PUBLIC BREAST-FEEDING Nursing begrudged

Mothers say that with discretion, nobody knows they're breast-feeding.
By TRACEY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
When Christina Weinreber's first child was born eight years ago, she was a little nervous about breast-feeding in public. She would throw a blanket over her head to hide what she was doing.
Now, nursing her fifth child, she has no fears about nursing in public.
"I don't have any problem breast-feeding in front of people. You get more used to it the more you do it," said the Liberty mother.
The key, she and others say, is being discreet.
Heidi DiBacco of Hubbard is nursing her second child. She said she practiced at home in front of a mirror before attempting to breast-feed in public.
"When we were out in public, my husband would help by doing things like holding a menu in front of me while I helped the baby latch on. Nobody ever noticed," she said.
DiBacco, a La Leche League leader, said the organization recommends that nursing mothers try to cover themselves if possible.
"You don't want to offend anyone, but you also want to be able to feed your baby in public. It's not something to draw attention to," she said.
Ways to be discreet
Pam Edenfield, a board certified lactation consultant at North Side Hospital, agreed, saying there are several ways to be discreet while nursing.
"I think with what we teach in our classes and what you'll find more and more in magazines is that there are ways to breast-feed discreetly so that people around you may not even realize that's what you're doing. There are clothing companies that market specifically to breast-feeding moms with outfits tailored so that they're not pulling up a blouse, or pulling a breast out."
Kristin Bacho, a La Leche League leader who is nursing her second child, said she breast-feeds just about anywhere.
"I sit in the mall, shopping for clothes, even going to the zoo. I took my older son to the movies when my baby was 6 weeks old, and I just nursed him in the theater. I'll nurse just about any place -- restaurants, malls, even Wal-Mart. I usually try to find a place to sit down, like a dressing room," said the Boardman mother.
Problems encountered
Weinreber said sometimes people would stare at her while she was nursing her firstborn, but these incidents aren't as common now. Edenfield said that in the past she had heard complaints from mothers who had been asked to leave establishments while breast-feeding.
"It's ridiculous if you think about it, because that's like saying you're not allowed to feed your baby there," said Weinreber. "If your baby eats breast milk or your baby eats formula, your baby has to eat. As long as you're being discreet and you're not pulling your shirt up over your head, what's the big deal? If it makes you uncomfortable, then don't watch me. But my baby has just as much right to eat as anybody else."
Many states have passed laws protecting women who breast-feed, though Ohio and Pennsylvania have no such laws. Bacho said she and other La Leche League members are working toward getting a bill passed in Ohio to protect mothers who breast-feed in public.
All three mothers noted that if it's done right, people usually don't even realize that you are breast-feeding.
"People see a lot less than you think they do," said Weinreber.
DiBacco said La Leche League offers helpful hints for breast-feeding mothers, such as wearing a T-shirt under your blouse with slits cut in the appropriate places to facilitate nursing.
Health benefits
Edenfield said there has been an increase in breast-feeding because people are realizing the health benefits, but many mothers are still concerned about nursing in public.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement a few years ago saying babies should get breast milk in their first year. I think most people know the benefits are there now. What we usually have are mothers asking about the problems they can expect to have," she said.
Some establishments, such as Babies R Us and the Southern Park Mall, have designated private areas for breast-feeding. DiBacco said she often looks for stores that sell baby-related items, such as maternity shops, because they tend to welcome nursing mothers.
"Mothers shouldn't feel uncomfortable feeding their baby in public and be forced to hide in a toilet stall while breast-feeding. Nobody can tell what you're doing if you're discreet. Moms should be able to go out and enjoy life and be able to nurse the baby without worrying," she said.
XThe Youngstown/Hubbard/Girard La Leche League meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Call for location: Heather (330) 799-0478, Heidi (330) 534-2146 or Kristin (330) 726-8339.