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?

If you’re comfortable doing it it’s fine. It’s a bit of a shame having to go hide away to BF to be honest. I BF at my colleague’s BBQ this summer. I felt a bit awkward/I know the guys felt a bit awkward too to be honest.

It’s just a step outside the context they see you in. Like seeing your headmaster in jeans 😂

I think it's completely fine to breastfeed where ever you like and if anyone has a problem they need to move! When I returned to work I expressed milk I front of one colleague! I warned her that's what I was going off to do in the staff room and she didn't mind! It was all under a baggy top so no one could see anything anyway!
In my experience you rarely show any boob or nipple when breastfeeding. Even when I occasionally still breastfeed my fidgety 2.5 year old I manage not to flash anyone! I wouldn't care if I did but it's funny how worried other people are about the small chance there is that they might see a quick flash of boob/ nipple!

My daughter's mother in law said, whilst they were out for lunch "I don't think women should breastfeed in public." She was amazed when my daughter said "Haven't you noticed I've been sitting opposite you feeding the baby all through lunch?" I think babies should be fed when they need it, wherever you are, and whoever is there.

Breastfeeding in a toilet user? You wouldn't eat your own lunch in the toilet, why should a baby?

If people are uncomfortable with breastfeeding, that's their own issue. You have the legal and moral right to breastfeed wherever you like, assuming that the baby is allowed to be there in the first place. Objecting to a baby being fed is on the same level of crazy as saying you are offended by red-haired people so would they mind staying at home.

I wouldn't want to see one of my colleagues breastfeed in front of me and yes, it's inappropriate and unprofessional, but then I really wouldn't want a baby in my office in the first place.

If I had a colleague who expressed then I would expect her to do it in the room put aside for that purpose.

Social circumstances all fine though.

Not in work, but social situations with colleagues when they’re child friendly socials, sure

userofthiswebsite

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.

Generally women breastfeed with the intention of feeding their baby, not with the intention of making people uncomfortable and getting off on it. What a bizarre view. I breastfed my babies wherever I took them, and if people felt uncomfortable it was their problem not mine. No-one ever commented negatively about it, probably because they were all reasonable human beings.

When people say that you should breastfeed in another room do they not realise that a feed can last a considerable time. It's not like you can pop out for 5minutes. It might be the whole meal.

My colleagues were the only people I have felt a bit uncomfortable feeding in front of and that was in two different workplaces. I think it must be something to do with the personal and professional sides of me.

As for taking baby to the Christmas lunch -my husband did this at his ex-works lunch that he was invited back to. They were delighted. (Obviously he didn't breastfeed though).

I’d not have a problem unless your job made it unsuitable - so not if you drive a fire engine or are a steeplejack. I’d think it uncomfortable whilst working on a supermarket till but an office environment when you’d brought the baby in to say hello? Fine.

I don't think I'd ever try and tell somebody what they can or can't do in regard to breastfeeding, but I'd be a bit weirded out if one if my female colleagues got their boobs out in the office tbh. I wouldn't say anything however.

I breastfed far and wide but there’s no way I’d have done it in front of colleagues. No need for my boss to see my baps!

Yes, of course it's ok, and legally protected assuming baby is permitted to be in the space. Your colleague is being inappropriate and unprofessional by making an issue of it.

If your colleague wants to object to you breastfeeding, he should be discreet and go and do his objecting somewhere else, like the toilets for example. Can’t stand it when people try and shove their objections in other people’s faces

I met my colleagues for lunch during work hours and breastfed my baby in front of them. No-one batted an eyelid and most of them are childfree.

Well I think it's totally unreasonable to breastfeed a baby at the works Xmas do.
I mean, you won't be able to get up on the table and do your famous Roy Wood impression.
You'll have to bring a tartan throw and pretend you're the bagpiper in Mull of Kintyre. Not very bloody Xmassy through.

Breastfeeding is never inappropriate or unprofessional and it’s bizarre to think otherwise.

That said. I was always aware of certain people that it would make uncomfortable so I did it out of their way. You shouldn’t have to, but sometimes it’s the easier option. So just tell them to leave!

I breastfed in front of colleagues. In a school. No one said anything as thr people I work with aren't arseholes.
I also fed in front of pupils and ex pupils who were serving me at various cafes in the town. It's normal. Its not a big deal and it's nothing to be embarrassed about.

Agree socially is totally fine-mad that he thinks at eg a Christmas party with families that no one would have to feed their babies!! Only place Id draw the line is actual work- I remember the irish media saying it was great that a panellist on an irish day time show bf and also there was that model that did on the catwalk-I just thought it was unprofessional

Breastfeeding is never inappropriate or unprofessional and it’s bizarre to think otherwise Well it would be if you did it on work time-why would you have your baby in work?!

I would never get my norks out in front of any of my colleagues, male or female. I would rather they saw me in my work role and respected me for my professionalism than saw me breastfeeding. I work in a mostly male environment with a lot of younger colleagues, which is probably shaping my view.

Major lol @userofthiswebsite

Why is this such a taboo for you? Its 2018, why would a mother feeding her baby make YOU uncomfortable? What is so inappropriate about feeding a baby?

Fucking bad enough there are mothers out there terrified to feed their crying baby in public, having to resort to toilets because of dickhead opinions like yours.

Well said @BunsOfAnarchy!

I was on mat leave with DC1 when there was a big meeting to discuss potential restructuring & job losses so I attended. DC1 started grizzling so I fed her. Colleagues didn't realise until I sat her up to burp! So long as you're discreet, it's fine. You don't have to have massive covers or shawls, just be aware of how it looks.

Im not planning on taking my baby to work and I'm certainly not planning on getting my boobs out and waving them around in people's faces. I just intend on feeding my baby, under a Muslin. I just didn't think that was a huge deal but it must be to some.