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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not wear a mask when breastfeeding my baby

278 replies

Catsdogsandfoxes · 14/01/2022 17:54

Was feeding 3 mo DS on the train through London this afternoon and took my mask off so he could see my face properly and we could interact. I find BF weird with a mask on. AIBU?

OP posts:
HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 14/01/2022 18:25

Buy a mask with a clear panel so he can see your face if you must. I wear them when teaching hearing impaired students, if you are on a busy train you should be following health guidance for your own benefit and those around you.

betwixtlives · 14/01/2022 18:26

fuck everyone else I guess. YABU
🙄

Hugasauras · 14/01/2022 18:26

I think for one feed it was a little bit performative. I often used to read my Kindle while DD fed, having my nipple in her mouth seemed like enough interaction sometimes (and don't think she was particularly interested in anything other than guzzling milk). Presumably your baby would have fed happily with mask on anyway.

ParadiseLaundry · 14/01/2022 18:27

@7Worfs

Young ones need to see faces. Throw away your masks, OP. You’ve got more important things to do than to please randoms to your child/your own detriment.
This. Yanbu op.
AngelinaFibres · 14/01/2022 18:28

@RegardingMary

Unless the mask was over your tit I dont why you couldn't wear it.
SmileSmile
BruceSpringsteensBitOnTheSide · 14/01/2022 18:30

Mine were bottle fed so I purposefully ignored them at all feed times so they knew I wasn't the nurturing type.

😂

KeepYaHeadUp · 14/01/2022 18:32

My baby has his eyes closed or fixed on a nearby cushion for most feeds. I think we only have eye contact and smiles for one or two feeds a day. YANU

Plumbear2 · 14/01/2022 18:33

You are required to wear a mask on the train. Other people's health far outweighs your baby seeing your face for one feed.

Gonnagetgoing · 14/01/2022 18:34

@vodkaredbullgirl

Next time get something to eat and drink with you.
@vodkaredbullgirl - yeah like that’s gonna work whilst you’re BFing. Or does it?
RampantIvy · 14/01/2022 18:35

DD was a slow feeder. It took over an hour to feed her (yes, the latch was fine). There was no way I was going to gaze into her eyes for over an hour. I watched repeats of This Life while I was feeding her or read a book.

vodkaredbullgirl · 14/01/2022 18:36

Means she wouldn't have to wear mask, when b/f.

Gonnagetgoing · 14/01/2022 18:38

@vodkaredbullgirl

Means she wouldn't have to wear mask, when b/f.
@vodkaredbullgirl - I’ve never breastfed with a baby but whenever I’ve seen breastfeeding mums they generally haven’t been eating or drinking whilst doing so, I assume they can do this though.
HardbackWriter · 14/01/2022 18:38

In the very early days of feeding DC2 I had to take my mask off to do it because he took a while to work out how to latch on properly and I couldn't see him well enough to position him in a mask. I remember having to ask the health visitor (who had come to help with the latch issue) whether it was ok to take it off. It didn't last very long, though - maybe a few weeks until it was fine.

JaniceBattersby · 14/01/2022 18:40

Nurturing and bonding. Aye right. I fed four babies for a total of ten years and I found breastfeeding to be totally perfunctory. Really didn’t enjoy it and certainly didn’t gaze into by babies’ eyes while doing it because I was mostly trying to stop them twiddling my other nipple or nipping my arm.

Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 14/01/2022 18:41

I think if you need to take it off to see, that’s fine. But if you don’t then for one journey it would probably be ok. It’s sad though, my 18 month old brings us a mask as a sign that he wants to leave the house - and I agree they do need so much facial expressions and contact.

Obviously people freak out about this but I don’t see what’s wrong with pointing out that breastfeeding is a bonding experience.

Fallagain · 14/01/2022 18:42

@vodkaredbullgirl - yeah like that’s gonna work whilst you’re BFing. Or does it?

Yes you can bf and eat. In the early weeks it maybe the only way you can eat.

TinaYouFatLard · 14/01/2022 18:42

I wouldn’t have given a shiny shit if you took your mask off. I love to see a face these days.

vodkaredbullgirl · 14/01/2022 18:43

@Gonnagetgoing It's called multi tasking.

7Worfs · 14/01/2022 18:43

@Plumbear2

You are required to wear a mask on the train. Other people's health far outweighs your baby seeing your face for one feed.
Haha, no.
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 14/01/2022 18:44

I wouldn’t be able to bf without having a drink of water at the same time so on that basis yanbu

I also think you may have a point about baby seeing your face - I doubt it’s the end of the world for one feed, but then again neither is one more person not wearing a mask, seeing as half the country seems not to wear one!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 14/01/2022 18:45

(PS I wear one whenever required and even forget to take it off as I don’t notice it!)

sashagabadon · 14/01/2022 18:45

Good for you op. I’d have done the same and would be very pleased to see a nursing mother without a mask.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 14/01/2022 18:46

With dc2 he fed almost every single time we sat down for a meal! As long as someone cut my food up I was fine. Can’t bottle feed and eat though Grin

maryberryslayers · 14/01/2022 18:47

YANBU. I think that's a perfectly good reason to not wear a mask.
I don't wear a mask at all when I'm with my baby and toddler. I need to communicate with them and they need to see my face for me to do so. They also need to watch my mouth to learn to talk. This matters more to be than following the pointless rules of a complete hypocrite.

AgrippinaT · 14/01/2022 18:48

YANBU.

Let your baby see your face.

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