A woman has every right to feed her child in any place she wishes! Although she would be a total idiot, moron NOT to cover herself while doing so.

I had to restrain myself from throwing things at the television during his "two minute opinion".  Ugh.

I breastfed all four of my kids.  In total, I breastfed for seven years.  I think I can safely say that I've breastfed just about everywhere; restaurants, stores, planes, automobiles (while my little one was strapped in, so I get bonus points), in a church, at parties/get togethers, Disneyland, and just about everywhere else.  I think it's every woman and baby's right to breastfeed without fear of someone elses issues dictating where you can do it.  I got really, really good at being discreet.  By the time I hit the second child, it wasn't uncommon for someone to come talk to me and not realize that while we were talking, I was nursing the baby.  You don't have to fully expose the breast to feed a baby.  I never even put a blanket over the baby's head - would you want to eat your dinner under a hot, stuff blanket?  If you buy the right style of shirts, you don't need the blanket. 

Clearly, this guy has no clue about feeding a baby.  Bottles are fine...for people who don't breastfeed.  They're an incredible hassle for those who do and generally reserved for emergencies and environments where nursing wouldn't be safe (like in a moving vehicle or during the landing and take off of an airplane. 

I find it interesting that in a country where you can see pictures of practically naked women in the check-out line, people would get huffy about a tit being brandished for feeding an infant.  That's what they're there for!!  I realize that my breasts, after seven years of nursing, aren't as perky as Lindsay Lohans, but...come on, people.  They're just boobs.  And, if you notice a mother feeding and you get uncomfortable, DON'T LOOK ANYMORE.  Go about your business.  Chances are pretty good that the baby will be finished eating before you are and they'll whine less than the prudish ninny. 

Oh my word! Possummomma and I agree on something. :)

LOL.  I think most of us parents have more in common than not. :)

As for the nipple confusion thing, anyone care to hear a screaming infant who does NOT want the bottle mom's pumped just before going out for dinner?

I hate to sound gangsta', but...WORD, SISTER!  What most people don't realize is that the baby can smell it's mother and if it's used to being breastfed, they'll often flat-out reject a bottle if offered by mom.  Babies aren't stupid, they know that you're holding back the good stuff.  I tried bottle feeding my first to make someone feel more comfortable and ended up going out to the car to breastfeed because all my daughter did was scream herself into the hiccups with the bottle.  Not fun!

As to the nipple pads... hahahaha...my youngest child is three. THREE! And, if I'm in a doctor's office or store and hear a baby cry, I get that twnige.  You women know what I'm talking about.  THREE YEARS and I'm like, "Shoot, give me a paper towel!"  That "let down" reflex is hard to get rid of. 

I honestly don't know why it offends people, bnfl.  I've had women look at me weird when I was nursing.  So, it can't be just a sexual thing.  I think part of it is that, in truth, breastfeeding was such a relaxing and wonderful thing to share with my infant that your attention gets pulled completely to your baby and you can easily zone out on conversations.  I think it's jealousy that the mother's attention isn't on the conversation or on the person who's ticked.  I fully and completely loved breastfeeding.  Of course, I didn't have any of the problems that I've heard some women have so I guess I was lucky.  But, for some, I think breastfeeding is equated with the baby and there are adults who just don't even think kids should be at restaurants, let alone nursing in them.  Like...if you're going to be a parent, you have to stay home or get a sitter.  I don't know... I suppose people have their reasons for being offended. 

I have to share, though.  When my third was about two months old, we had family come to visit and they had a baby the same age.  They were bottle feeding.  Well, Gracie cried and I opened the milk bar.  Twenty seconds later, no more crying and we were just doing our thing.  The relatives baby started crying and it was four minutes of "Where's the fresh bottle?...NO! Not that one.  Ok, settle down. Settle down."  I will never understand how people think bottle feeding is easier.  Anyway, my relative got all huffy about breastfeeding and said something like, "You're spoiling her by not making her wait."  *boggle*  Yeeeeah.   Right.

OK, OK

I sorry

Stop it Gee Eye!

Saigon Tea is Fini!

BTW, I'm lactose intolerant!

Those bastiges!

Heh...  Since you brought up Ralph Bailey breastfeeding...  :)

Forget the Nurse-In: Man-Boobs Can Save Lactivism (from the Strollerderby blog at Babble.com)

Part of this dialogue (and I'm only going on what some buds from down there are telling me) may come from the fact that "Ralphie" breast fed until he got his drivers license.

Or was it when he voted for Reagan?

Oh well............

These women are only thinking of themselves, not the baby.  For example, I was always very private as a baby.  I never did like people gawking at me, checking out my mother, or getting into my business while I was breast-feeding.  It was my own private party.  Can any of the rest of you relate? :)

Ralph's Mom's 8 Hints it Was Time to Stop His Breastfeeding: 

 When he could open her blouse by himself.

 He developed a bad habit of flicking his tongue.

 He kept slipping dollar bills in her belt.

 Her birth control pills started interfering with his acne medicine.

 After each session, they both had to have a smoke.

 He started inviting his friends over for dinner.

 Ralph began getting an uncontrollable urge to hear ”Dueling Banjos.”

 His beard began leaving abrasions..

You go Possummomma!  I am totally in agreement with everything you said.  One of the most beautiful sights in the world is that of a mother breastfeeding her baby. 

If it bothers you so, don't look!

Sorry all, I broke policy. Had to take down the YouTube video... By the way, Sperber, the spam protection text for this comment is [edit.], can you fix that?? I mean, random curse words generated by the Bakersfield.com blog platform is just not accepted!

;)

Trying...can't....not...look.... :)

If you find yourself envying the babies, random, don't.  Just get a job working for the state :)

"If you find yourself envying the babies, random, don't.  Just get a job working for the state :)

ROTFLMAO!!!!