breastfeedin in public

[Wobbles]

Pfft. I think it's a shame that we are made to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, or judged... I guess it's best just to ignore what other people think, or may say to you about feeding your baby (whether you're bottle or boob feeding) - Just do what you know is best - It's your baby, and your right to choose after all!

I guess thats every parent then because Mummies are made to feel uncomfortable for formula feeding too so which ever Mummy decides to do theres always one side looking down on you for one reason or other ...some girls are even starting to feel uncomfortable posting formula questions on BnB if it be because it was their first choice or second ... Humph!

 

[csmummu]

Wow girls Thanks gor a great read! you have defently made up my mind to bf number 2. Caitlin was only bf for 8 weeks because we both caught thrush. her in the mouth me in the nipples let me tell you that was worse than labour !! but in those 8 weeks i was bf at peoples house in frot of her mum and boyfriend - he chose not to look and i respected him for that.

in burger king! and let me tell you it was sooooo busy i could not sit out of the way i was smack bang in the middle of the resturant and only one person noticed and didint even give me any look. prob wondering why my baby was under a muslin cloth LOL even when she fussed up it was me who panicked and wizzed out of there smartish..

the same day (i live by the seaside so its always busy in the summer) the same day i was on the seafront and had to feed her again and to prop my self up i did it in a tram stop and yup a tram comes along and stops to let people off ... noone batted an eye lid

again family came up to see my mother and father and we all went out to the peir with the kids and yup she wanted feeding and i was like theres no where to sit or anything so my (now hubby) encouraged me to "rugby ball" her and bf so i did and we walked around the peir bfing.

The most uncomfortable time was when my brother turnt to me and said "errr max do you have to..." but he caught me as she was just latching on. so i understood but i also said you can go sit in the other room. needless to say he just ignored it for 10 minuites once she was covered he even sat in the room talking to me. I also reminded him he was breatfed! LAMO for me lol

I cant wait to do it again. maybe once things are a lot clearer we can print out the information and dish it out to people who ask us to stop or move along.

look at me talking like im a bfing momma... need that first lol then i will be buying my sling

Good luck girls and if you do feel a bit (whats the word? im gonna use off) if u feel off about doing it just keep your eyes on your baby and not even look to see if anyone is noticing or talking about you. . . easier said than done when they are so nasty sometimes. failing that buy a copy of buts and keep it in your changing bag... you want discusting titties... HERE!

Wooooh calm down maxi...

 

[Zarababy1]

Well we went too town yesterday and Charlie was soooo hungery i fed him everywere! in the end i had too go home because i couldnt get anything done, i fed him in the bank, in an outdoor cafe even in a shoe shop! the only time somone complained was in the shoe shop some woman had a moan as she was walking away from he but i didnt quite hear what she said! i wish i did tho i would have told her were too go! anyway i got alot of smiles and even a few ppl came over and had a look at him while i was feeding him!

 

[TashaAndBump]

I was at the doctors yesterday, and this little girl (looked about 6 or 7) genuinely did not know that babies are breastfed. She looked at me feeding Anna (she caught me latching her on, otherwise there would have been a cloth over us), smiled awkwardly, stared some more, and then looked embarrassed as she whispered (albeit loud enough for the whole waiting room to hear!), "Mummy, what's that woman doing to that baby?? She has her booby in its mouth!!!". The mother just told her, "That's how you feed babies. After a woman has a baby, her boobies fill up with milk that the baby can eat, because they aren't old enough to eat real food yet." So the little girl asks, "Why can't she eat real food?" and the mum replies, "Because her tummy isn't big enough, and she hasn't got any teeth yet."

These were good answers I thought. Bless the little girl for being so curious! She even came over after that and asked if she could see the baby having its dinner! Didn't quite know what to say lol Thank god her mum distracted her and told her not to be so nosy! haha

I can't believe she didn't know that you can breastfeed babies, though! Madness! lol ...Then again, I suppose all dolls are sold with bottles aren't they - you don't see any that come with prosthetic tits that you strap to your front to feed the dolly with! rofl

... having said that, I remember playing with my "rory-doll" when I was a little girl, and stuffing it up my top, pretending to breastfeed it

 

[TashaAndBump]

Pfft. I think it's a shame that we are made to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, or judged... I guess it's best just to ignore what other people think, or may say to you about feeding your baby (whether you're bottle or boob feeding) - Just do what you know is best - It's your baby, and your right to choose after all!

I guess thats every parent then because Mummies are made to feel uncomfortable for formula feeding too so which ever Mummy decides to do theres always one side looking down on you for one reason or other ...some girls are even starting to feel uncomfortable posting formula questions on BnB if it be because it was their first choice or second ... Humph!

Precisely what I was saying: There is always going to be somebody who wants to judge you or make you feel uncomfortable about your decision and the way you feed your baby, so you might as well just do whatever you want to do - It's your baby, and your right to choose - You will know what is best!

Having said that, I don't think it's mums who look down most (from one side or another) - i.e. I don't think you can say that breastfeeders will look down on bottle feeders, or bottle feeders will look down on breastfeeders - Most of the people who tut, or comment, or judge (in my experience) are usually ignorant old farts who haven't (not recently at least) had the experience of being a mummy and having to make the decision.

 

[sam's mum]

After browsing online forums on people's opinions on this, I now feel really self-conscious about feeding Anna in public.

What is a mum to do? All I want to do is what is best for my daughter, but people always seem to want to interfere or judge you: You're scowled at for giving baby a bottle and judged for not giving your baby what is 'best' for them, and you're judged if you breastfeed in public because you're a so-called exhibitionist, feminist making a point or wanting to make other people uncomfortable by waving your tit around.

I'm feeling quite self-conscious about it now too. I had no idea some people were so disgusted by it, or that people were under the impression that you could just quickly pump a bottle or two to take out at any time, or wait until you are somewhere more private to feed. I'd love to see how much their opinions change if/when they find themselves dealing with a hungry baby.

I guess it's best just to ignore what other people think, or may say to you about feeding your baby (whether you're bottle or boob feeding) - Just do what you know is best - It's your baby, and your right to choose after all!

Well said x

 

[sam's mum]

I guess thats every parent then because Mummies are made to feel uncomfortable for formula feeding too so which ever Mummy decides to do theres always one side looking down on you for one reason or other ...some girls are even starting to feel uncomfortable posting formula questions on BnB if it be because it was their first choice or second ... Humph!

Totally agree...I guess we can't win either way - I always used to express bottles to take out if we were going somewhere in the first couple of months. I was sitting having lunch and giving Sam a bottle and got some very disapproving looks (which I assume was because of the bottle...as far as I'm aware I wasn't doing anything else that might offend anyone )

Looks like however we choose to feed our babies, someone is going to have an issue with it and nobody should be made to feel uncomfortable for choosing to do what works best for both them and their baby x

 

[TashaAndBump]

I guess thats every parent then because Mummies are made to feel uncomfortable for formula feeding too so which ever Mummy decides to do theres always one side looking down on you for one reason or other ...some girls are even starting to feel uncomfortable posting formula questions on BnB if it be because it was their first choice or second ... Humph!

Totally agree...I guess we can't win either way - I always used to express bottles to take out if we were going somewhere in the first couple of months. I was sitting having lunch and giving Sam a bottle and got some very disapproving looks (which I assume was because of the bottle...as far as I'm aware I wasn't doing anything else that might offend anyone )

Looks like however we choose to feed our babies, someone is going to have an issue with it and nobody should be made to feel uncomfortable for choosing to do what works best for both them and their baby x

Very well said! I had the same experience when Anna was younger and would take a bottle out with us. I would take a bottle so as to not offend other people and because I was preparing for an operation, to ensure that Anna would take pre-expressed milk while I was unable to feed her; Well I certainly got some disapproving glares, and one cafe even refused to warm up her bottle or give me some hot water to do it for her! What is a mum to do?? Looks like we have no choice but to ignore everyone else - you can't please everyone, it's impossible and the most important person to please when it comes to feeding your baby, is yourself (and them of course! haha).

 

[sam's mum]

Very well said! I had the same experience when Anna was younger and would take a bottle out with us. I would take a bottle so as to not offend other people and because I was preparing for an operation, to ensure that Anna would take pre-expressed milk while I was unable to feed her; Well I certainly got some disapproving glares, and one cafe even refused to warm up her bottle or give me some hot water to do it for her! What is a mum to do?? Looks like we have no choice but to ignore everyone else - you can't please everyone, it's impossible and the most important person to please when it comes to feeding your baby, is yourself (and them of course! haha).

Exactly! Either that or shut ourselves away until they're on solids...no doubt someone will have something to say about that too though x

 

[leedsforever]

Totally agree...I guess we can't win either way - I always used to express bottles to take out if we were going somewhere in the first couple of months. I was sitting having lunch and giving Sam a bottle and got some very disapproving looks (which I assume was because of the bottle...as far as I'm aware I wasn't doing anything else that might offend anyone )

Looks like however we choose to feed our babies, someone is going to have an issue with it and nobody should be made to feel uncomfortable for choosing to do what works best for both them and their baby x

Def agree...

I thought of this... you just cant win!! I plan to express but I bet people will assume its formula and judge me for that!

 

[Wobbles]

I guess thats every parent then because Mummies are made to feel uncomfortable for formula feeding too so which ever Mummy decides to do theres always one side looking down on you for one reason or other ...some girls are even starting to feel uncomfortable posting formula questions on BnB if it be because it was their first choice or second ... Humph!

Looks like however we choose to feed our babies, someone is going to have an issue with it

Thats what I meant - Its pants isn't it. Shouldn't be like that as long as baby is fed then thats all that matters. I'm formula feeding & actually felt quite uncomfortable in my decision at one point wondering if I would be looked down on for not breastfeeding my baby then a breastfeeding Mummy has the concern of being able to feed her baby whist out and about without feeling looked down on either ...round and round situation.

 

[sam's mum]

Thats what I meant - Its pants isn't it. Shouldn't be like that as long as baby is fed then thats all that matters. I'm formula feeding & actually felt quite uncomfortable in my decision at one point wondering if I would be looked down on for not breastfeeding my baby then a breastfeeding Mummy has the concern of being able to feed her baby whist out and about without feeling looked down on either ...round and round situation.

I knew that's what you were saying, so I'm not quite sure why I then just said the same, sorry

But yeah, I agree. Guess we all just need to remember that we are doing what is best for our families and ignore any looks/comments from people who really don't have a clue x

 

[Wobbles]

Nah was just glad someone knew what I did mean haha

x

 

[Ragirl]

I agree with with you all. It really starts to feel like you can't win. There is pressure on both sides- if you formula feed it's "shame on you- don't you know breastmilk is best" and if you breastfeed "shame on you for doing it in public or for too long." And what makes me mad is that there really is NO right answer that fits everyone- so can't a mother just do what is right for her and baby and everyone respect that?????

 

[clairebear]

I agree with with you all. It really starts to feel like you can't win. There is pressure on both sides- if you formula feed it's "shame on you- don't you know breastmilk is best" and if you breastfeed "shame on you for doing it in public or for too long." And what makes me mad is that there really is NO right answer that fits everyone- so can't a mother just do what is right for her and baby and everyone respect that?????

totally agree why do people feel the need to judge x

 

[flitty]

It seems that when we have a baby people automatically think they have a right to comment on wheat we do, and it is never right! And because we worry ourselves about whether we are doing it right, those comments get to us. I have 5 children. 1 was completely formula fed, 2 were breast then formula, 2 were completely breast fed. And do you know what? They're all fine. All of them bright, happy, average kids who have tantrums and tears, and laughs and games. As long as you do your best, and it makes you and baby happy, who cares what others think?

 

[claire-eedie]

Agreed. I was sitting in the park with my mate and our kids today, and this older couple walked past a group of teens just sitting chatting and gave them a really nasty look. Then they looked grouchy at our kids who were just playing nicely. I think some people really get off on being disapproving with everything. I was very lucky: bfed both mine till they were 2 and never got any flack, but I think I may have put my "F-off" face on if I sensed even a hint of disapproval. My OH says I'm very good at that!!