Breast Feeding In Church?

[ERayR]

A sleaveless T-shirt works fine.

[MorningStar]

One of the hardest things for me as a new mom was feeling isolated. It was hard to get out and when I did, I was always having to excuse myself to breastfeed or dealing with trying to feed my baby without looking because they were covered with a blanket. When you're new at nursing, it's the most ridiculous thing to have a blanket covering your baby and trying to get them latched on. I had a friend who just wore a roomy t-shirt and she was able to nurse her babies discreetly. We would play games together with our husbands and she just fed her baby whenever. If you see a nipple for a second, you won't die. Really.

[halconero]

We're supposed to be making Earth into the Garden of Eden, right? Presumably, at some point we should stop getting so embarrassed if there are Adams and Eves who choose to wander about in the buff. Maybe we could even stop telling them they're "unrighteous" for enjoying the sun on their skin. Isaiah preached naked for years; Moroni visited Joseph Smith wearing nothing but a robe; let moms nurse their kids. This gets back to the whole problem of trying to solve one's own issues by forcing someone else to change; if I can't stand to see a baby being fed, then maybe I should leave the room.

I agree and disagree.

The Fall was a good thing, part of which entailed God giving us sacred clothing that's purpose isn't to just cover up, but bind us to higher covenants.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

My husband reports he merely removed his glasses when investigators decided it was lunchtime for the kiddies. With his eyesight, he could be respectful by not making the woman uncomfortable without being too uncomfortable himself.

I think it is unfortunate that society has created shame associated with nakedness. I think modesty can exist even in a society of nudists.

If a woman is covered who cares? Not to mention if someone sees this a sexual in any manor, (to themselves) that is just wrong on so many levels.

[Calm]

Huh? Have you ever breastfed a flailing baby who will not keep the blanket covering them? If there are four moms in a small mothers lounge, we're going to see each other and there's nothing wrong with it. I nursed my babies in front of my other kids because I wanted them to know that is the purpose of breasts. I don't want them to feel shocked the first time they see someone else nursing a baby.

And then there are the poor new mothers who don't have the technique down yet and have to see what is going on to make things work.

[Hamba Tuhan]

And no it's not appropriate for a man to display his breasts to the public, either. Both sexes should wear shirts under normal conditions while taking them off only when it is appropriate.

Our former stake YM president had this same issue and required our boys to wear T-shirts whilst at the beach, which becomes an issue of safety. (There are very, very good reasons why people remove clothing when swimming.) Thankfully, at the stake standards night one year, one of the boys raised his hand during the Q&A and asked the stake president why boys had to wear shirts whilst swimming. The stake president was stunned, then he laughed and said he'd never heard of such a thing and couldn't imagine why anyone would say that. End of problem.

[Hamba Tuhan]

By the way, I sit on the stand each Sunday, and I can verify that in our ward mothers do indeed feed their babies during sacrament meeting. I'm grateful we seem to be free -- for now -- of this particular hangup!

Edited February 26, 2013 by Hamba Tuhan

[William Schryver]

My oldest daughter is one of the hard-core "lactivists" out there. She is now the mother of our only grandchild, a 9-month-old little boy. She has absolutely no compunction, when my wife and I are visiting, to just whip out the "training table" right in front of us and start giving Jr. his nourishment. And while I very much enjoyed watching my own children getting nursed by my wife back in the day, I have to admit I feel a little uncomfortable when my daughter "lets it all hang out" to feed my grandson. But the problem is mine, not hers. I usually just find something else to do when feeding time comes around.

On the other hand, it doesn't bother me at all when I see nursing mothers in public. It doesn't strike me as sexual in any way. Never has. Strangely enough, my discomfort with nursing mothers is limited to my daughter.

[TAO]

To be honest, I'd prefer if it wasn't done during sacrament meeting, at least here in the States.

-TAO

[Hamba Tuhan]

To be honest, I'd prefer if it wasn't done during sacrament meeting, at least here in the States.

I'm sure that if you have a few heartfelt chats with the infants in your ward, they'll happily accommodate your preference.

[Questing Beast]

My mom remembers a mother in Vernal Utah way back in the 30's who would sit with her large family in the middle of the chapel near the front and she always had a breast feeding baby, and would just nurse in public without any effort to cover up. This was uncommon even at that time, or else there would be nothing anecdotal about it. My mom breast fed each of us, as did her sister her children. They would drape a light blanket over their shoulder and the baby. But there was no great effort to prevent sight of the breast being "put away" and the other taken out to change sides, and then the blanket would go back over the shoulder and the nursing would continue. If this were more common today there would be nothing to talk about. But since breast feeding became uncommon so too did the sight of a bared breast. Perhaps if we ever return to breast feeding as the norm this will become a non topic....

[blackstrap]

Did some miss the memo that all infants were to be ordained as high priests so they would sleep in church ?

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

To be honest, I'd prefer if it wasn't done during sacrament meeting, at least here in the States.

-TAO

I am sure they are covered...most men rarely notice. I asked my daughter the other day; what are you wearing, my wife had to tell me she was nursing. No way a woman in Sacrament would do it without cover...please tell me not.

[halconero]

Personally it doesn't bug me in the least. Covered or uncovered.

I think for the sake of the general membership though the common courtesy would be to either go to the mother's room or just put a blanket over the baby and the breast while feeding.

Also, just so everyone is aware...and this might just be me...but posting in here is giving me that same vibe I get when I wander into the weird part of YouTube...

[volgadon]

When are people going to desexualize that part of the body and understand the function it has?

It never was completely unsexual. Even as far back as Old Testament times, breasts were described in erotic poetry.

[Wanderer7]

I'm wondering how this is even an issue. Sure, if I see someone breastfeeding, it's my responsibility to deal with it appropriately. Sure, it would be great if men could see naked women and not be aroused. Unfortunately, that's not the case and never will be. Modesty expects that men look away and women keep it covered... and vice versa. If this wasn't a concern to the brethren (and I might add the Lord), they wouldn't ask us to dress modestly in public.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

It never was completely unsexual. Even as far back as Old Testament times, breasts were described in erotic poetry.

Yes it is...see "SOS", I know you know this...just FYI for those who do not. BTW, SOS is the "Song of Solomon" which Joseph did not view as scripture, but more of a love letter. Edited February 27, 2013 by Bill “Papa” Lee

[volgadon]

Yes it is...see "SOS", I know you know this...just FYI for those who do not. BTW, SOS is the "Song of Solomon" which Joseph did not view as scripture, but more of a love letter.

That is the main example I had in mind.

[Garden Girl]

By the way, I sit on the stand each Sunday, and I can verify that in our ward mothers do indeed feed their babies during sacrament meeting. I'm grateful we seem to be free -- for now -- of this particular hangup!

Our ward has a "Mother's room" for mothers who wish to breast feed... but I did see one mother breast feed during church but she was doing so modestly with a blanket over the shoulder and baby... I see no reason for any mother to expose their naked breasts no matter what type of statement they wish to make when a light blanket over the shoulder is such a simple, respectful, and modest gesture.

GG

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Our ward has a "Mother's room" for mothers who wish to breast feed... but I did see one mother breast feed during church but she was doing so modestly with a blanket over the shoulder and baby... I see no reason for any mother to expose their naked breasts no matter what type of statement they wish to make when a light blanket over the shoulder is such a simple, respectful, and modest gesture.

GG

I agree and in the case of my daughter (the most modest living, might be do to good parenting:)) I found out there is a product than looks fashionable, and covers very well.

[mercyngrace]

I may have told this story before but I just have to tell it again because every time there is a discussion on breastfeeding it comes to mind.

I was a missionary in Argentina sitting on the second row of a rented building where we met for church. The room was packed and a young sister was up front teaching a lesson.Her new baby was being held by another sister (her visiting teaching companion as a matter of fact). These were both sweet women whom I adored. The teacher was a first time mom. Her friend and vt companion had five children and was still nursing the youngest, a chubby, gleeful toddler. The teacher was as middle to upper class as you could be in that time and place. The older companion worked a farm with her husband's family. They were women from two different backgrounds and two different segments of society. One had pale skin. obviously of European descent. The other was darker, her people have crossed over the northern border a generation or two before.

As the young teacher taught, her baby began to wail. It was that hungry cry that newborns make. She looked perplexed for a few seconds and struggled not knowing how to respond.

Suddenly, her visiting teaching companion, pulled out her breast and started to feed the baby. No one in the room even flinched and the teacher relaxed, regained composure and continued without missing another beat.

It was a beautiful act of tenderness and sisterhood that gave me a glimpse at Zion. I never see a nursing mother that I don't remember our duty to care for each other and to build the kind of unity I saw that day.

[Hamba Tuhan]

Sure, it would be great if men could see naked women and not be aroused. Unfortunately, that's not the case and never will be.

I would respectfully ask that you please speak for yourself.

[ERayR]

I'm sure that if you have a few heartfelt chats with the infants in your ward, they'll happily accommodate your preference.

Just tell them it isn't meal time.

[ERayR]

When are people going to desexualize that part of the body and understand the function it has?

That would be sad. I hope it never happens.

[Wanderer7]

I would respectfully ask that you please speak for yourself.

Perhaps there are some men who are so purified that naked women don't affect them, and there are others who may have different orientations. If one of these applies to you, I apologize if my statement offended you. However, I know from experience that I am representing men accurately. For instance, the prevalence of pornography use in the church suggests that many, if not most, men are affected by nudity. Also as ERayR suggested, attraction to the opposite gender is not a bad thing. I don't think I'm evil for being sexually attracted to women. I think it is part of God's plan for this life and the next. What I do about that attraction is what determines my morality.