What I sent to Slim... 

Dear Mr.. Smith,
 
Interesting article you wrote.  What I find refreshing is that you never
once said that breastfeeding in public should not be done.  Thank you for
that.  You openly acknowledged your own discomfort with the situation
wondering what to do and how to not leave the mother feeling poorly.  I
appreciate that.  Really.  If this should happen again, might I suggest that
you simply treat the mother as another adult, say your greeting, and move on
- or if conversation happens to come up - talk with her.  If you choose to
comment on the breastfeeding, "I really admire you for giving your baby the
best possible gift you can," (or some such positive comment) then go for it.
I am sure she will appreciate it greatly.  I'll bet you get a beautiful
smile for it.  You will then have shown her that common courtesy of treating
her normally.
 
Unfortunately, in our society, there are some people out there who don't
know the meaning of common courtesy, and think it is perfectly acceptable to
hassle a nursing mother anytime they want to.  Breastfeeding should be the
norm - sadly, due to formula company marketing - it isn't, and hundreds of
thousands of babies in our country and around the world suffer (and many
die) from this every day.  Due to those people who cannot take
responsibility for where their eyes are looking, and who cannot keep their
opinions to themselves, we need ordinances protecting mothers and babies
from harassment and protect their right to due what the human species was
designed to do - Breastfeed, wherever, whenever.
 
Finally, I simply love the fact that you talk about common courtesy.  The
vast majority of mothers take great care to breastfeed as discreetly as they
can.  Onlookers need to be responsible for their own actions.  A mother's
common courtesy should be directed entirely toward her baby - the baby is
the one who needs to be focused on - not other adults who can avert their
eyes and close their mouths.  A hungry baby has a need to be fed - out of
simple common courtesy (ok, and lots of love) a mother feeds her baby
whenever and wherever.  To not do so, is showing the infant a tremendous
amount of disrespect.  So, I applaud your comment that common courtesy needs
to remembered.  A breastfeeding mother will likely be conscious enough about
what she is doing and, out of simple common courtesy, the other people
around can take a minute to remember how they would feel if someone came up
and harassed them for doing something normal; how they would feel about
being chastised for caring appropriately for their infant; how they would
feel if they were glared at with hostility for any reason.  
 
Simple statement:  Breastfeeding is normal.  Harassment is not.  Common
courtesy is lacking - but not on the part of nursing mothers.  
 
Hoping the next breastfeeding mom you make eye contact gets a smile and a
hello...
 
Janet Simpson, IBCLC, RLC

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