Breastfeeding In The Church

[Me4Him]

I'm not sure how old your mother is (my own mother's age-group did NOT breastfeed) but with the advent of commercial formula, it became less common to breastfeed because it was considered inferior to the wonderful formula. But before formula really became readily available, breastfeeding was pretty much the only way to feed a child - and breastfeeding wherever it needed to be was the norm.

Most of the women I knew growing up BF, but never once did I associate it with anything other than a baby being feed,

I think the problem is more in the "EYE/MIND" of the "beholder" than feeding a "hungry baby".

After all, God ordained it to be that way, why call "good"--"evil"??

 

[Spinach]

"flopping it out" is immodest, yes. Discreetly feeding your child isn't, in my opinion.

 

[abcgrad94]

Private places. A church should provide a private place for it, IMO. A room where a mom can go and feed the baby, burp her (the baby ), and have some quiet and privacy and still listen to the service.

We had a nursery that was split into two rooms, and I always nursed in the "quiet room." (quiet but not exactly private) Usually I was alone for those few minutes, but occasionally I got surprised when a man would bring his baby in there to sleep. I got to where I'd turn the rocking chair around and face the corner in case it happened, because my kids were NOT "modest" eaters!

I really envied those ladies whose babies would quietly nurse without distraction in the sanctuary.

 

[Jim1999]

In some countries they defecate and urinate openly and in public. This too is a natural function. It doesn't make it right in our society.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Spinach]

Jim, are you comparing defacating and urinating to breastfeeding?

 

[Spinach]

If we're going to go there, I'd prefer that people didn't fart around me.

 

[annsni]

She is in her 70's certainly old enough to know. The 60's flower children and feminists has worked hard to ingrain this right and to reframe history to make it appear that it was a "let me flop this thing out where ever I like" event. Truth is modesty had higher value in times past. The fact that a child needs to eat does not diminish the need for modesty contrary to feminist assertions.

My mother would be in her 70s also - which would mean that she would have raised her children in the 50s - a time when formula use was very high. It was considered to only be the "poor" who breastfed because formula was SO much more superior.

However, my grandmother had her first child in 1926 - before the large scale commercial use of formula. And she told me that everyone breastfed wherever they were. She was in NYC and there were very tiny apartments, large Catholic churches without "crying rooms" or "nursing rooms". You just breastfed. It was certainly before the feminist movement.

 

[annsni]

In some countries they defecate and urinate openly and in public. This too is a natural function. It doesn't make it right in our society.

Cheers,

Jim

Is the urine and feces designed by God to feed and sustain a human being? If not, then there's no comparison.

 

[Jim1999]

The public exposure is definitely a comparison. We have less excuse in our modern society. There are more facilities for privacy.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[annsni]

The public exposure is definitely a comparison. We have less excuse in our modern society. There are more facilities for privacy.

Cheers,

Jim

But if one is not publicly exposing themselves, why the need for privacy?

 

[Spinach]

But if one is not publicly exposing themselves, why the need for privacy?

Yes.




.

 

[Revmitchell]

Is the urine and feces designed by God to feed and sustain a human being? If not, then there's no comparison.

That does not diminish the need for privacy. It has been an excuse of the feminist movement since the 60's.

God Bless ladies

 

[annsni]

That does not diminish the need for privacy. It has been an excuse of the feminist movement since the 60's.

God Bless ladies

Yet my grandma, who actually lived before the feminist movement of the 60s - and the widespread use of formula in the late 40s and beyond - disagrees with you. I take Granny's word first. Sorry. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[swaimj]

I'm thankful for this thread. I have grown in wisdom by reading it. If I ever have an issue with this in my church I will handle it privately. If I ever see the topic come up on BB again, I will avoid it. There is way too much posturing on this thread.

 

[MorganT]

BF is a natual act and should be left to the discretion of the woman doing it. If she feels like she can stay in the sanctuary and discreetly BF her child then so be it, and if she wants privacy then so be it. There is nothing shameful about BF a child. It seems we can tolerate women in short skirts and tight pants more than BF but really a man with lust in his heart will look at a women in a short skirt or tight pants much faster than he will one feeding a child. If you want to preach modesty maybe you need to pick another topic all together. Ladies can feed there babies were ever they need to in our church, most go to a private room but if one wants to stay in the sanctuary, she wont hear anything from me. Its natual and by Gods design.:godisgood:

 

[Marcia]

I may be one of the few women that do not think babies should be bf in the sanctuary. I'm sorry, but there are usually sounds that go along with this that I am not wanting to hear during the service. Some women are not as discreet as others and some babies are not as quiet.

I bf my son but was not a believer then so never had the issue of dealing with it during church (although at the time, it was not really tolerated anywhere except on airplanes). However, if it were today, I would go outside the sanctuary. I do not think it is respectful to do it during the service. I don't feel that strongly on this, so this is just a rather mild opinion.

 

[Enoch]

Does your church have a policy about this? Does it bother you to see a woman breastfeeding her baby in the sanctuary?

I've been in churches where breastfeeding mothers were sent to the nursery. I'm not for it. I've nursed my babies in the sanctuary discreetly----so discreet in fact that no one even knew.

It's not even an issue over here, but it was in the States.

Opinions?

Nursing should be allowed anywhere.

 

[John Toppass]

I breast-fed my two in the sanctuary, and that was approx 30 years ago. Noone ever said a word, and they were glad to have me in there because
I was the only pianist.

How hard was it to be discreet while playing the piano?

 

[annsni]

How hard was it to be discreet while playing the piano?

Eh - that's nothing. I don't play piano but I could do most anything while breastfeeding. Typing, putting together dinner, changing diapers, potty training - even cleaning a horse stall! Get a sling and you can do it all!!

 

[Jim1999]

she put the lid up and they turned the piano around.........

Cheers,

Jim