Public nipples aren't odd anymore

 When I dropped off Hudson at nursery school yesterday there were two little girls sitting on a bench with swaddled doll babies at their chests.

"We're giving them milk!" one excited girl said. "From our boobs!"

This struck me as weird (and not only because a toddler looked me in the eye and said "boobs").The girls seemed too young to "get" motherhood and be free of the inhibitions that might stop me, but don't anymore, from nursing in public.

This got me thinking: how many people find me "weird" when I nurse in public?

I mean, it's politically incorrect to stare, acknowledge or giggle these days. And, if someone looked at me askance I'd throw them a nasty death stare and swear as they walked by... but still.

There is still something odd about public nipples.  

I whip out boobs (now, to me, orbs linked more closely to plastic containers than bulbous appendages once used to attract cute guys) in the strangest places.

When Hudson was nursing, I bared my boobs in London, England's Westminster Abby (to the horrified gawking of onlookers), but now it's at the butcher, for instance.

"Mind if I feed her here?" I asked one of the owners of Vince Gasparro's - a butcher shop on Bloor St. at Shaw St. around 3:30 p.m. yesterday as Scarlett let out panicked yelps for food. We had spent the day out, grocery shopping, running errands and getting home wasn't an option. In fact, I rarely nurse at home these days, or in a comfortable chair. 

"Ah, sure," the butcher said, slinging two soup chickens I ordered onto the counter. 

I plunked myself on one of two foldout chairs across from the blood-soaked butchers block where I've witnessed many a cow gutted - this day the block was strewn with stray chicken livers - undid a few sweater buttons and cradled Scarlett like the toddlers did their baby dolls in Hudson's class.  

One elderly butcher tried to keep his eyes on his meat. Patrons paid me no mind, except for one woman.

"Good for you!" she said. "Assert your right!"

More than weird looks, I get a lot of encouragement from random people, especially when I feed at grocery stores, which I do often, on the floor, any floor I can find, in professional, government and doctor's offices, the gym, the car, my boss's front hallway during a recent dinner party.

In that last scenario, I nursed in projectile-spitting distance of colleagues, including male colleagues my age who I might not be eager to get undressed around. You know, it's so unprofessional!

One colleague, a friend, strode past me crouched at the foot of the home's staircase.

I'm not trying to get a look or anything, he said, cheekily, completely joking (and I paraphrase because I can't remember his exact words.). 

"Ha," I said. "There's nothing good to look at anyway!"

Well, that's not entirely true. There is Scarlett. She's pretty cute.

 

 

Comments

[lucinda]

mothers should be able to nurse anywhere, anytime in places that other can eat.

Me personally, I feel icky when mothers nurse at a swimming pool or in the pool itself. thats me.

In my culture its considererd to be inappropriate to breastfeed in front of others. ( excluding your own mother of course). i hosted a wedding shower and one of the mothers insisted on breastfeeding her baby in my living room. It was a totally cultural faux paus. She was offererd another comfortable room, but kept saying no. While I understand the need to breastfeed. in a private home anyone should respect the wishes of the host. yes it might inconvience the guest, but the host wishes and cultural norms should be adherred to in other peoples private homes. Jump on me if you wish. thats how i think

[Breastfeeder]

I am sorry some people find it "icky" for a mother to nurse at a swimming pool. It is neither icky nor unhygenic to feed a hungry baby. I find it icky to think that some people feel a completely natural thing like breastfeeding is inappropriate in any situation. I am sure that milk from a mothers breast is not getting into the water and if so it would be no different from lotions on skin, saliva, urine or other body secretions that i guarantee you occur in pools. I find it sad to think that others believe feeding a baby is a faux pas and that it can be looked negatively upon. I happily breastfed my daughter for 13months in many different locations including on a pool deck. I also breastfeed my twins everywhere from shopping malls and restaurants to public splash pads and playgrounds, and believe this is something to be proud of not feel uncomfortable doing or feel like i should be in a private room. Breastfeeding is healthly for babies, creates a wonderful bonding experience between babies and moms, is cheaper than formula, and is something that all moms should be proud to do anywhere that the baby requires it.

[Reassured Ed]

It seems crazy to me that it ever became unacceptable to nurse your child in public. I for one, find it encouraging that people are getting back on board as it were.

Loved the article by the way.

[Kathors]

Here in Germany people don't give a second thought or a second look when they see a woman nursing in public. It is considered normal here and I did it whenever and wherever I needed to. The weirdest place I've ever breastfed though was at a funeral home.

[Lexi]

I find it icky to think that some people feel a completely natural thing like breastfeeding is inappropriate in any situation. I am sure that milk from a mothers breast is not getting into the water and if so it would be no different from lotions on skin, saliva, urine or other body secretions that i guarantee you occur in pools. I find it sad to think that others believe feeding a baby is a faux pas and that it can be looked negatively upon. I happily breastfed my daughter for 13months in many different locations including on a pool deck...........details:- http://www.newcanadanews.com/