OK, I have been lurking for a while but can no longer sit silent on the issue of BF in public and the notion of "discretion". I have nursed my children while they were riding in the sling without anyone knowing that they were @ breast. I have also endured the occassional rude comment and a plethora of curious glances when nursing my children "discreetly" (i.e., showing absolutely NO skin) but not fully covered with a blanket. I have also been tossed from an aquatics facility for BF my daughter in the pool (in case you have not guessed I am not ashamed of nursing in public). Despite the range of reactions I have had from others, I have refused to retreat to public washrooms to nurse or cover my child's head with a blanket (neither of my children could tolerate having their heads covered) and I have voiced my objections with the aquatics facility that gave me the boot (and won!). Why? Because I feel passionately that the only way that people become more comfortable with the sight of a nursing child is to actually see children nursing in "normal" places and situations. Some wise soul once said to me that people should expect to children BF anywhere that mothers and their children are. I like to think that if a young pregnant woman sees me nursing my child she may not feel as though it is disguisting or something to be ashamed of, it is just something "normal". I also take pride in knowing that because I took action, along with a dedicated group of local BF advocates, women @ local locations of this aquatics facilty will no longer be asked to leave for BF. I suppose that it never ceases to amaze me that in North America it commonly viewed as appropriate to ask a woman not to BF @ all or to do it under a blanket or with no skin showing etc. etc. rather than expect a person who is uncomfortable with the sight of a child @ breast to simply turn their heads and NOT LOOK. Why should women be urged to feel responsible for the way that others feel about her? We are far less tolerant and accepting of other forms of bigotry. I agree that it is our responsibility as healthcare professionals to listen to and respect a mother's feelings re: her level of comfort in relation to public BF and offer her ways of BF that suit this level of comfort. However, I do not think that we should continue to tacitly accept the notion that she should tailor her BF relationship with her child(ren) to conform to every possible range of comfort levels that others have with the sight of BF. Dru Antoniuk B.A., M.A., current B.Cs.N. student, aspiring LC/midwife, and mother to two wonderful girls who were often BF in public *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html