feeling nervous bf in public since all this publicity!

[blondewithbump]

apologies in advance for lack of caps as DD is asleep on one arm so typing 1 handed

DD is pfb and only 7wo so i am a relatively inexperienced b'feeder. I have only recently started to bf in public now i have properly got to grips with latching her on quickly. i was doing it proudly and confidently and i wasn't nervous about flids coming over and moaning at me because i naively thought that people wouldn't be offended by the back of my DD head.

but, since the gmtv debate, mother and baby article, dvo interview etc i have realised how many people see bf as a bit strange or not acceptable in public and i am suddenly feeling a bit nervous that someone is going to march up to me and tell me i am offensive. i am so proud of bf, but am useless at confrontation and would be mortified!

just wondered if anyone felt the same or could tell me to get a grip

have to nip out for an hour now but will be back!

Please Dont worry. You are doing a great job. People dont tend to approach you in public places to confront you, I think that is rare. I bet if they did your instincts would take over anyway and you would deal with it.

Fuck em !

I have never had any one say anything, or even seem surprised by feeding in public.

A shame, because I had lots of witty put downs ready

You will be much more aware of what you are doing than anyone else. It gets much easier to breastfeed when you have had more practice and feel more confident, in the early days when you have to be careful they are latched on right, before long DD will just help herself when the bra is undone and she can get to you!

I fed DS in a pub beer garden, on a patio table, when he was 4 months old. An older male relative stood over me chatting and saying, oh look at him sleeping, til I pointed out he wasn't asleep he was feeding.

People just aren't looking as much as you think they are. Early days, I felt like I was blushing all the time and was sure I was going to show my boobs to the world. Didn't happen.

Enjoy your DD, it's lovely feeding a tiny baby

Have Bf in public for 8 years (4dcs) and in that time only 1 idiot made a comment (and got one back).

I think we all put up with far more shocking things than a BFing mum plastered on walls on a daily bases. Do not let strangers with no clue what they are talking about put you off!

Yes, i think once you have really got the hang of BF and aren't wrestling to get baby, boob,bra, top all in teh right positions it is very hard for anyone to actually see that that is what you are doing, and to see anything at all of your boob they would really have to peer closely, in which case they're teh weirdo.

Really don't feel weird or nervous, i have fed ds anuywhere and everywhere and i am the worlds biggest prude. I've never had any negativity, only very nice and kind comments, and even them few and far between because most people don;t notice what is going on.

keep on boobing

When they are very small it is much harder because neither of you are used to it, positioning can be difficult and they come off and on more.

I have been shouted down for suggesting this before, but I got myself a nursing cover, which is kind of like an apron with boning around the neck, so baby is covered but not suffocated, you can see them and they can see you. I don't use it any more as we're both so used to breastfeeding that we can do it with very little fuss, but early on I found it invaluable. I didn't need to worry about moving my boobs around to sort out positioning, and the squirty incidents were kept between baby and I!

Having said that, people on the whole like to see BFing out and about. The only times I have felt uncomfortable is when (usually older) people tell you how great it is. I did have one episode of an old man lifting the nursing cover for a look, then he gave DD £20!!!!

Honestly, don't worry about it. Feeding your child is far more important than anything else.

Also, if you do get any negative comments (unlikely) it will be from people who are jealous because they gave up early or didn't try.

There really are not that many people who are stupid enough to object to feeding babies.

The problem is that the real dummies are loud, so they make a lot of noise, leading people to think that there are more of them about than is actually the case.

If someone has a problem it is their problem, not yours and certainly not your baby's!

can you come to one of the picnics on monday to meet other bfing women and rebuild your confidence? See other thread...sorry on phone so can't link!

Been feeding DS for 10+ months now. To be honest, though I didn't before, I sometimes feel a little self-conscious now he's older because it's less common to still be bf an older baby. But I have not once had a comment or even a funny look in all that time. Enjoy your little one and don't worry!

people care less than GMTV would have you believe I promise!

it is only a minority that find BF in public odd - most people find it fine - and certainly better than hearing a baby yell.

although i think most people really don't even notice what you're doing.

I never had a problem either, I once fed dd when she was about 2weeks old in betty's tearooms and this pair of old ladies kept looking over at me, catching my eye, smiling, and nodding approvingly!

Muslins are good if you feel a bit exposed but you'll soon be an expert at being so discrete that no-one will notice to complain in the first place!

I never had any negative comments when BF DS in public.

Having said that, I can understand Denise van Outen's reluctance to BF in public. I might think twice if I knew there was a chance I could end up on some seedy 'nip-slips' page of a grotty gossip mag.

But as you're not a sleb being hounded by the paparazzi, someone would have to be an absolute twat to be offended by you feeding your baby. And you don't really need to care what ignorant people like that think about anything.

a game CTJ?
everyone welcome

lol the game starts with finding the right thread

here

thanks everyone, its lovely to hear that very few people have had any problems.

i think i was just getting the impression that that most people objected to it from what has been in media lately. i should know better than to think gmtv viewers and dvo speak for the majority of people

will carry on as i was because i so love taking DD out and about!

I've BF DD in public for nearly 5 months now and not once had a negative comment. In fact the opposite, I've had quite a few people say "oh you're feeding him/her, how lovely". I did buy a few BF tops from ebay so that I'm not hoiking my top right up. Just don't want to expose the jelly belly .

Easiest way is just to throw yourself into it DS is eight months now, found it very nerve racking at first, easy as pie now as breastfeeding itself is seconed nature!

Fuck everyone else Feed your baby and be proud.

Where abouts are you? There are breastfeeding picnics going on this Monday, there might be one near you?

another one here that uses a breast feeding apron - found it very good - I have humongous breasts and I'm v self conscious about them, and still learning how to bf. Apron goes over, and i relax, baby relaxes and gets a lovely feed - also stops him being distracted and keeps the sun off. Great! Helped me endlessly

I often feed my baby (toddler now) is public and to be honest I don't think many people notice - they just think we're having a cuddle or he's sleeping. If anyone has noticed they've never made any comments and I've always felt very comfortable doing it (although now I'm on DS3 I must be getting old as I have to find a seat with a back, rather than just sit on a beach!)

I never once got disapproving looks when I breastfed DD in public, rather the opposite.

There are so many cafes and places that promote it and quite often larger shopping centres and department stores offer very good private facilities as well.

John Lewis was a godsend when I was first getting to grips with feeding out the house as they had a massive parents room with a special breastfeeding only part round the corner so you could do it with other mums if you preferred.

Not that I felt uncomfortable about feeding her in their cafe either. I remember one woman who was feeding her newborn there and she looked a vision of motherly perfection.

I've never had any comments with either dc and I've fed both of mine anywhere and everywhere.

Even rather strange older relatives of dh told me not to be so silly when I went to feed dd in another room and told me just to do it in the living room as it was nothing to be bothered about

I was far more "adept" at feeding ds my 2nd and in cafes etc. dh would often say get up to go not even realising I was feeding him as I we were able to do it so discretely.

I was far more worried about flash of belly than flash of boob! Used to wear a stetchy vest underneath normal top to cover stomach.

If you're worried just go to John lewis cafe in Cheadle Cheshire, everyones at it!

Seriously, I've never had a comment. Just this week, since all the publicity I've fed in Starbucks, Ikea, the middle of a shopping centre, Tescos cafe, m&s cafe and in the front of my car and nobody has even looked in my direction let alone commented. I tend to surf on my Iphone whilst doing it or read a magazine so that I look busy.