I nurse in public and just make sure nothing is showing.

That's all I ask....is the mom to cover up.

It's so odd that our society is flooded with images of scantily clad women but heaven forbid a lady nurses a baby in public. It reminds me a lot of homophobia. Yes, it probably makes you uncomfortable. Should you speak out against it or make people feel as uncomfortable as you, NO. It's really none of your business and it's a really important thing for moms to do. Reality check, newborns eat every two hours, should moms just stay tethered to their couch?

No, Cha, they should not be tethered to their couches. They should schedule their outings in the two-hour window. In the cases where they have to go out, take a bottle of pumped breastmilk to feed the hungry baby.

I would be curious from what generation some of these comments are coming from. @ Shirley and Jdbroomall...seriously? Wow, lucky for you your children went every two hours, mine went almost every hour on the hour! I have 4 children and breast feed everyone of them. Especially when there are four kids involved, we don't have the "luxury" of pumping and deciding when to go out of the house. We are a slave of other peoples schedules. One reason among many that I chose to breast feed was so we DID NOT DO BOTTLES! As a matter of fact, many babies when switched back and forth from breast to bottles go through nipple confusion and that can really ruin breast feeding. Besides, why should we? Because you have a problem with it? Get over it, it is a boob! I was always discreet and covered up, I was not flashing anyone. It is the way nature intended for babies to be fed. The fact that in this day and age you are so un-accepting of women breast feeding in public shows you have a hang up of a breast as a sexual form. If this is the case, I assume you also avoid watching movies with uncovered breasts in public, as well as avoid beaches where there are skimpy bikinis and men in speedos. You see more on the beach these days then you do when a women breast feeds. It is truly unbelievable you stated above that breast feeding is not a right.........really? What an ignorant statement.

(A continuation from above) I am astounded that women who have chosen to do what is best for their children are banished to the homes because people like you have a hang up about a breast. Maybe you should look at a breast as a function of nature that is meant to feed babies instead of feed a mans appetite!

Schedule your outings in the "two-hour window," "pump throughout the day." Seriously??? Babies have the right to nourishment, no matter what time it is or where they might be. Shirley, maybe you were somehow able negotiate with a hungry newborn to wait for their allotted two-hour feeding, but if so, you must have super-human baby whispering skills. Would you be comfortable with someone telling you that you were not allowed to eat in public? Shirley, you must only leave your house after you've eaten in your allotted two-hour window, and must never, never let the public see food or drink pass your lips. Really???

JDBroomall, why should a woman have to pump throughout the day when they can just breastfeed? Believe it or not, not every woman wants their breasts hooked up to a vacuum pump "throughout the day," just so they can leave their home and not make people like you uncomfortable when breastfeeding their baby! Oh, and by the way, I've breastfed four children wherever/whenever they were hungry without ever "whipping it out." Women who "whip it out" are more likely to be whipping around at the strip club for the enjoyment of men, not feeding their infant while shopping at the mall.

It's the attitude of people like Shirley and JDBroomall that keep this ridiculous debate going. The bottom line is that women's bodies are made for feeding their babies, and babies have the right to eat when they're hungry. People who are uncomfortable seeing a breastfeeding baby-look away!

The law does not saw only in public places-
" A mother has a right to SHALL BE PERMITTED TO breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother and child are otherwise authorized to be present, irrespective of whether or not the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breastfeeding."

Maybe we should worry more about people whipping out guns in public and less about breasts.

Just saw your post Cristina - loved JDBroomall's advice that it might be time for you to stop breastfeeding. He is obviously more of an expert on breastfeeding than a mother who has chosen to feed her baby the best possible food on the planet. Thank goodness there are mothers out there with the guts to stand up for what's best for their babies!

I breastfed and I have no problem with women breastfeeding in public but I do have a problem with where & how some women choose to do it. I was at a work dinner/dance party years ago and a coworker's wife brought their infant. The problem was that she started breastfeeding the baby at the dinner table. I thought that was inappropriate. There were many other places that she could've sat that would've been more appropriate- the beautiful lounge in the ladies' room, the hallway bench- just not at the dinner table. Do you think that is ok-even though it is legal? Women should have some common knowledge of the appropriateness of the location.

A nursing mother should pump in order to leave the house -- seriously? I have yet to see a nursing mother 'bare it all' -- everyone I've seen nursing in public is discreet and they don't necessarily have to use a blanket or nursing cover to be that way. Asking a nursing mother to feed her baby near a toilet is gross. Would you want to eat in a public bathroom? The health benefits of breastfeeding are enormous for both a mother and baby -- fewer illnesses, better protection from obesity, better brain development, among others. But only a small percentage of women breastfeed to one year, which is the minimum recommended time period -- probably because a small minority of people expect them only to dash out of the house and return to feed every two hours. Next time you see a nursing mom in public, you should say "bravo" because she is willing to make the physical, emotional, and social sacrifices for the benefit of her baby, despite putting up with criticism, dirty looks, and personal attacks from her neighbors.

We have this discussion for no other reason than a lack of common sense. This affliction has risen to a point of epidemic, and shall be the ruin of us all.

Before my wife got sick, she was able to breastfeed our daughter for the first year of her life. That was so important. Of course, breast feeding moms should be discreet in public, but we should all be supportive of doing what is best for the children. Some people are just too up tight and need to grow up.

So breast feeding grosses people out.. Hmm I'll make sure to have a breast pump ready. Since breast feeding so "gross" maybe breast pumping wont bother anyone. Or just breast feed inside a Victoria's secret that'll work. My wife has been harassed at one public and one private place.

Private: the lady encouraged it, but then the owner came and lost it! I mean lost it she started taking pictures the police were called.. All in Doylestown no less.

Public: happen at a day care wrote them a letter and there staff wereo educated and no problems.

Breast feeding should never be interrupted , period. If you do interrupt it, then find something else to do.. Like steal food from a five year old..six eggs half dozen.

E.S. - When J.S. said the woman could have picked a better place than the table at a work dinner, she did not mean that this mother and others should b'feed their babies in a nasty bathroom stall, while perched on a public toilet seat. We've all been in ladies' lounges with a fancy anteroom, a door separating it from the "necessaries". A mother could feed her baby there and actually be farther away from the toilet than she would at home, nursing in bed.

Reading comprehension with some of you is embarrassing.

There is no problem with breast feeding in public. It's legal, do what you want. If people don't like it, tell them to look the other way. But you are in public, if some guys stare at you or take pictures of you, don't get upset.

In a private business, you have no right to breast feed, period. You must abide by the business/property owners policy. Stop crying about it. You want people to respect your choice to BF in public but you refuse to respect a private property owner from telling you no? You're a hypocrite.

I was asked to leave a private business because of the color of my skin.. What is that called again?

No it's not REALLY hard to understand. There is a thin line of discrimination there and I am so happy that you made it so easy to understand. This law has alot of "legs" and should be passed, if not the thin line of discrimination will become alot thinner.

One of the most natural things in the world and the puritanical degrade women for taking care of their babies as nature intended. It is disgusting the way people view nursing a child as something dirty. "Be discreet, restrict your time out of the house, go pump your breasts and carry a bottle with you, so we can pretend that babies don't nurse."

If you want to talk about what shouldn't be seen in public, let's talk about the people that pick their noses in public, and how about all those men that grab their crotches and adjust themselves in public. Yet, never do we see a business owner ask any of them to excuse themselves to the restroom, wash their hands, or refuse service.

Yep that comment explains alot. You do KNOW they make catheters. I guess pumping in public is ok with you then. Issue solved!

As a mom who is currently breast feeding, I think it's sad you're even having this discussion...it's a breast and there is more exposure in daytime TV than what I show while nursing.
No one ever tells a bottle feeding baby and mom to "go to the bathroom" and I'm not sure very many people actually eat their meals in a bathroom either...

Maybe we should be concerned with men running or mowing their lawns shirtless. They are exposing way more than I do when I breast feed my daughter.

Here's something CRAZY: I've actually seen more breast and more "private" areas of a woman's body at the MALL than I have at my biweekly Breastfeeding Support Group containing upwards of 20 moms ALL breastfeeding their babies!

Wow, look what I've missed while I was gone. JDBroomall, I just have to say that you keep insisting that you are for breastfeeding, and your opinions are merely about the law, but I think you've gotten a bit emotional in your responses. (As you earlier told me to keep my emotions out of the conversation). Are you really comparing peeing in bottle to feeding an infant? No wonder your wife had to pump throughout the day just so she could get out of the house with the baby. Feeding a hungry child should not be banned by anyone anywhere. Public/Private-doesn't matter. When a baby is hungry she's relying on her parent(s) to give her what she needs. If she needs food she has a basic HUMAN RIGHT to be fed. You don't have a basic human right to expose yourself in public and pee in a bottle. Breastfeeding women are feeding their babies - what is there to debate about?

Here is the issue JD. Where is the "private property" line end or start. Let me give you an example because it really is that SIMPLE. We were in a "private business" we asked if they minded if we nursed. The answer was no. A few minutes later, we were asked to leave. We did, so we obeyed... We go across the street to a public park.. Under a tree, in the shade... And still asked to leave by the shop owner. So see its not that SIMPLE, every business should have a place for nursing moms. Smokers have an area to smoke.. There is a law and a penalty for this. So see it really is that SIMPLE. Every business needs an area for nursing moms as the law is asking for.

"a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk."

I'm sooooooooooo glad that I'm not married to someone with such old-fashioned and narrow-minded views about a woman's role in society as are expressed by one respondent. Thank God for women's liberation or we'd all be wearing balls and chains in our kitchens and unable to think for ourselves!!!

First of all I can't believe that we are spending this much time on this subject when there are many more things going wrong with the world. Furthermore I am never going to listen some man tell me how to schedule my day. I have a two month old and I breast feed. I don't even want to think about breast feeding in public but sometimes it has to happen and its not always every 2 or 3 hours sometimes its every hour. I'm not going to be housebound because of you narrow minded people and if I ever hear about a place in P-ville or where ever I will not go there and make sure that every one else hears about it. People are allowed to take their children out to dinner so if you don't like it stay home! I'm pretty sure no one is rolling up to 7 Stars with their boobs hanging out with a baby attached!

To J.S.: why shouldn't an infant be nursed at the table at a restaurant. A dog eats from a bowl on the floor. An infant is a human just like you, presumably, so why not at the table?

People need to get over themselves and their Puritan heritage. It's all natural, the way it was intended by the Creator himself. The benefits of Breastfeeding are not only to be found on an individual level, but the long term health effects benefit our society as a whole, through lowering the cost of healthcare. If everyone was nursed we would save billions on healthcare.

I am all about modesty and covering up, that being said Rick you are perpetuating the problem, breasts should stop being thought of as only a sexual object for the enjoyment of men. The conversation you should have with your children is how that mother is feeding her baby, that it is very important and perfectly normal in this situation. Then you can explain if you feel the need anything else Otherwise that should suffice Educate your children.

All this controversy is raised about it, but few know that breastfeeding was shown on the television program "Sesame Street" of all places 35 years ago. Little fuss was made about it then.

JDBroomall - the quote Mulderbudge used is DIRECTLY from the Freedon to Breastfeed Act. You are ot well versed in the law. See the following government link and note Section 3: General Rule...
http://www.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_102857_14206_607962_43/http%3B/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_hhs/health/content/internet/health_services___resources/maternal___child_health/breastfeeding_awareness___support/bfh/bf_tabbed_template_test/legislation.html

I am saddened to see such a lack of support for breastfeeding moms and their babies on this comment thread. It's great to be well-versed in the law, but also know and understand how breastfeeding works before making bold comments about how to do so. My second baby refused bottles. What should I have done? How about on those cold winter days? Just imagine I am in a pizza shop or a mall on a cold winter day. My baby needs to eat. My toddler needs to eat. How do I handle that situation? Do I take my baby outside in the freezing cold winter so she can eat? Do I make my toddler stop because I have to go outside? I will tell you how I handled it... I nursed her right there wherever I was. I did not use a cover, but my entire body and breast were not exposed. If someone asked me to stop, I would not. Luckily, I have never been asked to stop. I have had a few odd glances from time to time, but no business owner ever asked me to stop nursing my baby in their establishment. Why? Because the law protects me? Well, I think it is far more complex than that. Intelligent business owners know they need to keep their customers happy. Look around a mall... who do you see there? Every third person has a stroller. I guarantee a savvy business person will think long and hard about speaking to a woman about covering up or leaving if their business is important to them. We are moving in a direction that is accepting of breastfeeding. Laws support nursing women. We are moving towards acceptance!

The first woman I saw breastfeeding other than my mother was my friends mom and I was about 7 years old. She did it openly without a cover. Nobody had to explain anything to me as I knew that breast were for feeding babies. Another friend of my mom breastfed her baby very openly without cover when I was 12. She was the extreme of letting it all hang out. I was a boy going through puberty at the time and it wasn't a big deal. I think it's an overblown issue. To me if you don't like it go somewhere else. If we see a woman slap her child in public we look the other way and say nothing, but let her feed her child with a breast and all of sudden she's the most immoral woman on earth. Don't let us catch a glimpse of her nipple because that's just disgusting! Give me a break!