http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/family/orl-breastfeed-chick-081409,0,6001868.story
I don't know what I think about this story. I think the lady over-reacted a little. I understand the right to breastfeed in public, thats fine. obviously your baby isn't going to wait until you get home. But modesty is best IMO. They don't tell you whether or not she was covering up or letting it all hang out. I cant imagine she was letting it all hang out but why would the mgr ask her to cover up? I guess i'm a very modest person and there is no way I would breastfeed in public. I gues my thing is, why didn't you feed before you left for lunch or dinner? How long could she have possibly been at chik-fil-a? There has to be some more details to this story. I understand her calling to complain, but having a breastfeeding protest or awareness or whatever at chik-fil-a...geeez. and the fact that it made the paper headlines? Seriously? Maybe im just old fashioned & don't have kids.
Re: breastfeeding in public?
Jena - I agree with you. I don't think I would feel comfortable breastfeeding in public, especially at a fast food place:) I guess mother's have the right to do it, but I would think you should also have the courtesy to cover yourself if you do decide to publicly breastfeed.
As for the restaurant manager, she didn't even ask her to stop or leave - just cover up. At least there isn't some ridiculous lawsuit coming from this. At least I hope not!
Maybe I will feel differently when I have kids?:)
I believe women should be allowed to breastfeed where and when they need to without fear of persecution or being shamed. Breastfeeding is NOT sexual in any way and people who react in this manner of this manager are ignorant extremists, IMO. Every mother who nurses will have their own comfort level around NIP (Nursing in Public).
Personally I am modest and will choose, whenever possible, to use a nursing/ladies lounge (Nordstrom's are beautiful!) or a quieter out of the way area for nursing in public but, that is not always an option depending on where you are and when your child needs to eat.
Young infants eat often!!! If you need to be out and get things done it is not always as simple as feeding the child before you go out. A newborn feeds about every three hours. The three hours begins from the time the feeding begins. If it takes the baby an hour to nurse, that leaves only two hours for mom to get anything done before needing to nurse again. Some things just cannot be accomplished in that amount of time.
Canon 50D, Canon 50mm f/1.4, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Speedlite 430EX II
I think there are 2 ways to do this. You can be modest or you wont be. When I was doing it I was very private. On occasion I had to feed in public I found a place away from everyone or I tried to and used a blanket or cover up thing. Many times I did it in the car, but had tinted windows and I still covered up.
I have seen people with it all hanging out and I believe that is gross, prob. just because of my personal beliefs..no problem with doing it in public but atleast cover up!
Lol... i really didn't understand the point of the sit-in. The manager apologized profusely, he admitted he was wrong, okay get over it.
I understand breastfeeding is not "sexual", but that still does not make me comfortable seeing another womans breast. I understand babies eat frequently. I think the problem is that everyone is worried about themselves, when we should all be considerate of each other. Maybe we should be more tolerant of breastfeeding mothers, but the breastfeeding mothers should also understand that some people are very uncomfortable seeing breasts out in the open or what-have-you.
My understanding from the article is that the mother in questions was wearing a nursing shirt. If you know these garments at all, they are extremely modest and nothing at all is hanging out. They allow access for to the breast for the baby without sacrificing the mother's modesty or the public's sight.
I completely agree that it's uneccesary to just lift up a shirt, throw off a bra and whip out your whole chest but, women who are just simply feeding their children and are not out to sensationalize should not be shamed or persecuted for doign what is completely natural for thier children. Was a sit-in too much? Probably but, even the description of that (and photo) showed a bunch of women very modestly feeding their infants.
Canon 50D, Canon 50mm f/1.4, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Speedlite 430EX II