to wonder WHAT exactly it is about a breastfeeding mother that some find offensive?

[MistressDeeCee]

www.itv.com/news/london/2014-06-06/breastfeeding-mother-in-tears-over-barrage-of-verbal-abuse/

Mollypup

here

here

Hundreds of examples on that site. Before formula women breastfed everywhere. In countries where women can't afford formula they still do.

Bottle feeding has resulted in chronic ignorance about normal breastfeeding behaviours - a belief that even quite small babies can easily be breastfed to a schedule and only need to be fed a few times a day, neither of which is true. Many babies who are exclusively breastfed feed literally dozens of times in a 24 hour period.

Bogqueen

I find seeing a baby being bottle fed with formula saddening and upsetting but wouldn't dream of saying so to the parent concerned

Thank you. That's the sort of patronising claptrap I got from my HV and NCT "counsellor" who between them managed to ensure the 3 miserable months I breast fed were some of the most unhappy of my life.

The only bit that bothers me is the proximity of a hot drink to a baby's head. Would I be wrong to hope she was having something cold?

(Come to think of it the thought of getting hot coffee on my nipple makes me shudder and it's probably less sensitive to pain than hers!)

dawndonnaagain thanks, however I'm not sure that's entirely relevant to me.

I said I have no problem with breast feeding in public, or a woman's right to feed.

It does seem though that some women are now going out of their way to prove a point! That's all I'm trying to say, no need for such bloody hostility!

I often sit down with a cuppa while breastfeeding.

Molly, you need to travel a bit.

Get a bit of cultural perspective on this issue.

mollypup - why on earth would you think some women breastfeed to make a point? What possible point would they be making? You seem to think anyone who doesn't hide away is some kind of militant.

Bogqueen - did your HV force you to breastfeed?

OK, fledermaus, you know more about it than a father of an ff child does!

My hunk of a son was at school with a boy who was brought up by his father after his mother died of complications of childbirth, so I guess ff has its place.

Mindful breastfeeding? Mindful of ignorance, of squeamishness of those ill equated with normality if bf and of how it is a legally protected right?

Really no, just like I am not mindful of those who are racist, disabllist or suffer other forms of bigotry. And yes you might develop a more insightful perspective as a nursing mother.

Sorry, sorryBogqueen it was Missy who made that stupid and judgemental remark.

Missy why don't you go ahead and tell them?

fledermaus I absolutely do not, but I do think like everything, its appropriate to be mindful of your environment. Of course though, this in relation to breastfeeding is considered worse than murder on here so it's not going to make a blind bit of difference what I think.

Far as I know Molly women tend to feed because baby is hungry. I have a teenage son, he is 19. He occasionally nips downstairs at 2 a.m. for a cheese sandwich. See, kids, unpredictable!

The thing that really fucks me off is when people say that BF mothers are doing it 'for their own benefit'.

Really?

Cracked / blistered nipples / unpredictable feeds / having sole responsibility for feeding / nipple twiddling / biting / having to faff about with bra, nipple pads, vest, top etc / night feeds / libido suppression / feeling touched out - that's all for my benefit huh?

Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud I BF DC until past 2. But I did it because we know it is the best feeding method for them and I was lucky enough to be physically able to do it.

But it was only ever about the best option available for the baby. So when people are rude about BFing, it makes it even worse because it's not like it's a lovely luxury for me!

molly, what do you mean by mindful of your environment? Tbh the only things I am mindful of is if my baby needs a feed and if there is somewhere I can sit down Not sure what else there is to mind?

I find seeing a baby being bottle fed with formula saddening and upsetting but wouldn't dream of saying so to the parent concerned!

Having had life saving breast operations, I had no choice but to feed my twins with a bottle. Even expressing would have been dangerous for them and me. Please try not to judge, whilst you admit you wouldn't comment, the fact that you comment here, travels, and travels far.

Mollypup

I don't think you're entirely qualified to comment on the correctness as it were of when and where to breast feed although you're entitled to your opinion if course.

Yes you posted a link to some man writing about a woman bfing in a pool and how inappropriate it was because breast milk would contaminate the pool or whatever it was (I've no opinion on this incident as I really couldn't give two hoots as I wasn't there) but do you realise just what a bacterial soup a public swimming pool is? Sterile breast milk would be the least of ones worries. Anyway no the point but the logic at least is flawed wouldn't you agree?

The whole breastfeeding in public debate is rather new, what on earth did people do before?!

It certainly isn't new. My eldest is 28 and when she was a baby I BF her everywhere. But a lot of my friends were embarrassed to feed theirs. One used to go and sit in her bedroom to feed if her mother was visiting

I have BF in public all over the place over the years. On a hovercraft, on planes, in the car, on the seafront, in Pizza Express, in various universities. Nobody has ever said anything nasty to me, or asked me to stop. I have never ever used a cover of any description either, aside from normal clothing.

Babesh completely unnecessary and downright rude. Where exactly have I disagreed with breastfeeding being a legally protected right?

So by your logic, to have an opinion you must have experienced it for yourself? I don't think that's the case I'm afraid!

We've got a situation in the uk where the vast majority if mums can breastfeed but choose not to do so for more than a few weeks.

If somebody flags up the fact that we're now, overwhelmingly, a bottle feeding culture, you can guarantee that someone will be compelled to point out that formula is essential for babies whose mothers die. A blindingly important and relevant point given that a baby is less likely to lose his or her mum than to win a £1000000 on the lottery..

Genuinely though, I'm not sure what I am supposed to be mindful of

I meant that yes I understand the baby is hungry, but in the case of the woman nursing in the public baths what was so impossible that she couldn't have sat on a bench or seat that typically surrounds a pool? Why the pool itself?! . It's not that she has a boob out at all, I just think really, why do it there?

Why not do it there?

Why not do it there though? Maybe she was supervising another child in the pool, maybe she didn't want the baby to get cold, who knows? The point is there was no reason to get out.

Nevermind.