to breastfeed in public even though DH is uncomfortable with it and thinks I should find somewhere private?

[Sequine]

DS is 7weeks. He often struggles to latch and slips off repeatedly during a feed, so I dislike feeding under a shawl and find it hard to be discreet, as I need to keep reattaching him. I wear wrap dresses so I can just pull dress and bra down at one side. I don't really care if anyone sees my breast and don't feel the need to hide away in a corner or find a baby changing room for privacy. I've BF in the middle of Costa, in restaurants, in clothes shops and in a furniture shop, also in GP waiting room and in the back of a taxi as DS was crying and hungry. However, DH thinks BF should be a private thing and thinks I should either feed under a shawl or take a bottle of expressed milk. He said not to be surprised if shop manager asks me to feed elsewhere. My BF support group all say they feed anywhere and are against shawls as they think it makes BF out to be something obscene.
What do others think? Would you be offended by someone BF a small baby without a shawl? Are there places where its inappropriate to BF?

Women sitting topless in a public place to breastfeed, really? Are they bollocks. You are taking the piss now. Most women don't BF topless in their own homes, never mind in their local coffee shop.

FFS. Breastfeeding is not ostentatious. It's a child having dinner. Nothing more nothing less

If you're a 'creepoid' then accept staring is your issue rather than expecting everyone to bend to your (rather strange) trait. It's very arrogant to say that because you have an issue, such as over staring, the whole of the BF population should change their ways.

No, Piper, I do not want to live in a world where we all cast off our self-consciousness and scruples. It's bad enough that we are subjected to the horrors that are Ugg boots and Juicy Couture trackies and Kim Kardashian's arse.

I would like to meet these women who breastfeed by stripping down to the waist, sitting around making sure everyone gets a good look at their breasts, then manage to expose a nipple to all and sundry while simultaneously having a baby's head right in front of it. Can possibly also lob/fling/throw/wave breasts around while getting a baby to latch? Impressive athletic superpowers there!

Elle what are you going on about? Are you pulling a pinot?

I don't think an infant suckling on the breast is anything like a child eating its dinner

53rd don't forget"exhibit" - so whilst doing all that they're also standing on a plinth behind a frame with a spotlight on them

Aaaargh! My point is not that I see loads of women sitting topless feeding publicly! My point is that there is a reason why we do not ordinarily see that level of ostentation. BECAUSE MOST WOMEN WITH A SHRED OF SELF-AWARENESS WILL ATTEMPT TO BE DISCREET.

I don't think an infant suckling on the breast is anything like a child eating its dinner

Erm, what do you think breastfeeding actually is? How did you nourish your child then if breastfeeding isn't feeding
Is bottle feeding not giving a child it's dinner? Is that just sucking on a teat? Why would a baby do that, for shits and giggles?

All I have to say from this thread is thank goodness mature people make the laws and not the type of juveniles on this thread who can't even bring themselves to say breasts

I really am going to go to sleep now. And if I end up counting buzzwams instead of sheep I'm coming after you, Piperchapstick

So loads of women where you live take their entire top half off to feed their children do they? Top, bra, everything? Only bottom half is dressed

Even if they did and I think your exaggerating really what is wrong with that? Come on, tell us. And "people not being used to it" is not a reason - see my post above about nipples are everywhere.

Are you unhappy about yourself in some way Piper?

I have read quite hurtful things that you have said about me and ducked out (kept my mouth shut and not retaliated) of this thread but wonder why you persist so much?

*you're

So breastfeeding women are, in fact, already being as discreet as you want them to be?

In that case, what on earth are you complaining about?

How is saying that I don't want bigoted people making laws hurtful? If you make childish and bigoted comments, expect to be Called childish and a bigot. I won't sugar coat it for you as you are one of the most offensive people I've come across on MN.

And I'm quite happy thank you. I see you are pulling a Pinot and avoiding the questions we have been asking and instead focussing on me

I really and truly do not get what you are saying Piper?

I do not get you calling me childish?

I sort of take offence with you calling me a bigot though?

I said purely and simply that breastfeeding in public places is great, discretion when doing so is also called for. I said I dont want to see tits when Im having my lunch. You asked me to explain why? I said it would put me off said lunch.

Then I shall refer to my earlier post, when I was trying to figure out some reasons why BF should be discreet -

the thought of seeing a lactating breast? Having your meal interrupted by seeing a seeping nipple? Yeah I get that would be off putting - but anyone with half a brain would know that this can be avoided by not looking at the actual breast. So if this is the reason for wanting discretion, then it really is the person in questions fault for gawping at something which they know will put them off their dinner.

So if that's your reason pinot why can't the onus be on you to turn away? Why should the baby and mother bend to your whim? Afterall, turning away is easy, but letting a child go hungry isn't.

I've said this twice before, but people chewing makes me feel physically sick. If I eat out I literally stare at my plate the whole time, if I look up and see people eat for some reason it turns my stomach? Do you think I insist other diners stuck a blanket on their head so I feel more comfortable? No, I act like a grown up, accept its my issue not theirs, and everyone gets on with their day

Pot. Kettle. Black. You can dish it out but you can't take it

My point is that there is a reason why we do not ordinarily see that level of ostentation. BECAUSE MOST WOMEN WITH A SHRED OF SELF-AWARENESS WILL ATTEMPT TO BE DISCREET.

No, the reason is that breastfeeding as normally carried out doesn't involve stripping to the waist, nor does it involve lobbing out pendulous buzz whams, flopping out tits or any of the other activities you describe so vividly, Elle. As has been pointed out, quite often when a woman is breastfeeding plenty of people around her aren't aware of it because she just gets on with it. And that is not because she is being discreet, or draping shawls around herself, or hiding herself away in corners. However, if for some reason she does need to be "indiscreet", that is perfectly fine, because that is what the law decrees. So there is no point in trying to set your very own laws within that framework.

Why are you so angry?

How old are you?

What happened?

discretion when doing so is also called for. I said I dont want to see tits when Im having my lunch. You asked me to explain why? I said it would put me off said lunch.

Let's try again one more time, pinot. You did indeed say all that. People then asked why other breastfeeders should use "discretion" to avoid you having to see something which you say would put you off your lunch, as opposed to you turning your head and looking elsewhere. Any chance of an answer?

Also Pinot, you suddenly say BF in public is "great" - but this whole thread give said otherwise, that it should be kept private and intimidate [confused{