I don't get it

All this breastfeeding as politics stuff is kind of new to me. I just thought breastfeeding was the best, most natural way to feed babies with a whole bunch of benefits to mom and baby. Before I had a baby myself, I honestly didn't think about it much. I didn't notice breastfeeding moms out and about, but if I did I'd have been more likely to be worried about the presence of a noisy, smelly baby than I would have about breastfeeding.

The only time I've felt uncomfortable about being in the presence of breastfeeding was when someone else was. I remember a mom at my brother's daycare took me into a storage room to show me a box that had once been mine when I had gone to that daycare some eight years earlier, my name was still visible despite time and a coat of paint. It oddly intriguing. Then she wanted me to leave the room. I got that she wanted to nurse (my brother was breastfed), but I couldn't understand why she wanted me to leave. It's not like I would have hung out there forever with her and her boring baby in a storage room. And even when I understood she didn't want to nurse in front of me, I didn't understand why.

I also remember visiting a new mom six or seven years ago. The baby was brand new so she was a bit new to nursing - and it turns out there is a little bit of a knack to breastfeeding and breastfeeding discreetly which she didn't yet have. I didn't care. She had to feed her baby, we just chatted away. But I noticed her husband being uncomfortable as she opened her shirt. I didn't get it - then I realised that he was nervous because I was in the room and sitting directly across from her with a good eyeful of her ta-tas.

In the past, I thought maybe these people were being excessively modest, but hey - each to their own. But now I understand that there's a good portion of people who are somehow deeply offended by breastfeeding and aren't afraid to get all up in your face and say so.

• The Applebees thing where a patron asked the management to accost a breastfeeding woman accusing her of indecent exposure.
• Facebook, the social networking site allowing all kinds of breast-exposing fleshpot photos, but removing images of breastfeeding.
• Bill Maher has a vile rant about breastfeeding, comparing nursing outside the home to masturbation in public. And goes on to say that only in America do women want a medal for giving birth...something that a dog could do.

I won't answer Bill Maher point by point, but just to say that dogs can't in fact give birth to human babies - and while they have occasionally raised human children (I've seen the documentary - thanks Channel 4) the results weren't tip top.

I didn't get that people were worked up about breastfeeding and now I have to admit I don't really understand why. Especially why people are all like "Not while I'm eating..."

Maybe I just have a higher revulsion threshold than others. Maybe my gross-outs are different. But I just don't understand what the big deal about nursing is. You can't see much if anything, nobody's doing it for your titilation - at least I'm not (if I were I wouldn't be wearing the baggy shirt and old sweatpants and I might have taken the time to comb my hair). Anyway, maybe the slummy mummy look is working out for me, 'cause I've only had the occasional rude, disbelieving stare.

But really - what's the deal? I want to know, 'cause I sure don't think it's about the accidental viewing of a bit of breast flesh. It's something about the act of actually feeding a baby. And is this a new thing or am I just now paying attention 'cause I'm nursing a baby?

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More folks are chiming in on this - this list was compiled at Velveteen Mind where there's a fabulous take on the issue.

• Boycott Bill Maher! by VDog and Little Man
• Annual "Boob against Boobs" rant by Triple Venti
• Bill Maher is a BOOB by Domestic Psychology
• My two breasts, I mean, cents by Poot and Cubby
• Boob Juice by A Whole Lot of Nothing
• Blogs Abuzz when Bill Maher Slams Lactivism on Strollerderby by Kelly Mills
• How I became one of THOSE women by Problem Girl
• Bill Maher Talks Breasts and Other Nursing Notes from the Blogosphere by Working Dad: An Unauthorized Guide to Parenting
• OK, Facebook, Let Me Get This Straight by A Mommy Story
• Az the Husband has a Message for Bill Maher by Toddled Dredge
• Bill Maher Makes this Lactivist Want to Breastfeed on his Front Porch and Bring My Friends by Suburban Oblivion
• Dear Bill Maher, Let's Talk Breasts. And Feeding. by A Mommy Story
• A Radical Act (or Suck It, Bill Maher!) by Lawyer Mama
• Breastfeeding In Public (Warning- Offensive Content) by Mojo of a Mama (easily one of my favorite posts so far, and she has lots of pictures, just like me, but even better)
• Beer, breastmilk-- Whatever gets you through the night by Mayberry Mom
• I deserve a medal from needs new batteries
• Dear Facebook and Bill Maher: You're Idiots by A Mom, A Blog, and the Life In-Between
• Breast Practices??? by PunditMom
• First MySpace, Then Facebook, Now Harvard? by IzzyMom