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!

I think the media just whip it all up. Have been feeding for a year now, in cafes, on the tube, bus, airports etc and haven't had any trouble. Often people just think ds is asleep. Had a ring sling, but he's so heavy now just cover with muslin or Cardigan. Ring slings also enabled feeding walking along/tidying up etc when ds was small!

Never had any negative comments here (apart from continual sillyness from my MIL which doesn't count!!)

Sounds like you are doing a great job so keep at it and keep feeding in public. The more you do it the more confident you will become.

I have been feeding my DD for 15 weeks and feed her every day out and about. I have had no negtive comments, only positive. People have spoken to me to offer me help to open my juice etc and to to tell me how nice it is to see a mother breastfeeding her baby. Sometimes I see people looking over. I just smile at them and then get on with it.

I really wouldn't worry. The only comments I got were really possitive, lots of older ladies telling me about their experiences of having to do it in public loos and how much better it was now.

I don't know anyone who would rather hear a screaming hungry baby than see a contented one feeding either on the breast or by bottle.

Like other posters I can see why Denise van Outen may not want to get pap'ed doing it but most people really aren't bothered.

I have breastfed both my dc's and have never had any bad comments, usually people saying how nice it was to see a breastfed baby. Carry on you are doing a great job and giving your baqby the best start in life

I third using a nursing apron, I just feel less self-conscious with one when in public, although they're not v popular on here!

As an aside, the term 'flid' also isn't v popular, it's quite offensive, just to warn you.

My friends have never had any comments, even when we've lunched in some smart restaurants which weren't typical mummy haunts. Well done at getting the hang of it and cracking on, please don't let this put you off, I really struggled with it and had to give up in the end because it just wasn't working as it should and if i saw you in public, well, I'd just be the green eyed monster in the corner!! I had to try and find places to express - now that is tricky, but you're doing the totally normal thing, enjoy it!

I have been watching this debate with interest, as an expectant mum I haven't BF yet, but was just wondering what's the best way to show support to those who are Bfing? I tend to just smile at those I see, but I don't want the BFing mums to think I'm staring/making an 'issue' of it - I want them to know I'm thinking "good on you, I hope I'll be like that" I also don't want to come across as patronising, especially as I've never BF (yet) so don't say anything.

nomoremagnolia I'd just smile in a "oooh your DC is gorgous" sort of way... and then rub your belly

Was knitting in public yesterday and got more comments than I ever had while BFing

I think it's great - just go for it.

I sometimes catch myself watching bfing Mums and worry I might make them self-conscious - and actually I'm looking because a, I think it's great, b, I love watching babies, and c, I'm looking for tips on clothes and baby holds now that I'm pregnant!

I really don't think the vocal GMTV viewers are representative of this country. I hope they're not!

On another note - I told my DH off for using the term 'flid' a little while agao and he was horrified as he'd never realised that the term comes from Thalidomide-affected babies!

I agree with the fuck em comments. Anyone with that attitude is a repressed idiot whose opinion means nothing to me.

I have bf 2 babies to over a year anywhere and everywhere and also have never had any negative reactions. keep going!

Thanks KnitternotTwitter I have had lots of comments when KIP too - maybe I should consider it Mummy practice

nomoremagnolia I think I am going to start asking nursing mums if I can get them anything - some people have done this for me a couple of times and it has been nice for someone to hand me my coffee/get me a drink or whatever.

I normally don't like it if people don't take the time to read the whole thread, so sorry for that but I still wanted to add my experience.

DD is 8 month and I still bf. I've always bf in public and was always very confident about it. I never got any negative comments, sometimes positive ones from old ladies, like how cute she was or "oh you are a hungry little girl, finally something to eat,..."

I don't feed her in public that often anymore, mainly because of the timing and because she gets easily distracted but even now I have never heard anything (apparently she is supposed to be seen as too big for bf)

I breastfed DS for 14 months and never got a comment once (a few looks but never a comment) - just keep doing what you're doing and ignore the press - they do love to pregnant woman/mother bash!!

Ps nomoremagnolia- huge congrats on the pregnancy! Where's all the old gang now?

toomuch so nice to 'see' you
The 'old gang' seem to have sadly dispersed

I bfed DS in public and never had any problems or complaints. I even got a 'good for you' from an elderly Asian lady in the doctor's waiting room once, and DS was well past 12 months by that point.
DOn't feel self conscious, and you are within your rights to feed in public.
A lady from my bf group did get kicked out of a supermarket for breastfeeding her DD. The supermarket got fined £2,500 for their trouble.
And as for DVO, it would be far better if she just admitted she doesn't want to do it, instead of making public breastfeeding out as something to be ashamed of.

Fed DS in public for over a year and never had a negative comment, had a couple of positive ones, but mostly people don't even notice.

I'm still feeding DD out and about (18 months and still keen) and feel a lot less self-conscious this time. Have the 'fuck em' attitude...

As an aside, I help out at a toddler group and we always try to make sure that mums with tiny babies (bf or ff) get their cup of tea and a biscuit, as often they are feeding at snack time.

Sorry last gate crash. Nomoremagnolia I'll email you. :-)

at use of 'flid' though

Horrible terminology

I'd agree that I've never had a problem, and also that by being seen out and about you are performing a tiny public service by normalising bf.

Honestly, I never had a horrible comment, only approval and people going out of their way to look after us.

I would more assume that the vast majority of right thinking people are happy to see a mum feeding. The rest are completely insignificant and not to be thought about.