[Tax-chick]

I have been nursing babies most of the time for the last 15 years, and I’ve had one complaint (from some old guy in a Weight Watchers meeting, passed to me through the leader). Other than that, not one comment other than “beautiful baby” ... not in the library, not in the church choir in front of God and everyone, not in the airport or museum or park or zoo.

This is not Sudan ... for better or worse, open breastfeeding is not customary in the United States, and most mothers get along just fine without making a big deal about it. Observers who fuss most are probably the same people who have their eyes glued to Megyn Kelly or Kim Kardashian on a magazine cover, thinking that maybe they glimple just a hint of visible nipple.

[trisham]

My mother nursed seven children, while we traveled all over the world. In airports, on ships, on planes, everywhere. At no time was she immodest. She always kept a cloth with her to conceal herself, and never had a problem.

I don't buy these stories.

[Vermont Lt]

I have to laugh about this. On a ride home from visiting the parents my daughter announced she was hungry. NOW! So we pull off the highway and pull into an empty parking lot. My wife and daughter got down to business, and up drives the local cop.

He had me out of the car, Into his back seat while he spoke to my wife to make sure everything was ok. Of course, my daughter is screaming. It took about ten minutes for the cop to fully get what was going on.

Then we were “allowed” to carry on.

I would take someone quietly feeding their daughter with a blanket over them over getting hassled by Barney Fife in Harvard Mass.

[Auntie Mame]

When a new mother and my baby was brand new, I met five friends in a coffee shop to show them the baby. We ordered six ice teas and proceeded to talk. The baby started fussing and I put her under my blouse to nurse, absolutely nothing of the baby could be seen as she was so tiny and she quit fussing and was quiet.

The waitress came over with the ice teas and apparently was so horrified at the site (of nothing) that she dropped the entire tray of drinks.

Other than that, no one ever commented at all about the baby breastfeeding, probably because no one could even tell (the few other times we were out in public) as she was always completely covered. Heaven knows most women don’t want their breasts showing in public in the first place. But they sure don’t want a squalling hungry baby.

I thought we had gotten beyond this squeamishness but maybe not.