Breast feeding is offensive? (Page 4)

Here's my perspective as a father. It's an individual choice, and both choices are valid. One of our kids was breastfed and one was fed formula. Regardless of the method, anyone who attempted to tell my wife that she should not/ could not feed one of our infant daughters where and when they needed to be fed would be told in no uncertain terms where to go. Any attempt to disturb them or actually interrupt them would be dealt with as a threat.

One method was expensive, messy, and required as much equipment as an Olympic triathlon. One sometimes required a small towel.

One method was absolutely asexual, sanitary, appropriate in virtually any and all settings and a joy to witness. So was bottle feeding.

And marv, you're wrong. It is not possible to plan for the moment when an infant will need to be fed. Nor is it reasonable to expect mothers who are nursing to sequester themselves away from society simply because they're nuturing their child as nature intended.

Crap I haven't even thought about that. So when we have our second child its like starting all over again? Doesn't experience count for anything? I guess thats what makes it so fun.

I just read through this entire thread and wanted to comment. I don't think there are any cons to breastfeeding. If there are I haven't heard of any and I nursed both my girls. With my first daughter I didn't BF in public because of my own modesty. I wasn't comfortable doing it when we were out so if I really had to I'd go to the car, a dressing room in a store or if we were home I'd retreat to the baby's room. I didn't enjoy hiding but at the time that's where my comfort level was at.

When my second daughter was born I didn't have any qualms about doing whenever I needed to. I did whatever I could to be discreet because there are people who aren't comfortable seeing breastfeeding; but I wasn't going to hide either. And it's not like my boob was hanging out. In Georgia we also have a law that states a mother can breastfeed her child anywhere they are allowed to be anyway. There's also an indecency clause in the law saying a mother breastfeeding cannot be cited for showing some skin. With this law I could show my entire boob and be one of those 'lactivists' but I chose not to because of my own comfort level.

My husband did not exactly share the same opinion as me but never criticized my choice because it is a very personal decision for a mother to make. It is his child too but I think ultimately the choice belongs to the mother. A father's concern lies with the baby and if their child is healthy and being adequately nourished....whether it's from breastfeeding or a bottle. I think it's a shame that so many mothers are made to feel guilty for their decision, whether they choose to BF or bottle feed.

I can't speak about breast feeding from personal experiences because I don't not have any children.  But I couldn't imagine having to deal with ALL the changes of having a new baby, not to mention being a social outcast because I can't breast feed around others.  That itself would lead to PP depression because my gosh- newborns eat all the time!!  Liek marmadaddy and others have said- If I had to be sequestered every time I had to breast fed I'd go crazy!  And there's no way I want to sit in a stinky dirty public bathroom and feed my child because others are uncomfortable with breast feeding.  Also, for those who fear men or their children seeing the flesh of someone else in public, what's the differnece with that and girls that prance around in public practically 1/2 naked- isn't that gross?  It's almost grossier than breast feeding becuase it serves no purpose.  At least with breast feeding there's a purpose.  And....it's not like you can see anything anyways- the baby covers up most of it.

Here's an article about all ther pros of breastfeeding...

101 Reasons to Breastfeed

http://www.promom.org/101/

I like reason #8: Breast milk is always ready and comes in a nicer package than formula does.

Thanks Amy, I'm printing that for later. I scanned through them for now. I love 72:

Breastmilk has never been recalled due to manufacturing problems
Formula has been, sometimes after causing injury or death. There were 22 "significant" recalls of formula including 7 potentially life threatening situations.
Babbit, V, "FDA Recalls Baby Formula, 1998", Breastfeeding.com, Inc.

This one was my favorite reason:

Breastmilk is free.

With so many other things to spend money on for a new baby, this is by far one of the best reasons.

My wife breastfed both of our children.

Ican attest to #52 Breast milk acts like a natural tranquilizer for baby. .

I can still see them coming off her breast in a deep sleep. It was pretty cute to see.

But,  the most important reason, In my opinion: 

#50 Breastfed babies require fewer doctor visits
Since breastfed babies are statistically healthier, they see the doctor less often.

Milk drunk - it's the best!

Is asking a nursing mom the baby's name and then calling the baby's name out to try to get him/her to pull away their head and look considered inappropriate?

Cuz my wife's cousin does that all the time.

  I can't use the sarcasm font because I'm not kidding. 

When my kids where nursing, I had no problem doing it in public.  With a blanket over your shoulder, it just looks like you're holding a sleeping baby. Whenever I hear about people that have a problem with breastfeeding, I remind myself that statistically it is uneducated people in the U.S that do not choose to breast feed.  So not only am I smarter than them, my kids will be smarter than their kids also! 

I so seconded this statement.  I (having 5 boys) have spent almost 9 years breastfeeding my kids.  Think of that.  9 years of my life would have been spent in some gross public rest room or hot car or what have ya if I felt that I could not nurse in public.  When babies want to eat...THEY WANT TO EAT and they let the world know till they get it.   

By the some token...I do try to cover myself up and not make the people around me to un comfortable.  But when you nurse till they are almost two or so they tend to throw back the blanket or shirt and show off their dinner. 

Yes it does matter. Breast feeding helps to create and strengthen the bond between mother and child. Physical contact is elemental, powerful stuff. It's better for the child. And what's best for the infant should be the overriding consideration in any civilised society.

And if you believe it doesn't matter, why advocate for a way that's inconvenient, is uncomfortable and time consuming (ask any women who's used a pump), expensive, and messy?

It's not an insignificant burden you're advocating be placed on nursing mothers.

That's a really smart comment to make.  Or maybe I'm just too dumb to understand it. 

I respect you for being willing to voice your opinion when it is obviously in the minority.  I hope nobody flames you for it because I think you did it sincerely and respectfully.  Nicely done.  FWIW this is my reaction based on my experience as a dad of 3 breastfed babies, one of which is current, and as a husband who has been through the highs and lows of breastfeeding with my wife.

Before we become adults we have an idea what adulthood will be like...then we learn. 

Before we are married we have an idea what married life will be like....then we learn.

Before we have kids we have an idea what having kids will be like...then we learn.

You may find your opinion on the subject changes greatly down the road.  You may not.

Breasteseses are obviously an threat to civilization as we know it. That's why the FCC fined CBS $250,000 per second that we were subjected to the terrible sight of Janet Jackson's boobalage.  (On the other hand, the FCC seems to feel that our children will not be in the least bothered by 24-7 display of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's bloated corpse, but that is a subject for a diffrent rant.)

PS - both of my kids breastfed 'til around 18 months. Had anyone hassled my wife about it, they would have found themselves on a liquid diet as well.