Getting my boobs out

[wannabehippyandcrazycatlover]

I thought it was all a hoax about people making judgey comments about breastfeeding in public and that no one in their right mind would actually say anything...

Today I was unfortunately proved wrong, I was told by a gentleman that it was highly inappropriate for me to get my boob out and feed my baby in a cafe. I thought I was being quite discreet but obviously not in his opinion.

I was so shocked I couldn't say anything, I didn't think that this actually happened . Has anyone else experienced this? I'm quite upset about it (although won't stop me doing it in future) and can see why some women stop BF if they get comments like that on a regular basis.

To Dubby who said things were different in the past. Actually when the majority of women breastfed no one gave a fuck about seeing women feeding their baby.
www.buzzfeed.com/southerndisposition/25-historical-images-that-normalize-breastfeeding-jlw6?utm_term=.mxBB3N7Vv#.gtRqLGAYo

to me nudity is sexual and should be private, plus most women and men look better in clothes

And herein lies the problem.

YOUR problem.

Breasts are for feeding babies. The patriarchal media prefers them to be sexual toys for men. Hence, page 3 = fine, mother feeding her baby = 'put it away you entitled bitch! Have some discretion, no one wants reminding what breasts are actually for, love.'

Shame on you for buying into this.

I think that having both breasts completely uncovered in a cafe while breastfeeding is a daft thing to do. But as I don't actually believe it ever happened there's no need to worry, is there?

That's true - I always give a smile to breastfeeding mums too. Especially if they are also trying to wrangle a toddler. I think it lets them know that most people are supportive and the rest don't matter. I like the 'take it up with your MP if you don't like it'.

Thanks for posting the vid DoJo - very funny! I have a strong feeling that I'm going to be humming 'ruin your day with tits' next time I'm out feeding DS getting a cheap thrill by making everyone look at my boobs in public.

I think that having both breasts completely uncovered in a cafe while breastfeeding is a daft thing to do. But as I don't actually believe it ever happened there's no need to worry, is there?

Nope!

Moonrise, those pics are awesome! Thanks for sharing.

LovePGtipsMonkey

Sorry, love, you're talking out of your arse.

Can I just point out that breasts are not 'sexualised by society', they are an erotic zone and men biologically find them arousing and you can't change that (or lesbian women for that matter).

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Breasts are indeed sexualised by society. Yes, they are an erotic zone, but so are many other parts of my body. Seriously, if you're worried about a glimpse of breast because it can be involved in sex, think about all I can do with my mouth!!!

Also nudity is illegal, so is walking around topless unless on a beach
Assuming you're in the UK, you're totally wrong again. Nudity is NOT illegal in public places in the England & Wales (Scotland has a slightly different interpretation of the law). All beaches are "clothing optional" with the exception of a very few that have specific by-laws preventing nudity. Designated Naturist beaches are there to inform the clueless wanderer that this is a beach that naturists tend to frequent NOT that it is the only place you're allowed to be naked.

I'll now go back to finish reading the thread. Ho-hum...

I call absolute BS on the other boob hanging out scenarios. What kind of outfit would your wear for that to happen walking through a shopping centre, a bikini in the middle of a shopping centre. No normal clothes allow you to drop, and apparently the first top was dropped, over 2 boobs. Thank god for the laws on BF, it means that feeders just get to disregard the nonsense spouted by others and know they are in the right. Always remember that some people are offended by people of colour, the disabled, the elderly, the young and you don't need to accommodate their ignorant views either.

I confess to having breastfed my kids with the other boob hanging out. Though as you have probably guessed from my previous post, I'm a naturist, and this occurred at naturist events/beaches, where arguably the rest of me was "hanging out" too.

When clothed, I've never seen anyone reveal a second breast, and haven't needed to myself. I even converted my dad (my mum never BF) one Christmas as he asked to hold my baby, and I said he couldn't quite yet as she was feeding, and he hadn't noticed even though we were in conversation, and asked what all the fuss was in the papers as you couldn't even tell!

I only had positive comments when in public. The most memorable was from an elderly gentleman, who approached me when I was sat in a cafe, and said he hoped I didn't mind him commenting, but it was so nice to see a lady nursing (I remember that word, as it's not one I'd normally use) because it reminded him of his late wife nursing their children.

Always remember that some people are offended by people of colour, the disabled, the elderly, the young and you don't need to accommodate their ignorant views either.
^This.

I call absolute BS on the other boob hanging out scenarios.

I have a number of breastfeeding tops/ dresses. If switching sides it is easily done to leave the other side out. I have done it

Aw Blue you got me. The other boob hanging outers were probably naturists walking through the shopping centre 😂.

I am thinking of all the clothes I ever wore during all my years of BF and trying to figure how you could open those 2 bra flaps down and release the top, sweater, dungarees (that might work) so you could have your 2 boobs out.

DF once said it made him feel uncomfortable when we were in Wetherspoons for lunch , DH got barred from a pub because they couldn't bar me for BFing.

Seriously, if you're worried about a glimpse of breast because it can be involved in sex, think about all I can do with my mouth!!!

Indeed!

I had to go into hospital 2 weeks after ds2 was born and as I was b.f they let him stay with me. I did it discreetly but a nurse came running in and put the curtain round me. Tbh I never did it in town or anything because I was scared of someone having a go.

I breastfed with both boobs out, but this was when I was in hospital trying to figure out how the hell to breastfeed! I can't imagine someone doing it in a cafe...

Philosothy did you walk around shopping centres like that or did you do a transition coupled with boob flash. Don't get me wrong I have been as baby brained as the next but letting it all hang out is pretty challenging.

Tbf there is that famous picture of Hugo Chavez meeting his voters one of whom is breastfeeding right under his nose and she is fairly exposed, Chavez does not bat an eyelid. Unlike in Ireland where our PM cannot get enough postures taken shoving bottles into random babies he can barely hold so he can bolster the formula industry. He would rather die than get pictures with BF mothers.

Yesterday, at the picket line, a doctor was feeding her baby whilst standing up. I wanted to cheer her, but thought that might be a little inappropriate.

Isn't the language we use, (even when we're being positive) just horrible? Boobs hanging out, get my boobs out, wap them out., flashing a boob........

The situation that got DH barred: An elderly man was on the next table, DS was 2 at the time, at the grabbing stage, so I had to move my chair back from the table to stop him grabbing glasses, toddler food jars etc. We were practically next to this man as the pub was very crowded, a Sunday afternoon. The man was very friendly, saying what a handsome boy DS was. Later we were approached by bar staff who told us that someone had made a complaint about my BFing too close to them, it could only have been him. Half an hour later they barred DH, not giving a reason, obviously the DC and I went with him.

I was pleased to hear that a few weeks' later the local Jewish Mothers' Association staged a BFing sit-in outside the pub!

I am still snorting at ' 'ladies of the feminist variety' who apparently want to 'display their paps'.

How ridiculous.

And the idea that it might be 'psychologically confusing' for some people to see someone's breasts feeding a baby.

Therefore we need to be 'discreet'.

Bonkers.

Twenty years' ago I felt self conscious bf away from home but with a baggy top or a scarf I don't suppose anyone noticed. I was hardly standing on a chair shouting, "Look at me everyone!"
In fact the most awkward time was probably out with my 70ish y.o. PILs who were a little fogeyish but sat with us companionably and would have defended my right to bf to anyone objecting.

Recently I overheard teens/early20's girls talking about bf: "Ugh like a cow with udders" which really startled me.

Anyway, thinking back, I got the evils if I couldn't placate a screaming infant but nobody ever openly challenged me for bf beyond home.

Flowers This is mumsnet, dear. The vast majority of us are parents. Perhaps find another place to hang out if you're put off by our "lifestyle choices".

I wonder why people think it is "entitled" to breastfeed publicly? Surely it's equally "entitled" for an adult to eat publicly?