Breast Feeding During Mass?

[kamz]

Sadly, yes, there ARE people who feel that women should not wear open toes shoes or even tops that show any arm above a wrist to church.

I am willing to bet many mothers have breast fed their infants in church and most people were not even aware it was happening.

Exactly, I have probably been aware maybe two times at Mass that a woman was breast feeding her baby and not because anything was “showing” just saw a baby under a shawl or blanket and smiled warmly at that mom.

On the other hand if women were showing the whole breast over and over yes, then I would be unhappy as I can only imagine what my 8 yr old and 11 yr old son would do but… I have NEVER seen that ever and I don’t think I ever will, I don’t know any woman who would do that, most are so careful I actually feel bad for them, they look around and usually husband helps them get the blanket over them and baby and still they look nervous that they might offend… how sad. Unless a woman is showing her breast and just sitting with it for the world to view… and not covering up… I have no problems… and like I said… I don’t ever see any woman ever just sitting anywhere just letting her breast hang out… but you’d swear that’s what some people think they are seeing and ya know darn well there is no woman who would do that, geesh, how silly!!

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

LOL…You folks crack me up.

I raised two children and they have grown to be very well adjusted and normal adults…with children of their own and guess what? Not once did I feel the need to feed them in public.

You people are so quick to jump on me for my observations…when all I asked for were your thoughts…I don’t believe I necessarily came across at it being something undesirable…it almost makes me wonder why you are all so defensive…I mean…if it is THE right thing to do. Why all your fussin’…

:heart:Blyss

 

[deb1]

LOL…You folks crack me up.

I raised two children and they have grown to be very well adjusted and normal adults…with children of their own and guess what? Not once did I feel the need to feed them in public.

You people are so quick to jump on me for my observations…when all I asked for were your thoughts…I don’t believe I necessarily came across at it being something undesirable…it almost makes me wonder why you are all so defensive…I mean…if it is THE right thing to do. Why all your fussin’…

:heart:Blyss

Although people did get offended at one of your post due to the language that you used, I don’t think that anyone is jumping on you, personally. We are having a discussion in which many people have strong feelings that is all.

By the way, I wanted to ask you, how covered was the women that you originally posted about?

 

[sanctareparata]

I raised two children and they have grown to be very well adjusted and normal adults…with children of their own and guess what? Not once did I feel the need to feed them in public.

Feeling the need to feed your child in public or not, IMHO, has little to do with how adjusted your kids grew up to be, unless you are constantly ignoring cries for hunger in public and *always *making the baby wait. Which I find cruel. Anyway, not sure of your correlation here.

You people are so quick to jump on me for my observations…when all I asked for were your thoughts…I don’t believe I necessarily came across at it being something undesirable…

Yes, coming to this thread as a late reader and seeing your sole, original post makes it clear that you were only asking thoughts. But I’ll bet that quite a number of people who have responded, perhaps defensively, read your second post which late readers are no longer privvy to.

Perhaps it’s also because you state: “The infant started crying…as they do…*and instead of grabbing a bottle or getting up to go to the Cry Room *(we have a nice one)…she proceeded to start breast feeding.” This statement tells others that according to you, the only “right” thing for *others *to do is to use bottles or go to cry rooms. You may use those methods if you wish, but to place the burden on other mothers to have to use them (as your tone implies) could very well be the reason for some sharp replies.

 

[kamz]

LOL…You folks crack me up.

I raised two children and they have grown to be very well adjusted and normal adults…with children of their own and guess what? Not once did I feel the need to feed them in public.

You people are so quick to jump on me for my observations…when all I asked for were your thoughts…I don’t believe I necessarily came across at it being something undesirable…it almost makes me wonder why you are all so defensive…I mean…if it is THE right thing to do. Why all your fussin’…

:heart:Blyss

I have found that on these and many other message boards… if you don’t want a variety of reply’s that may or may not be what you wanted to hear… don’t start a thread or post in a thread if you can’t hanlde other people God given opinons… you have stated how you feel and that is your God given right… just as others have stated their opinons too… just as much their right… pretty simple.

 

[St_John]

I agree Kamz. I think that some people just enjoy starting a thread and sitting back to watch the sparks fly. Probably Blyssful was trying for the response that she got. The opening post was hardly neutral and of course people will have strong opinions about so personal a subject. She’s a grandmother and she says “You guys crack me up”? Isn’t that the language of the younger generation?

Just wondering the intent of this thread, if not to elicit opinions. You ask for opinions then you crack up because people respond? Nonesensical.

 

[carol_marie]

LOL…You folks crack me up.

I raised two children and they have grown to be very well adjusted and normal adults…with children of their own and guess what? Not once did I feel the need to feed them in public.

You people are so quick to jump on me for my observations…when all I asked for were your thoughts…I don’t believe I necessarily came across at it being something undesirable…it almost makes me wonder why you are all so defensive…I mean…if it is THE right thing to do. Why all your fussin’…

:heart:Blyss

You NEVER fed your children in public? Were you home 24/7?? Babies get hungry often. I’m on the go… what’s the alternative? Let them go hungry? Sit in a public restroom? (with 4 other kids… too funny… I suppose we could each grab a stall?) Sit in my car? Hello? Chicago winters are cold cold cold. No thanks. I don’t give a hoot who’s bothered by what’s going on under the blanket that’s totally covering me.

In your defense, breastfeeding is a topic that’s near & dear to many of us. When I first saw your original post I thought… oh this is going to be good… so just a head’s up for you… don’t start a thread about the following topics unless you’re looking to get clobbered: Homeschoolers get no socialization, Holding hands during the Our Father is the way to go, I’m proud to be a pro-choice Catholic or Breastfeeding is yucky.

 

[awindrose]

I think I have seen everything tonight. I was at Mass and the lady in the pew in front of me had a small infant. She was with her hubby and another child about 2 or so. The infant started crying…as they do…and instead of grabbing a bottle or getting up to go to the Cry Room (we have a nice one)…she proceeded to start breast feeding. The gentleman on the other side of her about dropped his teeth.

What are your thoughts?

:heart:Blyss

At least she didn’t have a sippy cup!

 

[kaj3]

I have to ask myself if this discussion isn’t more a topic of prudence than breastfeeding at Mass? The definition of prudence being knowing what the right thing is in any given situation?

For instance, it’s probably not prudent for Jennifer J sitting in the front pew with her five kids to disrupt Mass and walk to the back or wherever. At the same time, it may not be prudent for someone who cannot be as discreet to sit in the front pew, and so that mother will sit in the back with her dc.

I can see Em’s point about respect. I don’t think she is saying that it is disrespectful in every situation to breastfeed at Mass, but in some cases, it may be. (Em_in_FL, correct if I’m wrong.) Bf’ing during Mass or in public, IMO, is not wrong. However, I think there are circumstances that may require discretion.

 

[Em_in_FL]

I can see Em’s point about respect. I don’t think she is saying that it is disrespectful in every situation to breastfeed at Mass, but in some cases, it may be. (Em_in_FL, correct if I’m wrong.)
Bf’ing during Mass or in public, IMO, is not wrong. However, I think there are circumstances that may require discretion.

Thank you… well said, and I agree…
(I’m not as eloquent with words… I’m an engineer, afterall! )

 

[Mummybee]

Ya’ll aren’t really reading my posts are you? Just pulling out segments…

I’m ALL FOR BF’ing… period.

This is not a “comfort” issue… it’s a respect issue. Some people (not me) may find BF’ing during Mass disrespectful (they obviously do… hence this thread!)

Out of respect and charity for my neighbor… I would avoid BF’ing during Mass… or if I had to, I’d find a suitable location (back, side… I don’t care where).

My point was that there HAVE been two independent threads on this same subject… OTHERS DO FIND THIS DISRESPECTFUL.

Mary is a beautiful example of a breastfeeding mother… very true!
But I doubt she had whispering conversations about her (on message boards and whatnot ) about how she may have made someone else feel uncomfortable. She was sinless in ALL aspects…

Again… there CAN be compromises.
100% pro-breastfeeding…
100% respect for our neighbors.

I did read your whole post, Em. I was responding to the portions I had issue with, that’s all. I haven’t mastered the use of the quote tool yet, which may have led you to think I hadn’t read your entire post. Indeed, I did, I just left out the parts I wasn’t referring to.

 

[Mummybee]

It’s not a one way street where I am morally responsible for everything another person thinks or thinks they see or thinks they might see.

Jennifer

BRAVA! Well said, Jennifer!!! :clapping:

 

[kim3260]

Why in the world is this even a question? :banghead: Breastfeeding is how God intended infants to be fed. Man invented the bottle. If a young woman came to Mass in a low cut outfit with her breasts on display—that is wrong! If a young woman is feeding her infant–the is NOTHING wrong with that. I can not understand why in the world this is even a problem with people—grow up already!

 

[mark_a]

And how do you know she’s wanting everyone to notice… are you a mind reader?? Or is part of her “commotion” her saying loudy, so everyone can hear: LOOK AT ME… BREASTFEEDING GOING ON HERE…

I was speaking of the exception, not the rule.

No probems with breastfeeding.

 

[Mummybee]

I think there are several camps here in this thread. Encapsulated, they look like this:

1. Breastfeeding in church, or anywhere someone might notice or even suspect you are breastfeeding, is immodest and inappropriate, regardless of the measures you take to preserve modesty. If I can tell you might be doing it, you are causing scandal.
2. BF in church/public is fine, as long as you make sure you don’t offend anyone.
3. BF in church/public is a physical necessity for my child, and I will do what I must, while maintaining modesty, to care for my child’s needs, when and where the need arises. Solution: keep your eyes where they belong and mind your own business.

Did I miss any?
.

 

[mark_a]

I think there are several camps here in this thread. Encapsulated, they look like this:

1. Breastfeeding in church, or anywhere someone might notice or even suspect you are breastfeeding, is immodest and inappropriate, regardless of the measures you take to preserve modesty. If I can tell you might be doing it, you are causing scandal.
2. BF in church/public is fine, as long as you make sure you don’t offend anyone.
3. BF in church/public is a physical necessity for my child, and I will do what I must, while maintaining modesty, to care for my child’s needs, when and where the need arises. Solution: keep your eyes where they belong and mind your own business.

Did I miss any?
.

I’ll sign up for #3.

#2 would work for me if it read:
BF in church/public is fine, **as long as you are not trying to offend anyone. **

Ok ladies, let the rotten tomatoes fly.

 

[Mummybee]

as a born yinzer, i have to ask where the steeler country annex is? ohio? wv?

 

[mark_a]

as a born yinzer, i have to ask where the steeler country annex is? ohio? wv?

South Carolina!!!

 

[Mummybee]

My, that is a distant annex. The Steeler tentacles stretch across the globe!

 

[deb1]

I’ll sign up for #3.

#2 would work for me if it read:
BF in church/public is fine, **as long as you are not trying to offend anyone. **

Ok ladies, let the rotten tomatoes fly.

Actually, I agree with your choices, Mark, and I think that most people on this forum would also. Some of us that have breast fed have come across a few people that are offended by even the most discreet mother feeding her child and I think that is where some of the strong emotion is coming from.