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Infant feeding

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

When people are overly solicitous...

4 replies

OrangeMochaFrappucino · 18/06/2014 17:50

I bf DS1 for 14 months and never encountered a negative comment or worried about public feeding. So I wasn't nervous about feeding DS2. However, I'm becoming self conscious about it based on people being 'helpful'!

Firstly, I started feeding him in a cafe and my sister leapt up to drape me with muslins - I think her aim was to make,me feel comfortable but it had the opposite effect of making me wonder if I was being really indiscreet. A similar incident happened in a different cafe with my parents the other day.

Then yesterday I was in an Italian restaurant with DH and the boys (yes, my mat leave is being spent solely in eating establishments it seems!). We were the only customers, there for the early bird. The owner came up to take our order, then backed off dramatically - "I won't cause you discomfort when you're feeding! I'll come back for your order!" We persuaded him to stay (had to order toddler's food lest he turn into a gremlin) but he took our order at a distance of several feet. Again, I know he was being considerate to me but wondered if it was because I was being too obvious.

I do find it tricky to feed discreetly - have massive boobs and 10wo DS2 latches on and off several times per feed which is very annoying! He also feeds extremely frequently, which may be connected to his frequent vomiting (he's a very happy spitter)! He's also so noisy, gulping and guzzling away!

The combination of people's solicitousness a d my frustration at what feels like near constant feeding is really putting me off and I'm tempted to take a bottle out with me to avoid some of the public boob display. I don't know why this is bothering me now when it was never an issue with DS1!

OP posts:
IShallCallYouSquishy · 18/06/2014 17:55

I have this with my mother! My aunt and uncle came to visit DS (DC2) and he got hungry. Mum was here too. Uncle discreetly averted his eyes during the bra unclipping etc bit, but mum felt the need to stand up in front of me holding a muslin out wide!

fledermaus · 18/06/2014 17:58

I have a noisy, sicky gulper too! And I'm not very discreet, I hoik a boob out over the top of whatever I'm wearing Grin

Don't let the waiter put you off - who cares what other people think?!

Writerwannabe83 · 18/06/2014 18:06

I have breast fed in so many public places I've lost count Smile

I used to try and be discreet but now I just don't care : I happily get my boobs out in front of anyone [smile ]

NorahBone · 18/06/2014 21:43

Sorry, but the image of your sister draping you with muslins made me Grin! I couldn't care less if people stare, but the people who act as if they've just walked in on me taking a dump do make me feel a tad awkward.

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