Breastfeeding bill ~ can you help?

This reminds me of a recent episode of ER.

Dr Susan Lewis has had a baby and Dr Carter goes into the Doctor's lounge to find her husband, Chuck, sitting there with a baby nursing at *his* "breast".

He's got some sort of tubing connected from a bottle to a nipple stuck on his nipple and says something like "oh yes, it's breast milk and it helps with father/ baby bonding etc".

Carter is looking somewhat askance and Chuck says "What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a man breast feed before?"

"Err, well, no!" replies Carter who makes a rapid exit!

[orangebird]

Just another thought. If I owned a cafe (or any other premises for that matter), I would like the right to choose whether I allow breastfeeding on my premises, not the government. Whilst I think it's the mothers prerogative to choose to breastfeed in public, I do not believe they have the right over the premises owners. Maybe one mother breastfeeding may lose that business customers, which is not a right.

[greencreeper]

Originally Posted by orangebird

I didn't think this was a thread about the benefits of breastfeeding or not. Just whether mothers had the choice to do it in public or not. I say it's up to the individual. I personally wouldn't do it, but each to their own....

Well it is in as much as if women cannot breastfeed in public, then they will have to either stay at home (not a bad idea for some women) or bottle feed (not good for the baby).

Petition signed.

[BBKing]

Maybe one mother breastfeeding may lose that business customers, which is not a right

Where would they go, given that if this law existed they might have their delicate feelings affronted by a perfectly natural act anywhere they go publicly. They'd have to stay at home, poor dears (or preferably stop being so damned picky).

[mrlipring]

Originally Posted by BBKing

To the chap who compared breastfeeding to taking a dump - one is the human activity known as 'feeding', which is socially acceptable in public, otherwise McDonalds would be out of business. The other is the human activity known as 'defecating'. which is not socially acceptable in public, except in France. Conflating the two makes you look like either an unpleasant misogynist or someone ignorant of basic biological functions.

Now where's that petition? Will try and get the missus to sign it - the hospital kept her and baby in for four days until they got breastfeeding working, and damn good thing too.

don't try to read behind the asterisks. It was pee pee i said, not poo poo.

of course there should be nothing against feeding a baby in a fast food "restaurant" like mcdonalds. It would be stupid to suggest otherwise, but thanks again for putting words into my mouth. I just think there should be rules on where you can and can't do it, and at the end of the day it should be down to the proprietor, not the government.

I think i'll plump for "unpleasant misogynist" though. My girlfriend would be torn between the two terms, i'm sure.

Having thought about this, there should be places babies, and indeed children, can't go. Internet cafes, for one. My girlfriend works in an internet cafe, and i often pick her up from work. On the odd occasions i'm early, if she's busy i'll just jump on a computer. There's nothing more distracting than a baby screaming away in your ear. Perfectly natural again, but still undesirable in that particular setting. You wouldn't get away with it in a cinema, nor should you in plenty of other places. Note, this isn't an anti-baby or anti-woman stance, as i'm sure you'll accuse me of, it's an anti-anti-social stance. Smelly people, junkies, people with loud mobile phones, and even that bloody jamster chick for a ringtone, EVEN IF ON SILENT, should all be barred from internet cafes.

[paulyoung666]

Im sorry but I am against you there, dont you think if the baby was breast feeding, the baby would be quiet? So the child would not be screaming as it would be getting fed.

[mrlipring]

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

Im sorry but I am against you there, dont you think if the baby was breast feeding, the baby would be quiet? So the child would not be screaming as it would be getting fed.

What, babies who get breast fed don't wake up screaming? I've heard it all now.

Or are you saying that getting breast fed is the cure-all solution to babies crying?

[allieyoung666]

I agree with Pauly on that one!!!! I mean my kids had forumla and the have a dairy allergy which was proven that the formula made the kids like this. Plus Paul like the taste!!!!!!!
__________________

Originally Posted by mrlipring

What, babies who get breast fed don't wake up screaming? I've heard it all now.

Or are you saying that getting breast fed is the cure-all solution to babies crying?

No babies that are breast fed are often proven to be more contented as breast milk is more substancial than forumula plus the child can devlop various allergies in later life. Kids are kids, if they cry or not we all still love them

Originally Posted by mrlipring

What, babies who get breast fed don't wake up screaming? I've heard it all now.

Or are you saying that getting breast fed is the cure-all solution to babies crying?

Er, well speaking from experience, my kids used to nod off whilst on the breast. Most babies sleep after a feed. I wonder if your tone might change if and when you have kids (I'm guessing you don't now!). And equating breastfeeding with toileting, of any variety, is frankly, ridiculous.

As for kids in public places. My rule is simple. If they're well behaved, no bother. If they're not, bother. It's something for parents to deal with...and trust me if a parent is in charge of a persistently crying baby they are usually more keen to get out of the caff than you.

Lubes - petition signed.

[allieyoung666]

Originally Posted by andyl

Er, well speaking from experience, my kids used to nod off whilst on the breast. Most babies sleep after a feed. I wonder if your tone might change if and when you have kids (I'm guessing you don't now!). And equating breastfeeding with toileting, of any variety, is frankly, ridiculous.

As for kids in public places. My rule is simple. If they're well behaved, no bother. If they're not, bother. It's something for parents to deal with...and trust me if a parent is in charge of a persistently crying baby they are usually more keen to get out of the caff than you.

Lubes - petition signed.

I agree with you there, if it is done properly, there is no problem, if you just lob it out and make a public spectacle of it then that is a problem. Most places where I go there is an area for mums to go and breast feed their babies

[punky]

I was kinda in two minds wether to sign the petition.

While it doesn't bother me, it bothers others. Both sides don't want to hurt one other, but have their own sincere beliefs. I think it seems unfair of the government to make a law to appease one of these groups whilst directly hurting the other.

Reading the petition, it does say "public place". It does seem even more unfair to make a mother trying to feed a hungry baby find a private place, which could be some considerable distance away. Because of that I signed the petition.

I would hope though, if it came down to a situation where one mother was breastfeeding her child, and one person was offended by it, that they would meet each other half-way at least, and both turn away, or if at a table, switch tables maybe? TBH I thought some common sense and consideration would sort out the situation, rather than having to have a law enforcing it. The same would apply to someone if they were picking their nose, biting their nails, belching or telling inappropriate jokes. It isn't illegal (the latter is a bit iffy though, but many jokes are inapproriate for kids without being illegal). If everyone took an attitude to please themselves, where would we be?

I am begining to wonder though if this isn't making a mountain out of a molehill. I have never even see a breastfeeding woman. The vast majority on here don't seem to be offended by it, so it can't be that common an occurence?

Still, signed nonetheless.

[mrlipring]

I see what you guys are saying about the breast-fed kids being more content, but i won't stop them crying when they're in a crying mood. The problem here is with parents, mind you, not kids. Kids cry. Can't be helped.

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by BBKing

Where would they go, given that if this law existed they might have their delicate feelings affronted by a perfectly natural act anywhere they go publicly. They'd have to stay at home, poor dears (or preferably stop being so damned picky).

It is perfectly natural to some people - but not to others.... Why should other people be made to feel uncomfortable, just to make others feel more comfortable?

As I say, I don't find it offensive, but I certainly wouldn't breastfeed in public.
And can people keep the 'breast is best' argument out of this thread? It's not a relevant argument within this thread.

And PS - Yes, breastfeeding is perfectly natural to MOST mothers. But natural to do it in a crowded cafe on a saturday morning? I think not.

Originally Posted by orangebird

.
And can people keep the 'breast is best' argument out of this thread? It's not a relevant argument within this thread.

Highly relevant of you're a mum who has a hungry baby that can't be breast fed because it is not allowed.

Blimey, anyone would think mothers use babies so they can go 'wahey, cop a load of my breast people.' In fact public breastfeeding is a discreet action which takes place in a society where large amounts of naked flesh are publicly displayed on billboards etc You'd having to be gazing pretty intently and closely to come across an expanse of flesh which would offend.

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by andyl

Highly relevant of you're a mum who has a hungry baby that can't be breast fed because it is not allowed.

Blimey, anyone would think mothers use babies so they can go 'wahey, cop a load of my breast people.' In fact public breastfeeding is a discreet action which takes place in a society where large amounts of naked flesh are publicly displayed on billboards etc You'd having to be gazing pretty intently and closely to come across an expanse of flesh which would offend.

Sorry, but it's not relevant. If a baby needs breast milk and a mother has to go out, she can express.