breastfeedin in public

[Ragirl]

I cant wait to breastfeed when my LO is born and woe betide anyone who tries to stop me doing it in public! I will NOT become a social outcast sitting in my house for 9 months just to make ignorant narrow minded people feel better about themselves. If you dont like it...dont look!!!!

And can I get an "AMEN" from the audience please

 

[Samantha675]

DH an I went out Saturday night to eat with my parents, and Bren was acting up, so I decided to pop him on the boob. My mother asked if I wanted to go to the bathroom to do so. I looked at her and asked her if she wanted to eat her dinner in the toilet, and she of course said no, so I told her, well neither does he. She just smiled and said good for you!

 

[Ragirl]

That is great Samantha...how wonderful to have that kind of support!!

 

[mBLACK]

I would breatfeed in public just throw something over my booby so nobody gets a sneak peek at it!

 

[Zarababy1]

A bit off the subject but i relised today the builders building a school right opposit my house can see right in my living room window! so when im walking round with one boobie out because charlie cant decided if hes had enough or not they all get a good eye full! i wonder if they fight on a morning who gets the corner thats got a good view of my house! I dont care iv got no shame anymore!

 

[Lyns]

As some of you may know, I am an active member, volunteer and trained supporter for one of the 4 main UK breastfeeding organisations (The Assocation of Breastfeeding Mothers) and this has been a very common subject raised to us recently. It is true that the government is currently looking at legislation, but from there on, there are many facts and myths that are getting blown out of proportion, and causing distress to many mothers at a time in their lives when they should be able to relax and enjoy feeding their precious bundle!

Earlier this month (July 2008 ) the editor of our magazine and journal received this letter below, from Barbara Follet , the Deputy Minister for Woman and Equality. It gives unequivocal support from our government for breastfeeding in public right now, despite the uncertainlty in the current legislation. Permission was given to share the text of this letter anywhere that may be useful.

Dear editor

Breast is best for babies

Like most people, the Government believes that breast is best for babies. That is why we are doing everything we can to encourage mothers to breastfeed and to make sure that they are aware of its benefits.

But, for many mothers, the uncertainty surrounding where they can breastfeed is a real deterrent. Babies do not get hungry to order and mothers have to be confident that they can feed their infants in a café, restaurant or shop without the embarrassment of having the owner ask them to stop.

In fact, this type of discrimination has been unlawful for women with babies of any age for more than thirty years, and the mother could challenge the owner under the Sex Discrimination Act. We strengthened this Act with extra 'maternity' protection, which means that if the baby is less than six months old the mother could also challenge the owner on the grounds of her maternity.

Some people also think that women can be charged with indecency for breastfeeding in a public place. This is, I am glad to say, utter nonsense and completely wrong.

But, as you can see from the above, the law is not as clear as it could be. People are unsure of their rights and their responsibilities in this area. That is why the Government will be using its forthcoming Equality Bill to make it crystal clear that it is simply not acceptable to shoo breastfeeding mothers and their babies out of places like coffee shops, public galleries and restaurants.

We hope that this will give women complete confidence that the law is on their side when they are breastfeeding their babies.

Yours faithfully,

Barbara Follett, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality

I hope this may prove useful to any of you who find it concerning to feed your little one in public. I love feeding my 16 month old daughter wherever I need...., and am proud to do so. For those that do not know our story, my breastmilk has most probably saved her life, and I therefore will fight for any woman to be able to do the same for her child if she so chooses.

 

[clairebear]

thanks for posting that lyns there is a lot of confusion over the laws and im pleased to see the law is on our side and all those narrow minded people can run and take a jump xx

 

[leedsforever]

it is nice to know law is on our side..... but it still doesnt stop the looks and stuff I can only assume breastfeeding mothers get!!!

Hopefully soon we will have a society where it wont be seen like that!!

 

[Ragirl]

Lyns- just a quick question- the letter specifically mentions protection if the baby is less than 6 months..so what does that mean if baby is over 6 months.

Also, I'm just curious- you said mommas milk saved your baby- would you mind telling your story again or tell me where to find it...I love wonderful stories like that!

 

[Ragirl]

Zarababy... too funny

 

[lauren-kate]

I also noticed this article as a link from one of The Times ones you posted - https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article460656.ece. That woman is so closed-minded, it's unbelievable! I really admire you all for standing up to these idiots. I tried to breastfeed and was disappointed when I was unable to x

 

[leedsforever]

so what shes just going to stay in for the first 6 months of her babys life....and develop PND!!! She cant say what "she would do" she doesnt know!!!

I dont get why people are so threatened by the boob!! Its ok for them to be parading on front of nuts magazines and page 3 of the sun!! Would she ban those types of mags and papers in her restaurant too!!! What about females who dress with them nearly hanging out??

Shes an idiot!!

 

[Ragirl]

That's what really t's me off. Women show more boob in some of the clothes they wear than I ever did nursing my son!

 

[lauren-kate]

"Freedom is the nub of the matter: freedom to whip your boobs out in public or freedom to dine without having a bosom waved in your face with a slobbering infant attached to it."

I don't see how anyone would be waving a bosom in her face.. If she doesn't want to see it, she doesn't need to be looking. There are surely plenty of places in the restaurant where there is no-one breastfeeding, if she wishes to be somewhere where that isn't happening. I'd like to know if she's had children since posting that article, and see if she's changed her mind about the matter. x

 

[Lyns]

There are often two things behind articles like these.

The first is ignorance and presumption. They presume you need to wave huge bare breasts around in front of everyone to actually make it clear that you are breastfeeding and nothing could be further from the truth. I've fed my 16 month old on public so many times, but 99% of the time its gone unnoticed. I was in coffee shop the other day, one I've signed up to be breastfeeding friendly, and the owner commented to me that no one ever breastfed in there anyway. When i told her that i did frequently, and have friends that do the same, she was so surprised. I explained most mum's just get on with it and it just looks like your giving your little one a cuddle.

The second is rare, but there have been proven instances of back-handers from formula companies to journalists on the broadsheets, to produce an anti-bf story to boost formula marketing campaigns. They aim to raise doubts where they can about breastfeeding in a supposedly intelligent way, as it's supposedly an intelligent paper. Sadly, it often works.

 

[Wobbles]

Lyns don't take me wrong on this because I do believe Mummys should be able to breastfeed in public places a child needs fed end of and no shouldn't be bannished to the Mum & baby rooms (I read that somewhere) but a part of your post:

They presume you need to wave huge bare breasts around in front of everyone to actually make it clear that you are breastfeeding and nothing could be further from the truth

A general answer not one specific but some women do get on like this - you have to know that Not you maybe but some women are very rude in yoru face about it (why?) and so what who gives a hoot about it which when a woman is like that its obvious to all around! When a nursing Mum is just feeding her baby relaxed not wanting attention and so on nobody notices ... An example and I hope Helen with twins does not mind me mentioning this last year we had a meet at Chester Zoo Helen & some others were in before us ...we found them amoung soooo many people in the eatting/picnic area and I was talking away to her ....15 minutes later I realised she was breastfeeding I was awwww you know why because I have seen women just whip their boobies out undiscreetly pulling faces.

Hope that doesn't comes across wrong because as I say I do think women should be able to breastfeed when out and about & I feel for anyone who comes acorss any unnessasary situations & humilation for it

x

 

[leedsforever]

I really have never seen a woman breastfeeding in a way where the whole boob is on display!! Im not saying it doesn happen because people experience it but I think the majority are very discrete!

And the comments I were getting on the other forum about breastfeeding, it came across as most men felt that this is the way women do it!!

 

[Wobbles]

I have over time

Just because it may be a small minority it doesn't mean none ...which makes some think every mother is like this maybe? Answer to men ...they just silly

All I was saying is it does happen like that regardless of how many - I'm not BF Mummy hats off to your girls but like I say nothing I replied was me 'against' breastfeeding in public completely the opposite.

 

[sam's mum]

Some women do, and while they are a small minority they are the only ones that some people notice at all (as most people do it so discreetly) - so people do assume that everyone feeds in that way. I can't see why anyone would want to tbh. While I will feed Sam in public if we're out and he's hungry, I don't want anyone to be able to see anything! x

 

[leedsforever]

Just because it may be a small minority it doesn't mean none ...which makes some think every mother is like this maybe? QUOTE]

Totally agree....

its stereotypes isnt it!! because someone had a bad police man.... means all police are bad!! Police are victim of this all the time!!

i definetly wont be whipping my boobie out lol!!