WDMNT? (or WDformerMNT)

[beachy]

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=368935636497967&set=a.183239881734211.45778.174081959316670&type=1&theater

I saw this on a group page and have seen a lot of debate on it. What do you think?

[brandienee]

The only problem I see with that is that they are wearing their uniforms... But it's a mild annoyance. I don't have a problem with BFing in public, and I don't know what the Military says about BFing in ABUs

[beachy]

In general I'm fine with breastfeeding in public. I'm not a big fan of the whole movement though that makes a point of breast feeding in public without covers just to prove a point. I don't think BF moms should be treated like crap, but in turn when they do the BF sit ins and things I think they are making non-BF moms feel like crap. I don't think you should be knocking some moms just to make others feel better.

As for the picture though I don't think it's appropriate in their uniforms to be doing it for publicity thing, if that was the purpose. I feel like their COC would be pissed if they saw it (especially since it's on multiple boards and forums) and there could be consequences for them. If there are regulations about sleeves and hair and everything else with a uniform I feel like there should be a regulation against this as well.

[Deleted]

I think they are purposefully using the uniform to say "Even the military thinks it is okay!!". I'm down with BFing and NIP. I don't even care if they do it in uniform out of necessity but I feel like they are making a point to do it in the uniform.
I have mixed emotions. If they were bottle feeding their kids in uniform, would it make this much of a stink? No.

[NomadicMama]

May 27, 2012 9:26:54 GMT -5 beachy said:

In general I'm fine with breastfeeding in public. I'm not a big fan of the whole movement though that makes a point of breast feeding in public without covers just to prove a point. I don't think BF moms should be treated like crap, but in turn when they do the BF sit ins and things I think they are making non-BF moms feel like crap. I don't think you should be knocking some moms just to make others feel better.

As for the picture though I don't think it's appropriate in their uniforms to be doing it for publicity thing, if that was the purpose. I feel like their COC would be pissed if they saw it (especially since it's on multiple boards and forums) and there could be consequences for them. If there are regulations about sleeves and hair and everything else with a uniform I feel like there should be a regulation against this as well.

^^^ This.

I feel that they are making a statement that, by wearing their uniforms, implies the support or consent of the military.

[letsbeawkward]

Someone posted this on my Facebook with an actual link to the photographer's blog with all of the pictures. There were a lot of pictures of other moms (not in uniforms) and they were all really beautifully done. They were taken for a breastfeeding support group on base. I don't have an issue with it.

[letsbeawkward]

I have no idea what the military says about bf'ing in public in uniform but since this was for a program on base, I wonder if they received permission.

[housegeek]

I wouldn't have been comfortable nursing in public in uniform. I was given a space to pump when I was working, and that was fine, but I never would have been ok being in public with my uniform out of regs.

[beachy]

I haven't seen any comments anywhere where anyone feels female SM's can't BF in uniform. I can only speak for myself but for me I think the issue is more if they are doing it as a publicity thing. I never heard anything more behind it until this thread, so maybe they did have their COC's permission to pose with the breasts exposed in uniform. Yes I fully understand that they are providing food for their children, but that doesn't change the fact for me that they are doing it for pictures that are being published by this photographer.

[letsbeawkward]

I guess I just don't see the issue with the uniform since it was published for the pupose of a military mom's bf'ing support group, on base. I don't believe they were trying to make some political statement.

[housegeek]

May 27, 2012 19:30:40 GMT -5 @ojo said:

May 27, 2012 19:22:42 GMT -5 housegeek said:

I wouldn't have been comfortable nursing in public in uniform. I was given a space to pump when I was working, and that was fine, but I never would have been ok being in public with my uniform out of regs.

Realistically, anyone who cares about public perception and respects the wear of the uniform isn't hanging out in a park on a Saturday afternoon. They're on base, perhaps on a break, not exactly hanging out at Target or Applebee's for dinner, ya know?

On base isn't public, IMO. But when you have photos taken to be shown to the general public, in out of regs uniform, yeah that's an issue with me.

[beachy]

Like I said I had no idea about that until you said it. But it doesn't change the fact that people have mixed feelings about it.

Ojo I think that's the bigger thing for me is that it's like they are out in public, not on base doing for necessity. I definitely would have a different opinion of the pic if they showed mom's in the CDC or lactation room.

[twoslicehilly]

I think it's absolutely beautiful. A mom, no matter her job, should be able to breastfeed any where. any way she wants. If she wants pictures documenting that she was in the Military, and was breastfeeding, I don't think there's a thing wrong with it.
If they were in any other uniform would it be an issue???

[beachy]

May 27, 2012 20:06:52 GMT -5 twoslicehilly said:

I think it's absolutely beautiful. A mom, no matter her job, should be able to breastfeed any where. any way she wants. If she wants pictures documenting that she was in the Military, and was breastfeeding, I don't think there's a thing wrong with it.
If they were in any other uniform would it be an issue???

It's one thing to want the pictures for yourself, but to do them for the public to see is different. Personally I don't see the appeal in that type of pictures at all. If I do choose to BF I will have no interest in having pictures of it. But to each their own.

I said this on another discussion about it when someone brought up "other uniforms." I don't consider that to be a fair comparison at all because I don't know if there is any other profession that has such strict uniform regs as the military.

[housegeek]

May 27, 2012 20:19:07 GMT -5 beachy said:

May 27, 2012 20:06:52 GMT -5 twoslicehilly said:

I think it's absolutely beautiful. A mom, no matter her job, should be able to breastfeed any where. any way she wants. If she wants pictures documenting that she was in the Military, and was breastfeeding, I don't think there's a thing wrong with it.
If they were in any other uniform would it be an issue???

It's one thing to want the pictures for yourself, but to do them for the public to see is different. Personally I don't see the appeal in that type of pictures at all. If I do choose to BF I will have no interest in having pictures of it. But to each their own.

I said this on another discussion about it when someone brought up "other uniforms." I don't consider that to be a fair comparison at all because I don't know if there is any other profession that has such strict uniform regs as the military.

:Y:

[housegeek]

You aren't unbuttoning/ untucking your shirt to smoke. My issue has nothing to do with breast feeding and everything to do with not being in regs in public. Which even if the photos were taken on base, the photos are public.
Talking on the phone in uniform was a base by base case, and when I was in school we had to wear uniform on the weekend, which meant going to the mall in uniform. I don't see the issue with being in public while in uniform?

[housegeek]

I was Navy, not AF.
Personally staring at another woman BF doesn't give me that " warm fuzzy feeling" anyway. We didn't have any support posters in our room, and I was fine. I find the concept that you feel the need to see a woman in uniform nursing her kids in order to nurse/ pump very odd.

[twoslicehilly]

I agree it's a little odd to want the pictures posted online, but they whole reason they did it was to bring awareness. All moms, no matter what job they have, should be able to breastfeed wearing whatever they want to.

I did some photos recently of a family, and she said "Could we please take some of me nursing? I never had them with my older daughter and I wish I had. It's such a special thing." It IS special, it's photographs of the mom doing the most natural thing there is, in order to nurture and feed her baby. It's bonding, it's special. They will never have a moment like that one again, where their sweet little baby depends on them so greatly. Needless to say, we did the pictures and they turned out beautiful. I cried when I was working on them ( I'm sure it's not pregnancy related, haha).

I just think it's sad BFing is turning into such a "thing". Advocates feel the need to be more and more bold with something that really isn't meant to be flashed around everywhere. And people that have over sexualized boobs and women for years are becoming more and more frustrated with what they see. I just wish it was left up to "nbd" so women could just nurse to nurse and have that be the end of the "thing".

[beachy]

May 27, 2012 20:41:23 GMT -5 twoslicehilly said:

I agree it's a little odd to want the pictures posted online, but they whole reason they did it was to bring awareness. All moms, no matter what job they have, should be able to breastfeed wearing whatever they want to.

I did some photos recently of a family, and she said "Could we please take some of me nursing? I never had them with my older daughter and I wish I had. It's such a special thing." It IS special, it's photographs of the mom doing the most natural thing there is, in order to nurture and feed her baby. It's bonding, it's special. They will never have a moment like that one again, where their sweet little baby depends on them so greatly. Needless to say, we did the pictures and they turned out beautiful. I cried when I was working on them ( I'm sure it's not pregnancy related, haha).

I just think it's sad BFing is turning into such a "thing". Advocates feel the need to be more and more bold with something that really isn't meant to be flashed around everywhere. And people that have over sexualized boobs and women for years are becoming more and more frustrated with what they see. I just wish it was left up to "nbd" so women could just nurse to nurse and have that be the end of the "thing".

This is pretty much my overall feeling. I wish people could just accept that each woman has the right to choose how she wants to feed her children, and no matter what she chooses she shouldn't be judged. I know pro-BF people claim that's what they want, but I really feel like they are the least accepting of that than anyone. I know multiple people who have strangers make comments to them about their "poor" decision to formula feed. If it's not your kid then mind your own fucking business.

[twoslicehilly]

For those saying it was frustrating because it was out of regs, would you expect a working mom to go get her baby on her lunch hour, change clothes, THEN go to a park to have lunch with her kid and nurse her? Or would you only expect her to stay indoors in a private area so she could nurse out of regs?

[housegeek]

May 27, 2012 21:11:59 GMT -5 twoslicehilly said:

For those saying it was frustrating because it was out of regs, would you expect a working mom to go get her baby on her lunch hour, change clothes, THEN go to a park to have lunch with her kid and nurse her? Or would you only expect her to stay indoors in a private area so she could nurse out of regs?

A working mom in the military or a civilian working mom?

[housegeek]

Assuming you mean a military mom, and assuming that mother had the luxury of seeing her child on breaks and not having to pump...
Discretely nursing on base is fine. Nursing in public in uniform is not. Military members are held to a high standard and I don't know why a nursing mother thinks she would get a pass.

[housegeek]

May 27, 2012 21:26:58 GMT -5 @ojo said:

A high standard that says the kid should go hungry, I guess.

That doesn't even make any sense.

[housegeek]

May 27, 2012 21:34:08 GMT -5 @ojo said:

In all the years since you became aware of uniform regs, have you ever encountered a woman in military uniform off base breastfeeding her child?

Do you really not realize those ads that are linked are public? In uniform, off base?

[housegeek]

A hungry kid doesn't care if it's indoors or outdoors. Are you going to try to tell me that the military doesn't offer anywhere to privately bf?

[housegeek]

It hasn't been hypothetical at all. There is a photo of a woman in uniform nursing. That photo has been posted for the public to see. I find that inappropriate. I don't know where you are getting hypothetical here.

[beachy]

May 27, 2012 21:11:59 GMT -5 twoslicehilly said:

For those saying it was frustrating because it was out of regs, would you expect a working mom to go get her baby on her lunch hour, change clothes, THEN go to a park to have lunch with her kid and nurse her? Or would you only expect her to stay indoors in a private area so she could nurse out of regs?

I think you're reaching. But yes, if a mom wanted to go to a public park to feed her kid, and her work uniform had regs that she was supposed to follow, then yes I would expect her to change her clothes before flashing her breast in uniform in a public place.

[housegeek]

May 27, 2012 21:56:41 GMT -5 @ojo said:

Hypothetical in that it's encouraging leagues of other women to do it. The TWO females in the photo aren't enough for me to be aghast. I have a bigger problem with the 2Lt I encountered in front of the med group the other day wearing his service coat but no tie, hand in pocket as he talked on his phone. I have a problem with the SSgt who was walking into the civilian grocery store Thursday night talking on his cell phone, or the A1C with his hand in his pocket leaving the BX. Those are clear uniform violations. The BFing is not.

While I knew AF was laxed, I didn't know having your shirt open in public was not out of regs. Good to know. In the Navy however, it's a punishable offense.

[housegeek]

I'm not opening that link. I don't care if it's tasteful. It wouldn't fly if she wasn't breast feeding, so it shouldn't just because she is. There is no reason for it.

[housegeek]

May 27, 2012 22:03:50 GMT -5 @ojo said:

May 27, 2012 21:59:36 GMT -5 housegeek said:

May 27, 2012 21:56:41 GMT -5 @ojo said:

While I knew AF was laxed, I didn't know having your shirt open in public was not out of regs. Good to know. In the Navy however, it's a punishable offense.

Now you're just making yourself look like a jerk.

Oh come on, it was funny. You can't just list all these relatively minor offenses and choose to ignore the glaring one.