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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Can I ask a question to those who bf in public?

49 replies

HenriettaPeck · 13/01/2011 21:42

Do you mind if people look at you when you are doing it? It's just that I always want to look because it's one of the most beautiful things ever, but I worry if I glance over what the mother might think, I'd be gutted if she thought i was being one of thoso horrible judgey people. I never managed to bf mine either so I'm a tad jealous too.

OP posts:
IwishIwasmoreorganised · 13/01/2011 21:44

Not if you look friendly and smile, or even have a chat.

I loved people coming over and cooing (as long as ds was firmly latched on!), asking how old ds was and things like that.

misdee · 13/01/2011 21:45

i dont mind.

Honeydragon · 13/01/2011 21:45

I don't mind a jot Smile

picc · 13/01/2011 21:46

nope :)

MotherJack · 13/01/2011 21:47

I failed to breastfeed my son too, HP so I get where you are coming from, and I do look at mothers breastfeeding their child in public as, like you, I find it a lovely thing. I always make a point of smiling at them if they see me.

Cies · 13/01/2011 21:47

I don't mind as long as you look friendly, smile etc. Although I find that I often concentrate on ds so I don't have to meet people'e eyes, just in case.

cluelessnchaos · 13/01/2011 21:47

It doesn't bother me in the slightest, I am always amused by people trying to spare my blushes, it also helps that my mind is absolute mince in the first year of my babies life, especially while breastfeeding

PacificDogwood · 13/01/2011 21:47

I don't mind. At all.

Except when Old Creepy Guy just stood right next to us and Stared. For ages. I think he had MH issues though.

thisisyesterday · 13/01/2011 21:47

no, i LIKE when people look at me

i feel proud that I am (maybe) helping people to see that breastfeeding is normal, and that I am not a weird earth-mother hippy freak and that you can BF without people being forced to see your "baps" Wink

so no, i don't mind at all

VeronicaCake · 13/01/2011 21:48

Not at all. Indeed the only people I have noticed looking have been positive and smiley. It's nice.

Original poster
HenriettaPeck · 13/01/2011 21:48

I always smile, but often want to go and have a peak at the baby too

OP posts:
hellymelly · 13/01/2011 21:48

I never minded, if someone looked smiley and friendly,in fact it really helped me feel more relaxed about it,if I was feeling a bit unconfident.

usernamechanged345 · 13/01/2011 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoobBuffet · 13/01/2011 21:49

I never minded, I'm now the one wanting to coo and look since ds's boob rejection!

Original poster
HenriettaPeck · 13/01/2011 21:50

I agree that the more woman openly bf then women like might who struggled to bf might find it easier.

OP posts:
mjovertherainbow · 13/01/2011 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

spiderlight · 13/01/2011 21:54

It's never bothered me at all.

TheSecondComing · 13/01/2011 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mamjo · 13/01/2011 21:54

I don't mind at all as long as it's friendly and smiley not gawping. Breast feeding in those 1st weeks was so tough I never thought I would be able to do it so am quite proud isn't little self.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 13/01/2011 21:56

I dont mind though I can think of only a handful of times its happened (that I noticed) and I am bf DC 5!

Its lovely when people smile and nod. I particularly like it when its older women (and as I am 43 that means grannies!)

I have been leered at once but that was by a friends knobhead OH and his Hells Angels mates. Twats.

But mostly people dont notice.

MsFC · 13/01/2011 21:57

Oh, I think I may be in the minority then, but I hate it. I hate it the most though when people come to my home while I'm feeding and peer over me to get a closer look. I KNOW you are looking in a loving way, but it's actually my body!

BaronessBomburst · 13/01/2011 21:58

I don't mind either, as long as people smile. Then I just smile back.

pozzled · 13/01/2011 21:58

I wouldn't mind at all as long as it was clearly friendly. In the early days of bfing in public I did get a bit paranoid about what people would think. If anyone had looked without smiling I'd have worried about what they thought. But a smile would have been lovely.

TrinityMotherOfRhinos · 13/01/2011 22:00

I wouldn't mind a jot
and even though she is nearly four and hasn't been fed in public for a loong time (just cause it doesn't come up) I would assume you were being nice about it Smile

Househunter · 13/01/2011 22:02

A glance and a smile is lovely but I would find it difficult if anyone talked to me, as dd is incredibly distractable so will stop feeding and look around if there is the slightest noise!