[Dante3]

With breast-pumps available, there is no need for anyone to bare their breasts in public.

As for demanding an apology, I am sick and tired of these apology tirades.

[kiki04]

I was a breastfeeding mom, and have you ever used a breast-pump??? they hurt, and they take forever. To get the effect, place a vacuum on your penis. Now leave it there for a half hour.

Why do some people have such a problem with nursing in public? AS LONG AS IT IS DONE DISCRETELY. I, and everyone I know, always nurse with covering, or in a nursing top so nothing is exposed. What is so wrong with that?

[sportutegrl]

You think with a name like Dante, you would know the hell of breastpumps. Newborns have to be fed every three hours, for up to 20 minutes at a time. This is time intensive. If one were to express milk, that would take an additional 20 minutes in addition to the time it takes to feed the baby. Not to mention that you have to keep the milk refrigerated, then reheated, but not in the microwave, because it ruins breastmilk. Plus bottles, washing, etc. Breastmilk is easier. It is already at serving temperature, it is fresh, you don't need a bottle. It is cheap, which is a good thing for us stay at home moms trying to get by on one income. It is handy, you don't have to lug about a bunch of stuff, you already have all of what you need with you. Did I mention that it is better for the baby? Not just the milk but the whole breastfeeding experience, which you can't get from a bottle.

[22cal]

You are obviously completely ignorant of breastfeeding-- its scientific and emotional bases. The actual feeding with the mutual touching and hormones involved physically stimulates milk production. A pump is a very poor substitute for the law of supply and demand in this God-given relationship.

What our culture needs to do is get over its obsession with breasts as sexual and realize that they have a practical use. In general naturally fed babies are healthier and benefit from a stronger maternal-child bond.

I discreetly fed 3 daughters in public in the seventies and eighties. Now mothers themselves, my daughters feed their babies in public discreetly. I would be extremely offended if one of them were ticketed as this young woman was (who was, if you cared to read the article, discreetly nursing).

[Calpernia]

Breast pumps don't work on every woman.

I only know one mom personally that was able to pump. The rest, no.

[agrace]

My youngest wouldn't take a bottle at all. What should I have done with her?

FWIW, I think the apology demand is silly and redundant.

[Mrs. Don-o]

With breast-pumps available, there is no need for anyone to bare their breasts in public.

This is factually incorrect, I'm sorry to say. Many breast-fed babies will not suck an artificial nipple. I know. How infantile. (Sigh.)

[tuffydoodle]

"With breast-pumps available, there is no need for anyone to bare their breasts in public."

I'm so glad you said that. All those women who bought expensive breast pumps that were never able to get their milk to let town by a piece of loud, sucking plastic, well, they should have talked to you, the expert on everyone else's breast function.

[hope]

I didn't expect an apology from the ignorant flight attendant who asked me to stop nursing my son in flight. I didn't apologize for what I said in return either. That being said. There are places you can go to breast feed without offending someone and then there are ways to discreetly do it if you cannot leave. Breast pumps don't work for everyone. I find that the anti breast feeding people are usually nags or the offspring of nags.

[Xenalyte]

I stand with you, so let's put on our asbestos underthings, 'cause the flames are incoming!