Finally!

So I finally finished the video in response of the radio interview I had a few days ago regarding a guy who was horrified by a breastfeeding woman! This guy happened to be the host who also brought up the subject on his show and defending himself why he was against it. He called her "crazy" and "rude" through Twitter because she was not breastfeeding in "private" as if breastfeeding is a sexual act?


http://www.youtube.com/v/OD1b9kqt-oE&hl

Breastfeeding is love, why hide it?

Remember the complaint I filed against The Block FM and the host's remarks about Breastfeeding in public is rude and should be done in private? Well, in today's show they had co-host Cassie and she was 'somewhat' FOR breastfeeding in public BUT she said that women need to cover up when breastfeeding a child. Seriously? Are we still dealing with the mentality that breasts are sexual objects and breastfeeding a child in public should be hidden because is obscene? I mean, we are mammals - we have breasts - we make milk. It's what breasts are for!

Some women may feel comfortable wearing a cover while breastfeeding, but to be honest, I have worn covers and they are uncomfortable not only for me but also for my baby. Covers are hot, they are inconvenient, they make the breastfeeding experience very difficult, not to mention that it attracts even MORE attention to the breastfeeding mother. Babies are annoyed by blankets over their heads when they are feeding from their mothers, sometimes they scream because they feel suffocated, I mean mine does! We are sending a wrong message when we tell a breastfeeding mother to cover up. We are telling them that breastfeeding is shameful therefore should be covered. Wait a minute? I thought breastfeeding is the most beautiful thing...?

Breastfeeding can be a challenging experience, so why adding another way to make breastfeeding a difficult task when it is supposed to be care free, natural and convenient? Many mothers give up so early because they feel pressured by society that breastfeeding in public is obscene or needs to be hidden, many cannot afford breastmilk pumps - they are expensive and time consuming, specially if you have several other children. How do we expect to continue to breastfeed our children and enjoy the benefits longer enough when we are put down by society because 'breastfeeding in public' is shameful and should be done in bathrooms stalls? Isn't that unhygienic anyways?

They also commented on how much breast the lady at the game exposed while she was breastfeeding. Tim said it was about 5 seconds before the baby latched back to the nipple which is VERY common in active babies or babies that are distracted by other activities while feeding, in this case = a ball game! Babies, ALL babies, are mobile - I believe there is no such a thing as discreet breastfeeding. It's hard to keep a baby in the breast the whole time. Just like another human, they take breaks after each mouthful, they breathe in between, they get distracted by other people around them and go back to their business, back and forth. It was not like this woman was topless showing off her package, she was just doing what nature intended us to do.

A discrimination like this should not be tolerated, even though they insisted that they did not "discriminate". Really? Let's change the scenario... How about if someone who feels uncomfortable of having a Latino man next to them and tweets that this man should go somewhere else because they don't like Latino men and they feel they should have their own place?

See?

SIGHS! Anyways... I was able to get a hold of Cassie and I was asked to be in their show 8:40 AM. PST 12:40 EST (my time!). I really think someone should defend our right to breastfeed in public, with a cover or not - it's not about the mother's rights to breastfeed, it's all about the child's rights to be breastfed! ANYWHERE!

Just filed a complaint...

..to manager@1490wwpr.com and info@925kyhy.com after one of their radio hosts used Twitter to bash a breastfeeding woman at a Dodgers game.

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I just wanted to file a complaint about Tim Mihalsky co-host of the show The Block FM about Breastfeeding discrimination comments he made in his show and also Twitter.

According to http://www.firstright.org
"Public disapproval undermines a mother’s confidence in her ability to breastfeed, which the medical community affirms is the best way to feed a baby."

also,
"It is discrimination. Breastfeeding children and mothers are singled out when they are
approached to cover, move, or be more discreet and can be made to feel that they are
doing something shameful or inappropriate." Which he made real clear that breastfeeding in public is rude and should be done in private.

And...
"Soundbites:

• Breastfeeding mothers have nothing to hide.
• Breastfeeding is a normal, natural, healthy part of parenting.
• Breastfeeding is nothing to be ashamed of, and need not be covered up.
• The only definition of “discreet” that should matter is that of the mother herself.
• Mothers shouldn’t feel they need to hide themselves or their babies while the baby eats nature’s perfect baby food.
• I don't eat under a blanket, and I don't expect my children to do so either.
• Medical professionals all tell us breastfeeding is best for babies, but mothers still encounter significant cultural resistance to nursing in public.
• Breastfeeding is what breasts are for.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least the first year and the World Health Organization recommends at least two years.
• We’re working towards peaceful, respectful treatment of mothers and babies.
• It's not about my right to breastfeed. It's about my child's right to eat."
  

I feel like this should be addressed appropriately. I am currently a breastfeeding mother of a boy and had breastfed my other 2 kids during infancy and his comments are totally inappropriate and shows discrimination to all breastfeeding mothers.

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Please read The Feminist Breeder blog, who was personally attacked by this man today during his radio show and who has no right to make such discriminative comments against a Breastfeeding mother. You can also read Eco Baby Steps blog, with details on some of this guy's tweets.