Silly me. I was intending to have a break from this forum, but decided to have a peek with my cuppa.

Now, Belly, you feel free to continue to ignore me, but I'm going to comment on your breastfeeding comment.

"Women should feed in a more classy/caring way, is that not just good advice?"

Here's some good advice.

Is anyone suggesting that the act of breastfeeding is not a caring act. How does one breastfeed in an "uncaring" way?

Why do women have breasts?

Oh yes, it's to nurture their infants.

I believe Kochie's original comment was advice for women to be "classy" and "discreet"....as if they need self-agrandised TV hosts to advise them how they should nurture their babies.

Have you ever seen a woman not be discreet when she feed her baby in public? I mean how many women shake their boobs around in public before allowing the baby to latch on. No, mums feed their bubs in the most discreet manner. And how does a woman feed her child in an "unclassy" way in public. I suppose if she was to sprawl out on the pavement on her back with the infant suckling, that might be seen as unclassy....however, it's unlikely that you'd see that more than five times a week : )

What a bent little society it is that tuts tuts about that most fundamental act, and acts if nursing mothers are somehow "indiscreet", "unclassy" or "uncaring".

(not to mention it ending up on a thread inquiring if women share responsibility for being raped)

I think our society needs to grow up a bit.

Poirot,
Here, here. We do not often agree but yes on the subject of public breast feeding we do. I see nothing wrong with breasts being used for their natural purpose and when feeding, the babies head covers more breast than most bikinis anyway. I have never seen a woman breast feeding and showing the non suckled breast either. Women wear clothig of convienience when they are breast feeding, so there is easy access to the breasts.

I do not see how anyone could be offended in seeing a breast. they are attractive body parts, far nicer to look at that mens legs for example. If a woman exposed her breasts , or part thereof, I certainly look and enjoy it. Can not think of a more peacefull scene than a baby asleep with its head on mums breast, covered or not.

I also love to see lambs suckling with tails wiggling and calves sucking with milk foam dripping on the ground, life seems good then. I feel for women who are unable to breast feed their babies.

The shows rating must be in need of a boost and those objecting are simply prudes. Breasts have many attractive qualities, the more we see the better.

Thanks Banjo,

Yes, I do fume when the Puritan influence raises its pontificating head where breastfeeding is concerned.

I remember when my daughter was nine weeks old and we were at the supermarket - and she needed a feed. I was only 22 and a new mum and it was the first time I'd had to feed her when we were out. I was a bit self-conscious and there was no specific "mother's room" at the shopping centre....so I found myself standing up in the cramped confines of a small toilet block feeding my baby.

I don't know about you, but that seems immoral to me. I remember thinking what sort of society would rather see a woman feeding her baby in a toilet block than tacitly celebrating her humanity in the nurturing of her infant.

My son was born 19 years later, and obviously I was a bit more worldly wise at that stage. I fed him in public...and often used mother's rooms as well simply because they were a comfortable place to relax and it was easy to change him as well.

When a tiny baby is hungry they let you know in know uncertain terms. Sometimes it's merely the comfort they derive from sucking that settles them when they are feeling fractious.

Not once was I ever "indiscreet"....(it actually takes some doing to make breastfeeding an indiscreet act).

My point is that it is about feeding a bub - not about flashing a boob or anything remotely sexually tanatalising. It's between me and my baby and it's nothing to do with any prudish member of the public.

yep well in our feminist driven society only women are allowed comments on certain topics. What could be more commonsense to say a woman should be discreet when breastfeeding in public. Going to the toilet is a natural act but most are discreet about it. Just shut up men !

Poirot and Banjo very much in agreement with you. Not sure what we do about the terminally sick types who have a problem with it though.

I don't recall ever seeing anyone failing to be discrete about the process either.

I suspect overall we would have a lot less problems of a sexual nature in society with less body taboos, they seem to mostly fed hang ups rather than contribute to healthy attitudes to the human body.

A look at US stats on teen pregnancy and STDs compared to other industrialised nations might be a good starting place for some reflection for anyone who actually cares rather than a focus on waving religious prejudices around.

R0bert

Howdy, runner.

You appear to be equating the action of relieving yourself of waste products in the toilet with the act of feeding an infant....as in "they are both natural acts".

The day people turn up for the odd banquet in the salubrious confines of the local pissoir, I'll understand how "going to the toilet" and "breastfeeding an infant" can somehow be lumped in together as similar - and something to be hidden.

Women don't need to be told to be "discreet" about it. In the normal course of events, they are...it's the prudes who are sensationalising a perfectly "normal" act of nourishment.