother_brea...92060724511961

I also see it this way. I voted that I'm not bothered by anyone uncovered but I don't expect to see a mom with no shirt on at all either.

[safechner]

Can't vote. I nursed in private places.

[EchoMom]

When I was brand new to BF I had a huge oversupply issue. I was in tears once trying to nurse discreetly off to the side in some empty pews while other women were having a moms group. This was a group of all MOMS and yet I still didn't want to show off my privat parts to strangers. I had such issues with trying TOO hard to be discreet while SPRAYING my tiny infant like a firehose with milk. He would be soaked and drowning on it. It was NOT something I was able to manage and be discreet about.

Later of course, things got much easier. The covers never worked well for me and blankets always came off, but I would always nurse with the under the shirt method which covers almost everything. And I would only nurse around women/moms. I nursed in the car, in a bathroom (that was AWFUL), and even in my own home if my dad was in town visiting I would go to another room to nurse and then come back.

I would not feel comfortable nursing in front of anyone except my husband, mom, or close female friends.

[kendallina]

I was discreet. I prefer others be discreet. But, there are ways to be discreet without covering.

Yes, this. I never covered while breastfeeding my daughter. Breastfed in restaurants, in parks, in malls and would do it again if I had another child. I would gladly tell someone to look the other way if they were annoyed that I was feeding my child.

[SquirrellyMama]

What would you call this? This is how my big breasted friend nurses. (PS. This is Lucy Lawless! Kinda cool )

http://doublethink.us.com/paala/2012...upport-poster/

In this case I would have put a folded blanket on me that would have just covered me, not the baby. It would be folded just on top of the bre*st I usually did the under the shirt or what I just said above about a folded blanket. I was able to be discreet without having to cover the baby.

K

[originalkat]

I covered in public, would appreciate it if others covered as well. I personally don't want to see anybody's nipple or majority of breast.

I was discreet. I prefer others be discreet. But, there are ways to be discreet without covering.

I agree with both of these. Personally, I always nursed in private or covered, but as long as the person is discreet I am okay with it.

[Scout]

When I was brand new to BF I had a huge oversupply issue. I was in tears once trying to nurse discreetly off to the side in some empty pews while other women were having a moms group. This was a group of all MOMS and yet I still didn't want to show off my privat parts to strangers. I had such issues with trying TOO hard to be discreet while SPRAYING my tiny infant like a firehose with milk. He would be soaked and drowning on it. It was NOT something I was able to manage and be discreet about.

Later of course, things got much easier. The covers never worked well for me and blankets always came off, but I would always nurse with the under the shirt method which covers almost everything. And I would only nurse around women/moms. I nursed in the car, in a bathroom (that was AWFUL), and even in my own home if my dad was in town visiting I would go to another room to nurse and then come back.

I would not feel comfortable nursing in front of anyone except my husband, mom, or close female friends.

You just reminded me of a third time!! I went with my mom to a healing mass at my MIL's church. I had sat in a back pew trying to nurse him. That didn't work well either. I had a blanket covering us and like you, it kept falling and I felt embarrassed smiling at the priest when he walked up the aisle! I never could figure out how to latch the baby without exposing anything!:confused:

[MotherNature]

I don't cover. I don't care if others are uncovered.

[AmyKidsCo]

Personally, I consider the first photo covered and the Lucy Lawless not covered. I used to wear a cami under a button-down so I could cover all sides, but I didn't do the "throw a blanket over everything" type of covering.

I prefer the first photo style. Not because it bothers to me personally, (go ahead and flash; I know how to look away if I want) but because so many other people are bothered by it. I think that moms who are "in your face" about being uncovered cause resentment and lack of support for BFing in general.

IMO It's a matter of being considerate to others - kind of like how you might pick your nose or scratch your butt at home, but wouldn't in public. ::

[TheGoodLife]

I agree with both of these. Personally, I always nursed in private or covered, but as long as the person is discreet I am okay with it.

Exactly!

[Lucy]

Yes, this. I never covered while breastfeeding my daughter. Breastfed in restaurants, in parks, in malls and would do it again if I had another child. I would gladly tell someone to look the other way if they were annoyed that I was feeding my child.

I'm not trying to start a war of words here, but let me just say this. And please know that it is not directed at YOU personally. It's just that your choice of "feeding my child" that caught my attention.

We (the people who would prefer not to see your boobs) are NOT annoyed that you're feeding your child. We LOVE that you're feeding your child. Breast milk is the BEST thing you can give your precious baby. Please, by all means, breast feed your child! We love it! (And no, I'm not being sarcastic.)

However, while it is a natural and beautiful thing, I don't want to see a naked boob. Marital relations is also a natural and beautiful thing, but I don't want to see it. (And NO, I'm not equating breastfeeding to sex -- puh-lease!) I'm just saying that it is awkward and uncomfortable when someone's boob is out of their shirt. I instinctively want to respect your privacy and avert my eyes. But apparently you don't WANT privacy, so then I focus on the fact that you didn't respect MY right to not be twitchy and weirded out by the elephant in the room (Totally NOT calling your boobs elephants!! ).

And that's exactly what it becomes - something that everyone knows is there, but no one wants to look at it or admit it's there. So we all try to pretend like it's not, and just hope that the baby eats quickly so the awkwardness can be overwith.

Look, I don't think anyone on either side of this issue is going to change their mind. I just wanted to put out there the way it makes ME feel. It's just my opinion, for what it's worth.