Here's an interesting anecdote...

[conuly]

A few weeks ago, I was at the SICM in the bathroom. Ana was sitting on the toilet, and I was sitting on the floor in front of her so I could make sure she didn't destroy all the toilet paper.

A woman came in, observed that I was sitting on the floor of the bathroom holding a baby, and began saying there were places I could do that, I didn't have to go into the bathroom.

After a minute or so of this, I realized - she thought I was nursing Eva.

And I give up. I do. If the casual observer can't observe that I'm *not* breastfeeding an infant, I can't think of any argument against nursing in public that I'm willing to listen to. Not that I could before, but I pretended. Because I care? Nope - because not listening isn't a great way to change people's minds.

But now I'm even more adament - You Really Can't Tell. That'll be my new slogan. You Really Can't Tell^TM!

Is she breastfeeding? Or is she merely sitting? Who knows? Because (say it with me now) You Really Can't Tell!

Apparently.

It could just be that this woman was supremely unobservant, or attempting to be polite by not staring (an example that I believe others would be wise to observe, in any situation)... but I don't know. Maybe it's just that You Really Can't Tell!

The whole thing was pretty amusing in retrospect.

Comments

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, if You Really Can't Tell whether or not an infant is being breastfed in public, you're doing it right.

[conuly]

Y'know, while my exposure to mothers who breastfeed In The Real World hasn't been that huge, of those I've met - You Really Can't Tell.

And from those I've spoken to online, it seems that not being able to tell is pretty normal. After all, if the child's attached properly, everything should be hidden by their head.

But there must be somebody out there who strips down and flashes everybody several times in the process, every time, and puts a big neon light above her head as well.

[failstoexist.livejournal.com]

I think sometimes, you really can't tell. and sometimes, you really really can tell. what bothers me is when people look for resistance/a fight about it...like when I'm working and someone makes really loud comments about how they're going to sit over here and nurse, expecting me to tell them that they can't. It's clear from the way they try to catch my eye, and make sure they're right near me when they say it...and the fact that they're talking to their infant in a voice you can hear across the room. I'm not going to tell them they're not allowed-they in fact *are* allowed. But I really don't care if they're going to do it, I don't want to have to hear about it, and I'd really rather just get on with doing my job and pointing out signs to people that are right in front of their face, etc.

I don't have a problem with people who do it, but I don't want to be forced to pay attention to it. Because I really don't care what your child is eating...unless it's not from a bottle or a breast, in which case it's going to have to move out of the exhibits.

[sayga.livejournal.com]

It could just be that this woman was supremely unobservant, or attempting to be polite by not staring

it's funny that someone who is FINE with it would be polite and not stare, but the ones who feel offended by it are the ones who keep looking. if you're offended, DON'T LOOK!!! :P

i agree with you. you usually can't tell. unless there's a blanket over the mom's shoulder, which covers everything but is a dead giveaway. or when i had to take kira to the doctor's when she was a week old, and i didn't have the nursing thing down yet, and i had this huge letdown and i tried to put my shirt over it to stop the flow, but milk was shooting through my shirt onto my lap because the milk was so forceful, and kira was COVERED in milk and so was i... i think EVERYONE knew i was nursing at that time.

[gingembre.livejournal.com]

and kira was COVERED in milk and so was i

Man oh man, that is TOO funny. I can only assume you were confident enough not to be overly concerned. :-)

[sayga.livejournal.com]

i was more worried because my mother was with me and SHE was really embarrassed. she doesn't think i should nurse in public to begin with. but most of my friends had seen my boobs before i was pregnant because i think it's funny to flash people (and now i like to squirt them with milk), so yeah, i wasn't too uncomfortable with it. i have never really had an issue with nursing in public. :P

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, if You Really Can't Tell whether or not an infant is being breastfed in public, you're doing it right.

[conuly]

Y'know, while my exposure to mothers who breastfeed In The Real World hasn't been that huge, of those I've met - You Really Can't Tell.

And from those I've spoken to online, it seems that not being able to tell is pretty normal. After all, if the child's attached properly, everything should be hidden by their head.

But there must be somebody out there who strips down and flashes everybody several times in the process, every time, and puts a big neon light above her head as well.

[failstoexist.livejournal.com]

I think sometimes, you really can't tell. and sometimes, you really really can tell. what bothers me is when people look for resistance/a fight about it...like when I'm working and someone makes really loud comments about how they're going to sit over here and nurse, expecting me to tell them that they can't. It's clear from the way they try to catch my eye, and make sure they're right near me when they say it...and the fact that they're talking to their infant in a voice you can hear across the room. I'm not going to tell them they're not allowed-they in fact *are* allowed. But I really don't care if they're going to do it, I don't want to have to hear about it, and I'd really rather just get on with doing my job and pointing out signs to people that are right in front of their face, etc.

I don't have a problem with people who do it, but I don't want to be forced to pay attention to it. Because I really don't care what your child is eating...unless it's not from a bottle or a breast, in which case it's going to have to move out of the exhibits.

[sayga.livejournal.com]

It could just be that this woman was supremely unobservant, or attempting to be polite by not staring

it's funny that someone who is FINE with it would be polite and not stare, but the ones who feel offended by it are the ones who keep looking. if you're offended, DON'T LOOK!!! :P

i agree with you. you usually can't tell. unless there's a blanket over the mom's shoulder, which covers everything but is a dead giveaway. or when i had to take kira to the doctor's when she was a week old, and i didn't have the nursing thing down yet, and i had this huge letdown and i tried to put my shirt over it to stop the flow, but milk was shooting through my shirt onto my lap because the milk was so forceful, and kira was COVERED in milk and so was i... i think EVERYONE knew i was nursing at that time.

[gingembre.livejournal.com]

and kira was COVERED in milk and so was i

Man oh man, that is TOO funny. I can only assume you were confident enough not to be overly concerned. :-)

[sayga.livejournal.com]

i was more worried because my mother was with me and SHE was really embarrassed. she doesn't think i should nurse in public to begin with. but most of my friends had seen my boobs before i was pregnant because i think it's funny to flash people (and now i like to squirt them with milk), so yeah, i wasn't too uncomfortable with it. i have never really had an issue with nursing in public. :P