Breastfeeding in M&S cafe

[Theweedonkeeey]

So I took DD1 and DD2 (3 weeks old) to M&S cafe today. Bought DD1 and I coffee and cake and fed DD2 while eating it. While doing this a member of staff came over and brought me a glass of water for no apparent reason. She just plonked it down on the table and left. Is this a thing? Company policy or did I just look like I needed extra fluids?! I’m not complaining, just curious - it was very nice and DD1 drank the water as I was already well hydrated and under no circumstances wanted to take a trip to the toilet with a newborn in a sling and a 3yo on a cake sugar high

Local independent cafe I used to go to always did this. Once apologised to me for having seem me feeding and not having brought me a glass of water quick enough!

Lots of people say bf makes them much thirstier. Not something I noticed myself but it wouldn't surprise me if M&S had taken then on board and made it policy to bring water. Or could just be a particular employee who thought you'd like it.

It was just a nice thing to do.

First time I’ve heard of somewhere doing this and I think it’s lovely!
Maybe could have said something to you 🙊

I think it’s a small kindness that is fairly common. It also makes it clear the cafe supports you feeding there.

Yes, I was so thirsty when bf. OH would always bring me a big glass of water!
I guess they're trying to make.you feel welcome and give good customer service?
Must seem weird if you don't get thirsty I guess. I was bf during a heatwave so that probably contributed to the thirst!!

I think that's lovely. I would start feeding and get an all consuming thirst! I was never prepared with a glass of water ready beforehand. I'd have gulped it down.

I was mortified once in a restaurant chain, maybe chiquittos? When I’d ordered a glass of wine with my meal and DC4 got hungry he was older, about 8 months I think but they brought me over water and I was worried they thought I shouldn’t be having wine

That is lovely, well done M&S.

I drank 1-3 pints each feed. It was 16 years ago and I'm gasping even thinking about it now 😂😂😂
I was once told to feed DD in the M&S changing rooms on a bench which wrecked my back do they've clearly improved

There is a list of restaurants/cafes and may even include shops which are breastfeeding friendly and will all provide water. Cannot remember where I read the list but it's an actual thing

Well done M&S! I always get water for BFing Mums as hydration is really important

A practical sign of support. Good!

That's fantastic

When I first started BF I was soooo thirsty. I couldn't get enough water in me.
So I think the employee was just being really kind :)

Its a sign of a woman who knows how madly thirsty bfing makes you! Really lovely, supportive gesture.

Ahh that reminds me a lady working in our local garden centre cafe brought me a glass of water when I was feeding ds2.

It’s a nice thing to do I guess they didn’t want to disturb you or make you feel uncomfortable by chatting. I think it’s a nice way to show that they are welcoming to feeding mothers

I agree it was lovely. I had just never had it happen before and 3 years ago when DD1 was tiny I frequented many cafes (including M&S).

That's nice of them!

That's lovely. When I was in Costa once I'd bought my coffee and muffin, settled the toddler with hers and started to feed DD. A girl came over and offered me a takeaway cup or anything else she could do to help. It was a nice gesture.

When my DD was a newborn she was crying and needing a feed whilst I was in M&S and I was getting flustered, the staff approached me and offered me a chair in the changing rooms (no cafe at this one) so I had somewhere quiet/private to feed her. I wonder if they have a pro breastfeeding policy/staff training.

I think it's a nice thing, fluids out means you need fluids in.

Very good to hear

Had this in m and s around ten years ago, glad to hear they have this as a policy now, its thirsty work breast feeding.

Like wise Costa were also brilliant.

This is nice to read. I think it's a sort of way to say "you are welcome / should feel comfortable breastfeeding here" without actually coming up to you and saying that as that might weird you out!
When I was breastfeeding my daughter out and about I always appreciated extra water as I got really thirsty and inevitably had forgotten my bottle in amongst all the baby paraphernalia!

I think they watch out for b/f mums. This is very reassuring to me as my daughter intends to b/f after baby arrives in November.

I hope they also watch for perves like my ex who it seems used to like taking sneaky photos of b/f mums in cafes. I found out when I cleared the attic (I'd never been up there before, am afraid of heights but had been given the keys to clear my stuff) and found a vast porn mag collection along with some memory cards that I couldn't resist putting in my phone and looking at. Was I sorry I did that. They contained photos that sickened me. I left everything as I found it, went back down and threw up. We were halfway through the divorce and I just couldn't face any more of his crap so am ashamed to say I ignored it.

N/C for this post for obvious reasons. I've never told anyone before. I still feel sick but am strangely relieved. It was way before upskirting had become an offence and I had no proof he'd taken them but it was very much the kind of thing he'd do. I also found pics that looked like they'd been taken in changing rooms and toilet cubicles. I've no idea how he'd managed that (if he'd actually taken them himself) as he didn't work in retail. There were also print-outs from chat rooms with people discussing how to get away with rape.

I dearly wish I'd reported him. I had a nervous breakdown during the divorce and just wasn't emotionally strong enough to do anything more than get out of the marriage as quickly as possible.

Sorry to semi-hijack.