Breast Feeding At Mass

[PhuturePriest]

OH MY BUDDHA SOME PEOPLE CANT HALP IT BECUZ ALLLEERRGIEZZZ!!!111!!!One

 

I have no problem with people who do it because of allergies. I do not feel bad, however, for the people beaten up because they're deranged and breathe with their mouth when they have perfectly clear nostrils. :P

[MissScripture]

One doesn't have to be a pervert to be distracted by exposed breasts, or even the knowledge that there's an exposed breast under a cover. And I doubt you'd suggest we should start wearing swimsuits, (short?) skirts, or much-skin-exposing clothing at Mass.

Context, FP: It matters.

If someone is distracted by "knowledge that there's an exposed breast under a cover," then yes, they do have issues. Wherever I go, I have two "exposed breasts under a cover." Most women do. They are under a cover called clothing.

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I can understand people feeling a little surprised or uncomfortable when they first see someone breastfeeding in public. It really isn't very common. And honestly, it was a little strange to do it, at first.

However, I have seen people react as if it is done specifically to be offensive, and make people uncomfortable, which is beyond ridiculous. By and large, women don't really want to show everything to the world. But if I hadn't nursed in public, I wouldn't have left the house for the first 8 months of my son's life. WhenI did nurse in public, I am pretty confident it was pretty inconspicuous while not using a cover, because often my husband had no clue it had happened.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Most parishes in Australia have a foyer or a kind of chaplet to the side, perhaps it's better done there, i don't know. I like that this lady had a blanket over the baby though covering her breast. But I'm also all for public breast feeding and in public the breast can even be exposed i don't mind, but holy mass and the parish building/temple of the spirit is not necessarily public property it is church property and gods property. But again i don't really know and don't have any documents just personal opinion. :)

[Archaeology cat]

Im not saying anyone should go into hiding, thats silly!


Just because you have the option of one path doesnt mean you have to talke it. If it would not be inconvenient for a mother to cover up or possibly breast feed in a discrete location, would it be a bad thing to have that as a viable option?
I fully understand that sometimes it is unavoidable. Baby needs to eat! But in the event that a more private location is available, would it be wrong to expect a mother to utilize it? Or does that go against the "shut up its ok" rule?

Ask yourself (general you, not you personally) this: would I be ok with the mother giving her baby a bottle in the pew? Would I be ok with a pacifier? Then stop and realize that those things are modern substitutes for the breast. Realize that breastfeeding is how God intended those babies to receive nourishment, comfort, and antibodies.

Also, breastfeeding completely on demand, no dummies, bottles, etc, is a requirement for ecological breastfeeding, which is a natural way to space children while the mum recovers from pregnancy and birth. ETA: I don't breastfeed ecologically purely for that purpose, it's just a nice perk. I do it because it's easy and the best option for my babies and me. Edited March 25, 2014 by Archaeology cat

[CrossCuT]

Ask yourself (general you, not you personally) this: would I be ok with the mother giving her baby a bottle in the pew? Would I be ok with a pacifier? Then stop and realize that those things are modern substitutes for the breast. Realize that breastfeeding is how God intended those babies to receive nourishment, comfort, and antibodies.

Also, breastfeeding completely on demand, no dummies, bottles, etc, is a requirement for ecological breastfeeding, which is a natural way to space children while the mum recovers from pregnancy and birth. ETA: I don't breastfeed ecologically purely for that purpose, it's just a nice perk. I do it because it's easy and the best option for my babies and me.

 

It all sounds ok.

[Archaeology cat]

In case I came across wrong, there is nothing wrong if a mother chooses to use a bottle and/or pacifier. My point, of course, is that it is silly to allow one in the pews and not the other.

[CrossCuT]

Im fine with it all

[Archaeology cat]

Excellent. Like I sId, wasn't trying to single you out, just giving a way of looking at it. I quoted you because I thought your point was relevant to what I was saying. Like Cherie, I've had negative comments at Mass (and nowhere else that I can remember at the moment), and it's disheartening. Had I received such comments before becoming more confident, I don't know how I would've taken it. Now I try to laugh off comments while firmly saying I won't move.

[Jaime]

One thing we are all dancing around.  It's the elephant in the room.  Well if no one else is going to bring it up, I guess it's up to me. 

 

If the baby breasts feeds during mass, (s)he should be stopped from receiving Holy Eucharist. 

[AugustineA]

I have no problem with people who do it because of allergies. I do not feel bad, however, for the people beaten up because they're deranged and breathe with their mouth when they have perfectly clear nostrils. :P

 

 

[The Bus Station]

Ideas for bumper stickers:

 

"My booby body my choice!"

 

"Keep your fixations of my lactations!"

 

"Don't be a noob! It's just a boob!"

 

 

[CrossCuT]

Ideas for bumper stickers:

 

"My booby body my choice!"

 

"Keep your fixations of my lactations!"

 

"Don't be a noob! It's just a boob!"

 

rotfl

[Gabriela]

I think this is the main problem that everyone runs into when they aren't parents, and I say that not being a parent myself. :P But my sister has a baby, and I'm amazed at just how busy she always is taking care of him and doing everything for him.

 

If a mother is more comfortable breastfeeding in private (Indeed, my cousin's wife doesn't like breastfeeding in public, even though she uses a cover), that's completely fine! But even if it is a viable option for every mother in a particular situation and place, I don't think expecting her to go and do it in private is good, because that's reaffirming the idea that breasts are sexual and should be kept private at every possible opportunity, and that breastfeeding is some secret shameful thing other people shouldn't have to suffer through being around.

 

Do we hide the Eucharist in the Tabernacle because it's a secret shameful thing people shouldn't have to suffer being around unless they specifically plan to show up for Mass or Adoration?

[PhuturePriest]

Do we hide the Eucharist in the Tabernacle because it's a secret shameful thing people shouldn't have to suffer being around unless they specifically plan to show up for Mass or Adoration?

 

So this is the second comparison we've had in the thread, and like the last one, it's comparing apples with oranges.

 

Feeding a child is not comparable to exposing the Eucharist and urinating.

[Selah]

Do we hide the Eucharist in the Tabernacle because it's a secret shameful thing people shouldn't have to suffer being around unless they specifically plan to show up for Mass or Adoration?

 

*headdesk*