AIBU to think that women should not have to be discreet when breastfeeding?

[lalaland3008]

I'm not saying that anyone should purposely flop both boobs out into someones dinner. But it makes me really mad that some people think women should have to be discreet when feeding their baby, sit in a corner or breastfeeding 'booth'.

I also think a breast is just not comparable to a penis to a vagina and if people are offended because they see breasts as purely sexual then that is their own problem.

Noone would object to me sitting in public drinking my coffee or feeding my baby a bottle of cows milk yet people find breastmilk offensive.

I'm not bitty mad I lasted 2 weeks breastfeeding but it still makes my blood boil that it is seen as controversial by many.

AIBU?

This thread is about to go round the mulberry bush again. So I'm gonna leave well enough alone now.

That's what I've said all along. Nothing wrong with breast feeding in public, however, use some discretion. However, I seem to get tripped up by mums who feel they should be able to expose all regardless. ~That's why I mentioned we have manner when eating in public (most of us do anyway) same thing with breast feeding.

Yes, different levels of table manners (which are themselves culturally mandated, not inherent).

You may be of the napkin-ringed, three different knives, little finger crooked when holding teacup school of breastfeeding.

That doesn't mean everyone else should consider your feelings if they want to just eat one handed with a fork, and dip their bread in the soup though :p

No you're right. Plenty times I've seen a pig in a vest eating like a beast and wanted to be sick. I've curled my lip and given a dirty look to show my disapproval.

So suck it up breast feeding mums. Public reaction will be based on how you go about breast feeding in public

And goodnight!

There's an interesting theory that humans don't like to be reminded that they're animals because they fear death and would rather not be reminded of their own mortality by such comparisons.

Your 'eating like a beast' phrasing, and objection to seeing a bit more skin from others does seem a bit over the top in that regard.

But you're starting from the POV that it is overexposure. Why is it?

You have read the thread, right?

Haha! Is that so? So I believe we should respect ourselves because I'm concerned about my own mortality? I've never had much faith in armchair psychiatry. Thanks for reminding me why.

It's too late in the night for this.

Yes? People have already addressed the sexual/eliminating objections. Breasts are not inherently offensive to humans. Just certain cultures. Cultures can change! We can change ours back.

In this case by having women breastfeed in public plenty to normalise the fact that the main purpose of breasts is feeding babies, however they personally find that easiest.

Arbitrarily limiting the amount of skin on view is just another restriction that effectively says there's something wrong with the entire procedure, something inherently shameful about breasts.

Hopefully in a few generations people won't feel that way any more and just won't give it a second thought. They won't care whether they see a nipple or two, or some extra fat, or a bit of milk squirting. Because it'll just be a normal part of feeding a child.

You've said you're going three times now...

Not sure what respecting ourselves has to do with how much skin is visible when feeding. I respect myself enough not to let others dictate how I feed my child, because I'm going to do what's easiest and most comfortable for us, not you.

You're prone to exaggeration.

I said it twice!

And I am going. But not before I say, fight your fight for the ladies to get their tits out. And when you done, I'm gonna join the men on their right to air their nuts out, what with all the low fertility rate that seems endemic

So I'm gonna leave well enough alone now.
And goodnight!
It's too late in the night for this.

I assumed these all meant you were going. Four now though!

I don't need to fight for that right, it's already enshrined in law (indirectly). I shall just carry on feeding my baby the way she wants to be fed and not thinking about how much breast the woman across the room has out.

People would get used to the naked testicles too, if we went that way (I personally am unbothered one way or the other). Think it's a bit of a straw man though.

Whatmeworry you do know why boobs are sexy right? It's because caveman sees well-endowed cavewoman and thinks 'Good boobs, she'll have plenty of milk for my babies, she's the one I'll have sex with.' Why on earth would less-efficiently shaped breasts be preferable?

Speaking evolutionarily, everything any animal finds attractive in a mate is indicative of good genes and the ability to produce and raise lots of healthy babies.

Female mammary glands are covered by a layer of fat for protection (and possibly insulation), not decoration. Walking upright means human boobs are at greater risk of injury, hence more protection than for other mammals. And btw a sex organ is one directly involved in sexual reproduction, so not boobs.

Breast are sex organs because they cause a sexual reaction when stimulated and the nipples go hard. My wiring goes from breasts (the chock) to between my legs (starter motor) That's what makes my breasts sexy.

Is it just me?

And btw a sex organ is one directly involved in sexual reproduction, so not boobs.

Ok, let's call them sexy toys then!

Pretty much any part of the human body can be sexually stimulated, to varying degrees. I think modern western society is the only one to focus on just boobs and genitals.

Breast are sex organs because they cause a sexual reaction when stimulated and the nipples go hard

So is my neck then, and my ears, my back can be too for example.

I don't think women should have to be discreet tbh, I have seen lots of women bf in public, although evidently they must have been discreet because I have never seen anyone just getting a boob out.

If I did happen to see a woman get a boob out, I'm sure my eye would be drawn and I may look because it's not the norm. I hope that she would not be offended by that and obviously I would avert my gaze once my eyes realised the situation.

Popping your whole breast out is not the cultural norm for better or worse, so people are bound to look. There is nothing wrong with it and if that is what you are happy with so be it. 99% of people would notice, then look away, getting annoyed with people who do notice and initially gawp though is bu, it's not the norm so people will inevitably notice.

I never care. Just yesterday I was admiring my DS new baby breastfeed. I could gasp see her areola. I doubt I'll ever recover...

From seeing something as beautiful as a newborn with her mother. :)

Ps actually in that case my breasts are not sex organs, at least during tge period my baby is bf they are completely out of bounds during sex. Afterwards it takes a while for them to become sexual again.

My pupils dilate when I'm aroused. Does that mean a bloody burka for me?

You'll obviously have to wear sunglasses forever.

whatmeworry you are being deliberately obtuse. And patronising. But I don't suppose you'll understand that.

How can anyone miss the point so utterly spectacularly?

Pantylace, just because YOU can breastfeed without getting your whole 'tit' out, doesn't meant that everyone can. Well done you. Have you read the posts from the numerous women on here explaining that?

Breasts aren't sex organs. They are erogenous zones, sure. They're not sex organs though, any more than a man's nipples are sex organs.