Another public breastfeeding story

[Darth Wong]

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/20396100/detail.html

Moms Stage 'Nurse-In' At Chick-Fil-A
Restaurant Says It Will Do More to Educate Staff About Breastfeeding
POSTED: Friday, August 14, 2009
UPDATED: 1:46 pm EDT August 14, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A group of breastfeeding women descended on a local Chick-Fil-A restaurant Friday afternoon.

They're trying to make a point the point that it's OK to breastfeed in public.

The "Nurse-In," as it is being dubbed, was organized by a mother who felt she was discriminated against at the restaurant.

She was breastfeeding her child when a restaurant employee told her to cover up.
...

The rest of the story isn't really that interesting, to be honest. We've seen it all before, and the restaurant is promising to change its ways. What's more entertaining is the sheer idiocy of the people commenting on the news website linked above. Seriously, what is wrong with these idiots?

Look at some of these comments:

I think the problem comes in is YOU WANT TO LOOK but can't. That's what makes it uncomfortable. Like a car wreck. And I stick by my opinion that u never see a hot lady breastfeeding.

I know, I know, Robbie ,you're right.
I just get het up over this one.
I keep thinking of some of those stories I've read of these gals who still claim it's groovy to be doing this when the kid is even old enough to ask for it.
Still getting their little thrill at the expense of an innocent kid.
It takes a certain 'kind' I guess

You crazy moms! No body is saying you SHOULD NOT BREASTFEED. Breastfeed away, breastfeed till their in their teens! A lot of people just don't want to see some ladies boob while eating! I mean if we're letting boobs out in public, lets bring the rest of the no-no-parts out for some fresh air too!

I think breastfeeding is a very special and private connection between a mother and a baby. I wouldn't want anybody to see and especially to interfere these happy moments.
Why would a woman want it? It disturbs a baby. It's not a show.
I like old times morals. Women have to respect themselves.

A boob is a boob. A drink is a drink. A lunch is a lunch. Breastfeeding in public fine. Asking some on in a restaurant to cover with a blanket or towel is not telling them they can't. People just need a little common desency.

Silly people, your minds could not comprehend my superior analogy! I did not say MILK was URINE. I was simply implying that the action of breast feeding, just like the action of urinating, in public might be offensive to people. In America, the country we live in, breasts are commonly associated with sex, and thats it. If you want to have your boobs more accepted, move, because here boobs=sex to the majority of american minds.

I LUVED the comment from whomever who said if these thrill-seeking 'moms' think they have the right to expose themselves in public , then folks should have the right to stare and ogle!
I think it would be hilariously funny to sit in the booth next to them ala 'Lucy in the Restaurant with William Holden' and just lean on one's arms and stare and stare for the entire time.
I am a female who has had seven beautiful children and only tried the breastfeeding thing with my second marriage twins because my hubby wanted me to try it.
It totally felt unnatural and wrong and....I don't know...... I once read an article by a Militantly ANTI Breastfeeding woman who said she honestly wonders if humans breastfeeding didn't evolve somehow through centuries of men and women constantly seeking the ever sought after sexual thrill by watching the animals. Maybe a stretch, but an interesting thought, because if certain insects or animals can adapt and be both genders over time, as some can, maybe it isn't too far fetched to think of.

Believe it or not, all of this idiocy is just from the first page of comments. I couldn't be bothered to click to see the rest of the comments. You can't even dismiss this as a bunch of idiot teenagers, because this is pitiful even for a dumbshit teenager.

[Themightytom]

I never had a problem until my sister pulled that shit thanksgiving.

there was dead silence at the table as everyone suddenly noticed and my brother in law was like "Its not bad, it tastes like cantalope."

My little brother was like "Well since decorum is out the window, can I just take a dump in my pants??" to which my 67 yr old dad replied "Waaaaaay ahead of you son."

Family members its a little wierd but other than that who cares, I mean I would APPRECIATE not having to see it but I don't expect a mother to go hang out in the bathroom because I feel odd. Most of the time women aren't really making a scene. Usually by the time you notice, their done, so whats left to bitch about?

Dare I say it, no sense crying over spilled milk?

[Terralthra]

My parents tell a story about buying a car when I was an infant. My dad went in with a price he wanted to pay based on MSRP and so on, and of course the salesman kept trying to raise the price this way or that. Gradually, I started being an annoying baby because I was hungry. My mom mentioned to my dad that I was hungry, he said, "ok," a couple times, before I started crying and bawling. My mom said urgently that I was hungry, and my dad turns around and says, "Then feed him, Trish!"

So my mom lifts her shirt and goes to breastfeed me right there in the showroom at the salesman's desk.

You've never seen a car salesman lower the asking price so quickly.

[Cairber]

IMO, it's total bullshit when people say "Oh, I am for public breastfeeding as long as it is done modestly" (or whatever word they use to convey the same idea.) They'll complain when you wear a nursing shirt and only a sliver of skin shows, they'll complain when you wear a nursing blanket but need to shift it off to latch the kid on, they'll complain when you get distracted and the babe delatches for a moment. It's never ending.

[Anguirus]

That very last quoted comment is just breathtakingly insane.

[Count Chocula]

I can't say I'm surprised this happened at a Chick-Fil-A. They're owned/operated by some very religious folks, and I guess nipple=SATAN!

They're a fast food restaurant, and they are

closed

on

Sunday.

Yeah.

[Anguirus]

What's worse, I ALWAYS crave Chik-Fil-A on Sunday. GAH.

[ThomasP]

All these damn nipples, corrupting our youth and moral righteoushoodness. Serves them right for being a biological function of the species.

And holy shit at the comments. YouTube used to be the bad spot. These days anything that gets any kind of exposure just fills up with stupid.

[Superboy]

Do you think restaurants benifit or are hurt by having a no-breastfeeding policy? I know they'll lose out on some business from people are morally opposed to a restaurant that would ban it, but I imagine they would also likely lose a lot of business from uptight families who freak out at the sight of a breast.

[Cairber]

We don't ask that the policy be written on the walls or anything (though it's wonderful when you see the breastfeeding symbol sticker on an establishment indicating support in that place). All we want is for employees to be trained in the law and rights of breastfeeding mothers and their children. When patrons complain, they will answer with "mothers have the right to breastfeed anywhere they are otherwise authorized to be" (or some variation) and, instead of bothering the mother, offer the complaining patron a new seat or some other accommodation.

I cannot imagine a place losing much business with such a policy. Many, such as Borders, Wendys, Victorias Secret, Target, Toys R Us, and Barnes and Nobles have instituted such training policies with their employees (some only after protests staged at their stores), and I don't see any complaints concerning the policies.

[tim31]

I never had a problem until my sister pulled that shit thanksgiving.
*snip the rest*

Just level with me here... Are you quoting a comment from the article, or is this a personal account. If the latter, I am uncertain exactly where you're standing. And for the record, I happen to think it tastes like sweetened condensed milk.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I never had a problem until my sister pulled that shit thanksgiving.

there was dead silence at the table as everyone suddenly noticed and my brother in law was like "Its not bad, it tastes like cantalope."

My little brother was like "Well since decorum is out the window, can I just take a dump in my pants??" to which my 67 yr old dad replied "Waaaaaay ahead of you son."

Your dad might be my new hero.

[Colonel Olrik]

I never had a problem until my sister pulled that shit thanksgiving.

there was dead silence at the table as everyone suddenly noticed and my brother in law was like "Its not bad, it tastes like cantalope."

My little brother was like "Well since decorum is out the window, can I just take a dump in my pants??" to which my 67 yr old dad replied "Waaaaaay ahead of you son."

Your dad might be my new hero.

For being a dumb asshole who raised a pair of dumb assholes? [again]I'm so glad to live in Europe[/again]

[Shroom Man 777]

Is there a social stigma towards breastfeeding, wherein people prefer to formula-feed? If breastfeeding in public is such an issue, does that stem from the fact that breastfeeding in general - public or private - has negative connotations? If formula-feeding was prevalent and actually preferred over breastfeeding, then that might explain why America has a very large and very vocal population of people whose brains seem to have been under-nourished during early childhood.

In here, we're taught to always educate mothers on the importance of breastfeeding and public/government hospitals even have policies involving the confiscation of bottles or baby formulas brought into the hospital, and the encouragement of breastfeeding amongst moms and their childrens.

[Oskuro]

I like old times morals. Women have to respect themselves.

Oh, yeah, old time morals, wich did so much to promote respect for women. Like this conversation a friend of mine had at a dinner with his girlfriend's family, while talking about sex and marriage:

GF's Uncle: There's no need to have sex early. I respected my girlfriend until we were married!
My Friend: So, you're saying you don't respect her anymore?

[Akhlut]

Is there a social stigma towards breastfeeding, wherein people prefer to formula-feed? If breastfeeding in public is such an issue, does that stem from the fact that breastfeeding in general - public or private - has negative connotations? If formula-feeding was prevalent and actually preferred over breastfeeding, then that might explain why America has a very large and very vocal population of people whose brains seem to have been under-nourished during early childhood.

In the 50s, there was a big push for formula feeding over breastfeeding because of SCIENCE! That has kind of stuck around in the US where bottle feeding is seen as normal and breastfeeding is often seen as a little weird.

Yes, completely fucking ass-backwards, but it happens.

In here, we're taught to always educate mothers on the importance of breastfeeding and public/government hospitals even have policies involving the confiscation of bottles or baby formulas brought into the hospital, and the encouragement of breastfeeding amongst moms and their childrens.

Although my wife and I have only really been involved with three government medical things (hospital after my son was born, and WIC in Wisconsin and Illinois), all three have promoted breastfeeding if at all possible. Unfortunately, my wife has a hereditary condition that makes it difficult for her to produce adequate breastmilk, so we had to switch to formula.

Regardless, it seems that even with encouragement for breastfeeding, it won't take off until social mores change to make it more acceptable.

[Next of Kin]

In here, we're taught to always educate mothers on the importance of breastfeeding and public/government hospitals even have policies involving the confiscation of bottles or baby formulas brought into the hospital, and the encouragement of breastfeeding amongst moms and their childrens.

I think it is important to educate new mothers about the importance of breast feeding. When my wife gave birth to our son the nurses were very helpful getting junior to latch. I think the confiscation of bottles is quite silly. What if the mother has a low milk supply? That also happened to my wife at the beginning and until her supply came in. She had to supplement with formula for the first few weeks.

[Akhlut]

I am a female who has had seven beautiful children and only tried the breastfeeding thing with my second marriage twins because my hubby wanted me to try it.
It totally felt unnatural and wrong and....I don't know...... I once read an article by a Militantly ANTI Breastfeeding woman who said she honestly wonders if humans breastfeeding didn't evolve somehow through centuries of men and women constantly seeking the ever sought after sexual thrill by watching the animals. Maybe a stretch, but an interesting thought, because if certain insects or animals can adapt and be both genders over time, as some can, maybe it isn't too far fetched to think of.

emphasis added


Breastfeeding unnatural?!?! What the fucking fuck fuck? I am fucking flabbergasted. How the fuck does someone come to a conclusion that retarded without being actually retarded?

I mean, I even understand how people came to believe why formula feeding is superior (even if the belief is inaccurate), but I can't understand the vehemence against breastfeeding and the frankly moronic ideas about it. And I call it moronic because I cannot find the words to express how fucking ignorant and stupid it is.

[Shroom Man 777]

I think it is important to educate new mothers about the importance of breast feeding. When my wife gave birth to our son the nurses were very helpful getting junior to latch. I think the confiscation of bottles is quite silly. What if the mother has a low milk supply? That also happened to my wife at the beginning and until her supply came in. She had to supplement with formula for the first few weeks.

Then the formula and bottles will be unconfiscated and the mother will be able to formula feed her baby since there won't be a viable alternative and she has valid medical reasons in being unable to breastfeed naturally?

In here, people can be so goddamn uneducated that children end up being malnourished because their diet is composed entirely of "soup" that's made up of rice particulates diluted with water and given salt for flavoring, turning them into Kwashiorkor-ridden cripples before they die.

They probably dilute formula milk to increase the volume they can "feed" their children with.

[Broomstick]

Is there a social stigma towards breastfeeding, wherein people prefer to formula-feed? If breastfeeding in public is such an issue, does that stem from the fact that breastfeeding in general - public or private - has negative connotations? If formula-feeding was prevalent and actually preferred over breastfeeding, then that might explain why America has a very large and very vocal population of people whose brains seem to have been under-nourished during early childhood.

In the 50s, there was a big push for formula feeding over breastfeeding because of SCIENCE! That has kind of stuck around in the US where bottle feeding is seen as normal and breastfeeding is often seen as a little weird.

It didn't help that doctors promoted breast feeding because it could be done on a set schedule with precise amounts of food, rather than the more chaotic "on demand" feeding that is actually the natural course of things.

Also, formula companies used (and for all I know, may still) promote formula by sending free samples and coupons to mothers while they were still in the hospital recovering from birth.

It got to be so entrenched that women were routinely given a shot to "dry up the milk", without being asked if they intended to breast feed or not, and most frequently not even being told what the shot was for, only that it was a "routine medication", the default assumption being no women will breastfeed. I have spoken with women who lived through that era who had to beg not to be given such shot, beg that their babies not be bottlefed by the nurses, and occasionally found out too late they'd already been given their "dry up the milk" shots and were forced to bottlefeed.

We've had several generations who gave birth and grew up with the above being the norm. Hence, the social resistance to breast feeding.

[Broomstick]

In here, we're taught to always educate mothers on the importance of breastfeeding and public/government hospitals even have policies involving the confiscation of bottles or baby formulas brought into the hospital, and the encouragement of breastfeeding amongst moms and their childrens.

I think it is important to educate new mothers about the importance of breast feeding. When my wife gave birth to our son the nurses were very helpful getting junior to latch.

All the education will be useless if there is not social support for breastfeeding mothers. With most US employers offering no more than three months unpaid maternity leave new mothers who return to work face serious obstacles to breast feeding: children are not welcome in the workplace, few workplaces provide a place in private for expressing and storing breast milk, and many places of employment do not provide sufficient breaks or flexibility in breaks to allow for adequate production of breast milk. Frequently, it's women in management positions who are able to juggle all this and have the flexibility to get it done, but most women are not in management positions.

Then there is the problem of where the breast feed, or express milk. I have never heard of a workplace that would allow a breastfeeding mother to either breastfeed in public areas at work, or express milk in such an area . Doing so in a bathroom is frequently the only location available, and would YOU eat in a toilet if you had a choice? How would you feel about food prepared in a toilet area? Would you feed it to your child?

Not to mention that many in corporate America feel breastfeeding is "unprofessional" - you can be a woman in private, but at work you must suppress you most significant biology and present yourself in a quasi-neuter state.

[Akhlut]

Also, formula companies used (and for all I know, may still) promote formula by sending free samples and coupons to mothers while they were still in the hospital recovering from birth.

My wife and I got a free can of Similac and I don't even know how that happened. Unless WIC or the county health department has some agreement with them or something, which seems slightly unethical to me, what with every WIC office I've been in trying to make sure we've breastfed and the health dept. doing the same.

Sucked for Similac, though, because after my wife stopped expressing, the only formula WIC would give us was Enfamil.

[Twoyboy]

That last comment is a doosy.. comments like that are the reason I read comments to news stories... I find idiots fascinating.

In here, we're taught to always educate mothers on the importance of breastfeeding and public/government hospitals even have policies involving the confiscation of bottles or baby formulas brought into the hospital, and the encouragement of breastfeeding amongst moms and their childrens.

Although my wife and I have only really been involved with three government medical things (hospital after my son was born, and WIC in Wisconsin and Illinois), all three have promoted breastfeeding if at all possible. Unfortunately, my wife has a hereditary condition that makes it difficult for her to produce adequate breastmilk, so we had to switch to formula.

Yes, here in Perth every hospital I know of is very pro-breastfeeding, but will help with bottle feeds if that is what the mother insists on. For my wife, both of her stints at breastfeeding were rather short, given less than a month after the birth of my daughter she was in hospital again and after the birth of my son she had PND. However, I think we got about the right level of education, encouragement and acceptance.

And for the record, I happen to think it tastes like sweetened condensed milk.

Weird, I agree with the fruit juice comparison. It's definitely more sour than sweet, and quite watery.

[Aaron]

My wife and I got a free can of Similac and I don't even know how that happened. Unless WIC or the county health department has some agreement with them or something, which seems slightly unethical to me, what with every WIC office I've been in trying to make sure we've breastfed and the health dept. doing the same.

Sucked for Similac, though, because after my wife stopped expressing, the only formula WIC would give us was Enfamil.

Not sure how things are done in your area but I recall being given a "gift basket" type of thing for both of ours, it had some spit up blankets, a can of formula, nipple shields/pads and a couple other odds and ends. IIRC it was given to us by the county health nurse that does the home visit after you bring the kid home.

And for the record, I happen to think it tastes like sweetened condensed milk.

Indeed, it's actually quite good (if thin compared to cow milk). If you ever want to freak out your prudish friends, bring up how yummy breast milk is.

[Shroom Man 777]

Breastfeeding is important since it provides newborns with nutrients that may not be found in formula and it also promotes mother-and-child bonding. If America has had entire generations being systematically prevented from breastfeeding, thus making their early development rather unnatural, I wonder what kind of large-scale effect this would have on the population. Perhaps that could explain the prevalence of certain... problems in America's population.

It sounds a bit kooky, but yeah. If a whole lot of people were brought up as children in sub-optimal ways, wouldn't a few problems manifest later somewhere along the line?