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George
- I breastfed my son for 18 mos, and never had a single complaint. Before my son was born, I felt I could never breastfeed in public; by the time he was a few weeks old it just seemed like the normal thing to do and I never thought anything of it--nor did anyone else, apparently, as I breastfeed in restaurants, state-government meetings, and while shopping (babyslings or baby-bjorn carriers are great for this). There are nursing clothes (and a wonderful woman in Fluvanna County who custom makes them, very cheaply) with flaps that enable one to nurse while not exposing one's belly (really, in our fat-obsessed society, more difficult for some of us to do than exposing a breast for a second or two) or suffocating one's infant. Other women drape scarves or baby blankets. There's even a silly tent-like item one can buy to avoid any public viewing. It's certainly possible to nurse in an "in your face" way that some people would find off-putting, and some do, apparently, but really--they can always look the other way. Babies aren't the only ones at restaurants whose eating styles might offend someone's sensibilities. Babies need to be fed when they are hungry--one can't tell an infant that you'll feed her in an hour when you're done with lunch. Making women sit on dirty bathroom floors (and yes, I've seen them there) to nurse their babies is really horrible. Maybe next time a complaining customer can be gently reseated at another table? Or if really obnoxious, offered a seat on the bathroom floor? - Valerie L'Herrou (electronic mail, June 12, 2004)
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