Tuesday, August 10, 2010

YEAH...WHOSE LOOKIN'?

Today, I was on facebook and I was reading a friends "status update". To give credit, I will copy the status word for word:

"OMG! There is a lady in the waiting room at toyota who just whipped out her boob and started to breast feed, NO COVERAGE! Really? Why would you do that?"




I was positively OUTRAGED when I read this. I went off on her status update. Seriously...are we really criticizing a mother for breastfeeding her child? Would you rather have her child sit there and scream at the top of his lungs? I was so upset when I read this. I was FURIOUS!! I was ready to scream out loud. I can't believe society today. A mother is doing her job, breastfeeding her child, and we are giving her a hard time because she decided not to cover up. Ummmmm....have you ever decided not to stare? I breastfeed Logan, out in the open with no cover. I can't cover up. He rather play with the cover than nurse. I don't pull my boob out and scream "HEY EVERYONE! GUESS WHAT? HERE IS MY BOOB!" I discretely pull out my boob, just enough so he can latch on, and continue on in my day. Society today has sexualized breasts so much that breastfeeding mothers are seen as perverts for not covering up. I later read on her status update that the manager of the Toyota dealership asked her to go into the restroom to feed her child. I want to know what Toyota dealership it is and ask the manager to go eat his lunch in the restroom. Not to mention, what he did was illegal. Mother's have the right to breastfeed their child whenever and WHEREVER we want to. What outraged me more was a response later on:

"Goodness... Why must you be so damn radical about it? Would it kill you to cover your damn tits while breast feeding? Not everyone wants to see a woman plop her breast out in public! And had it been me, I would have covered up! And if you're so fucking passionate about it, why don't you just go topless all the time then, since you don't seem to care about the whole world seeing your precious child-credit rack! You radical mothers... Yeah! Do your job! Breast feed your kids! But don't do it in a way where people who DON'T want to see it end up having to! Fuckin aye!"


Am I a radical mother? I don't think so. I think I am standing up for my rights and the rights of my child. My question to all of you is what is the difference between a woman discretely breastfeeding her child, or a woman walking around with no bra on? Or a woman walking around with a very revealing top on? Or a short skirt? I don't think there is much. I rather see a woman breastfeeding her child, than a woman trying to get laid by wearing a skirt so short that I can see her cooter. Disgusting....Yuck..... If you don't want to see me feeding my child, go find a magazine and stick your nose in it.

Now don't get me wrong. Breastfeeding is much more accepted today that it was in the 1980's. If I woman pulled out her breast in the 80's, that was just unheard of. It was the age of formula. Those who were born in the 80's, ask your mother. I bet a majority of you were formula fed. When Carlos was born in 1976 (yeah...I know he is OLD! LoL) his mother has clearly stated to me that it wasn't a trend during that time to breastfeed your child. I am proud to say that I am a breastfeeding, baby wearing, co-sleeping, cloth diapering, attachment parenting mother. I will always be that. Why am I like that? Not only does it benefit me, but it benefits my children. I could go on for pages talking about the benefits of all of the above, but its 10:15 at night and well, I am a mother of two. I am EXHAUSTED. 

There was recently an article in the news about a mother who was breastfeeding her child at a Johnny Rockets in Newport, Kentucky. Apparently, the manager had a problem with her breastfeeding her child and asked her to feed him/her in the bathroom. I would have told him to go take his lunch in the bathroom and eat it with me. Here is the article if you would like to read it. Just click on the link. 

And for those who are slightly confused on the breastfeeding laws in California, here they are:

Cal. Civil Code § 43.3 (1997) allows a mother to breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, except the private home or residence of another, where the mother and the child are otherwise authorized to be present. (AB 157)
Cal. Civil Code § 210.5 (2000) allows the mother of a breastfed child to postpone jury duty for one year and specifically eliminates the need for the mother to appear in court to request the postponement. The law also provides that the one-year period may be extended upon written request of the mother. (Chap. 266; AB 1814)
Cal. Health and Safety Code § 1647 (1999) declares that the procurement, processing, distribution or use of human milk for the purpose of human consumption is considered to be a rendition of service rather than a sale of human milk. (Chap. 87; AB 532)
Cal. Health and Safety Code § 123360 and § 1257.9 require that the Department of Public Health include in its public service campaign the promotion of mothers breastfeeding their infants. The department shall also develop a training course of hospital policies and recommendations that promote exclusive breastfeeding and specify staff for whom this model training is appropriate.  The recommendation is targeted at hospitals with exclusive patient breastfeeding rates ranked in the lowest twenty-five percent of the state. (2007 Chapter 460, SB 22)
Cal. Labor Code § 1030 et seq. (2001) provides that employers need to allow a break and provide a room for a mother who desires to express milk in private.
Cal. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 155 (1998) encourages the state and employers to support and encourage the practice of breastfeeding by striving to accommodate the needs of employees, and by ensuring that employees are provided with adequate facilities for breastfeeding and expressing milk for their children. The resolution memorializes the governor to declare by executive order that all state employees be provided with adequate facilities for breast feeding and expressing milk.


I want everyone out there to do me a favor. Congratulate those mothers who breastfeed. They deserve a pat on the back. And I'm not sitting here saying formula is evil and those who formula feed their babies are abusing them. Not at all. Connor, my 3 year old, was a formula fed child, and he came out (kind of ) ok. Some people can't breastfeed for various reasons, and trust me, I understand most of them! Let me rephrase my previous statement. Congratulate all mothers. Think about it....without your mother, where would you be? I know that I would be a completely different person. Think about how your mother has shaped your life, made you the person you are today, and then give your mom a big hug, a kiss and say THANK YOU. Then those who are mothers, turn around and hug your children. You wouldn't be a mother without them. 

Good night cyber world!!

3 comments:

  1. Amen! I wasn't able to breast feed more than a month with my son, but if I had been able to, I would be enraged if someone told me to feed him elsewhere. I think due to people not following the "breast feeding law" (letting mothers feed their babies whenever, wherever), mothers that breast feed should carry around the copy of the state low stating they're able to, and if they get any annoyance or disapproval, whip that baby out and slam it into the persons face!!

    Breast feeding is a natural thing; I smile when I see babies breastfed in public. I don't stare or watch, but when I realize what's happening, I give the mom kudos in my head, smile at her, and go about my day. Kudos to YOU for being outraged! More mothers need to stand up for their rights.

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  2. couldn't agree with you more, Carrie. my mom is a huge advocate of breastfeeding now, but was unable to bf any of her 7 children (though she tried). she is always telling me how glad she is that her girls are able and willing to do it. also, she reminds me that now-a-days there is WAY more info and help out there for breastfeeding mommies. she had no support or encouragement from anyone. at least some things have changed for the better.

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  3. i think the only surprising things here is that there's a johnny rockets in newport, ky. otherwise people are just generally judgmental jackholes.

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