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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

So, would you BF at a meeting with your boss?

82 replies

welliemum · 09/10/2006 21:34

I have a meeting with my boss tomorrow, and will have 3 month old dd2 with me.

I'm worrying that she might get hungry during the meeting. Am I being a wuss? I have no qualms about bfeeding anywhere else.

I feel embarrassed about feeling embarrassed IYKWIM!

OP posts:
Moomin · 09/10/2006 21:35

What kind of boss? What kind of job? What kind of meeting?
I know it shouldnt matter but I think i probably does

Lio · 09/10/2006 21:36

Depends how formal. I have fed dd while chatting with my boss about work - different from a formal meeting. Also maybe your boss is a man? Mine are both women who have breastfed their children.

hester · 09/10/2006 21:41

I think it depends on your situation. I have bf in front of boss (woman, mother) but probably wouldn't in front of a male boss.

hairymclary · 09/10/2006 21:43

i'd like to think that I would. if your boss doesn't mind you taking the baby then I bet they won't mind you feeding.
tbh they don't have much choice, if she is hungry she has to be fed

bctmum · 09/10/2006 21:44

Go for it welliemum. At least with bf you'll be able to talk and have a meeting.

Spidermama · 09/10/2006 21:45

I would. Have good discreet clothing and just latch. The more comfortable you feel the more comfortable he'll feel. (Is it a he?) Also it'll be better than fighting it if the baby does get hungry (or just in need of comfort). That really would make for a stressful meeting.

Seriously I breastfed in front of anyone, anywhere. Babies are brilliantly portable at this age for this reason. Make the most.

hunkermunster · 09/10/2006 21:46

I would.

sweetheart · 09/10/2006 21:46

I did in front of my male boss once but I felt a bit funny about it!

Original poster
welliemum · 09/10/2006 21:47

Boss is a man, lovely, very relaxed person, has small kids of his own (I don't know how they were fed).

The meeting is a performance appraisal! So it's quite formal. I have to take dd2 because only I can feed her, so I can't leave her with anyone.

I think I would happily bf in front of a woman boss. It shouldn't make a difference though, should it?

OP posts:
Spidermama · 09/10/2006 21:52

If he's got any sense at all he'll respect you for it. I have often BFed in front of people and forgotton what I was doing then noticed their face with a look of interest, even mild shock. But this always melts away immediately because it's so natural and unremarkable actually.

I really believe that it'll only take a few more of us to be out and proud about BFing and then a whole load of barriers and hang ups will come crashing down paving the way for more women and babies to enjoy feeding in comfort with confidence.

hunkermunster · 09/10/2006 21:53

I have bfed a 14mo at work. Not in front of my boss exactly, but not hidden away.

Gillian76 · 09/10/2006 21:54

Just keep eye contact with him while you shove her under your top

HuwEdwards · 09/10/2006 21:54

No I wouldn't but then I am very conservative (nay prudish!).

hoxtonchick · 09/10/2006 21:55

i bfed ds in a meeting with the boss from hell & hr. it was definitely the best thing that happened .

QueenQuootieSpookypieBee · 09/10/2006 21:55

would you whip out a bottle infront of your boss?

Tortington · 09/10/2006 21:55

i dont quite understand why you have to go and do a performance appraisel with our child. i presume your not working at the mo?

if you are working how is she usually fed whilst your at work ( hence the assuming your not working at the mo)?

i would re-arrange the meeting. or if boss really needs this done ask him to come to my house. where i can do what i bloody well like quite frankly.

its all very nice and PC hippies rule the world and lets all love each other etcetc - however i just dont think it would be something acceptable at my place of work and any other place in the past where i have worked - which is only what i can make my judgement on.

Original poster
welliemum · 09/10/2006 21:57

It's weird that I'm worrying about this. dd1 fed just about continuously for her first 6 months so the entire world has seen my norks.

But I wasn't working then so this is a new situation for me.

Am planning to tank her up to the eyeballs before I go in, and maybe she'll go to sleep

OP posts:
WitchICouldGiveUpWork · 09/10/2006 21:58

I personally wouldn't in a formal situation like an appraisal.
Like it or not,opinions (both for and against exist wrt b/feeding)and many men feel uncomfortable with it.
I wouldn't want to run the risk of my appraisal being overhsadowed by b feeding my child.
If you are on amtenity leave then surely appraisal can wait?
At 3mts you should be able to get 3-4 hrs between feeds? Stuff her full before you go in if at all possible I guess.

Spidermama · 09/10/2006 22:02

Custy not hippies. Just mothers.

If any man, or any woman for that matter were to feel uncomfortable because I was feeding my baby, I wouldn't give them or their hang ups an inch or my time or thought. It's too sick. I won't be a party to other people's loony hang ups about something as fundamentally normal as breastfeeding.

Original poster
welliemum · 09/10/2006 22:04

Custy, I am working (just started again after matty leave), but I work at home and it's all computer stuff. So I just work and plug in dd2 when necessary, and stop to play with her when she needs playing with. As long as I do the work it doesn't matter how I work.

(I have childcare for the toddler obviously, can't turn my back on her, let alone work with her in the house.)

It's a brilliant arrangement and I love it. Place of work is a university dept so all very sandals-and-socks anyway.

Sorry, bit of an essay but you did ask!

OP posts:
Loshad · 09/10/2006 22:15

welliemum go for it, have done it several times with different bosses and different dc - all in uni type settings though

Tortington · 09/10/2006 22:32

yes but spider its nice you can afford to make such principled choices - some people just can't. so on my own personal employment history - i can think of no situation where it would be acceptable - if this is right of wrong - is not a judgement i am making.

would this of hindered my appraisel

too fucking right it would - which is why its an issue in the first place.

personally in this situation if my baby needed feeding i would ask for a free office and some time.

getting out your tit to feed a baby and getting out a bopttle shouldbe the same thing - unfortunaltey society in the workplace doesnt seem to have cought up with mumsnet views.

if its sandles and socks - then i am sure you have absolutley nothing to worry about.

cece · 09/10/2006 22:34

Personally I wouldn't but I was always very shy about feeding out of the house. I even used to drive home to feed then go out again!

lisalisa · 09/10/2006 22:37

Message withdrawn

amijee · 09/10/2006 22:48

I recently breast fed at a job interview when ds was 8 weeks old - and i'm in a professional field.

I don't care what others think, it's what I feel is right that counts.