Breastfeeding: Why Is It So Controversial?

[BurCelf]

DISCLAIMER *I am NOT putting down mothers who chose to formula feed. I believe as long as your child is fed, that is great!*

Today, 77% of mothers breastfeed their babies in the USA which is a significant increase from the 55% in 1993 according to parenting.com.

I am a mother of an 8 month old daughter and if you can't already guess from the title, she's breastfed. I used to be scared of breastfeeding without a cover and especially in public. What would everyone think? Would people make fun of me for it?

My stepmother bought me a nursing cover because she believes you should cover yourself if you're breastfeeding your baby. The first time I gave that thing a try was also the first time I decided to breastfeed in public. I was at Red Robin's and I pulled that cover out of the diaper bag and attempted to pull it over me and situate it. I literally could not get it to cooperate and stay out of my daughter's way when she was eating. I'm sure I looked like a lunatic. So I looked around and finally said, "You know what? This would be a LOT easier if I just didn't use it." So I took it off and went on feeding my daughter. My stepmom made a comment saying I should use it and I got a couple nasty glares from people in the restaurant. That did not stop me, though.

The sole purpose for women having breasts is so that we can feed our babies. That is why we produce milk. So, why are people so opposed to breastfeeding? Why do so many people have a problem with us breastfeeding without a cover? What is the difference between the amount of boob shown in a low cut shirt, and the amount of boob shown while breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding can actually protect a baby from getting sick and can even prevent cancers! According to the La Leche Legue, "Breastfeeding has been shown to be protective against many illnesses, including painful ear infections, upper and lower respiratory ailments, allergies, intestinal disorders, colds, viruses, staph, strep and e coli infections, diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, many childhood cancers, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, salmonella, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) as well as lifetime protection from Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, some lymphomas, insulin dependent diabetes, and for girls, breast and ovarian cancer."

This is why I chose to breastfeed my daughter and why I feel no shame in it.

I have written this article in the hopes that I might have educated someone today. I do not discourage formula feeding; my goal here is simply to educate people on breastfeeding.

[OlderAndWiser]

Too many people think of boobs as a sexual organ and, of course, they are kind of fun for guys to play with :), but. . . breastfeeding is very important.

"Your breasts produce colostrum beginning during pregnancy and continuing through the early days of breastfeeding. This special milk is yellow to orange in color and thick and sticky. It is low in fat, and high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies to help keep your baby healthy. Colostrum is extremely easy to digest, and is therefore the perfect first food for your baby. It is low in volume (measurable in teaspoons rather than ounces), but high in concentrated nutrition for the newborn. Colostrum has a laxative effect on the baby, helping him pass his early stools, which aids in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps prevent jaundice.

Colostrum actually works as a natural and 100% safe vaccine. It contains large quantities of an antibody called secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) which is a new substance to the newborn. Before your baby was born, he received the benefit of another antibody, called IgG, through your placenta. IgG worked through the baby's circulatory system, but IgA protects the baby in the places most likely to come under attack from germs, namely the mucous membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines.

Colostrum has an especially important role to play in the baby's gastrointestinal tract. A newborn's intestines are very permeable. Colostrum seals the holes by "painting" the gastrointestinal tract with a barrier which mostly prevents foreign substances from penetrating and possibly sensitizing a baby to foods the mother has eaten.

Colostrum also contains high concentrations of leukocytes, protective white cells which can destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses."

https://www.lalecheleague.org/faq/colostrum.html

[BurCelf]

I agree! I've done a lot of research on breastfeeding but I never knew this fact!! Thank you for sharing! That is awesome!

[OlderAndWiser]

I know about this from having raised several litters of orphaned kittens and one litter of orphaned possums!

[GuysGuy]

Hey @BurCelf. Check my post that you seemed fond of toward Pheonix98's ignorant comment about "... being respectful about it".

Deleted and blocked... most immature thing I've seen on here yet

[CHARismatic110]

I personally don't have a problem with breastfeeding in public. I personally wouldn't do it without a cover and right in the open, but that's just me. I think someone else here said it, but what bugs me is the whole glorification of it. Like it's breastfeeding. It's been done for years. Here's the thing, if you do it in public, people WILL look. No way around it. If your whole purpose of breastfeeding in public is to shame the first person who's eyes may wander to you, then that's the issue I have.

[madhatters4]

you are 100% correct about breast feeding and its benefits. breast feeding can help a child's development (growth), provides boosts to the immune system, prevent illness and help speed the process of helping an unwell infant

ex. my friend recently gave birth and had to have an emergency c-section. the doctor made the incision into the stomach and cervix but also cut the babies face with the scalpel. it left about a 5 inch gash on the babies face. the mother rubbed breast milk on the wound and within days the gash was almost entirely healed.

the simple problem is that as society too many seem to simply associate breasts with sex and sexual arousal. so when a mother breast feeds in public some see this as an obscene action of exposing a sexual organ. i think we are getting away from this and it will continue to improve with awareness.

no mother should have to give 2nd thought to providing their infant with nutrients

[BurCelf]

You're exactly right!!! That's amazing about your friend's child, I am continuously amazed by the benefits of breastmilk!!

[RJGraveyTrain]

People just have an issue (arguably due to religion and societal conditioning) differentiating breasts in their natural light, and in a sexual light. Do I think it's okay to flash your hooters and jump up and down in public? No. But I don't think there's anything wrong with breastfeeding your baby in public without a cover, because the two are very different.

1) Is clearly for the purpose of being outrageous.
2) Is clearly natural, and as nature intended.

Idiocy, is what it boils down to. People can't handle a naked tit without fear of their purity being robbed from them or popping an inappropriate boner to a child feeding.

[BurCelf]

I agree completely with you!! Thank you!

[RJGraveyTrain]

No problemo.

[BlueCoyote]

Getting upset by seeing boobs in public is one of the most ridiculous things in the world. I think breastfeeding is great and every mother should freely and openly do it. Screw the idiot haters. They obviously have a giant stick up their butthole. I mean seriously... especially men who whine about this are crazy. There's a woman doing something good for her child and you get a free ticket to see some boobies. That's all I need for my day to become a good day.

[BurCelf]

Lol right? Thank you!!!

[btbc92]

My problem that I'm seeing with this, is when this is becoming a trend for women to do. More women are on this: Its my body, and I can do what I what, attitude. But what I look at is the fact that their not protecting their sensuality.

Breastfeeding is very healthy and has benefits. No one is really complaining about that. But wither or not it being done in public. Then you have the 'free the nipple' movements as such. And I as a woman with my own sensuality do not feel comfortable knowing that this is going on. I am a person who is about respect, dignity and honor. If I was to become a mother to a newborn, and my child needed to be feed. I would leave the area and do that in privacy, not where everybody can see, wither male or female. It is the privacy of my child and I. How and what my breast looks like is no ones business but my own, my doctor and my spouse. Unless it is a female that I can trust.

But, if other females have no problem with exposing themselves for their child, then fine. The child is hungry and needs food. In fact formula's are chemicals and not healthy in the first place, but substitutes. That should be for emergencies in case you cannot breastfeed. I agree with the cover. But again, what another mother decides to do is her business. What's ridiculous is people harassing mothers who chose not to cover up to the point men are cussing at them and calling all sorts of names. That is wrong. But at the same time expected.

I believe that both mothers and fathers needs to use lots of discernment concerning this in today's world. Because regardless to what. A woman's breast is a woman's breast. Men like breast, and they will lust wither you like it or not. If they can't control themselves like horny dogs, they will commit crimes to go such lengths. Thank God so far I have not heard anything of the sort. But I feel mothers needs to take heed to the consequences of those choices when done in public. Because no matter how safe you are with the law, somebody can always plot something. But for myself, I would never do that. Breastfeeding also bonds a child to his/her mother in both physical and spiritual ways. So that is very important. But again, I'm for breastfeeding naturally 100%. I just have an issues with this being a trend, because after seeing so many photos and knowing how some women think. I also feel negative towards this due to the fact that some of these mothers are showing their bodies with their child as a way to attract men

[btbc92]

if their single. As most men will lust after her and try to get with her because they find it sexy and alluring like its 'mommy porn'.

Not saying all are like this, as you may never know what their intentions are. But again, this is just my personal opinion.

[Kylesar]

The reason why is simple: Breasts are sexualized by both genders in the first world

They're an erogenous zone
They're a fetish source (boobjobs and big tits category in porn)
By men, they are a turn-on
By women, cleavage is shown when trying to dress sexy or provocative for whatever reason

Women say all the time that "they're just breasts" and there's "nothing sexual about them." Dead wrong. Both genders are to blame for breastfeeding become a hot button topic and why it's shamed so much today.

You go to the third world and you see women walking around topless and no one gives a damn. Why? Because there, breasts aren't sexualized. Breasts are ONLY ever used for breastfeeding. They're not used to syphon drinks during your weekly clubbing session. They're not used to mesmerize the man you're trying to take to bed

What's my stance on breastfeeding? Anyone who sees breastfeeding as anything sexual has some serious gutter mind problems. Pretty easy to see the mindset difference between a clueless newborn sucking on them and a grown ass man or another woman sucking on them

That being said, no one wants your tits out in the dead middle of me trying to eat my food. You don't have to take it to the bathroom, but don't use the law to blare it all. Sit outside of foot traffic. Cover up if you're in the middle of everything

To anyone saying "don't like it, don't look," this is pretty much what you're saying:
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Yea, kind of hard to not look at the elephant in the room full of people

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When everything around you is normal, your eyes are drawn to the one thing that's different.

[pnl86]

I'll tell you what pissed me off about breastfeeding.

I'm at a public place, that's open to the public, and all of a sudden.. a woman feels like breast-feeding her baby. So far, I don't care. I have absolutely zero problem with that so far. She's not bothering anyone. That's how she chooses to take care of her baby, it's legal, good for her. I'm not bothered by seeing maternal boob. That's not how my wife's boobs look like. I'm not going to go back home and think, "Aww man, that boob I saw today was disgusting, now I can't look at my wife the same way." No. I'm totally okay with it so far.

Here is where the rub comes in.

NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, JUST BECAUSE I'M A MAN.. I'm treated like a fucking terrorist or automatic sexual predator / sex offender. Both the men and women who work at the store are line, "Sir, you cannot go to the bathroom area, there is a woman breastfeeding her child in the hallway."

I don't give a flying fuck. I just want to go take a piss inside the men's room. This woman is not going to create a "no fly zone" or stop traffic just because she decided to breast-feed her baby. The Earth is still spinning, time is still elapsing, and I'm not getting any younger. I'm not telling her to not go about her business, so don't fucking tell me or prohibit me from going about my business.

That's the only thing that pisses me off about breast-feeding. For as long as store owners and everyone else don't start treating men like, "OMG! There is a boob out in public! Quick, ladies, cover your husband's eyes. Police, HELP! Boob out in public, keep the men away and at bay. Stop sexually harassing this woman and raping her with your eyes!"

If you have a problem with men, then don't start breast-feeding in public. You and your baby are really NOT THAT IMPORTANT that all traffic and commerce should come to a halt around you just because you decided to breast-feed your baby in a public place instead of some private room.

[BurCelf]

I totally agree!!! Did that really happen to you? O. o My whole thing is that I should be able to mind my own business and breastfeed and everyone else mind their own business and do what they want to do. Don't mind me and I won't mind you. If that really happened to you they took it a little to far!

[pnl86]

It happens from time to time from wannabe social justice warriors who feel like, "Err, we protect women.. men no allowed here.. you man.. you rape women with your penis.. you have penis.. you are man.. boob here.. you no should be here.. devil.. bad.. go away now."

It's like, fair enough, I understand the point you're trying to communicate to me as a store owner, and how much you value me relative to your female customers. Message received loud and clear. So, I'll tell you what, every guy I know, and every woman we all know, including our wives, girlfriends, sisters, mothers, cousins, etc., are going to actively boycott your store until it goes out of business and turns into a Dick's sporting goods store, but we will all actively support you getting a position as a stock room assistant or any other area of a store where customers don't have any business going into.

[BurCelf]

Exactly. I totally see what you're saying and I definitely do not disagree. You're very right!

[inceptin951]

I personally don't care if women breast-feed in public. But I will point out why many people find it "offensive'. For right or wrong, you have to admit that breasts in the US are considered a private part. You say you don't see the difference between women showing cleavage and breastfeeding. Well the intent is different.

When models purposefully show cleavage and try to make their breasts look bigger than they really are (or regular girls for that matter) obviously the intent is to sexually attract potential partners. And it is not just men who see breasts as sexual. I have several lesbian friends who I have talked to about what we find attractive in women and they mention cleavage too. Women can get sexually stimulated when their breasts are fondled during sex. So in a way they are sexual parts. But of course they don't have to be.

I wouldn't even be against women being allowed to go topless just like men in public. But I'm just pointing out why both men and women may be bothered by public breastfeeding. The way I look at it is the baby needs to be fed and like you said it is natural and the primary purpose for breasts in the first place so you shouldn't hesitate to breastfeed in public. But that does not mean people who find it gross are horrible people. It just means they've been conditioned to view breasts that way so eventually, as in much of Western Europe, women showing breasts will not be a big deal at all one day.

[BurCelf]

I completely agree with what you are saying :) Thank you very much!

[Brokenheartedx]

I think it's not about the breastfeeding in particular its the going to the press about feeling victimised. Now I was a breastfeeding mum I never ever fed my child in the middle of a shopping centre on a bench, I'd either express some milk in a bottle or go find a quiet corner in a cafe with my back to other people and no one bothered for reason being it was done discreetly while minding other people...
Once or twice I got told to go feed my baby in a toilet and yes I got offended but never ran to the papers to tell of my outrage..

Now mothers do mass protest breastfeeding kids on steps outside shops.. feeding baby is about bonding with baby in a relaxed environment... not feeding baby and bonding with everyone else out in the cold...

I'm sick of hearing this excuse of, but baby needs fed there and then, if you are out shopping in town baby can wait a few moments until a suitable place is found.. I think it's stupid to feed baby in a busy place what if someone knocks into a woman breastfeeding and knocks baby out the arms onto the hard floor?

That's my only irk... it's now a look at me culture, when it shouldn't ever be...
One other annoyance of mine is my baby doesn't take from a bottle, so these people don't go to work or ever go out anywhere without baby? I remember pumping milk in my bosses office to have milk to baby to take from bottle when she was with child minder...

The ones who are makin a deal out of breastfeeding is the breastfeeding mothers themselves...

[Red_Arrow]

Your baby doesn't take milk from a bottle but you express milk for the baby to take from a bottle. That made no sense.

[Brokenheartedx]

My baby didn't take formula milk, I tried when I was going back to work.. so it does make sense. Hence why kept expressing my own milk otherwise she'd have come off the breast at 3 months..

[BurCelf]

@Red_Arrow that was what I thought too.

@Brokenheartedx For me personally if my baby is hungry, I'm going to feed her wherever I'm at. I don't think there's anything wrong with it. If I were feeding her formula I would have made her a bottle right then and there.

[BurCelf]

Like I mean it's perfectly fine to go find somewhere quiet if you'd like to, but me personally, I don't care if anyone around me is offended that I'm breastfeeding because I'm just doing what the breasts were evolved to do.

[Brokenheartedx]

Personally there's nothing wrong with breastfeeding.. what annoys me is in a busy shopping centre.. it's not a case of don't look if don't like it, the fact people don't look were they are going and bumping into you to cause a fall..

I wrote that part wrong
I meant that's excuse people come away with is..'my baby doesn't take to a bottle' as an excuse to not go to work so they can go wander round the shops to find something to be offended about.. My kid took fine to a bottle with expressed milk why doesn't it work for other mums? How do they go to work with a baby latched on to them? most mums head back to work when kids 12 weeks

[BurCelf]

Because some babies actually don't take a bottle because they have to learn a different latch. It's not an excuse, it's a legitimate reason.

[Brokenheartedx]

So those mothers don't work until baby is a year to a year and a half then

[BurCelf]

Yeah, some mothers aren't able to. Or the babies have to be force fed. It is possible for a baby to not be able to learn how to latch to a bottle after only ever latching to a breast.

[Brokenheartedx]

Baby still needs to drink cooled boiled water from dinky bottles though.. ESP on hot days when baby isn't taking milk or milks turning in stomach, I don't get how they can't drink from a bottle- just an excuse I think some pull.

[Red_Arrow]

What I have read in the past, as far as breast fed babies not taking a bottle, was that the bottle nipple is completely a different shape and feel. The baby feels that and refuses to accept it.

[BurCelf]

@Red_Arrow right, exactly. Thank you for all your help and support on this subject :)

[Brokenheartedx]

Sorry you kno this how? How many babies have latched on to your nipples redarrow

If mother has to work baby learns to take bottle simple as.. it adapts to it.. otherwise no mothers would return to work. Just excuses I'm
Sick of hearing.. women from start of time have breastfed and it's now treated as if women doing it are special, I didn't feel special feeding my children. Just got on with it.. Sorry your babies won't grow capes and start flying like super any because you breastfeed. No need to go to papers or announce to the world that you are breastfeeding. No need to find the busiest place in a supermarket or mall to feed child. It's now attention seeking.

[BurCelf]

It's not that we go and find the busiest place. If I happen to be in a busy place, and my baby gets hungry, that just where I happen to feed her. But you can go on believing what you want. My goal here has been trying to educate people but you're not willing to learn so I'm leaving this comment thread. Have a good day.

[Rocket_Queen]

I totally agree with your comment. So spot on! I am breastfeeding my son now and never make a big show of it. I pump for when we are out at a busy restaurant and for other public places I just find a comfortable less busy place to sit. It actually makes me feel more comfortable and relaxed.

[Brokenheartedx]

@Rocket_Queen There was a woman in mothercare (not sure if you have it were you are) and it has a feeding room to feed babies but a woman choose to feed baby on the shop floor then go to the papers to moan about how she was told to walk a few yards to the specially designated area to feed baby. You can't get any more breastfeeding friendly shop than mothercare.. it's these type of breastfeeding mothers that make it so difficult for everyone else, then ones who feed baby I'm a public swimming pool.. u couldn't make it up..

[Rocket_Queen]

That's crazy and gross. A shop floor😷? Definitely attention seeking. Wow!

[mikemx55]

THANK YOU !!!

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

Real talk. The mental gymnastics people do to justify it is astounding... If bottles didn't work and towels didn't work (some are sold specifically for breastfeeding), then they would've stopped beating produced long long ago. And the shit people do to justify moving to 30 feet in 3.2 seconds as being some arduous Odessey is ridiculous. If you can't get up to move in a less convenient place, then you are probably not mentally and physically fit to be a parent... People act like those crucial 15 seconds for the baby are the difference between life and and death for it... Nigga please 😂😂😂

[mikemx55]

@Other_Tommy_Wiseau I guess it depends where you live.. some places may not have easy access to privacy, especially in crowded cities.. but I agree with you, at least for where I live. A place can be always be found in under a minute.

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

@mikemx55 I don't mean a person has to find the nearest bathroom, but find a more inconspicuous place instead of the woman just whips her tits out for the world to see. I'm not offended if a woman does it, but let's be realistic. All these people say how it's impolite if a person stares, yet are totally ignorant of the fact that whipping out a tit in public is literally inconvenient and impolite for every person that's not her or the baby... And morons can't see the hypocrisy in that

[mikemx55]

@Other_Tommy_Wiseau EXACTLY!!!
Finally, someone with senses...

Yes, that is what I meant, just a more reserved space, not necessarily a bathroom. But if you imagine a really busy city: Paris, London, New York, that may be hard to find (they are really crowded all day long!) But I never lived there, only saw it in movies.

What you describe is totally doable where I live.

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

@mikemx55 it's actually easier in big cities cause there's shops from corner to corner. If you were in an area like mine, you'd be hard pressed to find a place to use a bathroom or store

[Anonymous]

Some local laws classify such as obscene or indecent exposure. It is also both personally and religiously offensive to some individuals. Now I’m not justifying or arguing the point from either direction. I personally DO NOT care whether or not a woman breast feeds in public, with or without a cover; I just don’t care. I have larger issues in the world to worry about and help deal with. My point though is this. One person’s rights should NOT supplant another’s rights and the good of the whole should outweigh the good of the one or the few. Majority should rule by doing the will of the whole while protecting the “rights” of the individual. So where do we draw the line? Have designated feeding areas like we use to have designated ‘smoking’ areas? Should we just take it as a personal responsibility to turn away when a mother is feeding and not look, or should the woman be courteous enough to cover her sexual parts, her breasts, so as not to disturb the tranquility of others? The problem I believe is there are individuals who are doing something just to get a rise out of others and to create controversy. Just like the LGBT community is doing. Yes, there are times when a topic needs to be discussed, that’s true, but you don’t have to beat people over the head with the topic or make a scene just for the purpose of slinging the proverbial “mud” around just to see where it splatters. The subject of breastfeeding in public would be a lot less complicated if individuals would just be courteous of others. If a woman needs to feed her child, then look away out of respect for the mother and go about your business. If the mother has the opportunity to breastfeed in private or to cover up then she should do such out of respect for those around her. It is JUST that simple!

[Red_Arrow]

Speaking of laws, here it is illegal to try to prevent breastfeeding. Some employees of establishments have tried to get mothers to not breast feed in the manner they prefer (which includes without a cover) and the management has had to retrain them and even post signs stating that women are welcome to breastfeed there.

[MementoMori_]

Peeing is a natural thing too. But I don't really want to see someone doing it while I am eating. In fact I don't want to see anyone excreting any kind of bodily fluids while I am eating including breast milk... call me a Neanderthal.

There are a lot of things that I don't find offensive but I know that many other people do. As a courtesy, I avoid engaging in such activities whenever possible in front of strangers because I don't know if it is uncomfortable for them and I don't want to ruin their experience. I would say that a restaurant is a very good example of a place where this is particularly true.

Just because you have a right to do something, doesn't make is socially acceptable or polite.

It's not that breast feeding (or peeing for that matter) is "offensive." It's just that it's offensive if it is done in a context of a lack of respect for other peoples' comfort. In some contexts I would love to see a woman breast feeding a baby. In others I would not. There is an appropriate time and place for most things. And there is also an inappropriate one.

[lacorine197]

thank you!

[Jujulius]

I know I'll get a lot of shit for this but it needs to be said. Let me start by MAKING CLEAR I AM PRO BREAST FEEDING IN PUBLIC. We're to sexually open as a society. Sex should be intimate & private, there's a reason we safe gaurd our kids from it to protect their innocents. In some states African Americans are being attacked for media enforced stereotypes that encourage sagging. I myself don't sag I'm not that idiotic to follow media. Please halt your applause your about to hate me. That being said on a global scale men are being attacked when denied bathroom access even when buying something many of us are labeled sex offenders simply from peeing behind a 7-eleven. So why is it sagging is frowned upon, peeing is frowned upon, but skirts so high you can see women's panties are not?

When you got to go you got to go, when you have to feed you have to feed. Should sagging and panty high skirts be acceptable no they shouldn't. I don't wear v-necks even though I'm muscular I find it disrespectful. Because I know for guys & girls a big chest can be attractive & it's unethical to flaunt your big chest in a public setting. It distracts a disrupts people's daily routine. We're all human we have needs sex is one of them, attraction is part of that. Big chest are attractive so why expose yours in public regardless of if you're a man or woman. So cover your breast and you can feed where ever you please in my book.

Good thing it's Halloween I can feel the boos inc.

[Anonymous]

I really do agree with you on the point that you encourage moms to breast feed their kids, I believe that it's not only provide the kids the best food for their age but also a great way to create mothers and kids bound. However, for some cultures and some people, breast feeding in public is something that they don't want to see but can't avoid. Some culture can even consider it' rude to breast feed in public. Which I think we should respect both parties by finding the best way to each situation or meet in the middle of the way or what ever. For me, I'm neutral about seeing breast feeding in public but if one day I have a baby, I'd never breast feed it in public unless it is necessary as I'd find it too expose and I would prefer my time with my baby in my place without other strangers around. Could you remember the issue that was hot years ago about a mom breast fed in a hotel lobby? For that case, I think the hotel should provide breast feeding room and politely ask her to use the room stating that it has some facilities that she might want. In that way the hotel can avoid the conflict and don't lose some other customers as what I have stated that in some culture , breast feeding in public is somehow an eye sore image and the hotel might lose some revenue from those customers. I know that this is quite a hot topic even it is not suppose to be , anyway, what do you think?
Ps. Sorry if I made some grammatical mistakes or if my writing is hard to understand , English is not my native language but I do want to share my opinion

[skyysarahtops]

You are right!
Breastfeeding is very beneficial towards the baby and yourself.
For mothers, it makes them feel closer to their baby. It also helps new mothers lose the baby weight (since I'm sure not all mamas have time to breastfeed due to work or taking care of the rest of the family). Breastfeeding also makes your breasts bigger!! 😎
For the baby, like you said, it helps prevent many illnesses early on and later in life.
Society has made people think that breasts are mainly "sexual". Animals have breasts but we don't find them sexual. Humans are considered animals and our breasts are for feeding out babies, just like real animals too.

[BurCelf]

Thank you!!! Exactly!!! Some people are just so uneducated and ignorant.

[skyysarahtops]

not all mamas have time to workout*^

[skyysarahtops]

Trust me, it's the media, some women are also selfish, thinking their boobs will be all saggy after they breastfeed. But then again, some people don't have time or can't even produce milk (very rare situation)

[BurCelf]

That's true too

[John_Lion_84]

Yes! to the question. Why is it controversial? Specially when this started cooming to other countries but mostly the U. S.
So for the American people it's not cool to breastfeed in public, but public sex is?
Breastfeeding is the most natural behavior, people's attitude towards it is very over rated, for the sick people will always have the sexuall thoughts when they see a breast, well it's not their fault, it's their parents fault. Should smack these people on the brain.
There is nothing to be shamed of, the people who would think it's wrong should be shamed. I get frustrated when i read about such controversials.

[BurCelf]

Thank you so much!!! I comepletely agree with you! I will never understand those that don't agree with it. If you go to the woman's comments an anonymous girl compares breastfeeding to masturbation and said breastmilk has HIV which it DOES NOT. I can't believe the stupidity of some people!

[Red_Arrow]

My wife tried covering while breastfeeding, but our daughter did not like having her vision blocked and continually threw the cover off. So my wife continued to breastfeed without the cover. And how hard is it to understand, "If you don't want to see it, don't sit there staring at it."

[BurCelf]

Exactly!! Couldn't agree more. The cover got in the way of my daughter eating and stressed her out which stressed me out which stressed her out more and it was a visions cycle lol so no more cover! Like you said, what's so hard about looking away if you don't wanna see it?

[redeyemindtricks]

Hahah YESSS

My youngest didn't tolerate covers any more than a vintage music fan would. (:

[BurCelf]

@redeyemindtricks lol! Same with mine!!!

[capturemyheartnow]

While doing breast feeding your child the interest of your child should be of prime importance. When you do it in public , the child should be able to breathe fresh air and be able to look around in the surroundings. The child should not be treated as a prisoner , to get her food under some unwanted cloth , towel , blanket or covers. Mothers as parents should understand that the primary function of the breasts is not as a sexual object of beauty but as a organ to feed your child. Husbands and grand parents should encourage the women to free their breasts for feeding their child. It should not be considered as a shame to do such a good thing even in very public place. The whole views of the society needs to be changes to accept the fact that mothers have aright to feed their child in the best possible and natural way.

[BurCelf]

Thank you very very much for understanding this and commenting! I agree 100%! I don't understand why a lot of people don't get this.

[Belgie]

I have never seen the big deal with breastfeeding in public. I politely look away. If it's a friend doing it, I make eye contact. I would never attempt to prevent a mother from feeding her child in that way, or want her to feel uncomfortable.

If some asswipe man or woman is upset by it? Fuck 'em. Feeding a hungry child takes precedence over their decision to get offended.

[BurCelf]

Thank you!!! I agree!

[Anonymous]

Breastfeeding is controversial, probably because some women are not being modest while going about doing it in public. If you live in a sexually conservative society, then you have to behave according to society's rules. And that means covering your breasts while breastfeeding in public. In my entire life, I have seen 2 mothers breastfeeding their babies in public under a dark blanket. One is a Catholic white woman, and the other is a (probably Christian) black woman. Apparently, this practice knows no race or religion or political background. So, why is it a controversy? It really isn't, until some people expose too much of the breasts.

[BurCelf]

I chose not to conform to society and I chose to be myself. Feeding a baby doesn't need to be hid. It's the same as feeding a baby by bottle, swing as the breasts were solely designed to feed babies.

[Opinion Owner]

Everybody conforms to society in some way. It's only in the sexuality arena where people tend to deviate from traditional sexual norms, and the rationale for the deviant behaviors is based on a new understanding of sexuality. Conformity or non-conformity to one kind of social norm just shows that the person deviates from that social norm; that person does not reject ALL social norms. So, any argument based on individuality is unjustified. Also, some women are more conscientious and modest than other women, and tend to get embarrassed if they reveal their breasts in public. It's a spontaneous reaction for them. For women who have never developed that conscience or body modesty, those women are at odds with society. Oh, well. Tough luck.

[CasaNorba]

kick ass article sis, I agree with you all the way... I dont think there is anything wrong with doing mother nature's work!

I feel so disgusted how people nowadays can actually have a problem with this now in 2016. now that I look back I think I once made a post of this on America (that I know of) is basically the only country where people have so much tolerance for pornography yet they get bitch-fits and tempertamtrums whenever they see woman actually using their breast for what it was made for.

[BurCelf]

Thank you so much!!!

I know right? Like so many people can get off to women's breasts in pornography and stuff but the second we take out our breasts to feed our child, its suddenly gross? It's absolutely ridiculous!

[CasaNorba]

haha extremely ridiculous!

I think I could say the same about couples making out in public. you know I also find it a little ironic how we again have high tolerance for pornography and romantic novels and movies yet when the majority see couples hugging and tongue kissing everybody again has bitchfits and tempertantrums...

"HEY, this isn't a motel!"

"can you not do that in front of my CHILDREN!"

[BurCelf]

Omg thats so true!!! I swear it's like the most aggravating thing when they're like "ew get a room!" LOL soooo annoying.

[CasaNorba]

yea next thing you know maybe this is why so many young people nowadays are becoming asexual

[worldscolide]

Yeah, I have literally no problem with breast feeding. None at all. Breasts were evolved to feed children, and no one should take offense when a mom chooses to feed her child. Dont get me wrong, breasts have always had a sexual connotation to them, when not being used to feed a child, but that is where it ends. I think a mom feeding her child is a wonderful and beautiful thing. I think that those that get butt hurt about it, need to grow up, and either give the mom her space, and respectfully ignore it, or move somewhere where its not visible. Honest to goodness a child's health and making sure it is nourished far out weighs any petty idiotic view a person has about the human form.

[BurCelf]

I completely agree!! Thank you so much!!

[worldscolide]

you're welcome! I can't understand people that have a problem with it.

[BurCelf]

Me either. It bugs the crap out of me!