Nursing in public, and other things

[pne]

Today at church I watched a young woman breastfeed her young son. (Well, maybe "watched" gives the wrong impression; I noticed that she did so.) And I think it's a good idea.

I think breastfeeding is good for children and that women who choose to do so are doing them good. And that it's OK to do so even in a semi-public place since, with practice, you can do so without exposing yourself to other people. Also less disruptive (and probably more convenient) than having to leave and look for a private place.

Today was also the Primary children's presentation. It went on for pretty long. The poor children were also a little high-strung since they had had to sit still for two hours during the final rehearsal. Anika was rather indignant about that when she drove us home; she had told the leader that they should have done some movement games and songs during the rehearsal to give especially the little children a chance to move around.

Leon was so nervous that he bit another boy. Both started crying and they interruped the whole thing. Bettina acted quickly and suggested that the congregation sing a song together to give the children time to calm down again.

Since Stella was sitting up front with the children since she's a Primary teacher, I decided to sit with Köhlers. That is, until Brother Heyen came up to me and asked me to bless the sacrament. He had done that last time I sat with them as well (when Stella was ill). Maybe someone doesn't want me to sit there ;)

Sonja gave me a late birthday present. I think it's a Calvin and Hobbes comic, but I haven't opened it yet.

Comments

[haela.livejournal.com]

I think breastfeeding is a great idea. I don't see the harm in doing it in public as long as a woman somewhat retains her modesty. I mean if she normally wouldn't show off those parts she doesn't have to now either. The only time I've been kind of offended is when the breastfeeding woman won't cover up with a blanket. I know it's natural and we should all be tolerant of women being able to do it anywhere they want, but it doesn't mean we all have to see exactly what's going on. Also, there are some women in the US who I think are very sick, who continue to breastfeed until the kid is five, sometimes eight years old. Her milk is obviously gone by then (they've even admitted such) and the child gets plenty of nutrition from regular food, so what's the point?

[pne.livejournal.com]

I don't see the harm in doing it in public as long as a woman somewhat retains her modesty. [...] The only time I've been kind of offended is when the breastfeeding woman won't cover up with a blanket. [...] it doesn't mean we all have to see exactly what's going on.

I agree. But the women I've seen breastfeeding in public (or at least in the company of others) so far didn't use a blanket, but still managed to keep modest; what wasn't covered by their sweater was covered by the baby's head except for maybe two seconds while the baby latched on. Usually not even then, though.

I remember also being at a small gathering of young couples (I was the only single there, but the others weren't much older than I), and two women wanted to breastfeed their children. The first just went ahead and did so (pull up a corner of the shirt, unbutton bra, apply child -- you didn't see anything). The second was more reticent, but to me it seemed from their conversation that it was lack of practice: the first woman had been nursing her second baby, the second woman had her first baby.

I can well imagine that it takes a bit of practice before you can do it without exposing yourself to all around you, but it's possible. (And, in my opinion, desirable -- i.e. the not exposing yourself bit.)

So I think I pretty much agree with what you say.