To not wear a mask when breastfeeding my baby

[Catsdogsandfoxes]

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?

It would’ve been fine for 1 feed out of hundreds. YABU to of removed your mask.

@7Worfs - you've made a few comments that out you as ignorant and incredibly insulting. The 'Karen' one and the 'sniffles pandemic' being the finest examples. You say you will always support a young mother over anyone else. So a woman only has value to you when she's a young mother? Older mothers, child-free women, vulnerable women, elderly women, can all go and fuck themselves, yeah? What must it be like to be you?

170,000 dead in just this country. Millions dead round the world. Your post is insulting.

Miss me with that virtue-signalling. Lockdowns have killed/doomed more people than COVID ever will.

[quote Waspsarearseholes]@7Worfs - you've made a few comments that out you as ignorant and incredibly insulting. The 'Karen' one and the 'sniffles pandemic' being the finest examples. You say you will always support a young mother over anyone else. So a woman only has value to you when she's a young mother? Older mothers, child-free women, vulnerable women, elderly women, can all go and fuck themselves, yeah? What must it be like to be you?[/quote]
I don’t care who feels insulted, it’s an opinions board and I’m sharing mine.

Took mine off to bottle feed as my baby was too distracted by the mask. Didn't and still don't feel bad. I'd tested a couple of hours previously anyway.

Then all power to you. But don't try and frame it as some 'breast feeding is so special it deserves mask exemption' thing. You didn't want to wear your mask in that moment for your own reasons so you didn't. That's it.

I agree.
I feel this is a cheap shot at people who don’t breastfeed and the anti-maskers are loving it.

@WonderfulYou

Then all power to you. But don't try and frame it as some 'breast feeding is so special it deserves mask exemption' thing. You didn't want to wear your mask in that moment for your own reasons so you didn't. That's it.

I agree.
I feel this is a cheap shot at people who don’t breastfeed and the anti-maskers are loving it.

This x 100000.

[quote Inastatus]@PheasantsNest - and there is the first mention on this thread of the most over-used word of the whole pandemic! How is it selfish for the OP to put her baby’s needs above others for a short period of time but it’s ok if you want to eat and drink for the whole journey?[/quote]
Because baby's needs were not compromised by wearing a mask for a single feed. I assume you don't live on the train op?

@Catsdogsandfoxes

People's responses actually surprise me! There was actually no one sat around me as the train was v quiet but just wondered what people thought...half of London don't seem to be wearing them at the mo. My baby was upset and I wanted him to see my face so I could comfort him while feeding...and I don't regret it!

Good for you

Your most important job is doing what is right for you and your baby,

The health and development of your child is your priority. Not others whinging about you depriving your child of comfort because of their selfishness

@PheasantsNest

You are very selfish.

Does that also apply to people who can't wear a mask for medical reasons? Or just someone who had their mask off briefly to bond with their child?

I don’t have an issue with what you did OP, but in doing it you have to agree with anyone else removing their mask for any reason they see fit. Do you?

I would have thought a baby seeing it's mother's face whikst by was all an important part of the bonding process

It's the distance that a baby is held at that's critical for bonding (regardless of feeding method) and is optimal for a baby's depth of vision. You don't have to gaze adoringly into the baby's eyes constantly, it's the face and its expressions at optimum distance that's so important for babies.
Covering up ⅔s of a face denies babies the opportunity to learn, especially as that's worsened by the angle that a baby is held at looking upwards
And it's not enough to say but baby sees mother in the home most of the time. Interactions are different with different stimulus outside the home. The vocabulary used diversifies.

How many babies and toddlers already with undiagnosed communucation and processing disorders are having an early, invisible disadvantage exacerbated my mask policies. Then there's the whole seperate issue of HV/ GP support when issues become apparent. This is a hideous social experiment with no consent.

When I've attempted to cover my face, a large proportion of my lower vision is obstructed. Having a small build, I can't see my feet when I'm walking and had I been breastfeeding in recent years, my breasts would have been hard to see. It was already tough enough trying to deal with a fussing infant through small gaps in winter clothing to feed subtly, and not shoot anyone within 6 feet with a vigourous let-down. Mind you that would have people sitting opposite temporaily exempt for drinking...

It is entirely reasonable for mothers to remove masks to communicate effectively with babies and young children.

Rubbish - she was only doing a train journey. You wear the mask on the train and take it off when you are home.

@Rosebel
It seems to apply to anyone who doesn't understand that PNs wants trump everyone else's.

@Lifeisnteasy

I don’t have an issue with what you did OP, but in doing it you have to agree with anyone else removing their mask for any reason they see fit. Do you?

I certainly would.

There's obviously a lot of hero's on here.
Everyone's bf experience is different. If you want to make sure baby can see your face the whole time then that's down to you as the mother.
I think a lot of people on here are being nasty and there's no need for it.
You've asked for a yes or no answer, not to be slaughtered.
Good on you for feeding your baby and making baby feel comfortable.
People walking around with no a care in the world, never a mask, parties every weekend, but you took yours off for a maximum of 30 minutes to FEED your baby and you're selfish🙄
Amazing

Fuck me what has happend to people!! Makes me wonder how your all going to cope when this shit show is over!

@Tilltheend99

Op: AIBU MN: Yes UABU Op: Idk

I wouldn’t personally interact with my baby while bfing as would rather not distract them but each to their own.

This is really just an anti-mask post rather than anything to do with breastfeeding

This old trope is neither new nor funny.

In this case, it's not true either.

I am an MNer, and I think the OP is being completely and utterly reasonable. This isn't a 99% "YABU" thread. MN doesn't think what you think it should. Sorry.

As for @RussianSpy101, YABU for not knowing that it's 'to have removed', not 'to of removed'.

@7Worfs

170,000 dead in just this country. Millions dead round the world. Your post is insulting.

Miss me with that virtue-signalling. Lockdowns have killed/doomed more people than COVID ever will.

Very, very true. Unfortunately.

People who are saying you dont need to interact with your child when breastfeeding obviously haven't been doing it right!

This. Wearing a mask and bf a young baby would really freak them out. The distance at which a baby can focus their vision enables them to see & recognise your face clearly when feeding them.

It is entirely reasonable for mothers to remove masks to communicate effectively with babies and young children.

This. A friend manages a local nursery and has told me that a huge proportion of their current 2/3/4 year olds are very behind in speech & communication.

Wearing masks damaged our ability to communicate and it is not good for children's development.

@MummyMe87 that’s great but the OP isn’t in a maternity ward trying to establish feeding in those critical early days, she has a 3mo who presumably is very happy having boob wherever whenever and really doesn’t care two hoots if mum is beaming down with a full smiley face or making wiggly eyebrows or dozing or watching tv or speaking to someone else or whatever

I'm astonished anyone would object

Goodness I’m impressed by those with such a commitment to breastfeeding they always concentrate on interacting with their baby, every single feed. No Netflix during late night feeding for them! No reading or sneaking a sandwich. Just interacting all the time.

As for the person who can’t see what she’s doing with a mask on 😂😂😂😂 once again we can only be glad that everyone whose basic performance is destroyed by a mask didn’t become a healthcare worker.