Posting photos of nursing babies online

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2001
Posting photos of nursing babies online
1029
Wed, 09-05-2007 - 10:52am

On another board, a poster has a long siggy that includes a slideshow of nursing babies from her playgroup. Another poster took offense at it and there has been quite the debate over the appropriateness of the siggy. I posted a message inviting people here to discuss that issue, and I hope that one of the posters from that particular playgroup comes here, at least so we can see what the siggy looks like. I'm having a hard time forming coherent thoughts today, LOL! So don't worry if I don't come back to debate the issue with you, I'm trying to get out of the office so I can go home & sleep.


As "Linda Richmond" (aka Mike Myers) from SNL would say, "talk amongst yourselves."

Mary


Mom to Kevin 11/04/2003


CL, Breast vs. Bottle Debate

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Avatar for tanjanika
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 3:45pm

<< I really don't see the point to the pics of nursing babies.>>

What's the point to pics of babies doing any and everything? Is there a point to posting pics of newborns, fresh out of the oven with the birth glop still on them? Is there a point to the pics that go on birth announcements? What about the pics of Mommy, Daddy, or siblings holding baby for the first time? Many people photograph and post all of the 'firsts' with a baby; first use of the bassinet, first time in the car seat, first time with Uncle Mortimer. Then there's sitting, rolling, crawling... and dare I say the first bite of solid food? I've seen countless (probably in the hundreds of thousands) of pics of infants being fed; bottles, spoons, cups, hands... You name it. Why would the picture of baby being fed in a normal and expected fashion be any more 'pointless' than all of the other normal & expected photographed events of 'life with baby' that we share with friends, families, and perfect strangers?

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It wasn't your art to determine what is to be seen or prominiently displayed. These mothers were capturing, it seems to me, the tender and beautiful moment of nursing.

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The pictures did not include any naked breasts with Babs & Nikki perkily bouncing around topless with 'come hither' gestures, and no babies in sight--from what *I* saw. The pictures were all of babies attached to breasts, and nursing, or smiling. For the record, that makes them 'food breasts', not 'sex breasts'. Irregardless, the photos do not seem to have been posted to satisfy any of your husband's wants either-- unless he wants to see a beautiful breastfeeding baby.

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Some people don't want to see pictures of *any* children, doing anything, in any circumstance at all. It is impossible and a waste of effort to attempt to unreasonably restrict oneself from normal and social acceptable activities (posting pictures of babies being one of them) because you might upset the inappropriate sensibilities of someone who 'might not like it'. I'll bet that not one of those babies have suffered any harm due to anonymous people looking at their cute little pictures over the internet, and shouting in their homes, "my eyes... it burns!" The "negativity" is owned by those who choose to inappropriately make something out of nothing.

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Modesty is subjective. I think that it's safe to assume that the mother's in the photographs found nothing immodest about photographing the babies nursing. *I* don't think that the pictures lack modesty at all.

<< I have to agree that the angle of these shots does tend to show a bit more than if it were irl.>>

I'm currently looking at pics of ds1 on a motorcycle, and ds2 in a lobster pot. I can asure you that I'd never let my 5 yr. old ride a real motorcycle, and that we have no designs on boiling up ds2 for dinner. It's photography. A camera, fortunately, has the ability to capture angles and views that we might otherwise miss.

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Did any of those mothers hint that their experiences had been ruined because of immature and inappropriate reactions, 'Oh look, it's a breast! '? Again, modesty is subjective. It appeared to me that those mothers had the appropriate 'props' & coverings... babies. Not one of us has control over "negative attention" being directed at us by someone else. I've seen a couple walk down the street and attract negative attention because they were not of the same race. I've seen people attract negative attention because they were in some way disfigured. I've seen kids attract negative attention because they wore discount brand clothes. I've seen grocery shoppers attract negative attention for pulling out pennies to pay for a purchase. Doing something normal, natural and expected (like breastfeeding) could very well draw negative attention. Ya just never know. However, I'm not of the opinion that people should hide and restrict themselves from normal activities, because some other people have inappropriate thoughts or behavior.

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Why should breastfeeding advocacy waver or back down to the ridiculous sensibilities of the ickers, gigglers, and the more than mildly disturbing lot who find something sexual about a breastfeeding infant? Catering to nonsense is not equivalent to respecting our fellow human beings, and would do nothing but harm the idea that breastfeeding is normal, and something to be expected.

Jani

Jani

"Laughter is an orgasm triggered by the intercourse of sense and nonsense."

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-05-2007
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 3:53pm
This is the same ideology that supports suing McDonalds because kids are obese.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2006
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 3:55pm

I do not think that a baby should have to have a blanket over their head or go in a bathroom to eat, however I believe that the mother should show as much modesty as possible while still making it a comfortable and enjoyable experience for mother and child without drawing unnecessary negative attention, thus ruining the experience for mother and baby. I believe that this mutual respect for others while still providing comfort, nutrition and a positive bonding experience with your child


I think that most nursing moms on this board (as well as throughout the US) do do this--nurse discreetly.

siggy
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-05-2007
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 3:56pm
As far as I can tell, it's totally random and nonsensical. I got a "personal attack" warning once because I said to someone, "Wow, that post is ironic, considering you said (xxxxx) a few weeks ago."
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2006
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 3:58pm
Wow. I need one of those jaw dropping icons.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2001
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 4:00pm

<<We eat a lot of things we can't digest, all of us, every day. I'm not prepared to say *that* in and of itself is a risk. >>


Yes, you're right, we do, and we as adults have fully matured digestive systems. An infant under

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2001
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 4:02pm
I realllly need to read ahead before posting! You said it much better than I could.

Mary


Mom to Kevin 11/04/2003


CL, Breast vs. Bottle Debate

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2001
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 4:05pm

I won't comment on your story because I have the exact same anecdote...except that the parents in question practiced CIO, bottle propping, etc. and I'm not sure yet how articulate this child is going to be, as he doesn't speak well yet and he's almost 3. I did want to comment on this though:


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Sorry, if I am asked to cover myself and/or leave, I most certainly WILL complain as my rights, and those of my child, are being violated. Not the other way around.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2001
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 4:12pm

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I beg your pardon? You couldn't possibly be serious if you are implying that it suits breastfeeding advocacy, no matter how strong the advocate speaks on the subject. Nobody here is advocating mass murder of people who don't think like we do.

Mary


Mom to Kevin 11/04/2003


CL, Breast vs. Bottle Debate

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Sun, 09-09-2007 - 4:14pm

Not the same, not the same at all.

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