Diane
While I agree with you in theory, and personally never cared if I showed
skin, I often tried very hard to cover up. The reason was simple. If a
pregnant mom or new dad saw that I was able to breastfeed without
showing a lot of skin, then they might think they can do that
themselves. But if I let it all hang out, then the pregnant mom or new
dad or grandmother might think that in order to breastfeed in public,
one must show skin, and they might not breastfeed or encourage a wife or
daughter to breastfeed.
Joylyn
Diane wrote:
>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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