To think that the media massively hypes up the 'breastfeeding in public' debate and that so much discussion over breastfeeding in public is actually a bad thing?

[missmillimentscardigan]

I've just read this on the BBC website from yesterday:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-34974989

It's about the case of the woman who lied about being asked to leave a Primark shop because she was breastfeeding her baby, and how it may be damaging for the 'pro-breastfeeding in public' debate.

Obviously what that woman did was awful in that it was lying, wasting police time, potentially very damaging for the business and individual employee she accused etc. But I find the idea of a breastfeeding 'movement', that may or may not be damaged by what she did, really unhelpful in terms of actually getting more women to feed in public.

Is it not the case that the vast majority of women just get on with breastfeeding, discreetly and without fuss, wherever they need to? And women are discreet not because it's offensive, but because they don't want to have their entire breast on display. Even the photo on this article is misrepresentative (I feel), as the woman in the photo seems to have most of her breast exposed while feeding, something I never needed to do, nor seen anyone else do, outside of a post-natal ward. And the survey quoted that 49% of people think it's unacceptable to breastfeed on public transport. Who are the people being surveyed? I doubt the majority of people would even be aware of someone breastfeeding on a bus or a train, and why would they care if they did realise? I genuinely do not understand how anyone could have a problem with it.

Obviously there are cases where women are discriminated against for breastfeeding in public and that is unacceptable, but aibu to suggest that these cases are extremely rare and that they always seem to occur when someone is breastfeeding in what seems to me like a bit of a weird place, like the middle of a sports shop or at a swimming pool.

I don't claim to be representative of all breastfeeding mothers of course, but I breastfed my first child in all sorts of places and am currently feeding my second. I have never encountered any negative comments when breastfeeding or been aware of people finding me unacceptable etc. I would definitely give someone a piece of my mind if they did criticise me and I hope that if someone not sure about breastfeeding in public saw me feeding then they might realise it's not a big deal.

Terms like the 'breastapo' and the implication that you need to be some kind of Earth mother (whatever that is) to breastfeed in public are just ridiculous and offensive. Surely the overwhelming majority of breastfeeding women and just getting on with their lives and feeding their child, rather than being part of a 'movement'?

It's just the fact that this article is on the BBC website, as news. So, if you've read all this, AIBU for thinking this 'breastfeeding movement' and articles like this are misrepresentative of actual life and are likely to reduce the number of women who breastfeed, rather than make women feel more comfortable?

thehandywoman - that's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

Honestly think most people don't notice breastfeeding in public, and of those that do most don't care. Even the people who say they're against it say things like "I don't want to see someone waving her breasts around!" or "I don't want nipples shoved in my face," which to me suggests they wouldn't even recognise real-life breastfeeding if they saw it.

49% of people being against breastfeeding on public transport is a bit weird, though. What do they expect mothers to do? "Well, the baby's hungry, better just step off the 50mph train for a few minutes!"

I bet given the choice between (a) being stuck on a bus / train for potentially hours with a hungry screaming infant, and (b) being stuck on a bus / train with a breastfeeding mother and infant that's relatively quiet because it's needs are being met, most people would prefer the breastfeeding.

It's a good deal easier to not look at the breastfeeding than it is to not hear a screaming infant.

It's a good deal easier to not look at the breastfeeding than it is to not hear a screaming infant.

Absolutely.

I don't understand people who are offended by breastfeeding. The natural response is the "How adorable! Cute little baby!" reaction many here got from old ladies. If anyone notices at all. (I have never seen a woman breastfeed in public. Either it doesn't happen where I live, or I just haven't noticed - which would be entirely possible, as I am not very interested in what other people do as long as all is quiet.)

People who think it is indecent probably saw too much porn.

I'd occasionally get knowing smiles and had one or two pleasant comments, but no negativity. Most of the time it just looks like a mother hugging a baby. I've fed my baby while walking around a castle in a sling, and the lady who came up to rub hitched failed to notice that he was latched on. My friend who was still BFing her 1 yr old didn't notice. I've been encouraged to feed in church and a nuns' convent, rather than having a hungry baby.

Feeding a baby is a normal background thing, but because it is, not everyone has twigged and just associates it with occasional obvious displays.