PolkMoms.com

A Tennessee mother is threatened with arrest for breastfeeding in a courthouse hallway.



This shocked me. I am including a video link to this story. Watch it and tell me what you think.
Do you think moms should hide to breastfeed - would you complain?


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/25372815#25372815

Well- this kinda seems like you have to look at it from both sides.

Yes breastfeeding in public is fine, but I think having something to be fully covered to be sure that no one can see anything is appropriate. They have large blankets and hooter hiders- If people were complaining about seeing her breast then there could have been more exposer then the mom says there was.

We have seen a mom breastfeeding out in public- with just shirt coverage and my 3 year old asked me what she was doing with her boob.

I can see where the officer was coming from with saying their are inmates in the halls. I would not feel comfortable standing there with minimal coverage knowing that these inmates - whether sex offender, child abuser, or just a traffic offender- could see me.

Threatening arrest was not right- but she also should have just a little bit better judgment being in a place that full of criminals for the most part.

Let me start by saying I did not watch the clip for this particular incident, but I'm with Melissa in seeing both sides of this argument in general.

I have no problem in the world with women breast feeding in public if it's done respectfully and discreetly. I agree that at that point the breast is not a sexual object but a means of nourishment.

That being said, I do have a problem with women who think that because they are nursing they should be able to expose their breasts whenever, wherever and however they want to.

An example...My husband walked in to our daughters daycare class and one of the other mothers proceeded to just pull her breast out completely bare and start nursing. This was an open classroom where there were other children and parents coming in and out. She used no blanket, no cover up, nothing. To say that my husband (and others) were uncomfortable in the situation is an understatment!

On the other hand, we were recently at a resort when my husband starting talking to a friend of ours. Only after three or four minutes of conversation did he even realize she had been nursing her baby the entire time. She had covered herself in a very discreet manner. Neither my husband, myself, the new mother or anyone else that I know of was made uncomfortable in that situation.

I think it's about both sides respecting the other.

I agree with both of you ladies. When I was nursing I didn't hide out to do it, but I made sure I had the proper coverage.

I hope and like to think that most people did not know I was nursing either, due to being modestly covered. Nursing is natural and wonderful, but also private.

I think it is disrespectful to nurse in public and not take care to be discreet.

I think what shocked me the most about this story was the fact the lady was threatened with arrest. I mean come on!

I grew up next door (so as a small child) to a lady that breastfeed openly in front of everyone. Would just lift her shirt and go for it. I supose I thought this was normal. You go with what you know I guess.

Looking back, (giggle, giggle) I think my mom did get mad when my dad was outside and had to be near the fence of that paticular neighbor. So yes, I think it made her very uncomfortable.


When I was breastfeeding Ryan, I can remember being in Outback one time and I gave an order to a waitress that later told me she had no idea I had been breastfeeding. For me, that was my choice. I liked being discreet.

For some reason, I think American's are less open and intuned to our bodies. Nudity is much more open and accepted in most places around the world. (please dont think I am advocating nudity, lol, just discussing my experiences)

While I lived in Germany it would be nothing to see billboards and advertisements with bare breasts showing. This SHOCKED this Polk County girl, lol, when I first was confronted with this. And of course nude statues/paintings/art abound in Europe and around the world. Not as common here stateside.

From the sounds of the story it seems as it they threatened arrest because they asked her several times to move to a different location or to stop breastfeeding and she refused. If she was exposed in a public place and was offending people as the report says it seems almost like indecent exposure. I understand there are laws that say she can breastfeed- but she was in a hall that prisoners are transported- if the prison was a sex offender and they was to look that could get them into major trouble.
I do not think they were discriminating because she was breastfeeding- I feel they were just looking out for her best interest and since she refused to do as the officer asked then they said they would arrest her. If she was just standing in the hall and they asked her to move and she refused it would be the same thing-

I watched the video from Shawn's attached link and if the mom breastfed as she did in the video, I see nothing wrong with it.

Now, I'll also add that there is nothing wrong with breastfeeding - period. I breastfed ours anyplace we needed to. Few people even knew I was when I was, as in Shawn's experience. The only ones who knew were those who practiced breastfeeding, too, and even our own children now can point out those mommies who breastfeed as it is a natural comfortable thing for them.

However, that said, this was a courthouse where inmates were being brought in and out of court. Anyone working in the legal system with inmates realizes that there is potential trouble, even violence from inmates, especially where women are concerned. They cross lines normal, rational citizens may not even be aware of.

There are "decency codes" and "conduct codes" in jails and prisons for a reason - the safety of everyone. If this officer of the court approached this woman for her safety and the welfare of her baby then that is another story.

I think he just dealt with it poorly. He should have explained it better and showed her a nice quiet office - not a janitorial room - she could breastfeed in, especially seeing she was on the floor to begin with.

I am all for standing up for what you believe in, especially when it concerns children and feeding your baby, but I think she is taking offense where none was intended. Again, I just think he handled it poorly is all.

He should never have threatened her in the way she claims and if he couldn't help her see her safety and that of her baby was in jeopardy, he should have quietly gotten someone else and looked into an acceptable location.

I'm a little shocked at the responses I've read. I don't think that a woman should have to use a blanket or anything to cover her baby unless SHE is uncomfortable. It isn't her problem if others are uncomfortable. (They can look away or go somewhere else) I also think the officer may have been exaggerating, making it sound like there was an assembly line of criminals marching past this woman. Why would she leave the courtroom to breastfeed in a MORE populated area. I think the officer was informed that he could NOT arrest her and then came up with another reason so he didn't look like the bad guy, which he was. And saying they can arrest her because she refused to let them look out for her best interest is crazy. I'm astonished that people believe she WAS being indecent and that it was OK to threaten her with arrest. Breastfeeding is what our breasts are for! Some men find legs sexy, so is it indecent for us to walk? Or use our butts to sit down? I don't think it should be so controversial. If my (breastfed) baby ever asks me what a woman is doing with her boob, I would saying she's feeding her baby. Plain and Simple. Just my opinion. Don't want to offend anyone. This topic is SO controversial.

Go AndrewsMommy! Lol, I love hearing the different views of this topic. I love to ponder each one. Your analogies about legs and bottoms, to boobs are a good one. My first initial reaction to the link when I first saw it was - breasts are for babies!

I liked reading Melissa's(tripsi) post too because she brought up points I hadn't thought of.

We don't always have to agree and I think it’s good when we don't. It shows more sides of the coin so to speak of real life experiences and thoughts. We are teaching each other or at least pondering and considering each other’s thoughts.

Thanks for your thoughts and posts ladies on this. Any more out there?

I have to agree with AndrewsMommy. I shouldn't have to hide myself or my child under a blanket to eat. This is Florida and it's HOT. Both of us should not have to pour sweat!

I was surprised when I read these responses. Why would you NOT want someone to breastfeed? It is, for many reasons, the most beneficial for babies and moms. We don't need to discourage women from breastfeeding for any reason. Breasts are made for nursing.

I think there is nothing more natural that seeing a mom breastfeeding her child. I always try to make eye contact and throw her the thumbs up. Way to go! If you treat the body and breastfeeding like it should be a taboo, kids grow up feeling like it is. That is a shame.

As for being threatened with arrest, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Really. Come on.

andrewsmommy & bryssy ~ thank you so much for sharing your point of view on this. I think Shawn said it perfectly when she said "we are teaching each other or atleast pondering and considering each other's thoughts."

That being said, byrssy, please don't think for a minute that I don't want mothers to breastfeed, that's not at all what was said. I did as long as I could (unfortunately it wasn't very long) with my daughter and have every intention of doing so again with my son who is due in November.

I don't think women should have to "hide" to breastfeed, but I do think it's important in general for both sides of any situation to be respectful of other people. If you know that other people are made uncomfortable (and like it or not ~ right or wrong, most Americans are by the sight of a woman's bare breast in public) is it really too much to ask that you drape a light blanket over your shoulder or wear a shirt that allows for discreet feeding?

UNFORTUNATLEY WITH MY CHILDREN I WAS UNABLE TO BREASTFEED, NOT THAT I DIDN'T TRY, BUT I WAS ONE OF THESE WOMEN WHO DID NOT PRODUCE MILK. WEIRD, I KNOW. ALTHOUGH I WANTED TO NOT JUST FOR THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE BUT ALSO FOR THE BONDING WITH YOUR BABY.
OUR SOCIETY HAS RUINED THE INNOCENCE OF BREASTFEEDING, THEY HAVE ALSO RUINED THE TRUE USES OF WOMENS BREAST, I CANNOT PUT BLAME SOLELY UPON MEN, BUT ALSO WOMEN. THEY HAVE "USED" THE WOMENS BREAST FOR SO MANY "OTHER" THINGS RATHER THAN FOR WHAT IT WAS INTENDED. BECAUSE THESE OTHER THINGS ARE TABOO, AND X-RATED, AND NOT ACCEPTED, THE SIGHT OF A WOMENS BREAST HAS BECOME, A NO-NO. IT IS SAD. THAT SOMETHING SO INNOCENT AND NATURAL MUST NOW MUST BE PUT AWAY, JUST LIKE THE DIRTY MAGAZINES. I DO FEEL FOR THIS MOTHER. AND HONESTLY I DO NOT FEEL FOR THE OTHERS WHO HAD TO WATCH SUCH AN ACT. THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED, OR STARED, OR SHUNNED UPON HER, ARE THE SAME ONES WHO HAVE MADE SOCIETY THE WAY IT IS TODAY. THE NEXT THING WE WON'T BE ABLE TO CHANGE A DIAPER IN PUBLIC EITHER BECAUSE IT WILL BE A FORM OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. SEE HOW SILLY THAT SOUNDS? JUST WAIT.

little T, I totally see your point. I just don't think that the issue of modesty has anything to do with breastfeeding. Once the baby has latched on, you see virtually nothing. Most low cut shirts show more.

I personally have a wrap and nursed my children using that. It's discreet and hand's free. I just think it is kind of a silly thing to get worked up about.

Cheers!

Hi ladies, I have been away for awhile and just read this blog.

I breastfed both of my boys - and wore nursing shirts because you could feed them without anything showing if you did it right it just looked like you were holding your baby. And honestly after watching the clip that is what it looked like to me that this mother was doing provided she had a nursing shirt on the day in the court hall. However, regardless when my babies were hungry it was so hard to care about where I was and who it might upset or make uncomfortable because all I could hear was my babies cries that he was hungry. (I even had to nurse in CHURCH several times)

I do not think the Mother was thinking about criminals in the hall - just that her baby was hungry but knew she had to stay close in case it was her turn to testify. The officer definately handled it wrong as the clip never said the officer mentioned their well being just that they were making others uncomfortable. And ok a janitorial closet - These areas are created for a reason because chemicals used to clean high traffic areas are very strong, I could not imagine my son trying to eat while the both of us were being exposed to any toxic fumes. An office would have been more appropriate for the officer to provide while explaining the security factor of criminals walking through at any moment.

I guess my long winded speach comes to that when your baby is hungry and you are the only way for them to get nurishment than it is hard for any mother to think of anything else but her child.

My husband gets a little weirded out by it, as I think a lot of guys still do. I think it is beautiful! I don't get the women who say they don't want their husband to see another woman's breast. I am secure in my relationship with my husband and I know he will not leave me just because he saw another woman's naked breast! I guess we have to respect people's beliefs, and try to be somewhat discrete in certain parts of our country...that is part of the downside to living in a conservative area in my opinion. For anyone interested in a breast feeding advocacy and other natural parenting topics, I recommend Mothering Magazine. They have it at Lakeland Public Library on Lake Morton, and it is also on line.