Today I heard about this video about a mom breastfeeding in a Texas recreation center in public. Though some people think it’s a ploy for National Breastfeeding month, I think it’s a good thing to watch and talk about.
In the video, the woman was was approached by an employee of receration center in Texas. She approached not once but twice and asked to cover up. The employee even exclaimed, “you will not come in this lobby like this.” Before I begin, my rant check out the video for yourself.
Here’s a little background on me. When I was 20, I had my first child. We lived in Savannah, and my family was/is very Southern gentile. Breastfeeding was not something you did in public. I was told to go to other rooms to make family members more comfortable, and that I needed to cover my child’s head up. Keep in mind my daughter was born in March, and at that time it is already VERY hot. Even with a light receiving blanket she was always red, hot and sweaty when I would feed her.
I would remember times when I would nurse her in a bathroom stall and just cry because I was so lonely and frustrated. Needless to say we only lasted a very few months, and I was devestated. Talk about feeling like a total failure.
With my second child, I was a much more educated parent and was NOT going to let people shame me into failing this time. Luckily, the second time was the charm because my daughter and I had an amazing nursing relationship until she was 3 years old.
What blows my mind in this video is the fact that the woman is legally allowed in to breastfeed in public in Texas. This employee came up to her not once, but twice to tell her to cover up. You can argue semantics with me here, and say she was “asked” to cover up, but when breastfeeding moms are asked to cover up is it EVER really a question?
You can also argue that everyone has a right to feel comfortable when they are out in public. Well, my argument to you would be; what about that baby? Would you like to eat your lunch under a hot tent in the Texas sun? (Ok so they were indoors but you get my point). Why is a child’s rights not as important as an adult’s rights? The employee told the mom to “think about the children,” because there is a day camp at the facility. Why would explaining to your child that a mother was just feeding her baby be inappropriate? Kids at that age don’t normally know the sexual nature to breasts unless YOU as the parent make it sexual!
When I attended BlogHer a few weeks back, we had similar situations where vendors at the Expo hall told moms that their booths weren’t the “appropriate place” to sit and breastfeed. Keep in mind that these booths were supposed to be “comfort lounges” for the bloggers to relax in. Luckily, those breastfeeding moms stood up to the vendors as well and one vendor even made a donation to the La Leche League International.
It’s about time that the American public got OVER themselves. How a mother chooses to feed her child is HER choice (and the dad’s of course)! It’s time that we realize it’s JUST A BOOB, and that you are making WAY more of a deal about it than it should be.
If nudity is so awful and your discomfort HAS to be known, next time you are changing in a gym locker and a woman walks by naked, make sure to ask her if she minds covering up! Don’t normally do that? Keep your head down and keep doing your own thing? You might want to remember that next time you get upset over seeing a baby being breastfed!
Kerri (TheMaven) says
Well, you know where I stand on this. It’s against the law in Washington to interfere with a woman who is breastfeeding as well. I’m waiting for the day someone pushes the issue with me.
I too, had snide comments made to me at a booth at BlogHer, and BlogHer investigated the situation.
What id I, as a breastfeeding mom, told someone who was bottle feeding their baby to cover up because I found it offensive (Not that I do, I’m all about feeding your baby however you need to)
Ashley Sears says
Someone made that point in a thread I was reading, but honestly I think that people that finding breastfeeding “offensive” truly would even try to wrap their head around someone finding a bottle offensive even though you would have just as much right to be offended by that as they think they do seeing a breastfeeding baby. It’s just all nuts in my books. Plus, in Texas they protect the right of a baby in utero, but once they are born their rights aren’t as important as an adults? SMH
Tabitha Willette says
I have to say. In my opinion. It has all gotten way out of control. Everyone seems to have their opinion and they all think that is the only one that matters. To most people it does not matter one way or another and I think that is the way it should be. Its like a facebook post you don’t like it don’t read it. I have seen people bash people for breast feeding but I have also seen it go the other way too. So in my opinion do what you like but dont force it on others to do it your way.
Ashley Sears says
Tabitha, That is very well said. I don’t think moms that formula feed should be bashed either. It has gotten out of control. I mean if we told everyone all the time things that they did that they offended us or bothered us we really wouldn’t have much time to live life now would we.
Cynthia says
I don’t normally do this, but I thought I’d put in an argument for the other side: Let me first begin by saying that my husband and I are all for breastfeeding. We believe it is natural and beneficial to the baby. That being said, we also believe it should be done discreetly especially while in public. It is inconsiderate to assume that just because it is legal and natural that everyone should be comfortable with it. There are ways of nursing in public without exposing yourself and without covering up your baby’s head. Many places also have rooms for breastfeeding mothers to go to comfortably and privately nurse their child. It’s respect for the people around you. Think of it this way, just because it isn’t illegal or unnatural to change a baby’s diaper in the supermarket aisle, doesn’t mean you want to see someone doing it. I hope this doesn’t offend anyone, just another human being’s side of the debate. 🙂
Ashley Sears says
Cynthia,
I am all for hearing from the otherside. I may be a bit passionate about the issue, but it’s always open to hear from people that don’t share my opinion. Personally for me, I never breastfed with my boob flopping out. If I were to have more kids, I probably still wouldn’t do that because that’s my comfort level. In all honesty, I do that for my comfort rather than those around me. It just seems to me that when it comes to feeding a child that being “respectful” to others is kinda second seat. Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary to flaunt the boobs as you breastfeed, but in most of my experience when people are asked to “go to another room” or “cover up the child” it’s really not the moms that are whipping the nipple out. The private room part does irk me though because we don’t tell moms with bottles to go to a private room to feed. Breastfeeding is treated as it’s shameful IMO when you tell someone to go do that in private.
So I do agree with you that there are ways to be more discreet about it, but still don’t think moms should be ushered in to private rooms. Thanks for weighing in 🙂