To ask for your breastfeeding in public experiences?

[AlwaysFuckingTired]

Currently BF 3 week old DD2. I avoided BF in public with DD1 as much as possible due to anxiety about how people would react, but this led to me doing ridiculous things like feeding her in a toilet so I've decided I'm going to be braver this time.

How did you find BF in public? Did you get any unkind looks or comments? Did you use a cover or not?

I once fed in a fire engine (another story...)

They all looked a tad uncomfortable but didn't say anything.

I did one up one down with regard to clothes. I fed everywhere and anywhere, restaurants, church, cafes, the supermarket, the tram. Only ever had one slightly negative experience which was in a restaurant where a woman kept looking over giving me evils. I just ignored her.

Best experience was in McDonalds! Ended up in there stupidly early one morning (house emergency) was bfing DS and I got table service - my order taken, delivered and a coffee on the house!

I had one negative comment - strangely enough in the hospital where I'd given birth a few weeks earlier. Comment that I should do this more 'discretely' by a nurse, in a emergency waiting room. I was livid.

Otherwise, fed two babies, for 9 months each, and nothing else ever happened.

I used a cover. One of those ones that had a hoop sound the neck so I could see what I was doing. Sometimes if I was somewhere quiet id go without it. Never had any funny stares or comments and I felt pretty comfortable. In fact, I got a fe positive comments from people which was nice.

I bf mostly out and about in coffee shops and restaurants etc
I was always discreet and don’t think anyone ever actually noticed.

I didn't initially as I was worried about exposing myself and it was a struggle to get her to latch properly but after she was 3 months old, I discreetly breastfed everywhere and never received a comment about it.
I didn't use a cover as I felt they drew more attention to me breastfeeding, instead wore breastfeeding friendly tops or vest and a t-shit/jumper to do one up/one down. Often wore a scarf too but it really wasn't needed.

I'm expecting my second and anticipating I will need to breastfeed out and about from earlier on so planning to use a cover this time, I care a lot less about what people think now though!

I was very self conscious with DS1 at the start. I tried to 'cover' with a muslin but it made it more awkward so dropped it. I was living in a v bf friendly place so other mums bf helped build my confidence. I got one positive comment during the 11 months I bf. Looking back I don't think anyone particularly noticed.

With DS2 it's a totally different story. I've fed anywhere and everywhere. Parks, beaches, pubs, fancy restaurants, sitting on a rock, you name it. I couldn't give a toss, even though I'm in a much less bf friendly environment. No negative comments though.

I got a few bf specific tops this time and am finding them easier than the two tops method I used last time.

Just do it. No one's paying any attention. It's amazing how free you feel when you stop giving a rats ass.

I bf for 18 months all over the place. I thought about what I would wear to make it most comfortable - I liked thin vest tops that I could pull down and I liked bra tops rather than bras.
I fed everywhere and I can only remember two occasions when people 'commented' - one was on a plane - I had flown lots with DD as my mother lives in Italy and found that bf on take-off/landing makes for a happy child (she's a super traveller still). It was a particularly full flight and I was in an aisle seat talking to a very pleasant gentleman about children, travel, etc. We were well into the flight and the conversation when DD shifted and he suddenly realised that he'd been talking to me while bf for about 25 mins. He became a bit embarrassed and looked away etc. I told him not to worry and DD unlatched and wanted someone to play with - he was happy to oblige.
The other occasion was with my best friend. She is a very private person, no kids. She felt uncomfortable watching me bf and left the room. I'm was fine with that as I understand that it is her hang-up not mine and she is extremely happy for me to bf. I think that she feels that I would prefer privacy (which I don't).
BF is an absolute joy - don't tarnish it with worrying about what others think/say. Enjoy it!

I breastfed two babies for nine months. Never had any negative comments. Had one lady come up to me to say how lovely it was to see and another cake up and we spent 15 mins chatting about breastfeeding and she said how much she enjoyed it.

I was terrified before thanks to all the scaremongering stories but I don't know anyone in real life whose had anything bad said.

You just need to crack that first time and you'll be fine there after! Good luck

I fed dd until she was four years three months.
I wore t-shirts with blouse/cardi so I could lift the t shirt up from the waist - nothing showed unless I forgot to put the breast away after … that did happen...
I've fed in cafes, on planes, with family, wherever. My dad held his hand up for the first year, so that he couldn't see it happening. But soon after that he was coming to me for advice when his goats had mastitis.
Sometimes very elderly ladies would come up for a chat about breastfeeding. One talked of having the baby 'in the shawl'.
Once in a while people stared.
When dd was eighteen months, we were with a group of young male cousins and I didn't want to feed in front of them - I was 24, they would be 14-20. Dd put herself in a feeding position but I wasn't up for it. She sat up, back straight, looked at me with an outraged expression and demanded "I want to suck your nipple! Why won't you let me suck your nipple!" perfectly clearly for everyone to hear. So, we just got on with it.

I bf wherever I needed to. I shocked myself with how confident I was about it right from the start. I'd wear a vest under my top so I could pull my top up and vest down, and tended to pop a muslin over my shoulder at times too.

I was never aware of any negativity. I do remember some people staring but I'd just turn away a bit, or stare back until they stopped.

I've breastfed for a total of 6 years with my 2, although after a year or so they don't need to do it in public really.

I've had about half a dozen comments - all positive! Mainly older ladies telling me how wonderful it is to see a baby being breastfed, good for me etc. It's really uplifting! I can honestly say I've never had so much as a dirty look - that I've noticed. And I don't give a shit if I had. If they don't like it, it's their problem, they can utilise those beck jacked and look the other way.

Also, you have the law on your side! Breastfeeding in public is protected by law, that's how fine it is to feed in public!

I also wore a vest top so one up and one down. Fed often in public. Was discrete but didn’t cover up as such. Never had a negative comment, just smiles or people saying nothing / respecting our privacy. I found it easier after about 3 or 4 months when it was second nature. I did feed DS until he was 3.5 yrs but rarely in public after about 12m. Still did if out for day or late.

Oh and I never used a cover. On occasion in hot weather I only did the 1 top thing and pulled it down, exposing the top two inches of my chest 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

I mostly don't use a cover and have fed DD in govt offices, in shops, on planes/trains/coaches (leaning over the car seat and dangling a nork at her), in synagogue, in the park, in cafes, etc. The friendly old lady brigade are brill. Nobody is bringing me water though, I wonder what I'm doing wrong.

It's jolly nice being able to just feed her when she wants it. Also good for getting her to pipe down when she's being noisy.

I have bf my 3 children in public - I'm always nervous to start with especially when just establishing feeding. But my youngest is now 13 weeks & I feel comfortable. no one has ever commented.

Also this summer I ordered www.thebshirt.clothing/ - it has been brilliant! With the really hot weather I felt able to wear some of my low/v neck summer dresses that I personally wouldn't have been comfortable wearing and feeding in.

Nearly 10 months in breastfeeding my first and not one person has made one comment... and I have fed in public a LOT

BF all 3 of my children, each one until at least 18 months. Happily BF in a huge range of public places, including venues like concert halls, railway stations, planes, etc. Never noticed any negative responses and certainly never had anyone comment. Not that I cared at all TBH, especially by the time I got to DC3.

I bf in public with no cover. I did put a musli over my feeding side in church on Sunday though, it was DD's christening and all eyes were on her/me 😉 but other than that...she needs a feed, the (.)(.) come out!!

I'm going to get slated for this but here goes. For context, I breastfed my own DCs.

I was in M&S café on Saturday and at the table in front of me a woman directly facing me was breastfeeding.

I felt uncomfortable, but not because she was breastfeeding; it was the glassy spaced-out look in her eyes that I found discomfiting. For the first time in my life I had an inkling why some people might feel uncomfortable. I'm sorry, but there it is.

Haha! I've never noticed that effect on a bf mum. I'll look out for it next time...I'll look in a mirror when I next feed dd 😂

I breastfed each of mine for over two years. That was 20 odd years ago and the only negative comment I ever had was from my own mother who felt a lavatory was a more appropriate place to feed than a cafe table.

Used an apron when she was younger and I was all faffy as I wasn't used to it, now at 6 months she'd be pulling that away constantly so just a muslin now. I do try and find somewhere not too in people's faces, but I don't shy away in the loos or anything. I've only ever had one comment from an older lady which was "she looks like she's enjoying that!"

Never had a negative comment or experience. I originally used a feeding cover as wasn't as confident as I am now with it but usually now I just throw a muslin over the top to cover up anything that may feel a little too exposed.

I had a cover and fed everywhere including packed trains.