To think Britain is pretty backwards with breastfeeding?

[Bluffysummers]

I just had an interesting experience (month or so ago) and I’ve been left pondering is it just the UK that pretty backwards with regards to attitudes towards breastfeeding?

as needs must, ive fed both of my kids in public, as discreetly as I can but both kids hated nursing covers, I do prefer a breastfeeding room but ones not always available and when a kids gotta eat a kids gotta eat. in the UK I’ve for sure had quite a few looks and tuts but the head scratcher for me was on hols.

so in Disneyland Paris, a real melting pot of cultures as we know, visitors from around the globe. Fed baby from numerous locations around the park, sat next to Italians who struck up a conversation (no second glance or funny looks) smiles from french people who’ve told their kids to sssh to not distract baby from milk (I speak french and broken Italian so that helps lol. Chatted to some emiratis and Turkish people whilst feeding no second glance or anything weird. No one batted an eyelid until we went to a restaurant In Disney village, and was sitting behind a young British couple. Baby needed feeding, so feed, well the woman (mid to late 20s) hit the roof and demanded the waiter reseat her, he said there were no more tables, she proceeded to tell him she felt physically sick by what was happening behind her, and asked if she could have rest of the meal to go and a dessert to go. The waiter was baffled, and asked why, and said they didn’t have takeout boxes. She got huffy and left half of her food and walked out. I can assume she thought I was french as obviously speaking to waiters in french. After the left, the waiter gave me a wink and said it was a ridiculous attitude.

but it got me wondering , is it just us Brits that are a bit backwards breastfeeding wise? I know my holiday is hardly an academic study but no other group of people seemed to react . I’m on a few social media bf groups and there are so so many posts of discrimination and nasty comments. So what do we think? Is it a UK problem?

People do give a shit ^ I haven’t had comments luckily but lots of uncomfortable stares and it wasn’t in my head. It’s pathetic ,weird and people need to grow up.

I'm not sure location has anything to do with it, I live in the deep, dark north away from all those cultured Londoners

Although I’ve experienced ignorance and lack of knowledge from several healthcare practitioners (eg a pharmacist saying I could just ‘stop feeding’ for a few days whilst taking medication).

also a woman telling a pregnant friend (the woman didn’t know me) that breastfeeding is hard work, you don’t know how much they’re getting…. Generally being negative about bf but it wasn’t aimed at me.

I’ve fed two until they were two and haven’t had any negative comments in the UK. In America however I didn’t so much as get anything unpleasant said to me- but there was a clear feeling of discomfort- people leaving the room, mentioning I could go into a bedroom/ private area/ offering a blanket etc. I don’t think they did it to be offensive- just a cultural difference.

I fed DD all over in UK and US, I never used any kind of cover. Never got a sideways look apart from once on a crowded train when some milk went astray. Maybe I just wasn’t paying attention but no one seemed to care?

I had my babies around 30 years ago. I breast fed them all for over a year and fed them anywhere and everywhere, as did my friends. Never had a sideways glance or a remark anywhere. I think things seem to be getting worse, if what I read on here is accurate.

That one woman was U. Doesn't mean that all Brits are the same, ffs.

You only need to read the DailyMail comments section on any breastfeeding articles to see the idiots that have a problem with BF.

I've never covered and fed my dc everywhere and anywhere, never had any negativity, looks or comments. Other than the usual 'they're 3 months old, isn't it time to stop?/when are you stopping?/they can't be hungry again!' type of thing.

I think the only awkwardness was when I was bfing newborn dc1 and my let down started as dc moved their head, my mortified brother got a face full of milk and almost died of embarrassment. A young friend of the family, 17 year old guy, got a bit awkward when I fed dc1 because he'd never seen anyone bf and was a bit unsure of what to do.

I got a lot of supportive comments from random people, sometimes someone would sit next to me for a chat or offer help (with dc1 while feeding dc2, bring my drink to the table in a cafe sort of thing). But I live in a very bf friendly town and was maybe just lucky everywhere else 🤷‍♀️

🙄 obviously ffs

Why have you have one bad experience and generalised about a whole nation of people?!

I haven't seen anything in the op's posts to suggest she thinks all Brits are the same? (ffs)

i haven’t said every person in the UK has a problem with breastfeeding BUT that this experience and the countless stories on mums group, the amount of awful anti bf comments that run in the comment section of some newspapers and the amount of people oddly triggered by this thread… it’s got me wondering if Us Brits do have a cultural issue with breastfeeding

Have you read your title op? 🤣🤣

Well you certainly seem to think you are!

Breast fed both of mine for over a year with no issue. We live in a deprived area and it surprised me how many offers of a drink/biscuit etc I received whilst sitting feeding.
The only slight incident I had was in a supermarket cafe, the older lady on the next table suggested her husband might be more comfortable if I sat in the toilets to do that. Before I could say anything in response, he’d told her not to be so silly! She apologised when she left.

Yes

ie a British cultural attitude.

similar to how it’s a British cultural thing to like cups of tea or apologise for everything doesn’t mean that all British people are just mainlining tea and constantly saying sorry.

Well, all your evidence is one person. I bf two dc for a total of five years and had no negative reactions during that time, so I'd say that no, Brits are not negative about bfing...

I breastfed both my children for over a year in the Uk and never had a single comment or stare or anything at all judgemental - much to my dismay as I openly, passive aggressively fed everywhere I could in the hope of getting someone to be arsey with me 🤣🤣🤣 disappointingly it just never happened!

please re read what I said

my experience and lots of others in various social media mum groups and breastfeeding groups and comments on online papers and some of the very bizarre and unduly triggered comments on this thread

So from one person who you say made some comments, you’ve extrapolated that to mean all of Britain is backwards about breastfeeding? Ok then.

I breastfed my children 20 odd years ago with no issues whatsoever when I was out and about.

Stereotypical much?

i didn’t say that I said that plus reading other peoples experiences on SM and then comments online and even here

ok then

I bf for 8 months, I have to admit I found feeding in public to be a bit awkward but that was my issue, nobody made me feel unwelcome or said anything.

Tons of celebrities now openly bf and upload photos to their social media (Lucy Meck yesterday for example), I definitely think more young women and working class women are taking it up.

But I have to admit there do seem to be a small handful of bfing women who are almost spoiling for a fight wherever they go - misinterpreting ‘looks’ (either people are ‘staring’ or ‘looking away in disgust’), feeling outraged when asked if they would like a private/comfortable spot (‘why should I have to hide?’) etc. Picking holes in well-intentioned comments.

im not sure whether it’s because they enjoy a good Barney like some people do 😆 or whether it’s because they’re hyper sensitive/anxious. But most of the comments here give quite a positive overall view of public bfing in the U.K.

Some people are having a little trouble with their comprehension skills, OP!

For anyone struggling, please let me assist ... The experience that OP described in her first post prompted her to start thinking about different cultural attitudes, for which she has provided other (valid) examples. Hope this helps a little.