I hadn't given public breastfeeding much thought recently, until last week
when I had 2 clients in 2 days planning to pump for public bottles in
certain situations.

"The message you'll send to all the women and girls who see you is that you
- a well-dressed, sophisticated, intelligent woman - have chosen
formula-feeding for your baby.  Is that really the message you want to send
them?"  "But there'll be breastmilk in the bottle."  "Nobody will know that.
They'll just see the bottle.  And the message will be that you chose to
formula-feed."

They hadn't thought of that, and I don't know what they'll ultimately decide
to do, but I thought to myself, "23 years.  It's been 23 years since my
friends and I went over that same ground ourselves.  And 23 years ago, I'd
gladly have suffered embarrassment rather than let the public think I'd
chosen formula for my son.  But in 23 years, this simple little battle still
isn't won.  In nearly a quarter century of advocacy, we still haven't
managed this basic step."

I have to tell you, it made me think maybe I need to encourage the more
courageous of my clients to show as much skin as they dare.  If no one
pushes the envelope - if breastfeeding is always totally discreet - will
mothers still want bottles for public use another quarter century from
*now*?
--
Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC  Ithaca, NY
www.wiessinger.baka.com

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