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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Two annoying bfing experiences this week

27 replies

JeelyPiece · 27/10/2011 09:17

And it's only Thursday. Warning, I am regularly oversensitive.

Firstly a GP asked me how long I was planning to bf and when I said, well not sure really, as long as he wants - said well are you still going to be doing it when he's 4? (expression on face indicating this would not be desirable). He's only 6.5 months now FFS. Then sent me off without any antidepressant because of bf, which further research on my part indicates was not necessary.

Then I was at a PND clinic yesterday and needed to feed DS after my appt. Was led to empty waiting lounge area and had to fight the woman off from putting a screen round me. She kept trying to do it and I kept saying, no really no need, then she said but a MAN might come in! I started to get the impression the screen was not for my benefit but to preserve everyone else's delicate sensibilities. Still refused her though and she went off looking miffed.

But on the bright side, am posting this from my phone while feeding DS in bed for his nap which is a nice bfing experience!

OP posts:
Original poster
JeelyPiece · 27/10/2011 09:19

Can i just say I didn't refuse the screen to make a point about about bfing in public well not entirely but because I would have felt a right fanny.

OP posts:
LoveBeingAWitch · 27/10/2011 09:22

I was bf in the jl cafe last night with a massive millionaires shortbread to eat whilst mum winded him, very nice bf experience Grin

Original poster
JeelyPiece · 27/10/2011 09:25

That does sound good! [hsmile]

I hope you considered draping a curtain over you though in case you put a granny off her scone. Or worse, a MAN!

OP posts:
planetpotty · 27/10/2011 09:59

I too would have felt a right fanny!!

Can't believe something like that happened in a medical environment! You did the right thing re the screen well done Smile

Maybe doc was trying to say stop bfing
So I can give you these meds?

I phone + bf = v coooool But I still pretended to DH it was sooooo hard having to sit and feed Wink

LoveBeingAWitch · 27/10/2011 10:58

It was almost empty but just as I was getting him out the pushchair (mum dispatched to the cake counter) a man came and sat on the sofas next to us with his 2 daughters, his wife then appeared whilst I was feeding. Just hope there wasn't a convo about his choice of seats on the way home.

theboobmeister · 27/10/2011 11:43

That GP sounds like a twat he needs more training. Hope you can get the help you need elsewhere ...

ruddynorah · 27/10/2011 11:51

After a play session at our children's centre I politely 'asked' the HV if I was ok to give ds a quick feed on a sofa in the hallway. She got all in a fluster and shuffled me and another bf mum into a little side room then dragged the sofa into the little room, pulled a blind down over the teeny window in the door and showed us how to lock ourselves in!! I did explain there was no need, however the other mum then did lock us in and got her feeding cover out so maybe it was for her benefit.

Graciescotland · 27/10/2011 11:58

Was actually asked to leave a restaurant for feeding DS last week Angry am in the Netherlands where there is no legal requirement to allow bf in public. I know people complain but I found the UK much more bf friendly then here!

I have to admit I have never "asked" whether it'd be ok to feed DS simply done it, perhaps I should?

ruddynorah · 27/10/2011 12:08

I didn't really ask I just sat down and said 'am I alright to give him a quick feed?' while getting my top up. Plus the play session had finished so it was more asking if I could hang round for 2more minutes.

naturalbaby · 27/10/2011 12:09

i've been told by 2 gp's and a hv to stop bfeeding after 6months. have ignored. got more stressed trying to stop than it was worth trying to stop me getting so run down and stressed.
baby not interested in formula in the slightest anyway so couldn't even if i wanted to.

planetpotty · 27/10/2011 12:14

Gracie this so gets my goat Confused would they have asked you to leave if you had been sat in a push up bra, skin tight dress reading FHM probably not it's soooo stupid Sad poor you don't let it put you offSmile

ruddynorah · 27/10/2011 12:16

When I took dd for her vaccinations at 4months old the nurse asked me if she was 'still on baby milk.'

Original poster
JeelyPiece · 27/10/2011 13:33

The same GP, when I said I didn't want to stop bf, said all the health benefits were conferred by six months [hconfused]

gracie and norah that's ridiculous.

OP posts:
nethunsreject · 27/10/2011 13:38

I've had lots of good bfing experiences, BUT my GP was mortified when I fed ds2 then aged a few weeks, in front of him and attempted to usher me into another room. Ffs. He's a bell end though.

My MIL hates it, especially if I feed the wee guy in public. SO I make sure I always do Wink

AngelDog · 27/10/2011 13:48

Well done, OP. And what's wrong with feeding till 4 anyway? Confused

I've had my mum stand in front of me about 2 mm away from my knees so that no-one could see that I was breastfeeding a toddler. [shock. Who was a whole 18 months old. Hmm

The poor thing had just pulled his elbow (he's prone to it - the elbow socket basically comes apart) so he was in a lot of pain & the alternative would have been a child shrieking the place down.

Almost all my other experiences have been positive though. And I do feed him lots in public still - 22 m.o. now.

Hope you get some progress with the PND meds, OP.

Secondtimelucky · 27/10/2011 14:09

LovebeingaWitch - We often make a beeline for other tables with babies/children because you're less likely to annoy someone hoping for a quiet coffee! If his wife commented, it was most likely on the good choice of table.

LoveBeingAWitch · 27/10/2011 15:29

Hope so, or much more likely the fact the cream with the scones was squirty cream Shock

Secondtimelucky · 27/10/2011 15:31

In JL Shock? What is the world coming to?

LoveBeingAWitch · 27/10/2011 16:23

I know I was really shocked and didn't even have a scone.

stopgap · 27/10/2011 17:00

GP = knobber.

I know it's slightly different, but my DS's paediatrician would be more likely to ask why I'd STOPPED breastfeeding at 6.5 months. There's pretty much an implicit understanding that we'll go to the end of the first year. An OBGYN I saw recently for a scan said as much, too. Maybe I just lucked out to see non-divot health professionals.

Original poster
JeelyPiece · 27/10/2011 17:31

Thanks Angel it took 30 secs on google to find which anti-ds are ok for bf so am back to see a different doc next week armed with that info (from the NHS website!)

stopgap knobber yes, and it was a she... you automatically expect women to know/understand more about bf but she may not have personal experience of it.

OP posts:
startail · 27/10/2011 17:59

I might have to get my DD2 to email your GPGrin She has very forthright opinions on the matter of giving up BF when you start school

SheCutOffTheirTails · 27/10/2011 18:06

I would like to read that letter startails :o

KD0706 · 27/10/2011 18:23

Some medical professionals are so clueless about BFing!

Fwiw my 18 mo seems to have decided for herself she's over BFing and I'm gutted. I would def have fed her till two at least, though I admit for the past few months I've just been feeding her at home and distracting in public. Tbh I think that's maybe encouraged her to wean sooner rather than later.

Anyhoo... On the topic of feeding in public, when DD was smaller I was sitting in a cafe with NCT buddies. Four of us all BFing. Man comes over and sits on the sofa beside us. I think oblivious to the feeding. His wife arrives with their coffees, takes one look at us, has words with him and they swiftly move to another seat (cafe pretty empty). I'm not sure whether she was doing it to give us privacy or whether she was disgusted at the thought of us all flashing our boobies at her (oblivious!) DH!!

Graciescotland · 28/10/2011 01:37

Thanks planet DS is 14 is months now I think it's too late for me to be put off!