to think it's okay to breastfeed in front of my colleagues...

[Gamorah5]

...or is my colleague correct in saying that it's completely inappropriate?

Never though of it being inappropriate until someone mentioned it to me today...

Thoughts?

So this thread is a non issue really isn’t it.

Baby not even born
Wouldn’t be breastfeeding at work any way

🙈

Another room aka the toilet! Nice...

Gamorah5 - in the situation you describe, I absolutely agree with you. Your colleague is being an idiot. (Most) humans have this wonderful three tiered system they can use if they don't want to see something in their field of vision.

Turn eyes away, or;
Turn neck, or;
Close eyes.

Perhaps remind your colleague of this. Alternatively, suggest he stop acting like an arse.

@Optimusprimesmother I would be breast feeding though, at a social event. If a tiny baby is hungry, they need to be fed! It's a situation that will actually likely arise.

Ok fair enough, a lunch is a bit different to the boozy Christmas do's I'm familiar with 😀

Work colleagues were the only people I didn’t feel comfortable feeding in front of. I didn’t even really like them seeing me with my baby too much. I just preferred to keep my mum persona and professional persona separate.

@userofthiswebsite
People also breastfeed everyday. If my baby is hungry I don't stop and look for somewhere convenient for the general public to feed her. It is just as normal to feed a baby from a bottle as it is from a boob (more so in fact in terms of evolution I guess).

Yeah yeah legal whatever etc. We all know that.
But I don't get a kick out of making other people uncomfortable so no, I'd go somewhere where I wasn't surrounded by other people.

How many threads do we need about breastfeeding today. Tell your Colleagues to take it up with their solicitor and HR since you are protected from this type of discrimination by law.

@Itsatravesty oh it's definitely not that kind of thing! Lots of very senior people there. The boozy night out comes later

I'm a total fan of breastfeeding when out and about, and at work have had clients breastfeed in front of me (I'm a lawyer), however I personally wouldn't be comfortable bf in front of my colleagues. It's a bit too personal for my liking and I think there should be some boundaries between work and private life. A friend from work outside of the work place is a different story- I wouldn't care less then!

Gamorah

You can choose the toilet if you want. Most people would just go in another room which wasn't full of other people. Entirely up to you.

@HotTeaCup sorry, I haven't read any threads about breast feeding today! I've literally just got back from work so haven't had a chance...

Nooooo, please don't take the baby to the Christmas party! Sunday lunchtime or not. Most people will be enjoying a peaceful few hours away from their own children without others being there.

@userofthiswebsite in a small restaurant the only choice I would have would be the toilet, or outside in the cold, or in a corner somewhere with people wondering what on earth I was doing. I find it more weird that someone would rather I did that than just feed for a few minutes. I would be completely covered up. There would just be a baby under a Muslin. Fair enough if you feel like that though you can't help how you feel!

I’ve taken and bf all 3 of mine to work to talk about returning. Sometimes in office or in a coffee shop.

I’ve also been to leaving drinks with my 3rd in a sling and nobody said anything.

Your colleague sounds like a twit

@FatCow2018 a few people are bringing their kids. We work in a small office and a lot of the kids are friends. We have a boozy night out closer to Christmas. It's just the norm in our office!

You should be able to breastfeed anywhere, with anyone at anytime

Wherever it is is appropriate to have a baby with you, it is ok to feed that baby.

Whether I would choose to is another thing. I would say work colleagues are not the people to be unbuttoned in front of, literally or figuratively.

I have only rarely taken baby into work and would never take them to a work do.

Totally fine. I haven’t ever worked in a professional environment but if anyone had an issue with me BFing I would just write them off as a bit of a dinosaur and carry on regardless.

users opinion might well be shared by lots of people, but it shouldn’t be, and doesn’t need to be.

I have. When I came in for keeping in touch days. In a meeting room with one colleague who I was meeting at the time. Also at a conference where I brought my baby along (plus nanny) and he was brought into me for feeding. At a social situation such as the OP describes I would definitely do it without a second thought.

No idea why baby needs to be introduced to colleagues??
However if you want to take them to a social event, or can't be parted, and it's ok with others to have a baby there, why not?
If they are funny about it just meet the people you are friendly with, don't think you have a right to bring baby, but don't see why not. Breastfeeding is fine in public.

Is it really that weird to introduce your newborn to people you've known for 10+ years? I thought that was totally normal! Of course I don't 'need' to introduce my child to my colleagues though. It's nothing to do with not being able to be parted. That's a little patronising...

@Missingstreetlife
Some people's colleagues actually want to meet their baby, shocking as that may be...

I geddit now. If you mix with colleagues socially I see nothing wrong with breastfeeding then, it's the same as being with friends.