A young breastfeeding mother in Missouri is fighting over what she says was an unfair comment made by a manager at a local Denny's. As she was nursing her baby, she says a manager told her to cover up. When she said she didn't have a cover, she became embarrassed and quickly left.
The story is making headlines for good reasons. All Tiffany Morgan wanted to do was feed her child and she was made to feel like a common criminal. According to her, no one was even complaining.
Morgan even had a card that stated Missouri's breastfeeding statute. It states that a mother is allowed to breastfeed with as much discretion as possible in any public or private location. Seems clear, no? Um, nope. Actually it's not at all.
What is "as much discretion as possible"? Morgan didn't have a cover but she said she wasn't actively trying to flash anyone. So was she discreet or not? Who decides?
This is the kind of thing that is so ridiculous. A young mom shouldn't have to debate whether or not she is being "discrete" when her baby is hungry. It's a BOOB, people! If you don't like it, look away. For the love of God, it won't bite you.
I will never understand how a mall can be littered with photos of Victoria's Secret models in barely there lingerie, but a breastfeeding mom must be "discreet." Do we really hate babies? Or is it just women's bodies we hate?
We moms SHOULD be sick of this. We should take a stand. "Discretion" should be an etiquette rule, not one that is actually state law. All the state needs to say is that a mom is allowed to breastfeed in public or private. We can take care of the rest.
Most moms know without a law that she shouldn't breastfeed and drive. She knows without a law that she shouldn't breastfeed while in a moving vehicle. So my guess is most women are smart enough not to purposely try to flash a whole restaurant of people their naked upper body.
If that happens, it's because the baby was hungry.
When stories like this happen in restaurants, it's especially galling. Everyone has a right to eat there as they wish except the baby? How does that seem fair? Is a mom just supposed to let her baby scream in hunger so she doesn't discomfit a random person she doesn't even know?
It's insane to think that a mom should feel guilty or bad or wrong for feeding her child. It's hard enough to be a mom in this culture. Are these the "family values" we want to teach?
Shame on any public place that tries to stop a mom from feeding her hungry infant.
Were you ever told not to nurse?
Image via Mothering Touch/Flickr
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Comments 245
I completely disagree that the ONLY purpose of the breast is to feed a child. Ask any man and he'll agree.
Let this subject DIE!!! NOBODY wants to see your tit hanging out while we're eating. NO BODY. I PROMISE. And yes, it is 100% more obvious to see all that flesh hanging out than to see a nice cloth covered up.. guess what junior will get used to it, just like everything else in his life he didn't at first. I'm sorry for the intensity, but it appals me that these grown women all the sudden think NUDITY is suddenly acceptable -- it's not. We are a seperate, evolved species for a reason. Do that in private. Yes it's a good form of nutrition but not something the rest of public needs to see.
I am SO tired of hearing about this happening. Why should a woman who is feeding her baby be treated as if she had walked in and lifted her shirt to flash the whole place? People need to grow the f*ck up and deal with it. It's a breast. It is not something to be ashamed or afraid of. It feeds babies. It sustains life. Get over your own stupid societal hang ups and let a woman do what she's legally free to do.
I am not sure it's a big problem to be asked to cover up. Unless the manager said cover up or leave the restaurant. I mean it is a place where people go to eat and a lot of places say not shirt, no shoes, noservice. So it's like she's not wearing a shirt. I think if you are going to breast feed in public you should bring a cover. Even if you use the baby's blanket. Even if you don't have a problem with it someone in the restaurant or in the staff at the restaurant might feel uncomfortable. And while I do think it is silly for those people to feel uncomfortable when a woman is just trying to do what's natural for her child it's the way people are. I wanted to breast feed my son and couldn't produce enough so I always looked at other women breast feeding and it made me sad. So anyway, I think she should have had a cover but I don't think she should have been made to leave either.
I think everyone saying that children can't go in resaurants or should be banned is just rediculous. People with children deserve to go out to dinner too even if they have their children with them. They just need to try and keep their children calm.
Oh and btw I see nothing "classy" about the "f*ck you and the horse you rode in on if you don't wanna see my boob" attitude coming from the uncovered BFers.
I should have read some of these ignorant comments before I posted. I mean really, people. Breastfeeding is not for public places? What are you ON? And comparing a nursing baby to a catheter bag? SERIOUSLY?!
There is a serious problem in western culture that breasts are so over sexualized. I feed my son in public because he is hungry. I shouldn't have to and will not stay at home to plan my day around feeding him at home. Why should I have to limit myself to that? He is 7 months old and has never taken a bottle, so pumping is out of the question. I applaud all the women who stand up for our right to feed our children in public from the natural source of nourishment. It astonishes me everyday that other women will speak negatively against another mother trying to do what is best for her baby. Who are you to judge what she does with her child? She wasn't abusing him, she was loving him and giving him the best food out there. I know there are some babies out there that don't nurse well and I am not saying formula feeding is the devil. But come on... had formula never been there, breastfeeding in public would be the go to thing... So shame on the manager for saying something to the woman, and shame on your mothers for not supporting her right to feed her child however she chooses. Whether you like it or not!
@Sasha, shame on you for blowing this way out of proportion. No one tried to stop this lady...so why would you make that statement? This has nothing to do with hating babies or womens bodies. Its about liking decency. The Victorias Secret photos you talk about, I've never seen one in a Denny's so how is that relevant to this situation? No one complained about the baby eating, the complaint allegedly was that the mother wasnt covered. Are you able to understand the difference? How come everytime a mom is asked to show some decency it gets twisted into "babies have the right to eat" when the "right to eat" is not the issue at hand.