Facebook bans Breastfeeding Pictures

[stormy night]

Originally Posted by beanandpumpkin

Oh I won't, and didn't cry over it, and neither did my babies... I just "whipped it out" and nursed wherever I was! No one ever said anything to me about it either, other than "good for you!" If anyone did say anything to me, I would have just shrugged and continued doing what I was doing. Contrary to many of the opinions expressed in this thread, in my experience (three years' worth!), most people give nursing moms the thumbs-up for nursing their babies and toddlers, in public even!

Welcome back, by the way.

In other words, you did it in public for the attention you received and the slap on the back?

Thanks, but just stopping in briefly. Can't take too much of the backbiting and cattiness.

[stormy night]

Originally Posted by beanandpumpkin

Among many circles, especially of stay at home moms, it is still very common to see women nursing their children in public. I know that among my friends and myself, our children are fully aware of the importance of breastfeeding. My daughter nurses her baby dolls, and my son talks about being the dad who goes to work so his wife can stay home and take care of their babies. I know that we're probably in the minority, but not alone!

So, in some respects, society has come full circle. The women stay home and have babies, and the men work to support them.

I was having a conversation with my daughter recently. We talked about how so many young women go to college for one simple reason; to find a college educated man to marry so he can take care of them so they don't have to go to work. Doesn't matter what their degree is in, most don't use them anyway. She thought that was crazy, but I saw it over and over again while in college. Most would even admit that was the reason they were there.

[TouchOfWhimsy]

Originally Posted by stormy night

In other words, you did it in public for the attention you received and the slap on the back?

Thanks, but just stopping in briefly. Can't take too much of the backbiting and cattiness.

Yep, that's right, I nursed through thrush, cracked nipples, and having to avoid dairy products for several months just for a few smiles from stangers! Nothing to do with health benefits and still wanting to leave the house once in a while for more than two hours at a time.

[Taboo2]

Originally Posted by yodi

Yes, absolutely, having kids does mean accepting some inconveniences but it does not mean that nursing mothers need to plan all of their outings between their child's feedings. I never followed any kind of feeding schedule but rather nursed my baby on demand. I wouldn't have been able to leave the house for more then an hour at a time, at most, if I planned my outings around my child's feeding schedule.

Infants are one thing (although they definitely have schedules as well). My children both had schedules that worked for them (certainly not me) by the age of 4 months including bedtime, naps and feedings. But i sacrificed MY errands for their schedules because they ate better and slept better at home - not on the run.

At 1 yr old you'll have a toddler and many people are breastfeeding past 1yr old. So will you also feed your toddler on demand?

I started working my errands in outside of mealtimes and naps because the sooner you get your infant/toddler on a schedule (including bedtimes) the better off your child is according to all the sources i have read.

Normal Growth And Development Of Toddlers (Aftercare Instructions) Care Guide Information

And unless you plan on feeding your child fastfood or packing meals for every time you go out of the house, it is best to get them on a schedule because it helps their development. Every expert i have read stated that schedules and consistancy is VITAL in a childs life.

AS for bottle feeding vs Breastfeeding. I think what is important is the baby is getting FED. IF there is trouble breastfeeding and it is causing the child failure to thrive because of not getting enough from the breast than i think bottle feeding is a legitimate alternative. Because really, what every child needs is to eat until they are full, and who really cares WHERE it comes from?

[ADVentive]

Originally Posted by stormy night

Why is it so very necessary these days to bare a breast and stick it out there for everyone to see? Is it a badge of honor to show that you breastfeed? I think it's more for the woman trying to show everybody she is breastfeeding than for the health and well-being of the child.

If you want to know the truth, it's actually HEALTHIER for babies to be fed in a personal, quiet surrounding than out in the open where there is a lot of activity and strangers. It's terribly distracting for babies, and they don't eat like they should when strangers are around and there is a lot of activity.

So, for whom is the public display of breastfeeding benefitting? ONLY THE WOMAN. Not the baby, and not the people exposed to her flaunting.

Riiiight, so I guess you are against bottle-feeding in public as well? Since it is too distracting for a baby to eat in public I mean. And considering that the only reason that someone would feed a baby in public is to flaunt it, what are you proposing that bottle-feeding in public parents are flaunting?

[Dora Milaje]

As silly as I think this is (nobody can see my Facebook pics unless I specifically allow it), Facebook is a private company. They have the right to ban any pictures they please, for any reason. Nursing in public is protected by law in nearly every state in the country, but nursing online is not. I applaud Facebook for standing its ground and refusing to be bullied. The mothers making such a big issue out of this need something to do.

[*Danielle*]

Originally Posted by Dora Milaje

As silly as I think this is (nobody can see my Facebook pics unless I specifically allow it), Facebook is a private company. They have the right to ban any pictures they please, for any reason. Nursing in public is protected by law in nearly every state in the country, but nursing online is not. I applaud Facebook for standing its ground and refusing to be bullied. The mothers making such a big issue out of this need something to do.

I agree...and I am a nurser...and support nursing... I hate to waste my energy on making an issue out of something like this...Back in my nursing days, I did not have time to be on facebook anyways.