Expert: ruth kraft - 12/7/2009

Question
I'm a 22 year old mother and I have a baby who I breastfeed regularly. It is legal to breastfeed in public where I live but I've never done it before. I have some questions about public breastfeeding... If I breastfeed my baby in a public park, are people allowed to take pictures of my boobs without asking? And if someone secretly takes a picture of my boobs while I'm breastfeeding and I find about it afterwards, am I legally allowed to make him delete that picture? Or does he have rights to take a picture of anything he wants in public? I'm okay with horny guys staring at my boobs while I'm breastfeeding my baby in a public park but I just don't want someone to take a picture of my boobs and put it on the internet where my parents or employer or children can see. So, if I breastfeed my baby in public, is it inevitable that pictures of my boobs will be posted on the internet?  

Answer
Congrats on breastfeeding. I am proud of you :) Some of these I know the answer too some I dont. You will have to check with your own legal jurisdiction to find out some details. You can also go to www.lli.org and call and talk to the dept there that works with legal issues.

My guess would be that if you are in public, anyone can take your photo. My suggestion would be to not take your whole top off to nurse in public. THen no one will even know you are nursing. If you have a tshirt on, and then life it, the baby will be in front of you and not show much. I highly doubt that anyone would want a picture of your baby in your lap, it would seem kind of silly and a waste of time .

I dont know if you can legally make them delete the picture, but again, don't show alot of skin and this wont be an issue.

I also doubt that even a horny man will sit and stare at your breasts while your nursing. Usually once you have a baby at the breast, even the horniest of men find other things to look at. Breastfeeding, except to a rare few sick people , and they are rare, is not a turn on.

No its not inevitable to have them posted on the net. However, BE DISCREET and you wont have to worry even if one is on the net. If you are nursing in public, be proud, but you dont need to walk around bare chested. Cover what you can, be discreet and none of this will be an issue.

And if anyone asks you to leave a place because you are nursing, or to go into a restroom, You then can take legal action. In most states...

good luck!