...As a mother who breastfed her daughter in public; I am interested in the controversial issue of women having the right to breastfeed in public places without feeling intimidated or embarrassed for doing so. This is an issue which is completely misunderstood as a disrespectful act of indecent exposure, when in fact it is the most natural thing in the world. Breastfeeding, the most natural and healthy method of feeding, has recently come under attack by vocal groups of hypocritical opponents. This issue has escalated to such a point that mothers trying to nurse their babies have been harassed, hounded and publicly humiliated. Given the vast scientific knowledge demonstrating the significant health risk to those babies not fortunate enough to be breastfed, one would wonder why more women are not encouraged to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a naturally occurring event which is oldest form of feeding a child it has existed since the beginning of time. In fact, out of all the mammals that exist on this planet, every one of them nurses their babies, including humans (WHO, 2013). Millions of women around the world breastfeed and do not give it a second thought. Only recently, breastfeeding in public has been seen as indecent. Why would society frown upon the most natural and beautiful act a mother can do for her child? Almost daily women are asked to leave public places they are feeding their children because someone believes it is indecent or perverted, despite the efforts that have...
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...Abstract Breastfeeding mothers are being forced to remain at home or not feed in public. There are many benefits to breastfeeding. Many parts of the United States has made laws to protect mothers because of public controversy. A company has invented a private sanitary place in New York airports for mother to breastfeed. Milk Breast are seen as a sexual object instead of a source of nutrients for infants and toddlers. Breastfeeding is a natural act and should be seen as such in public. Some people see breastfeeding in public as offensive, especially when children are in the area. Breastfeeding is a natural part of human nature and has been around since the dawn of time. Breastfeeding provides benefits to both baby and mother, its forbidden in some jurisdictions, not addressed by laws in others and recognized as a legal right in others, as so there should be private locations for mothers to breastfeed. Breastfeeding provides benefits to both baby and mothers. Breast milk contains antibodies that protect infants from bacteria and viruses. Babies have less ear infections and respiratory infections. Mothers returns to pre-pregnancy weight faster and reduce risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis (www.ncsl.org, 2015). Breastfeeding also provides a bond between baby and mom. There are many benefits to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding in public is forbidden in some jurisdictions, not addressed by law in others and recognized as a legal right in others. Oklahoma breastfeeding law exempts...
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...A breast-feeding nation Breastfeeding in public should be international accepted because it is one of the most natural things a baby can do, although that should be enough the health benefits for a baby that is breastfed over formula fed are exceptionally high. The Equality Act 2010 has made it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or public transport, despite this, nursing mothers are still being asked to leave or are being made to feel like that are committing a wrong act. “As a part of the Healthy People 2020 initiative, the national goal is to increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their babies in the early postpartum period” (NCLS.com, 1). Breastfeeding is a healthy for both mother and child. Nonetheless, the way in which a nursing mother conducts herself while breastfeeding in public can have an effect on how people react; a...
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...Breastfeeding in public tends to be controversial. I don’t know about anyone else but I would rather have a calm, breastfeeding baby than a screaming, hungry baby while I’m eating dinner. Many public companies have tried to please their employees by trying to move nursing mothers into restrooms or dressing rooms. I have never seen a public restroom that I would feed a baby in. And I would hate to think a new mother is cooped up inside because she would be afraid that her baby would get hungry while she is gone. Breastfeeding mothers and their babies shouldn’t feel like they are trapped in their house, but every mother should remember that she is feeding her baby and that she is not doing anything wrong. Even though it may seem taboo in some...
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...One thing I feel strongly about is pro breastfeeding. Some people like to argue that breastfeeding in public is wrong and shameful. A woman will be out enjoying a nice dinner with her child and when she goes to nurse her baby, someone will go to her and tell her how she should go to the bathroom and feed her child, or breastfeed her child in the privacy in her own home. Some people ask, why doesn’t the mother just use a simple cover? Breastfeeding in the middle of summer is very uncomfortable to both mother and baby, the body heat makes breastfeeding almost unbearable. Could you imagine eating your dinner under a blanket in 80-degree weather? No? didn’t think so. I remember breastfeeding my son in the middle of summer without a cover, and...
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...are the mother of a beautiful 6 month old baby girl. You’re sitting at a relatively busy restaurant and have just ordered your food. Shortly after your baby begins fussing and crying because she is ready to eat. What do you do? I believe the natural thing to do is to begin to nurse your baby. Then the manager comes up to you and asks you to stop breastfeeding your baby or go somewhere else because it is making other customers uncomfortable. (Haelle) Again, what do you do? Most people support breastfeeding, saying that it is “natural and good.” However, breastfeeding in public is a completely different situation. Some are 100% on board, others are 100% opposed to the act. (McKinney) I completely support public breast feeding. It is completely within your legal rights to breastfeed in public, without covering yourself, within the United States. In fact, state laws explicitly say “a woman has a right to breastfeed in public” and “(specify) that the act of breastfeeding is not indecent exposure” (CDC). Even though breastfeeding in public is legal, for some, there is still a negative stigma around it. Some consider breast feeding in public to be indecent exposure. This is because of the double standard involving the female breast (Donovan). We live in a society in which women’s breast have been extremely sexualized through movies, television shows, and advertisements. For example, within a mall one will probably see posters of Victoria’s Secret models in just their bras, watching...
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...Public Breastfeeding 3 In 2009, a publicized survey revealed that 37 percent of Australians felt the breastfeeding should be done in private. However, on some websites, people compared public breast feeding to urinating in public. While it is certainly understandable why someone would be offended by public breastfeeding, needless to say it is nowhere close to urinating in public. Breastfeeding is a source of food for an infant; meanwhile, urinating in public is bad-mannered, vulgar, and public display of filth. History of Breastfeeding The history of breastfeeding has been around for centuries; nonetheless, breastmilk was a baby’s only foundation of nutrition. “Throughout early human history, breastmilk was a baby’s only source of nourishment. If a woman could not breastfeed, she would sometimes turn to a wet nurse for help.” (breastfeeding, 2015). By the time the 1950s, rolled around, women were given the option to choose...
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...Breastfeeding is commonly promoted by different medical organizations because of its benefits on both the mother and the child. Yet, there are still stigmas connected to the topic that determine the mother’s view of breastfeeding. This stigmas often correlates to the factors that influence mother’s feeding choices, initiation of breastfeeding and even the compliance or continuation of breastfeeding. An article on CBC news Canada, in Montreal, reported that a breastfeeding woman, named Candyce Sousa, was asked to stop nursing her child inside Walmart because it was said to be an inappropriate action. Such incidence greatly affects the mother’s attitude towards breastfeeding. These gives rise to the factors that influence her breastfeeding choices....
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...how it affects breastfeeding attitudes and outcomes. (Kronborg and Vaeth 2004) Defined Social support as the mother's perceptions in relation to the support she receives from peers, family and the society at large. The first paper to be reviewed is written by (Leeming et al. 2013) and entitled 'Socially sensitive lactation: Exploring the social context of breastfeeding'. The second paper is written by (Scott et al. 2015) and entitled 'A comparison of maternal attitudes to breast feeding in public and the association with breastfeeding duration in four European countries: Results of a cohort study. The current paper will summarise the arguments, review the subject matter in both papers and compare and contrast the different methodological approaches taken by the authors with comments on the appropriateness of each method chosen. It concludes by a justified opinion of the subject. (Li et al. 2008), stated that discomfort with the idea of breastfeeding is one of the concerns for some women choosing not to breastfeed or incorporating shorter duration of breastfeeding (Stuebe and Bonuck 2011). Decades of research confirm the benefits of breastfeeding for infants and for maternal health (Cricco 2007) (Tarrant, Dodgson and Wu 2014) (Ingram et al. 2008). 1.1 ARGUMENTS (Leeming et al. 2013) Main argument simply stated that breastfeeding remains a challenging social act despite its accepted importance for child health. Discomfort with the idea of breastfeeding in public has been cited...
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...Breastfeeding is the Best Way to Feed Raquel McWhite South University Online Breastfeeding is the Best Way to Feed Here comes the nurse with the new mother’s baby, she gently places her bundle of joy in her arms. As the mother gives her new pride and joy a sweet kiss on the forehead, all the baby can think is FEED ME LADY! What is a woman to do? Does she pull her breast out and prepare to feed her child, or does she simply tell the nurse she needs some formula. Breastfeeding will be the way she chooses to go. Breastfeeding is the best choice a mother can make for her newborn, there is benefits for her child, herself and society. When it comes to breastfeeding there are so many benefits, especially for the infant. When reading the article Passport to Wellness: Breastfeeding is the Best Feeding, the author Medlock states, “The first concern of a mother is the health of her newborn baby. But how can a mother ensure her child will be the healthiest possible? The answer: breast milk.” (Medlock, 2013, para. 2) A female’s priorities changes once she becomes a mother, her new focus is now on her child and what is best for him or her. Being that breast milk is the healthiest form of food for the infant, it is one of the easiest ways to get your child off on the right start. “Breast milk is a unique nutritional source that cannot adequately be replaced by any other food, including infant formula. Although pollutants can accumulate in breast milk, it remains superior to...
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... Natural or Not? Breastfeeding is one of the most important decisions a parent must make for their child. Breastfeeding is when the mother feeds the child milk from her breast (Breastfeeding). Over the last few years, there has been so much controversy in the media whether women should be allowed to breastfeed in public. Despite the controversy, women should be able to breastfeed in public because it improves infant health, it has psychological benefits, and it makes women feel less ashamed and embarrassed. Many medical and public health organizations support breastfeeding and say it improves an infant’s heath significantly. Breast milk is a rich, creamy liquid that is high in protein and low in fat (“History of Breastfeeding”). It contains the protein, vitamins, and fat an infant needs. Breast milk contains antibodies that help fight infection and it’s easier to digest. It also reduces the chances of allergies, asthma, respiratory illnesses, and overweight issues in the future. Some studies also suggest that breastfeeding lowers the risk of certain cancers and diabetes. Children that were breastfed have even been proven to have higher IQ scores. However, breastfeeding doesn’t only benefit the child. Studies show that women who breastfeed have a smaller chance of having ovarian and breast cancer (“Biology of Breastfeeding”). Besides the physical benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding also has many psychological benefits. Researchers say breastfeeding infants makes them feel...
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...Western Governors University Breastfeeding: A Declining Choice. A Realistic Solution Breastfeeding is endorsed by many different agencies worldwide. Some of those agencies include: The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Family of Pediatrics, and the American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All of these agencies agree that breastfeeding should be done for the first twelve months of life. Mothers and babies build unspeakable bonds during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things a mother can do, yet it is becoming a declining choice among mothers when it comes to feeding their newborn. When a mother chooses to use formula over breast milk, both she and the baby loose out in many ways, two of the most important being critical nutrition and bonding time. Parents spend what could be considered small fortunes on formula when they could be feeding the babies for free by choosing the breast. A way to address the problem of the decline in mother’s breastfeeding is to provide more education, and to provide more support while beginning to change the public’s opinion on mom’s breastfeeding in public. Typical education on breastfeeding usually comes from two sources. One of those sources is prenatal classes that parents take while they are still pregnant. Breastfeeding is talked about but not in an in-depth or continual way. An example of a typical prenatal class is a four week course. The breastfeeding portion is about fifty-five minutes...
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...Health Campaign: Breastfeeding Kona Necklen HCS 535 September 16, 2013 Instructor: Qiana Amos Health Campaign: Breastfeeding Breastfeeding, a topic not so popular twenty years ago, is becoming the subject of today’s healthy lifestyle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013), 69.2% of adults over the age of 20 are overweight including obesity from 2009 to 2010. Eighteen percent of children ages six to 19 years are obese as well and has become a major health concern (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Chronic diseases are also an issue with one in two adults having at least one chronic health condition (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). To reduce the obesity rates and chronic diseases for the future generation, promoting a healthy lifestyle from childhood years is highly recommended. This report reviews the importance of breastfeeding, Minnesota’s health themes for 2020, the different agencies and surveillance systems involved in addressing these issues, and the type of data used. Health Issue: Breastfeeding Healthy Minnesota 2020 The health assessment for Minnesota recognizes a healthy start early in life. The themes for Healthy Minnesota 2020 to promote health are: * “Capitalize on the opportunity to influence health in early childhood” (MDH, 2012, p.11) * “Assure that the opportunity to be healthy is available everywhere and for everyone” (MDH, 2012, p. 11) * “Strengthen communities...
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...even born. The most important decision is whether a mother will breastfeed or formula feed her baby. Breastfeeding should be the only option in feeding a baby unless there is a medical reason for why a mother cannot. When deciding on how she will feed her baby, a mother should know why formula is used rather than breast milk. She should know why breast milk is so much healthier, and she should be aware that there are several solutions that can solve any issues that may come up with breastfeeding. Women should know why formula is used rather than Formula Comfort and Lifestyle A woman should know why so many women never even consider breast milk as being an option for feeding their child. Many mothers choose formula over breast milk for reasons that have nothing to do with their baby. According to Kids Health from Nemours (1995-2014), their article Breast or Bottle, states “for many women their decision to breastfeed or formula feed is based on their comfort level, lifestyle and specific medical considerations that they might have. Many women do not breastfeed due to their comfort level and what people may think of them.”(para. Three sentence 2). Most women decide that they do not want to breastfeed because out in public people may find it inappropriate and say rude things to them, or their family and friends may make an enormous ordeal about it. The general says that breastfeeding should be discreet and hidden, but supporters say that it is natural, and it should be allowed anywhere...
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...20th 2011 Breastfeeding Breastfeeding is the most precious gift a mother can give her baby. Breast feeding is natural and healthier for the baby. The bond the mother and child get when they breast feed is amazing. Breast milk helps the infant with their health, their bone structure, and their immunity. Breast milk contains growth factors and antibodies which help the baby grow and protect the baby from illness such as ear infections, allergies, diarrhea, and other serious illnesses. The first milk which comes from a mother is yellowish in color, and it is called colostrum; it has antibodies that protect the baby from infections. The antibodies found in breast milk cannot be found in formula. Breast milk comes in three different types; colostrum, transitional milk and mature milk. Colostrum (0 to 5 days after birth) is high in protein, low in fat; it also helps the baby’s bowels to move early and often. Transitional (5 to 10 days) is the amount of sugar, fat and calories increases. Mature milk (after 10 days it is produced) is high in protein, fat and calories. The white milk comes later after a few days and its temperature and texture is just right for the baby. Breast milk is easier to digest for the baby than the cow milk. Breastfeeding is a great method for feeding the baby and it offers many benefits for both the mother and the baby. It is cost effective to breast feed, offers convenience, and it has many emotional and physical benefits. Breastfeeding is the...
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