Cover shot on BabyTalk magazine causes outrage.
In this country, we want our breasts to be large, full, and barely covered by skin-tight Hooters' t-shirts. What we DON'T want, apparently, is to see pictures of babies doing what babies have done since the dawning of mankind: nursing at the nipple of their mother. The outrage over a cover shot on BabyTalk magazine for an article on breastfeeding is hysterically ironic.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - shiek neilbinladen
cut of they heads immoral westerners.we let our babys suck goats milk from the source while our women work growing poppies.hak tooie death to photographer who took photo of naked breast immoral infidel stone women whofeed babies naturally in public .this is detrimental for moral muslim men as we cannot stop staring at your big floppy american type breasts hak tooie
27 - trinainmanila
Strange, indeed. What's so sexual about breastfeeding?! To tell the truth, it hurts like hell, it makes your nipples raw (as in blood-oozing kind of raw), and it causes your breasts to sag. Not exactly sexy now, is it? I never realized that breastfeeding in public holds that much stigma in American society, though. In the Philippines, a lot of women would kill for the chance to breastfeed their babies, in public or anywhere else. But laws dictate that they have to go back to work 60 days after giving birth, and without lactating mother-friendly facilities in the workplace, their breasts soon dry up. More than half their salaries then go towards infant milk formula. Ironic, isn't it.
28 - Haakon Rian Ueland
You gotta be kidding. In my country, Norway, women breastfeed in restaurants, the streets, on beaches, in coffeshops... and nobody gives a damn.
You americans are truly weird. Kids watch countless number of murders on the TV every year, kill eachother at the age of 10 and bring guns to school, and you care about such a natural, loving act?
Damn.
29 - Dawn
I just have to point out a misinterpretation of the facts stated in comment #18. Actually you are completely backwards Jen, many of the women cited as below the poverty line are also unemployed WIC recipients, the reason that educated and well-off women breastfeed at a higher rate is because they are more informed of the benefits of breastfeeding, take part in pre-natal care and therefore more inclined to do what's healthiest for their child.
They are also less likely to have some of the physical issues associated with mom's who can't breastfeed, such as drug addiction, sexually transmitted diseases or improperly nourished bodies.
It's sad, but established truth. It's also interesting to note that studies have shown breastfed children score higher on IQ tests, which they associate with many of amino acids and compounds found only in breastmilk which cannot be created in artificially created milk formulas.
One more example of how the rich and educated continue to rule our society, and the poor and uneducated can't or won't capitalize on opportunities to balance the equation.
Breastfeeding saves money in infinite ways AND improves the health of your child. Why wouldn't you do it if you can?
30 - Dawn
Also, I went back to work after having both of my children and I continued to breastfeed no problem. It's not an all or nothing thing. Your breasts only dry up if you do not breastfeed at all over the course of several days. Breastmilk is created in a very sophisticated manner, tailored to meet the needs of the situation. Your breasts will make as much milk as your child needs, it never goes to waste and it never spoils. Other than the time aspect involved in actually sitting down to breastfeed, there are almost no downsides. And truly, what kind of mother doesn't have some time to sit, relax and nurse their child on occasion?
My son is 2 1/2 and we have a busy life and I manage to nurse him several times a day without it interferring with all of my responsibilities.
Unless you physically can't breastfeed, all the rest is just guilt-abating excuses for not doing the right thing for your child.
31 - Michael
Dawn,
I very much enjoyed your article. You (and all) might enjoy the site nursingmothercom It gives an amusing and informative look on the practical benefits of breastfeeding a child. My wife breastfeed our two children for many years, and it was a wonderful experience for all concerned.
I am a bit puzzled by your isolated statement,
"As with many bad things in our society, I blame the religious fundamentalists. And Mel Gibson."
Where in the world did that come from? Perhaps it is from the circles I find myself in, but most of the women I know who have breastfed for an extended time are in or close to the camp of "religious fundamentalists."
Please don't paint with the broad brushstrokes of prejudice!
--Michael
32 - yellowbus47
Come on people what are breast for?? not for a baby??That is why they are there.
33 - Grandma D
I think that breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural way to feed your child. My great-grandma, grandma and mom all breast-fed, I did with all 3 of my children. My daughter and daughter-in-law have chosen to feed their children this way also. As the generations before me we have encouraged and educated our children in the benefits to mom and child of breastfeeding our young, while also explaining that while using discretion it can be done at home as well as in public. I find it sad that women attacked the magazine for showing something nature intended. The comments that it is okay to show a woman's breasts for sexual purpose is okay, while for a child's feeding is not are archaic. Breastfeeding has been around a lot longer than today's dress code body exposure has ever been. I hope more mothers learn that it is best for baby. We have two mothers here at work that came back after their 6-week maternity leave and pump regularly to take home to their babies. They are not ridiculed for it, they are praised for caring.
34 - yellowbus47
respond to coment #28
excuse me,I am an American and I am an individual I do as I wish because I am free to.Do not put all americans in a group of 1 we are not, we are indivduals with our own minds.Yes I my be weird in some things BUT I am also very smart in other areas.I am glad I live in the USA and I see nothing wrong with breast feeding a child anywhere, if that child is hungry feed it, so here is one AMERICAN to you that is not weird.
35 - harbeas
No wonder we are among the most sexually repressed societies on earth. It is ok to depict murder, rape, and all the blood and gore you want to see in a movie(ie., cult movie Texas Chain Saw Murder), but god forbid that we show a bare breast feeding a baby! Are we really that ridiculous?
36 - RedTard
"Actually you are completely backwards Jen, many of the women cited as below the poverty line are also unemployed WIC recipients, the reason that educated and well-off women breastfeed at a higher rate is because they are more informed of the benefits of breastfeeding, take part in pre-natal care and therefore more inclined to do what's healthiest for their child."
Amen, Dawn. Breastfeeding takes more discipline and effort. If those poor women had the willpower to take a task on like breastfeeding they probably could complete school or hold a reasonable job as well. They don't breastfeed for the same reasons many of them are in poverty in the first place: ignorance, poor decision making, and laziness.
37 - Universal Richard
What is sooo pathetic is that this is the only country in the world where people get upset to see babies feeding. May be because there is such a lot of sexual filth everywhere that a simple baby feeding breast is an unknown condition. Does this tell you what the general morals of the Americans are?
38 - Mehmet - The Turanian
This again is a proof therefore, that mankinds greatest and most dangerous enemy is pure stupidity!!! One can only hope, that these horrible, illminded Stupids extinct by themselves without harming the rest of the world, but unfortunately this hope seem not to be fullfilled soon...
So dear mothers of the world feed your Babies like the Nature (God) has mentioned it, but please also support them to become well educated and good peoples with free minds...
In reference to the film Raven: "Mother is the Name of God in the hearts of all children (& babies)..."
39 - RedTard
"What is sooo pathetic is that this is the only country in the world where people get upset to see babies feeding."
Let's not go overboard there, skipper. I doubt countries where women can't go outside by themselves allow breastfeeding in public. You may get an snotty look here, but I doubt we'd stone you.
40 - RedTard
"This again is a proof therefore, that mankinds greatest and most dangerous enemy is pure stupidity!!! One can only hope, that these horrible, illminded Stupids extinct by themselves without harming the rest of the world,"
There's nothing more stupid about not wanting to see a woman's breast than not wanting to see a fat guy in a thong, a ballsack, or someone taking a crap. The most dangerous enemy to mankind are those people who devalue others opinions to the point of wishing they would become extinct.
41 - Endymion
I can't believe this, lay off Mel Gibson!
;)
42 - Lena
Being a mothr of two and having brest fed them both I shake my finger at mothers everywhere that find this GROSS!!!! It is natural to breast feed and when your child is hungry you need to feed them (I'm noting going to be held up in the house for 8 months! And being on a parenting magazine GOD HELP YOU ALL that feel that it is wrong to show this image. He planed for us to feed them from our breast. This is the most beautiful gift you can ever have to see your baby nursing and knowing that you are the only one that can provide that for them. I feel it should be the law that all mothers breast feed. So for all of you that like to whay sex tapes and look at nude magazines you should so to hell before you judge a magazine that is made for mothers that should get all their infromation from these magazines I salute you. KEEP SHOWING THE BREST FEEDING CHILD. And for you mothers that get grossed out don't read the magazine and don't getto feel the joy from nursing your child.
43 - Mehmet - The Turanian
To Red Tard: I think you misunderstood my writing a bit. My comment is not an answer to any of the other comments written here before mine... And by the way I even don't wan't anybody to die whether he is stupid as hell or the most mindfull - I think it is pretty clear that I only mentioned stupidity itself. Clear???
44 - Dawn
Fuck Mel Gibson, sideways, up the keister, with a diamond-encrusted dildo.
'Cuz what the world needs now is another anti-Jew, conservative religious dickbag blaming all the worlds woes on God's chosen people. What a jackass. I said he was an anti-semitic back when Passion of The Christ came out and people acted like I got into the magic koolaid or something and whoa hoo, lo and behold who turns out to be a Jew-hater - Mad Max himself. Color me shocked.
Oh, and breastfeeding boobies RAWK!!
45 - Jet in Columbus
Dawn, I agree whole heartedly with you dear, but we're going to have to talk about some of those fantasies of yours...
This has been a recorded announcement...
46 - Dawn
Yeah, I have some issues Jet, it's true :)
47 - Lady Dragonfyre
Dawn: Fuck Mel Gibson, sideways, up the keister, with a diamond-encrusted dildo.
Yep, and you can just leave it up there afterward. He won't be able to shit on Jews anymore.
48 - Dave Nalle
Look, the problem a lot of people have with public breastfeeding is that it's a release of bodily fluids. You wouldn't like it if I spat, sneezed and whipped out my johnson and played with it at a restaurant, even though those are all natural biological functions. How is whipping out a breast different?
And just to be clear, being male, I'm perfectly happy with breasts being whipped out anywhere, I'm just devils advocating. And being a Libertarian I'm not terribly concerned about people whipping out their johhnsons in public to show us their shortcomings either.
Dave
49 - Dawn
Dave, last I checked I have never heard of errant breastmilk making its way where it wasn't intended. Breastmilk doesn't have a mind of its own, it only does what it was intended to do, and that is release in the mouth of a suckling babe.
Now, I will say that extreme pressure will cause breast milk to flow, but unless you plan on going over and squeezing said breastfeeders breasts (which will surely result in a punch in the face or a sharp kick to the groin) the chances of encountering said fluid is remote and exceptionally unlikely.
50 - Dawn
Oh and yes LadyDF, Mel will hopefully think twice about shitting on the world's most shat on people in the future, lest he hurt himself :)
51 - Staci Schoff
Yes! And seriously, these women who say their husbands just can't bear to see a milimeter of breast skin without becoming aroused? GET THESE MEN SOME THERAPY for gods sake!
52 - catwoman
The article was great, and we should have more pics that display women's breasts as something much more than toys. Instead of bashing BabyTalk for the photo, lets turn that energy towards Playboy and nudie mags that feature scantily clad and naked breasts EVERY month!
53 - maggie
It is interesting that when looking at the magazine cover many people only see the breast. I think the point of displaying the beautiful picture is to capture the look of contentment and adoration on the face of the baby being fed. What a cutie!
I too am a breastfeeding mom. It is not an easy path to take in the beginning. They feed so often and the soreness and sleep deprivation make it pretty hard on you. However it is so worthwhile once you get going. As far as breastfeeding in public goes, I never hesitated. It didn't even register in my mind that anyone would care because it is just eating really. The blanket thing only lasted until my son was about 5 months. His little hands are too quick and he wants to look around however I'm not that exposed either. You can be discreet without a blanket.
54 - Staci Schoff
#48 Dave, the difference is there is a real human being present who NEEDS to eat. Period. And any decent mother is going to meet that need immediately without worry for who is so uptight and ridiculous that they can't bear the sight of a baby eating.
Additionally, it is LEGAL to feed a baby in public; however, it is NOT legal to whip out your johnson in public. Another important difference.
55 - Dave Nalle
We need to fix that legal thing with the johnson whipping and all.
Dave
56 - lori
I love how feeding an innocent, hungry child is equated with spitting, taking a shit, and whacking off.
People are fucked up.
57 - Martin Lav
whipping out their johhnsons in public to show us their shortcomings either.
Speaking for yourself Dave?
Dawn,
I generally agreed with your article, but to attack Jen's posts by paint brushing all women NOT breastfeeding under your social-status line as being on welfare or lazy, is pretty dispicable in my book. I think that most of the women that find it troublesome and I do believe the surprise of the article was that it was mainly women that found it troublesome, were probably a little higher up on the socio-economic scale and consequently your theories may not add up.
As I said previously I would never protest to see more breasts or children being nourished, however, I do find it disturbing that many so-called liberal minded self-righteous, holier than everyone else, think it's necessary and their right to nurse their children well into the toddler stage. Maybe the article should have considered a time limit because the picture implies an infant, while you kid apparently walks up and pulls on your shirt.
That I would find objectionable.
58 - Dave Nalle
Toddler stage? Ever seen an 8-year-old nursing? Now that's just creepy. And it DOES happen.
Dave
59 - Martin Lav
My son is 2 1/2 and we have a busy life and I manage to nurse him several times a day without it interferring with all of my responsibilities.
This is creepy enough for me, without having to visualize an 8 year old. My kids were "off the bottle" by the time they were 2 1/2 and were having food droll out of their mouth in public.
Now that's disgusting too.....
60 - Lisa
"so-called liberal minded self-righteous, holier than everyone else, think it's necessary and their right to nurse their children well into the toddler stage."
Um, it is necessary and well within a women right to breastfeed into the toddler stage. Remember, the APA recs are minimums. In other words, the APA recommends a minimum of one year breasfeeding. Also, I would love to know how many people out there have seen a 2 year old walk out to their mom in public and nurse? Or even nurse in public under a blanket at 2 years old? For that matter, how many people have actually seen a full breast while encountering someone nursing in public? Most of the time when I nurse in public, no one even knows what I am doing.
Why is it that people alway try to compare nursing in public to deficating in public or having sex in public? Why isn't is compared to simply eating in public, which is what nursing in public is. I seriously hope none one is trying to imply eating and deficatin in public are comparable. Apples and oranges.
61 - Dawn
Martin, I was not saying that all poor women who don't breastfeed are lazy or anything else. My point (and this is statistical and empirical data) is that by not nursing they are doing themselves and their children a great disservice - and honestly hasn't society done enough disservices to the poor for them to foist more on to themselves. In a roundabout way, I was trying to stick up for the poor and uneducated, because they are the group most likely to benefit from breastfeeding.
As for what my child does, well I guess the specifics of that are really no one else's business, because I don't make it a public issue. I rarely if ever nurse in public, even when my child was small. But I sure don't act like a fucking asshole if I see someone else nurse their child in public no matter the age.
I see people beat their children in public and no one says a thing, but God forbid someone nurse an 8 year old or a 8 day old - even though it's the same frigging act.
Some people are so fucking stupid.
62 - Nancy
Dave #48 - ROTFLOL! First time I've ever heard it referred to as a "johnson"! Out of curiousity to those women who have breastfed their kids, at what point do you stop, or intend to stop? Do you intend to continue nursing them til they go to kindergarten, or what? I have to agree, that's not only creepy, but degenerate, like the young Emperor in 'The Last Emperor'.
63 - Vickie
While I did breastfeed both of my children til they were a year old, and I do understand all the good reasons to do that, it does bother me to see kids that can walk, talk and go to the bathroom by themselves still at the breast. I have seen 4-5 years old still nursing and wondered what was the deal with that.
64 - Martin Lav
The poor uneducated uninformed "bottle feeders", if they could read, afford to have computers or were told what to do and how to do it by self-righteous holier than everyone know it alls like yourself, then you wouldn't maintain your superior position for long.
Then what would you do?
65 - shawn
"As with many bad things in our society, I blame the religious fundamentalists. And Mel Gibson."
This is the most inflamatory remark I have heard.
seriously.. blaming the religious community?!
How about blaming the dumb ass femanist movement instead? they are the ones who trumpet that anything remotely traditional and feminine are evil and should be rejected. It wasnt the religious community that made it dirty, it is the feminists who are rejecting the basic human principals of being female.
They attack the traditional role of motherhood. preferring to slap their 3 week old babies in daycare, so they can continue their climb up the corporate ladder, instead of doing the more meaningful job of raising their own children.
dont blame religious people. the sqeemishness Americans feel about breastfeeding is due to the wonderful feminists.
66 - Nancy
That is kind of sick. From what I've read, once the kid is past toddlerhood, medical & psychiatric experts agree it's not a good thing to do, as it starts to create problems involved with sexuality. People forget that even little infants are sexual beings, and little kids are, too. Hence the recommendation that parents not walk around nude in front of kids who have reached the stage of 'cognizence'.
I thought it was interesting that it was WOMEN who objected to the giant boob on the magazine cover, but then, I guess not a whole lot of men read that kind of thing, so they wouldn't be aware of it, generally.
67 - RedTard
"Then what would you do?"
Probably be satisfied that the world was filled with healthier, happier, better bonded babies.
68 - Martin Lav
Nancy,
It's like the surveys taken by men and women in regards to breast implants (PC: augmentation) women want them AND bigger, while men generally could care less. Same thing I think.
It's the self-centered nature of the "modern" woman that's at work here.....
69 - Vickie
And probably not a lot of lower income - poverty stricken women read the magazine either. The cost is probably prohibative for them. So was it our higher educated, upper crust women/mothers complaining about the picture?
70 - Nancy
Somewhere during the course of this thread someone brought up an interesting point, that it was mainly during the 50s that breastfeeding started losing ground. Actually, it was the 30s, and coincided with the rise of the giant multinational food corporations like Nestle & Beatrice, who had a stake in selling as much of the new fangled baby formula as possible. I'm trying to find advertising from that era, because I seem to remember (very dimly) seeing one from the 40s that implied strongly that only primitives, the ignorant, and The Poor breast-fed, while intelligent, modern, attractive women did not.
71 - Dawn
In most third world countries, where people can't afford inferior milk substitutes and survival from the elements, disease and malnourishment is a part of their everyday life, they breastfeed their kids as long as the child and mother deem it mutually beneficial. Unless you are forcing your child to breastfeed against their will, or you are engaging in acts other than plain old breastfeeding, then whatever you "read" Nancy is really plain untrue.
And Dave, I seriously doubt you've seen A LOT of 8 year olds nursing. Leave it to certain people to pick one obscure example to paint an entire group as bad.
As for the poor and uneducated being inferior I have zero tolerance for people not doing the best they can for their kids. What fucking excuse does a person have to drag their kids down just because they choose to live life in an unpleasant manner.
Oh, and for those offended by my "religious community" comment - I could try and explain satire, comedy, sarcasm, humor and so forth, but really, why bother, it would be so completely lost on you. Besides, don't you have some homos to hate, or abortion clinics to blow up somewhere?
(see, that was a joke - you're supposed to snicker, chortle, laugh, giggle or whatever it is you uptight folks do.)
72 - Nancy
What are you talking about? I'm talking about pediatric reports by the AMA, and latterly, about how the food companies are responsible for a good deal of it. In fact, I remember a scandal not too long ago where one of them (Conagra, I think) was severely criticized for trying to convince the very poor of Africa to buy baby formula instead of breastfeeding, via the very same sales tactics.
73 - Dawn
That is kind of sick. From what I've read, once the kid is past toddlerhood, medical & psychiatric experts agree it's not a good thing to do, as it starts to create problems involved with sexuality. People forget that even little infants are sexual beings, and little kids are, too. Hence the recommendation that parents not walk around nude in front of kids who have reached the stage of 'cognizence'.
Um that's what I am talking about Nancy, unless there are two Nancys here.
74 - Bessie
I am a mother of 3 beautiful children with whom I breastfed each until their 18 month birhtday. What's the big deal?? Babies have to eat, we eat when we want to. Of course we're not nursing on a breast but it's not all that different. It wasn't even a question in my mind not to breastfeed my children it was just so natural to do so. If you can't handle seeing a baby breastfeeding turn your head, walk away, remove yourself from the situation if it's that bothersome but how dare anyone make a women feel uncomfortable for doing what's best for her child. Breastfeeding is BEST!!! And to anyone who thinks otherwise get a grip, it's a boob.
75 - Lisa
"Out of curiousity to those women who have breastfed their kids, at what point do you stop, or intend to stop? "
Almost all children, if allowed to self wean without influence from the mother, allow themselves to wean between 2 and 4 year of age. This what a child will choose, not the parent. So, I find it hard to argue that what a child is biologically inclined to do at 2, 3 or 4 is "wrong" or "gross".