Comments on The Lactivist Breastfeeding Blog: Ann Arbor Woman Told to Stop Breastfeeding in Publ...

I plan to breastfeed my infant when she's born in ...

2009-06-14T15:27:55.916-07:00

I plan to breastfeed my infant when she's born in September. However, I have no intention of having my naked breasts out in public for the world to see. It would make others around me so much more comfortable if I would take advantage of the nice, peaceful, calm rooms provided in the Y specifically FOR nursing, or to do it in the privacy of the locker room. Also, I have a collection of

i really get wound up when people think its ok to ...

2007-09-28T23:14:00.000-07:00

i really get wound up when people think its ok to use breasts to advertise motorbikes etc, but its not ok to see women feeding discretely in public!!!!
women who breastfeed - congratulations!!
for those who cant or dont want to, fab, its everyones choice!
for those who actively and loudly disapprove of it, get a life, get a grip, get lost if you must, but do NOT make a mother doing

I do not in any way feel that the mother is at all...

2007-09-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

I do not in any way feel that the mother is at all in the wrong. First, I was a lifeguard, and a trained swim instructor, and can tell you that the ONLY reason for a food and drink rule is that any food or drinks to end up in the water would be cause for the pool to be emptied and filtered. For instance if a glass were to break near the water, not in but near, the whole pool would need to be

Jennifer and others, if a pregnant woman was swimm...

2007-03-01T20:14:00.000-08:00

Jennifer and others, if a pregnant woman was swimming, would you say that she is not allowed to "feed" her baby by means of her placenta nourishing the child?

If there is a rule against breastfeeding, then the rule is wrong. Wherever babies are allowed to be, breastfeeding should be allowed.

If it is unsafe or somehow inappropriate to breastfeed, then it should probably not be

In response to someone who said...[blockquote] <--...

2006-01-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

In response to someone who said...
[blockquote] <--- Jennifer, can you allow this, please?
If it's a actual "no food and drinks" rule, then technically lactating women shouldn't even be allowed IN the pool area...an extreme but truer sense of the rule. How would they ever know this and enforce that?
[/blockquote]

You cannot eat or drink from a closed or unexposed container.

So I guess we put your vote in the "special rights...

2006-01-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

So I guess we put your vote in the "special rights for breastfeeding moms" side of things?

After parenting an extremely high-needs baby, I'l ...

2006-01-19T11:10:00.000-08:00

After parenting an extremely high-needs baby, I'l have to say it would never occur to me to equate "no food or drink" with "breastfeeding." To my infant son, breastfeeding was not only nutrition but comfort, calming, and organizing. He breastfed often several times an hour, and I usually breastfed him in a sling everywhere I went. I figured people preferred a comforted, content baby to a

Emily said:I think if you nurse you deserve specia...

2006-01-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

Emily said:
I think if you nurse you deserve special rights due to the fact that you have chosen to do something so extraordinary for your child!

Hmm...I disagree. Breastfeeding is the NORMAL way to feed a child. It's not special or extraordinary. That thought is part of the reason why bottlefeeding is the norm in our culture...nursing is seen as something only *special* women do..

Cool blog--I'll be back to visit. I found you thr...

2006-01-13T06:31:00.000-08:00

Cool blog--I'll be back to visit. I found you through a comment at doulicia.

Me--I can't believe it's an issue. But it's definitely going to bring out the (lactivist) "troops". I can't wait for an update from you on the situation.

I'd be curious to know if they have a covered cup rule--as in no glass but a covered other kind of cup is okay. (A breast can't be more contained

Unique arguments are my specialty. I can cope with...

2006-01-13T02:21:00.000-08:00

Unique arguments are my specialty. I can cope with rocks being thrown at me, so long as they don't rebound and hurt others.

Now I'll have to go think... do not be disturbed by the loud, grinding noise!

"Do you think most mothers prefer to breastfeed in...

2006-01-12T19:51:00.000-08:00

"Do you think most mothers prefer to breastfeed in private or in public?"

Neither. I prefer to breastfeed my hungry child, wherever we happen to be. I like breastfeeding in public, not because I am an exhibitionist, but because when I have a child who is hungry, I don't want to pack up and go home. When I take my boys to the playground, the older ones run around and play, come

LOL...only if you promise that it will be a unique...

2006-01-12T16:50:00.000-08:00

LOL...only if you promise that it will be a unique argument...

And that it won't mak eall of the breastfeeding moms that read this blog want to throw rocks at you. :)

Then we are agreed. Mothers should feel no shame s...

2006-01-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

Then we are agreed. Mothers should feel no shame should they choose to breastfeed in public or private.

I qualify thus: "so long as the intent is to provide nourishment to an infant". The cases where this would not be true are so few as to be insignificant.

Now, urination and breastfeeding. Are you interested to know the connection? :)

I think MOST mothers prefer to breastfeed in priva...

2006-01-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

I think MOST mothers prefer to breastfeed in privacy, but I also think most of them will tell you that they feel that way because they are embarrassed to try and nurse in public.

That makes me sad.

That's where I think the problem lies.

Far be it from me to tell people they MUST breastfeed in public. But I'd like to see the day when any woman feels comfortable doing it

I think we're on the same wavelength regarding rul...

2006-01-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

I think we're on the same wavelength regarding rules and rights. I'm not trying to be disingenuous. I support the proposition that mothers should be free to breastfeed in public within reason, should they so choose. Where's the harm?

On cannabis and breastfeeding. I would no more question the nourishment provided by breast milk than I would the nourishment provided, albeit in a

The health issues part is exactly why I agree with...

2006-01-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

The health issues part is exactly why I agree with you. "heath issues" are what sparked the rule of "no eating near the pool" to begin with and it's a uninversally applied rule. Thus, I have no problem with it.

The issue that I took with your post was that after your excellent health issue point, you went on to make a very generalized statement that I don't agree applies in every

Jennifer,Do you have anything to say about the "he...

2006-01-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

Jennifer,

Do you have anything to say about the "health issues" mentioned in the original article?

You'll get no argument from me about fighting to change rules that are unjust. Do you think the pro-breastfeeding and pro-cannabis movements have any synergy? Perhaps together we could usher in a new generation of very happy families. :)

Rules universally applied

Libertus, Interesting perspective and one that oft...

2006-01-12T13:54:00.000-08:00

Libertus,

Interesting perspective and one that often, but not always applies.

If the rule is "no blacks" or "sure you can drink when you're 18" or "enjoy child porn" then it's not ok.

Rules aren't always right and when they are not right, people should fight them.

In this case however, the rules are "fair." So I see no reason to be pitching a fit.

The post makes no mention of two very important wo...

2006-01-12T13:42:00.000-08:00

The post makes no mention of two very important words that appear in the original article; "health issue".

The real story is simple.

Person breaks rules. Person is told to stop breaking rules. Person takes offence at being told to stop breaking rules. Person asserts their "rights". Person has their rights explained. Person complains vocally and emotionally of "oppression".

Emily,Gotta dissagree with you here...rules that a...

2006-01-12T13:38:00.000-08:00

Emily,

Gotta dissagree with you here...rules that are applied equally are rules. If a mom can't give her child a bottle, then she shouldn't be able to nurse either.

I assume the mom can swim just fine, so long as she isn't going to nurse while doing it.

Leakage happens, but it's not like breastfeeding moms just go spurting milk everywhere anytime they go swimming...

I think that the mom has every right to BF even th...

2006-01-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

I think that the mom has every right to BF even though the rule is no food or drink. I have a pool and the only reason behind the rule is to keep those things out of the water. Does that mean mom can't go swimming?!? She can't leave the food at the door. I think if you nurse you deserve special rights due to the fact that you have chosen to do something so extraordinary for your child!

Hmm. This one is a toughie. While the idea that a ...

2006-01-12T10:50:00.000-08:00

Hmm. This one is a toughie. While the idea that a Mom nursing is distracting while a young woman in a string bikini isn't, the "no food" rule does mean no food period. In that case, rules is rules. If a bottlefeeding Mom wouldn't be allowed to bottlefeed, then a nursing Mom shouldn't have special privilege.