Virtual Nurse-In

In the world we live in today, we see all sorts of daring behavior that once upon a time would have been frowned upon. When my grandmother was young, a boyfriend and girlfriend would have never exchanged a public kiss...now you can see two boys or two girls sharing one with complete acceptance. I have seen couples, gay or straight, practically making love in public. When my grandmother was young, modesty was a virtue...today it gets you labeled a prude. Why then, in a society like this, is the natural, simple and primal act of breastfeeding looked down upon? Breasts are considered to be sexual, yes, but first and foremost they are vital organs. Not vital to the person bearing them, but to the child she bears. Is our society saying that it is only okay to expose yourself in acts of lewd conduct? That if you have your breast exposed you better have a hand groping it? I would much rather see the loving act of breastfeeding over the offensive act of public displays of affection or rather, public displays of lust.

For those of you shaking your head, disagreeing that they are even remotely comparable, think about this:

How much breast do you see in THESE pictures?















Would you really rather shield your child's eyes away than explain the act to him? And what if he asks about those teenagers over there making out? Why that boy just squeezed that girls bottom? Why two boys are holding hands?

The thing is, there are going to be events in this world your child sees that will require an explanation...but here's the good news!! The act of a woman breastfeeding is easily explained with a simple sentence:

"Some mommies use bottles, and some mommies, like that one, feed their baby milk from their breast."

Many people who say they support a baby's right to nurse in public often say it's okay as long as we cover up. Many people don't realize that babies don't like to be covered! It gets very hot under there, causing the baby to become frustrated and upset. Eating dinner in a sauna re-breathing your own expelled carbon dioxide doesn't sound too appealing, does it?

Stop trying to hide the truth and turn it into something shameful and degrading. Whether you feed your baby through a flesh nipple or a rubber nipple, ALL BABIES deserve their food fresh and fast, anytime, anywhere.

Support Nursing In Public.

Breastfeeding mothers are not going to disappear...we were doing it then:



And we're doing it now:



For more details on your state laws see A Current Summary of Breastfeeding Legislation in the U.S. or view the 50 States Summary of Breastfeeding Laws.

Brought to you by the Proud Public Breastfeeding Group

Poem

I found this awesome breastfeeding poem online and just had to share:

"Mommy I love your milk so sweet and yummy,

It's the very best stuff for my little tummy.

Mommy when your patience is running low at best,

sit down, take a few deep breaths and bring me to your breast.

Mommy hold me close to your soft warm chest

Because being in your arms is where I like being best.

Mommy do not listen to those who say I am spoiled.

It's just that you're my favorite person in the whole wide world.

Mommy when their negative comments put you to the test.

Don't worry, trust yourself

Because mommy you know me best.

Mommy ignore them when they ask,"Isn't it time to wean?"

Because when to stop is up to only you and me.

Mommy continue rocking me, sing another song.

I am still a baby, but not for very long."

Cover that bottle! - Satire

This is a great post from a breastfeeding forum I'm a member of...

Disclaimer...
I used all the arguments against nursing in public and turned them around to bottle-feeders in an attempt to show people just how idiotic it is to ask women to hide while feeding their baby. I turned it around so people could see how ridiculus is is for ANY woman to hide to feed her child. It sounds a bit ridiculous when I say women should cover up their bottles, huh? I hope it makes you think.

The point is, breasts are not lewd or indecent. If you see a little nipple, get over it. Breasts are for feeding babies, first and foremost. The day you hide your bottles is the day I hide my breasts.

"Women should cover up their bottles when they are feeding their babies...
I wasn't exposed to bottle-feeding much growing up and seeing it makes me very uncomfortable. I mean if you think about it, a bottle is a substitute for the breast, and since breasts are sexual, doesn't that make a bottle kind of like a dildo?! Eww, gross.

When I see a mom bottle-feeding, I don't know where to look. I can't look directly at the bottle or the baby because the idea of feeding a baby formula makes me sick to my stomach. It's just gross. And the way babies sound when they eat??? They slurp and suck and dribble formula everywhere! It's just nasty and it *smells*! I shouldn't have to see that! And what about my young son? How am I supposed to explain to him why a woman is bottle-feeding? I mean, he's too young to understand how different parts of the body function. It's going to be hard to explain to him that women actually choose not to nurse, or can't for one reason or another. It'll probably upset him to know that lots of babies don't get "nurse-nurse" like he does. I don't want to have to deal with him being emotionally scarred by seeing bottles. And imagine the therapy bills I'll have to pay for when he's older!

So bottle-feeding moms should either go into a bathroom, re-lactate so they can use their breasts in public, or cover up with a blanket. Sure, I know the excuses....bathrooms are dirty and no one should have to eat in there. But women could still re-lactate. Oh, yeah I know how hard it would be, but ya know, we DO have nice pumps available nowadays. She could get a good supply going for the sole purpose of feeding in public. If she would just use her breasts, we wouldn't have to see those indecent bottles all the time. And if she has a hard time re-lactating, she could always just cover up with a blanket when she has to use a bottle. Oh I know some babies aren't comfortable under a blanket. Re-breathing their own carbon dioxide for 20+ minutes must come at a price, but who cares? At least I wouldn't have to see bottles.

And if a woman doesn't want to go through all that trouble, she could just schedule outings around the baby's feedings. A bottle-fed baby only has to eat, what? Every 3-4 hours? She can just bottle-feed at home, go out, and rush back with a screaming baby if he needs to eat sooner than the schedule allows.

I'll admit that I'm uncomfortable with bottle-feeding in public. And as an American, I have a right to not have to be exposed to that sort of thing. Women should be aware of everyone else and accomodating to all others. After all, our right not to be offended is more important than a baby's right to eat, right?"

1 month!

Wow!! Where did the time go!? My little peanut is already a month old!! A lot has changed...according to the home scale he's about 7 1/2 lbs now and he's pretty much out of preemie clothes and into the newborn size. He seems to be getting into a schedule...he sleeps a 4-5 hour stretch at night, only wakes up 1 time at night and has 2 long (2-3 hours) naps during the day (morning and afternoon). We're doing great with breastfeeding...he eats like crazy! lol He's very alert when he's awake, he's started cooing now and he seems to really pay attention to you when you talk to him. I went back to work about 2 weeks ago and everything's still going great.