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I was in a church-run workshop today when a woman kindly informed me that when I was playing down on the floor with my baby, particualrly if I lent over, the men on the other side of the room might feel uncomfortable to look in my direction for they would be able to see down my top. I thanked her at the time, and then went to adjust the straps on my breastfeeding tank top, only to realise it was as tight as it was going to go. Puzzled I didn't know what it was she expected me to do or not do. I then wondered, what would I do if my son needed a feed. My breasts would be even more exposed then, would the men feel uncomfortable with this too?! I mean, I usually casually use a wrap to give myself SOME privacy, mainly so people don't see much of my nipple. And a 5 month old can pull on and off all the time making it hard to be discreet. Now I am confused as to whether it will be considered inappropriate to breastfeed in any church meetings. This woman later rang me to "apologise", but then when I asked her about the breastfeeding issue she then said she wouldn't have a problem with it if it was in a woman's meeting, but men find breasts a turn-on (then again they used to ahve to cover chair legs for this same reason). I am confused as to what the politically correct thing AND the morally correct thing is to do in this situation. Do I need to spend $60 per top on clothes suitable for breastfeeding so that it you can't see my bust when I lean over? |
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Re: Breastfeeding and told to cover up in a church function
My attitude has always been "I'll do my best to be discrete and then it's up to you to avert your eyes if you're still uncomfortable". Babies need feeding and its hard enough to get to meetings, let alone sit through a sermon, when your babies are young, so feeding while you're there is essential IMO!
I've fed through sermons and in the middle of church. I did end up leaving and stting in the Hall quite a bit with DD2 but that was only coz there was such a crowd of new mums feeding out there at the time, and I couldnt stay awake for the whole sermon, so I thought, may as well get some fellowship and a comfy sofa! The nearest I've come to being "sprung" was when DD1 was feeding and I was sat on a sofa opposite 3 teenage boys while praying at housegroup some years ago, when baby suddenly pulled my top right up high! Fortunately I remain convinced all three had their eyes shut at the time!
Just for your own peace of mind, you might want to wear your best "covering" clothes for meetings where there are lots of people (to cover all the angles), but I bet most people (especially men) are oblivious to what you're doing there. One of my friends was feeding after the service in our church a decade ago when one of the elders came up for a chat and commented on how baby was having a nice cuddle. He was actually one who was a bit sniffy about b/f in church and yet had no idea what baby was actually doing down there! So much for objecting to the idea!
We're all responsible for our own thought lives, and taking thoughts captive. We're also responsible for being considerate towards our "younger" and "weaker" brothers & sisters (think about the meat offered to Greek idols). Somehow it is necessary to balance these two things when it comes to breast-feeding, but IMO God invented b/f and breasts, so we shouldnt be ashamed of either. Modesty is good, but babies get hungry and starving them isnt good practice!
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Re: Breastfeeding and told to cover up in a church function
I definitely agree with you! I think it's so important to be discreet. I even cover up in a group of women, in fact others do as well.
I think that if we can help someone feel less uncomfortable, it's our responsibility to do so. We should be thinking of others, not ourselves, at all times. Isn't that the point of being a servant to those around us? There are times when just looking away isn't enough. The unfortunate truth is that breasts are now seen as a sexual thing, not only as a means of feeding infants, even though we may only think of them that way right now. Men still get turned on or attracted to the sight of a woman's breast and other women can feel uncomfortable as well, regardless of how or why they can see it. If we can keep another person from "stumbling" we should do whatever it takes.
Yes, breastfeeding is a natural thing and shouldn't make others uncomfortable, but we live in a fallen world and the effects of sin are far reaching.
I know I will probably get some flack about my opinion. People are very passionate about their right to breastfeed in public. Sometimes I think we just need to think about the affect of our behaviour on other people, not just our rights to that behaviour.
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