Why Do Some Of The Mothers Of Today Find It Necessary To Feed Their Babies Indiscreetly?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2857391/Claridge-s-staff-order-mother-cover-huge-napkin-started-breastfeeding-12-week-old-baby.html

Yes it is a natural function, but there are also many other natural functions that we possess but still don't find the need to display them openly in public.

[EcclesCake]

I'm still mulling over AOGs comment about dining etiquette. Does it matter if the baby opts for left or right breast or is it that the mother should use a linen napkin to dab the child's mouth after feeding?

[hc4361]

I don't get it either, jth. When I was growing up new mothers would often be sat on their front door step breastfeeding while watching the older kids playing in the street

[smoneybags]

When I was feeding my baby, I used to enjoy some quiet time alone with her. I don't object to others feeding wherever they have to- I don't have to look at them do I?

[jackthehat]

The 'absolute fundamentals' of life seem to have been stripped away and we are left with a veneer of 'eeeeewwww' when confronted with them.

Birth and Death have been given over to 3rd parties, and child-feeding/nuturing/rearing have become something, if not exactly shameful, then certainly something that causes embarrassment.

It's very strange....

[Retrochic]

I've breastfed all four of my children in three different countries. If I was going someone like Claridges (as opposed to my local cafe) I would cover with a napkin or better still express into a bottle and feed that way. Its called manners. Out shopping can be more difficult, but again, there is nothing wrong with having a small napkin to cover your modesty -its mainly when taking out the breast for the baby, hard to do without flashing . This 'I'm a woman and I have a right' tends to be cried with indignation by middle-class yummy mummies who have their own agendas.

[Retrochic]

jackthehat this is not about natural functions and the right to perform them in public. There are plenty of natural functions that are not forbidden by law to be done in public, but a rarely done out of Politeness. If she'd let of a ripping good fart in Claridges, or sat there picking her nose people would have been offended because of the place it happened not because of the natural function.

[jackthehat]

Possibly...but we're not discussing what she 'might' have done.......we are discussing just how much of an abomination public breast-feeding actually is....

[stuey]

I agree with Retrochic's last sentence of her post at 1553. I call this attitude of some women the "Hellen Reddy" syndrome: http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-am-woman-lyrics-helen-reddy.html

[jackthehat]

You say that like it's a bad thing, stuey.....:o)

[ganesh]

sort of what I'm trying to say retrochic, and totally agree, No doubt you will be slammed for comparing a fart with breastfeeding! some people just don't get it. Even though I am a feminist, have spend many an hour on a nudist beach, am actually fine with breastfeeding,I have been called old-fashioned and accused of not loving my babies enough to breastfeed in public, and accused of talking ***,all because I can see why many people would not like to see it in a restaurant and understand their objections. These women show no respect or as you say 'manners'. Mind you, I think even I would feel a bit awkward if I saw a 7 year old being fed on the next table-that would gross me out!

[stuey]

JTH, I'm not moralizing upon it. It just irritates me when any group in society demands, whilst beating upon their chests (pardon the sort of pun:)), "Here, look at us: we want recognition, and we want it now!" Sort of like the gay parades...Now I'm in trouble:)

[Retrochic]

jackthehat who is calling it an 'abomination' apart from you?

She was asked discretely and politely to cover up in an exclusive restaurant. She decided to make an issue out of it. Probably the same type that screeches 'sexist ' when a man offers up a seat on a train or opens the door for them.

[pixie373]

They DON'T want recognition, study. They want to be left alone to get on with it...

[pixie373]

Stuey- autocorrect, sorry!

[Retrochic]

pixie I'm sure a lot of men would love to be able to pull out their willy and wee wherever they like -think of the convenience (pun sorry), or feel it was socially acceptable to fart, burp and generally scratch anything that itched at any time any place anywhere. Fortunately we don't live in the Zoo.

[jackthehat]

The slack-jawed horror with which breast-feeding a child is viewed, especially on this thread, would seem to indicate that many people see it as an abomination.

I struggle to see why...

[pixie373]

What has a willy got to do with breasts? How often do you see those in national newspapers?

[Mamyalynne]

That is the second time a penis has been used as a comparison to a breast - some knowledge of anatomy is awry here surely?

[EcclesCake]

Not many willy's but quite a few d1cks, and there are just as many on here unfortunately :-(

[pixie373]

Breasts/chests are secondary sexual characteristics. Not the same as nudity.