Hellobee Boards

I probably wouldn't have done it (because LO is a super distracted nurser in public and my boobs would have been out on display), but good for her! If I were there, I would have much rather had her nurse than listen to a fussy baby!

If I had two toddlers with me and a baby, heck yeah I would whip out my boob if my baby was fussing! This, coming from someone who couldn't imagine doing that before I had my daughter. I couldn't nurse with a cover b/c she would flail and pull it off anyways. It was more distracting to put the cover on than it was to just breastfeed her.

I think it's awesome she did that!!!! I'm still too embarrassed to nurse in public, but I think it's fabulous when other people do it, with or without a cover!! I think it's great that she felt comfortable and confident enough to just do it!

I just did ( nurse without a cover) for the first time this weekend on a bench outside a museum. I felt very empowered! It's too hot for covers!
@mrbee: good point!

Good for her

I pull my boob out all the time in church but I don't think anyone notices. Using a cover just doesn't work on all babies. And why should I be banished to the cry room because my baby wants to eat? I appreciate its existence but it shouldn't be like nursing mom exile!

PS I think it's GREAT that that little girl saw how babies eat... not just from a bottle, kid.

Aren't churches supposed to be filled with people who don't judge? Aren't sermons often filled with talks of love and family?
Seems like a fine place for a mom to feed a baby, but I don't go to church so I could be wrong.

I would've because dd hates covers. But I'm discreet - shirt up tank down, or nursing shirt that doesn't show a thing but the back of her head.

I don't see anything wrong with this either, however, personal,y in church I would have used a cover. Only because I don't want to distract the people around me, especially if it was during the sermon. It's too bad BF has to be such a distraction to people.

Go her!

Go mom! A woman sitting in front of me used a nursing cover in church and I actually found that to be a distraction. She had to fumble around to get it, unfold it, and it was a really bright print. Not that I cared--I was glad she was comfortable enough to nurse during the service and not leave, but my point is that nursing covers can be distracting as well.

My family now sits front and center at church. My parents were tired of sitting in the back row after so many years of my mom nursing babies. She said we hated any cover and would bat them off.

Good for her for being comfortable enough to nurse! I so would've done it too!

Church is pretty much the one place where I don't feel comfortable breastfeeding in public, and I don't know why. There's no cry room - just a nursery - and I know some people get irritated if L starts fussing, like, why isn't he in the nursery. Um, bc I work full time and I like to see my kid on the weekend, thanks...plus I think kids should be exposed to church services, not put in some back room.

We just bring a bottle of milk to church with us every week and DH usually gives it to him.

ETA: It wouldn't bother me to see another woman nursing in church.

I don't see the big deal. I got over any shyness about nursing in public (without a cover) once I realized that the only thing that matters is keeping my baby happy. Then we can actually enjoy whatever we are out doing.

I don't feel " empowered" when I nurse in public either. I only feel relieved after I'm done if it seems like he drank enough to make him happy and we can go on with our day without having to find a quieter, less distracting location to nurse.

This is funny, my BFF (with no children) just told me about how there is a woman in her church who does this every Sunday in their small church and how uncomfortable it made her.

I wouldn't do this. I mean mass is an hour long and it is the same time each week. I would either feed baby before we left, pump before hand or just choose a different mass time. But I am really private about nursing. And my LO usually fills her diaper right after she eats so I would have to leave mass anyway.

@hellocupcake: ha yes! Love that one!

I never used a cover, and I'm not much of a renegade.

Mary definitely nursed Jesus, and Catholic women are supposed to be following her example. I guess the question for me is whether Mary would have done that or would want me to nurse in church? There isn't any official guidance on that as far as I know, so I think that's something every mom gets to answer for herself. If a mom is comfortable and is not causing a distraction, I don't see a problem.

@cmomma17: I see your point, but I think the more accurate description of churches is that they are places filled with people who are sinners. I don't go to Mass because I am perfect--I go because I am not. It isn't hypocritical to go to church just because you sometimes (or even often) fail to live up to the very, very high standards set by God.

@Grace: wow, love this!!

I am on the "kudos to her" bus! I think I'd be too shy to do that in church BUT I'd rather nurse my baby than have everyone listen to him/her scream because of hunger. Gotta do what ya gotta do!

Love this!!! Every person we see in the bible was definitely breastfed & I'm sure at some point or another that they were all fed while at temple. Like Mr. Bee pointed out, the nursing Madonna use to be the norm!

We have a moms room at our church so it was always really difficult for me to be okay with nursing anywhere but there b/c it was like I was already told where it was "okay" to nurse (even though I would miss the sermon since the moms room = a bunch of crying babies & talking mommies). I wish I could've had those kind of guts!

I think it's great! I've only used the nursing room at our church (no cover)... don't know if I'd have balls to do it in service!