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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it considered acceptable/ appropriate to breastfeed in church?

94 replies

BlueBerry123 · 21/06/2013 21:03

Attending a christening this weekend and wondering if I would be unreasonable to breastfeed my 3 week old in church? sorry if it sounds a naïve question but I am not religious at all but do respect peoples faith and wouldn't want to cause offence if it is considered unacceptable.

OP posts:
abitlikemollflanders · 21/06/2013 22:47

Oh and I am attend a very traditional Catholic Church full of elderly people and no one has batted an eyelid. It is completely normal. honestly, I think people sometimes make negative assumptions about churches without havi g ever set foot in one. IME they are extremely family friendly and one of the easiest and supportive places to do it!

BridgetBidet · 21/06/2013 23:04

Sorry, mollflanders I do not think this is always true. I go to an RC church which has a large elderly congregation but also has a school attached and a lot of young families. Breastfeeding is fine there (although I have always done it with a gauze scarf).

However my parents in law attend a Catholic church in a more rural area with a high elderly congregation and a low amount of families and they would be much happier if the feeding was done discreetly with a muslin/scarf.

You have to remember when there are older people there this is a generation where they still don't want men wearing hats in church and women still wear hats to cover their hair.

And besides. I wouldn't want to get my boob out in front of a Catholic priest, the big pervs.

mumblecrumble · 21/06/2013 23:04

The last time I breast fed in Church I was sat next to the Minister who was also breast feeding her son before she went to work!!!!

I turned and saw her dog collar and recognised her (was Church from my child hood and Minister had changed) and said 'it must be ok then' she said - gosh, I hope so, I've been doing it every week'

So yep, go for it. Nothing worse than wanting to hear hte sermon etc and being sat in a back room :(

DogsAreEasierThanChildren · 21/06/2013 23:37

Definitely, do it. I fed DS in church most weeks till he was 4 or 5 months old: the congregation met him when he was just 2 weeks. (A friend of mine can beat that: she gave birth on a Thursday and was in church with her 3 day old DS on the Sunday morning.) No-one ever batted an eyelid.

Original poster
BlueBerry123 · 22/06/2013 08:42

Thanks all, I really don't mind breast feeding in most places, just wanted to check I wouldn't be upsetting anyone. Glad to hear it is ok. I would still cover up though as DS is rather unsubtle at the moment but we are getting there! :-)

OP posts:
imademarion · 22/06/2013 08:57

I asked our female vicar this very question a couple of months ago before bringing a bf friend to a memorial service.

Her take was that discretion is key. It's absolutely your right to feed a baby bit also the right of others (I'm thinking of the older people at my church) not to be made to feel uncomfortable.

You're celebrating a life, not making political statements.

But the fact you've asked here makes you sound thoughtful and kind, hope you enjoy the service!

1Veryhungrycaterpillar · 22/06/2013 10:34

I do it all the time in a very high church, no one will mind its the most natural thing in the world

edwardsmum11 · 22/06/2013 10:36

I have in our family room on a sunday service. Not sure I would in main church on a sunday though.

1Veryhungrycaterpillar · 22/06/2013 10:38

Why?

xigris · 22/06/2013 10:43

I've fed my DS in Church pretty much every Sunday since he was born. I've seen loads of other babies BF there as well. I'm fairly certain that God doesn't give a monkeys! Grin

IncrediblePhatTheInnkeepersCat · 22/06/2013 10:56

I bf DS at my Catholic Church without a problem. I don't use a shawl as DS unlatches to pull the shawl off to play, making it more conspicuous than the one top down/one top up method. Grin

There is a sign up saying breastfeeding welcome and I sit in my family's usual place, fairly near the front.

1Veryhungrycaterpillar · 22/06/2013 10:58

If you believe that God created people he created them boobs and all

cairnterrier · 22/06/2013 11:13

As the minister pointed out last week, children all pray and sing hymns, just not necessarily at the same time as the rest if us but all are welcome in the lords eyes, x

And another one who's breast fed lots in church, no problems ever.

ShoeJunkie · 22/06/2013 11:25

I regularly fed DS in our church services when he was smaller - once had about three of us in the same row all feeding babies!
Perfectly easy to feed a small baby without making a huge song and dance about it. And as far as I was concerned it would be more distracting to have a screaming hungry baby than one quietly feeding!

elliejjtiny · 22/06/2013 12:40

dogs I can beat your friend. DS2 was born at 12:30pm Sunday afternoon and I took him to church for the 6:30 service. Although we did live next door and I was still high on adrenaline at the time Grin.

Sizzlesthedog · 22/06/2013 12:52

I bf DD in the porch of the church on Christmas Day. Only went outside as she was screaming so much and I hadn't worked a method for discreet feeding. 'twas very peaceful listening to the carols and sitting on the stone bench, many many babies for hundreds of years must have been fed at church.

icklemssunshine1 · 22/06/2013 12:57

I too go to a traditional RC church (I'm not Catholic but DH is as DD has been baptised Catholic). No-one commented on me BFing DD. In fact I was congratulated by one elderly lady for giving DD the "best start in life".

Take a shawl like others have suggested. I used to use a BFing cloak but felt that actually drew attention rather than discreetly slipping up my top!

MummyOfSunbeam · 22/06/2013 13:00

Totally ok at my very high Church Abglican church! When I asked the priests (one of each gender) they both pointed out the stained glass window showing Mary breastfeeding, and showed me various parts if the Church especially easy for breastfeeding (more space, arm support etc). Totally easy and welcomed.

DogsAreEasierThanChildren · 23/06/2013 20:30

Respect, ellie Grin! No way could I have been in church the same day I gave birth to DS. I might have managed to be there the following week if there hadn't been the small matter of the Notting Hill Carnival being in between where we lived and the church.

FirstStopCafe · 23/06/2013 20:35

Yes I've done it

nohalfmeasures · 23/06/2013 20:38

I BF both children in church. I sat at the back & no-one bothered me.

greenbananas · 23/06/2013 20:39

Great that so many people on this thread have had positive experiences of breastfeeding in church Smile

I've had positive experiences too. And, as shop many have pointed out, God made us to breastfeed.

Equality act 2010 says women can breastfeed their babies in all public places. So you go for it! !! -Smile

greenbananas · 23/06/2013 20:40

Shop???

So sorry for phone typo - should have spell checked. ..

UniS · 23/06/2013 20:43

I Fed DS in a selection of churches ( and church porches when he was a bit older and we neeeded a distraction free spot) , I used to pop into an open chuch in the city centre if I needed to give DS a feed when we were out n about. Much calmer and nicer than Mothercare , cheaper than a cafe.

MarvellousYou · 23/06/2013 20:48

Breastfeeding is in the bible more than once- I think if God is for it, Christians don't really have a leg to stand on if they object. Pretty sure unless you're doing a jig at the altar with your bazookas out, no-one has the right to be offended.