Is this photo obscene to you?

The Washington State Legislature will be voting on HB 1596 and as it has had no opposition thus far I am confident that it will pass. This is a very welcome law in my eyes, though I think it is sad that we need the law to protect a breastfeeding mother from discrimination. This bill is defined as “Protecting a woman’s right to breastfeed in a place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement.”

I have read a lot of comments about it recently from perspectives of support to ridicule. A common argument I see is “If a woman can breastfeed in public, I should be able to piss in public.” Are they serious? One is feeding and the other is eliminating. Do these people drink their pee in private?

Some people also apparently think that as soon as this passes, breastfeeding women will just start walking around topless, baby hanging off the nipple like a Christmas ornament. Now that is totally ridiculous. That is certainly not what I intend on doing, nor any of the many mothers I know who breastfeed. I do not know a single breastfeeding mother who “whips them out for all to see” (using terms I have heard or read here) or “strips to the waist” to feed her child. I find the most vocal critics are those who have never breastfed and men who feel that breasts are for them, not babies. Naturally there is always going to be that handful of breastfeeding mothers who are fit the stereotype, but every group has them. They do not define me. (Nor do the mothers who say that they would never breastfeed in public, that is their right. They are not me.)

When I was at the mall last weekend and Damian was hungry, Michael and I found a quiet bench (so that he would not get distracted, which equals bitting!) and I nursed him. I would have done it in the food court had it been comfortable. If he would have been screaming for food, I would have done it where ever I was. What do you prefer, a screaming baby or a quiet one? Beyond that question, ultimately, my son’s wellbeing is more important to be then the sensitives of some stranger. I sure as hell am not going to formula feed him when I am out. Formula is vastly inferior to breastfeeding and feeding at the breast is better still then expressed milk in a bottle. I am going to give my child the very best start that I am capable of giving.

That said, I AM discreet and I feel 99% of breastfeeding mothers are. I breastfed him at the pediatricians a few months ago (I do not use a cover) and the nurse did not even noticed. It was really funny actually, she asked me if I breastfed him and I looked down at him and she said “Oh! I guess you do! I thought you were just holding him!”

Some people might say, why do you need a law if most people barely notices or cares? It is the small very vocal minority of people who do notice that we (breastfeeding mothers) feel we need protecting from. Some of the things they say verge on assault. I cannot count the women (even women who use covers!) I know who have been discouraged from breastfeeding or felt shammed by those people who take issue with breastfeeding in public. What are we suppose to do, stay cloistered until the baby is weened? Might as well take away our right to vote while you are at it! (And yes, I do see it as a women’s rights issue.) I have been verbally assaulted for breastfeeding at a local park (I was virtually alone in the park and being just as discreet as I was at the doctor’s office!)

So yes, I am looking forward to this law passing. Will I start flaunting my breastfeeding in public more? Letting the girls hang out for all to see? Of course not. And I don’t know any breastfeeding mother with those intentions. Will anything about me change? Other then finding comfort in knowing that I have the law fully on my side if I am harassed, no.