After reading some of the bewildering and/or vile comments against the MSNBC article and my site, I’m wondering what exactly is it that these individuals fear would happen if women simply went about their business and breastfed their babies whenever and wherever they needed to. What is the horrible dire thing that would happen? Well, those who don’t want to see breastfeeding in public are happy to tell you! Here are some of those dire events they think up - I will use the exact phrases and words they did – I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried, some of it is so odd. I won't go into picking apart their spectacularly failed logic, it is self-evident. But I am feeling snarky enough to add my initial reactions in italics.

“Extracting bodily fluids” in public might become the norm. People will feel free to just pull down their pants and urinate wherever they want.

They will also feel free to engage in public spitting, and um, sweating. (huh?)

Innocent children would have breasts blasted in their face. (oh my! Do any of your breasts blast?? Mine never have, and I’m wondering just exactly what that is)

Society will become even less civilized. (I guess realizing that breasts aren’t just for sex will piss off a lot of people and cause rampant grumpiness?)

At any rate, this increase in uncivilized behavior will cause life to be a lot less pleasant during the “end time” and “last days” here on earth.

If breastfeeding in public becomes the norm, people will feel free to fart in elevators. (they don't already? lol)

Everyone will see how motherhood destroys a woman’s body. (???)

Mothers are hastening the demise of humanity through overpopulation. (ok, what that has to do with breastfeeding I don’t know but someone thought it made their argument against NIP stronger somehow…)

Women will become more promiscuous, since breastfeeding in public is equivalent to having sex with anyone and everyone. (that one told me a bit too much about what goes on in that reader’s mind, eek)

I think that’s enough, don’t you? It’s funny at first but a sad commentary on society as a whole. Fortunately, the negative comments, as ugly as they are, comprise only a small percentage of the messages that come through www.nurseherenow.com. We’ve focused on them with tongue in cheek, but the truth is - and pay attention here, moms – very few people feel that negatively about nursing in public. Most who are not supportive of nursing in public feel a vague sense of discomfort and then take responsibility for their own needs and look away. The odd few who have extreme or strange thoughts like those listed above, are irrelevant to our decision making process when it comes to choosing where and when to feed our children.

So back to my original question – what are the consequences of breastfeeding in public? What would happen if we all breastfeed our babies where and when they need it? Here are a few things that can really happen.

As a mom, you will feel free to travel when and where you choose. You will enjoy the full, complete convenience of breastfeeding, when you realize you don’t have to endure the added hassles of pumping, bottles, artificial nipples, washing and sterilization of equipment.

You will feel much more comfortable as your baby enjoys his or her meal. Instead of feeling a letdown of milk from your painfully engorged breasts while your child drinks from a bottle, and wondering, “how long can I tolerate this miserable discomfort?” while calculating how long it will take to get home and crossing your fingers you don’t get a plugged duct or mastitis… you’ll enjoy the normal, convenient biological process of breastfeeding and go about your business in greater comfort, able to keep your mind on your tasks and your baby. It’s very freeing to realize you don’t have to risk your breast health, your milk supply or endure engorgement, just to please some random strangers.