clausar said:

"Just a question....
What will you do if you realize that people are acting uncomfortable while you are breastfeeding your baby?"

My answer: Well, nothing more. I'm going to use a cover. People don't have to look.

I'm sure there are people in Canada who are uncomfortable seeing a woman breastfeeding but here at home I know I am within my rights and have no need to feel embarrassed. When travelling in another country, out of respect for what I understand are different culture and customs, I will use a cover.

Fun discussion. Thanks everyone.

Italy - the country of 1000 pictures of nursing madonnas, sometimes with exposed lactating breasts - I think I even recall seeing a giant billboard with a very realistic depiction of this part of the female anatomy. I'm pretty sure Italy has some nude beaches as well, certainly plenty of the other European countries do. I'm sure after 8 months you are able to be pretty discreet - I agree with the poster who said if people are uncomfortable, it is their problem.

I understand the strong focus on breastfeeding in many 3rd world countries - where this may be the only safe and sure form of feeding for infants (water used to mix with formula may not be clean, moms may mix too much water with too little formula powder to save money, etc) but these are not realistic issues in first or even second world areas. >>

nyt - i respectfully disagree with you. there is a rise in allergies and food intolerances, which may [or may not, m ypoint is that we don't know] have something to do with whatever goes into baby formula. little independent research goes into the benefits [or otherwise] or breastmilk v formula because no-one but the formula manufacturers have an interest in it; however they spend huge amounts pushing it in those very 3rd world countries where you identify it is least suitable. one example of how the two differ markedly - iron is very easily taken up by the baby from breastmilk, but very badly from formula which has to have a lot of iron added so that the baby gets the right amount.

I have no interest at all in making women who don't want to or can't breastfeed feel guilty - but the formula manufacturers have every interest in making breastfeeding awkward, embarrassing, and inconvenient - which was exactly the experience of your colleagues last year.

<i>the country of 1000 pictures of nursing madonnas, sometimes with exposed lactating breasts - I think I even recall seeing a giant billboard with a very realistic depiction of this part of the female anatomy.</i>

Wasn't it Benetton, an Italian company, that had the infamous ad of a white baby nursed by a black woman? OK in ads but not in reality? I doubt it.

I can't believe that even in Canada women just breastfeed with their top exposed and everything hanging out in front of everyone. I think the idea that is isn't acceptable to even say women should "cover up" must be referring to something other than women who have some kind of light cloth or shawl or something on, which is what people call "covering up."

If Canadian women are doing something different, they are doing something I've never seen anyone in N America or Europe do in public.

IN fact, even some relatives I know are pretty discreet when doing it at home among family, they aren't just completely exposed.

Yes it's normal, natural and very beneficial to the baby but it's also an intimate moment as well a bonding moment between bab and mom, why share that with the public! Just my thought, I think in Italy if it has to be done in public beng covered up would be appropriate.

Even if you are feeding solids at 8 mos. there is nothing to say a child should not get part of their nutrition from breastfeeding. There's certainly no law that says you have to give up on it, even if you are back to work. Feed your baby as you need to and work out the vibe as you go along. Much better for the child's immune system to keep going. Many people I know (and I know quite a lot of women with children at the moment) are feeding their kids at least 1-2 feeds (night, early morning) until they are toddlers, and only wean completely if they are having children close together - at least, that's the practice in our community here in Oz.

I am sure you will pick up the vibe in Italy as far as feeding in public goes. It will be fine and you will be prepared for it, whatever the reaction. I would always be more worried about changing nappies (diapers) and where that's going to take place, having had to do it in a city in the Netherlands once while travelling (away from our German base) and finding the major department store didn't even have a change room (big surprise to me), and having to move to another smaller store elsewhere.

Lavandula

It is generaly acknowledged that the benefits or nursing are conveyed to the infant primarily in the first 6 weeks or so. It is true that there are more infants being diagnosed wsith food allergies, just as their are more kids with asthma (esp in areas with high levels of pollution) and more kids diagnosed with autism (nobody knows why yet - except that it is NOT vaccinations).

I think these differences are due to two things: 1) perceptions, if parents are more aware of the problems and looking for them many more will be diagnosed and 2) a much higher level of pollutants in the environment overall.

And this is not an issue of breast versus formula - by the time they are 8 months old most infants are eating a wide variety of foods (either home made or commercial) since it is extremely difficult for a woman to produce enough milk to provide the calories necessary for a 20 pound child (even if she has the option of not returning to work).

If women want to continue to breastfeed long-term that is absolutely fine - but there is no reason to think that formula that has been manufactured to quality standards is any sort of problem for the vast majority of infants. It is true that some need special formulas - as in soy based - but this has been true for 30 years - and is nothing new.

I'm a granola eating Californian and breast fed my two girls. But I did do it discretely. And that is what worked best for us.

I didn't cover their entire heads, but I'd often have cloth from the nape of their neck to over my shoulder. It is like travelingfool4U says... it is an intimate moment. I guarded it from the public because I was having a moment with my kid and they were not invited.

I never had to breastfeed in a bathroom. My favorite venue was a park bench. Usually in a playground or at a square where families sit while their kids play. I avoided doing it in restaurants.

Back to Italy?

It's something we see here from time to time, and never seems to raise any eyebrows with Italians....

One thing perhaps - try to avoid feeding whilst on public transport (most especially the wretched #64 bus in Rome), since you may be mistaken for one of the 'distractors' used by pickpocketing and bag-snatching gangs in such situations!

Other than that, you'll have more trouble from all those wanting to adore and play with the babe - who will be your passport to just about anything you'd like to do....

Peter

Last week there were rather prolonged shots of a breastfeeding woman on the lastest episode of Two Greedy Italians, the cookery/travel series by Antonio Carluccio and Geraldo Contaldo. Admittedly it was for a British audience, but the gathering was Italian and no one seemed perturbed.

Brit - loved the #64 bus reference!

Sadly, have to confess to being mesmerised (in my defence, she was flaunting!) - but was fortunate enough to have had nothing in my exterior pockets that day...

We all have to learn?

Peter

I saw a woman breastfeeding on the metro in Rome last fall, the only time I saw it over the course of our vacation in Italy.

Go here: https://www.google.com/search?source...q=hooter+hider

Pick something. Simple as that.

Technique the wife has used for years for our kids and no one gives her a second glance or feels particular discomfort (unless the person in question is > 70). And in Italy, sit somewhere discreet to do this, don't just open the shirt and let the baby feed in everyone's view.

OK I just had the brilliant idea to do a general google search (not that it's so crucial to get the final word on this - I am just finding this interesting) - and I found a couple of articles that tell me that the issue is evolving in Italy just as it is here in Canada. Here, like Italy, we have also had "nurse-ins" when moms have been asked to leave a store or restaurant. So, I am left with the impression that the environment is similar - not everyone is comfortable with it but we are all learning.

http://www.nursingfreedom.org/2010/0...-in-italy.html
http://www.spiegel.de/international/...561978,00.html

(There are lots more, presenting the whole range of views.)

Sorry I thought I had made my final comment on this topic but I have to add one more, as I am suddenly feeling angry at a few of you:

All of you above who have told me to cover up, or told me how to cover up or, for crying out loud, where to buy a hooter hider: Please stop, I have already said I would cover up. I've said it twice.

I will cover up while in Italy (see, here I am saying it for the third time now so stop telling me to cover up), out of respect for my hosts and because I am not going to change the culture during my brief visit. But in my own community, where I am sure there is the same diversity of views as in the US or Europe, I will neither flaunt nor hide. The more people see breastfeeding the less it will be yucky or rude or titillating.

Again thanks very much to those of you who offered an Italian or at least a European perspective.

So much for trying to be helpful. Enjoy your own viewpoint.

Wait, sorry, still not done. I apologize - most of you who have suggested covering up were giving advice, which I asked for, and being helpful. It was just BigRuss who set me off, piling on so far down the series of posts, never having been a breastfeeding mom (I assume?), and not mentioning ever having been in Italy.

However, BigRuss, maybe your comment was meant in a helpful way too, and maybe you really thought I hadn't heard of hooter hiders, and maybe you are speaking from an Italian perspective. If so, thanks.

I think that's really the last from me.

Just saw BigRuss' reply - we were posting at the same time - so that still wasn't the last from me! I apologize again BigRuss - if you say you were trying to be helpful then you were. I took the "pick something, simple as that" to be kind of snarky but I believe you that you didn't mean it that way. I suppose we should assume the best when we can't hear tone of voice, see facial expressions and so on. Yes, just learning this now.