I’m coming in late to the discussion here … but I can’t resist adding my two cents.
Breastfeeding is a very personal decision. There are many factors that come in to a mother’s decision to breastfeed. I take the decisions I make about my child’s health very seriously. I do the research, and choose what I think is best for my child and our family. I don’t think poorly of bottle feeding mothers, but I ask that they grant me the same respect for my decision to breastfeed.
To me, mothering isn’t about what’s convenient for me or anyone else. It’s about providing for my child to the best of my ability. Honestly, I never considered not breastfeeding. Sure, some might think that leaking breasts, having to unsnap bras, stuffing your baby under your shirt are inconvenient. And even if they were (although I never found it so), it would be worth it to me to provide my baby with the best possible nutrition available. There are so many health benefits for nursing, both to mother and baby. Here is a link that explains some of these benefits in more detail:
http://www.lalecheleague.com/FAQ/advantages.html
Another issue brought up here are older children nursing. As someone else mentioned, breastfeeding serves not only as a means of nutrition, but also to promote bonding between mother and child. Often children “comfort nurse”. Personally, I think this is yet another means of meeting my child’s needs. Yes I realize there are other ways to comfort a child, and they should also be employed as well. But I wouldn’t refuse my child the comfort of nursing any more than I would refuse to kiss his skinned knee. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding at least until one year. Longer than that if desired by both mother and child. The World Health Organization recommends nursing for at least two years. I recommend checking out this link if you’re interested in learning more benefits of extended nursing. http://www.lalecheleague.com/FAQ/advantagetoddler.html
I’m realizing that it sounds like I have had a long breastfeeding relationship with my child. Unfortunately, I was only able to nurse him until he was 4 months old. At that point I had to start a regimen of chemotherapy which was too toxic to continue nursing him through. I mourn the premature ending of our nursing relationship to this day. If I were still nursing, I would happily do so in public. Sure, I might get one or two nasty stares. But I also might inspire someone who had previously thought it too difficult, or too revealing, or just not practical. If I could help just one babe receive the multitude of benefits of mother’s milk, it would be worth it.
Fortunately we’re not debating whether or not a baby has a right to it’s mother’s milk in public or otherwise, only if others are comfortable with seeing it. If someone is uncomfortable with it, I’m sorry. It’s a small price to pay for the health of our children.
~Christine
) I would walk across the street from the beach and run in for a soda then cross back over to the beach, sometimes with a towel or shorts and sometimes not. 
next . . .
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