Nursing in the chapel

[jolee65]

I have nothing against breast feeding our children, If asked by a soon to be mother if it was something I did and would I do it again , I would say yes, I highly recommend it for your baby and your relationship with your little bundle.

I dont think its a problem for mothers to feed there baby in public, but there are rooms even in most malls were its a lounge and not in the toilet.

In a resturant sit in the back in a booth , if available. it just seems like the privacy is lacking.

our branch presidents wife before he was BP had her 4th son , and they sat right behind me and my family , she was well covered but the little guy had a hard time latching on , so you kept hearing this slurping half suction sound , lol and it was very distracting. and all the young men around her kept turning around and stairing at her , she never got up it just continued.

Maybe they were talking about the women that breast feed that werent there wives, why would most womens husbands get excited about a boob they've seen half a dozen times , its the ones they havent lol.

[Elgama]

if I had, had to go to a room and be isolated with my son I would never have got anywhere he fed every 2 hours right up until he was about 12 months and the next 4 months every 3 or 4 hours... I ended up having to stop because he wouldn't take his milk any other way and I as ill. I fed him on the go in a sling most of the time

Church was actually the only place I felt uncomfortable or was ever made to feel uncomfortable feeding my child. I like seeing Mums feeding their children on buses and in restaurants. My daughter never questioned it but had she done so I would just the Mummy needed to feed her baby, don't see the point in making her feel uncomfortable feeding her babies in public or that its something to be ashamed of.

-Charley

[sarathurgood]

Question for those of you who said that slurping sounds made folks uncomfortable--do you think those same folks would feel equally as uncomfortable if the baby was slurping from a bottle, or is it the fact that the noises are coming from the baby's mouth on mom's breast that makes them feel ill-at-ease?

Also, for those of you who are pro-loungers, are you okay with moms feeding babies from bottles in the chapel? Should they excuse themselves as well with a fussy, hungry, slurping baby?

I ask b/c there seems to be an inconsistancy here--is the lounge for the privacy of the potential exposed breast, or is it due to the noises that hungry babies make? Or both? Is it that people are bothered by the idea of mothers breastfeeding and the potential for exposure--the mental image nursing creates--rather than the actual sight? I respect the opinions of those who are pro-lounge and I totally understand where you're coming from (my mom and sister-in-law are loungers and probably think a little less of me for nursing anywhere I feel like it); but I am also bothered by the stigma breastfeeding in public has. Perhaps if folks opened their minds a little more and got over the subconscious adolescent "heh, heh, boobies" mentality (ESPECIALLY the men), more mothers would be willing to nurse their babies longer.

[FunkyTown]

Originally Posted by sarathurgood

Question for those of you who said that slurping sounds made folks uncomfortable--do you think those same folks would feel equally as uncomfortable if the baby was slurping from a bottle, or is it the fact that the noises are coming from the baby's mouth on mom's breast that makes them feel ill-at-ease?

Also, for those of you who are pro-loungers, are you okay with moms feeding babies from bottles in the chapel? Should they excuse themselves as well with a fussy, hungry, slurping baby?

I ask b/c there seems to be an inconsistancy here--is the lounge for the privacy of the potential exposed breast, or is it due to the noises that hungry babies make? Or both? Is it that people are bothered by the idea of mothers breastfeeding and the potential for exposure--the mental image nursing creates--rather than the actual sight? I respect the opinions of those who are pro-lounge and I totally understand where you're coming from (my mom and sister-in-law are loungers and probably think a little less of me for nursing anywhere I feel like it); but I am also bothered by the stigma breastfeeding in public has. Perhaps if folks opened their minds a little more and got over the subconscious adolescent "heh, heh, boobies" mentality (ESPECIALLY the men), more mothers would be willing to nurse their babies longer.

I'm in solidarity with you here, sister. Whenever I whip out my boob in the chapel, they always tell me to leave.

[Hemidakota]

Originally Posted by jolee65

I wasnt sure why she would feel the need to nurse in the chapel sitting right next to the missionaries, when her 2 yrs old was only fussing alittle. it wasnt during sacrument, she wasnt alone with three little ones. Im a mom, not youngsters but i nursed my oldest when she was born , I can understand when you need to tend to a child but her husband was there she wouldnt have missed the service in the mothers room.

My youngest was with us we sat right behind them, the one missionary did a double take ,lol. my daughter just looked at me like why is she do that in here, I did tell her the only time that is exceptable is if you were in a situation and couldnt get some where private.

Do you agree?

It is our culture beliefs of moving any nursing mother to a nursing room and not to be done in the chapel.

[ruthiechan]

Originally Posted by Jenamarie

Well, in my ward the Mother's Lounge is also the "hang out and chat" lounge, which is why I've often nursed in the chapel (always well covered!). Sometimes I'll go to the Mother's Lounge first to see if it's empty, but if there's already other moms in there chatting away loud enough to drown out the speaker system, then it's back to the chapel for me and my baby.

Seriously!
My sister is a private person so she always used the mother's lounge. But, she would find people chatting and they wouldn't leave. She even had someone come in while she was breastfeeding. It was a man using the mother's lounge to extend the calling. He was surprised someone was in there but he DIDN'T LEAVE. The person being extended the calling was shocked and didn't know what to do (she was in YW's).

I also remember going off to use the mother's lounge during sacrament meeting only to find kids from the other ward playing around in there instead of going to class. I, not being shy, asked for a seat and once I started getting ready to whip out that boob those girls left. LOL! But not everyone is like me.

I preferred nursing the lounge because they have nice comfy chairs and arm rests which makes breast feeding far more comfy than in the pews.

I've also nursed in class during Sunday School (I always try to sit in the very back corner) and Relief Society, because you can't hear those lessons in the Mother's Lounge. All of my small babies have been very frequent nursers, so if I've wanted to get *anything* out of my Sunday meetings during those first six months, then my only option was to nurse in class/Sacrament meeting.

Amen! I had to feed my kiddo frequently too and sometimes I really didn't want to miss a great lesson so I'd feed the kiddo in the back.

[Hemidakota]

When serving in the Bishopric, the mother's lounge or nursing room was off limits to all males.

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by Hemidakota

When serving in the Bishopric, the mother's lounge or nursing room was off limits to all males.

now in the wards I have visited with one isn't that were the changing space is? I have issues with that too men should be allowed to change their babies, in our branch the changing space in the back of the ladies loo, wondering if that will change now our branch president has a baby due

-Charley

[Gwen]

we have a changing station in our men's room, though i don't know that it's ever been used lol

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by Gwen

we have a changing station in our men's room, though i don't know that it's ever been used lol

lol I just know my husband has the choice between barging into the ladies or going into another room but it means during class time only I can change my baby, as Sunday is one of the few days I parent double handed why shouldn't it be my dirty nappy day off, having said that I know my hubby is an amazing Dad that way, Stake Presidents wife asked me how I coped in our branch as RS is stuck in the chapel bit with screens across so in order to take my baby out I need to disturb priesthood she was shocked when I said I just gave the baby to my hubby

Also shouldn't there be a place where fathers of bottle fed or women who can express can take their fractious children?

-Charley