made to feel ashamed for breastfeeding

[busywith5kids]

hi have never posted before but wanted an opinion. i was in town the other day with my 21 month and 4 month old. it was raining and my 4 month old was crying for a breastfeed. i went into my bank and asked if i could please use one of there rooms to feed my baby. a lady looked at me like i was mad and said sorry we are not allowed. why do i still feel, after breast feeding 5 children, that people look at me with disgust and that using boobs to feed a baby is something to be hidden away from public view so that no one has to deal with it. dont get me wrong i am not a flop it out anywhere feeder and am always discreet but babies dont always want feeding when u are by a mothercare. should i write a letter to the bank and complain????

Of course you can't expect to breastfeed in a banks office. There must have been a cafe or supermarket or a library or something else nearby.

Sheesh. That's it, just Sheesh.

Here's my take - Sandy didn't kill or maim a Kardashian so the Mail needs a story for its laydies pages - so they decide to provoke a frothing Mumsnetters group to complain against and hopefully boycott dastardly banks, plan being to expose said group as crazy wild haired (real) boob flashing wimmin.

(I may be over thinking this)

I can see it now,Majority Of Women Believe Breastfeeding In Public Is Wrong.

Which is completely not the point but that's the format of DM articles. Like the happy spunk gobblers.

Majority of Bankers Believe Women Breastfeeding is Wrong.

^A new survey shows that Britain's FatCat bankers - rescued with taxpayers money - are firmly against breastfeeding. While breastfeeding is proven to have positive health benefits for both mother and child, it seems the banking industry is failing to fund it - despite being bailed out to the tune of billions of pounds. A City source said: 'It's common knowledge that bankers hate breasts. In fact, Fred Goodwin was well known for banning bare breasts in his office at times.'

Vince Cable promised a full and frank enquiry. 'Frankly, it's not good enough. We bailed the banks out and we expect to see those benefits passed down through society. I'm making it my personal mission to see banks supporting breastfeeding through the provision of loans.'^

I may have too much time on my hands today ...

Fred Godwin probably had shares in Nestle too.

And what about the online bank users? Where do we go?

Yes Katie, will no-one think of the web-users?

The bank manager turned up at our breast feeding support group at the health centre the other day and asked for a chair so he could sit and count out his money. The awful woman running it told him no!! He said he'd been a loyal user of the NHS since the moment he was born and deserved far better treatment than this

Just feed your baby where ever you find it convenient OP. I'm feeding my 3 month old on demand and so far today he's had a feed on the bus, one in a cafe and one in waiting room at doctors surgery. Yesterday he had lunch in Argos on one of their useful chairs and a lovely staff member brought me a glass of squash and a biscuit :) Honestly its fine to feed in public give it a go you'll be fine

Oh don't be so bloody daft OP, Banks don't have spare rooms sp people can BF!

Have just skim read but possibly more amazing is that this is the first post by the OP on MUMSNET AFTER 5 children!! [hgrin]

OP - if you aren't happy to feed in public on a bank's chair or bench, then try a clothes shop next time as they tend to have changing rooms for the public.

FWIW I've spent a lot of time in banks with baby dd, and been encouraged to feed her as needed when in a room for an appointment, and even to change her nappy there! Local branch love her. But wouldn't allow her or me into a scarce private room without an appt.

Maye it is a secirity issue? Sorry tbere wasn't anywhere else assuming you were desparate to ask the bank but that is life.

Have only just found this fabulous thread and am dying to know how the Nursing Mother got into WilsonFrickett's bank's private corridor, if it's not too late to ask.

Presuming this is real, the 'it's not allowed' didn't refer to BF but to letting a random into an inner sanctum

HTH

Why should a bank provide facilities for breastfeeding. They probably just don't have a spare room or office. Why are you ashamed about that.

Just out of interest-does anyone provide a private room for bfeeding?

I am going to request a private room where I can plot to overthrow capitalism. They could describe it as part of their corporate social responsibility programme.

"i am not a flop it out anywhere feeder and am always discreet

YABVU, I find the above comment very offensive. Why should BFing be hidden away?

diddl My local (enormous) shopping centre does. And several "family" shops have bfing rooms, but they aren't private (JL, mothercare and ikea spring to mind)

Must be a joke. This being the OPs only posting after 5 kids & now s/he is no where to be seen!

Annie it was a while ago in an old building, there was only one door to get through and once you were in, you were in sort of thing. All very different now (just in case you were fancying some guerilla feeding [hgrin])

mother brilliant [hgrin]

I would think you were a bank robber and sound an alarm, honestly op if this is for real why didn't u just feed on a bench or go to a shop or cafe?

I bf all my 4 but it wouldn't occur to me to go into a bank and ask for a room.