My friend asked me to ask MN about Breast feeding

[KatyMac]

When she was breastfeeding her children she felt very it was very intrusive if people (even close family) touched her or the baby when feeding and felt quite threatened by it

I was less stress-y and only got worked up if it was disturbing or distracting the baby. I still feel that now when bottle feeding other people babies.

Are most people either one way or the other? She was asking if the way she was feeling was individual to her or more of a cultural norm......

(not sure I have expressed that very well.....sorry)

I think I was the same as you but I don't remember anybody trying to touch the baby while I was feeding I don't think it would have bothered me at all. If it was disturbing/distracting then I'd probably have been irritated, perhaps amused. I do remember DS when really little being mesmerised by XP's face while feeding and that was quite funny and didn't bother me.

No one tries to touch me ... maybe I smell lol!

No one has ever tried to touch me or baby when I'm bfing - would be very annoyed if they did!

Nobody ever touched my baby when I was feeding. Didn't mind my DP or my mum making physical contact with me when I was actually feeding, although this was not very common.

Why are lots of people trying to touch her when she's feeding?

I didn't like it but I had very distractable babies. But I just said politely they were feeding but they could of course have a cuddle once they were done.

It was normally just family members stroking babies head or tickling their toes, they were just being nice so I didn't take it personally but it was irritating.

Honestly, I'd have been annoyed, as DD had a most unhelpful habit of whipping her head round at the least distraction, mid-feed, without stopping sucking. Mega ouch!

Plus, IMO, it's plain rude to make assumptions about other people's personal or cultural views on privacy. Why would you touch them without checking first, when they are doing this. I totally support BFing in public & did it many times, but can absolutely see why some women could feel this to be intrusive.

My three other children like to kiss/touch their baby sister while I'd breastfeeding her.

There is a fine balance between not wanting baby distracted and not wanting to tell older children off for being sweet with the baby.

Closest I've had was MIL trying to watch while I was BF. We were in a restaurant, second time I fed in public and had mama scarf covering us. MIL tried peering in the gap designed for me to see DD That freaked me out a bit.
DH often has to leave for work while I'm feeding so he'll give me and DD a kiss goodbye - that's ok. But wouldn't want others getting that close.
I'm not generally a prude about feeding now, but DD is easily distracted.

Yeah I think my only issue would be distraction.
DH said in a cafe yesterday "you can see if you stand at this angle..." to which I pointed out why would someone contort themselves to see half a nipple and a baby bald head!

My toddler likes to cuddle up in bed with us and stroke my boob and the baby's face while feeding which I actually find kinda sweet. It does unlatch her sometimes (or wake her up) which I try not to get annoyed about...