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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

So who'd be up for some political activism? Sign up here....

263 replies

theUrbanDryadLovesCremeEggs · 08/04/2007 19:46

ok, you might've seen me bang on about this on other threads, but i think it is absurd that it is not illegal to harass a mother who is nursing in public.

i'm thinking of organising a mass public breastfeed, somewhere like Speaker's Corner, with loads of families, kids, babies, picnic etc. it would be very peaceful, no placards, no speeches, just a load of people, chilling in the sunshine.

i'd try to get the Press involved, issue a statement, raise awareness and let the Government know that this is an issue that won't go away.

i'm going to have a chat with my local LLL advisor at the Baby Cafe, see what she thinks. but in the meantime, i would love to know what other people think of the idea, how many people would be willing to come to something like that and show their support.

TIA

OP posts:
2HappyEaster · 08/04/2007 20:10

If there was one im my neck of the woods I'd do it

Rumpel · 08/04/2007 20:22

Great idea - I'm in Scotland though and never met anyone here who has been hassled. Think it illegal to ask a bf woman to move on here. Best of luck though and think you will get loads of support.

tinkerbellhadpiles · 08/04/2007 20:27

Maybe a lot of local groups doing a bf publicly in their town centres would be better - it's tough for mums and babies to get to London if they don't live there. But if we could figure out something more local - yes I'm up for it.

Mamalennon · 08/04/2007 20:30

It's a great idea, press coverage would be essential.

A friend was asked to stop breastfeeding in a cafe because it was 'putting the workmen off their breakfast'. She told the waitress their 'page three' was putting her off her breastfeeding. They still insisted she stop feeding or leave...

I would definitely come on your demo.

aviatrix · 08/04/2007 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
theUrbanDryadLovesCremeEggs · 08/04/2007 20:49

Mamalennon - dh works in PR so getting press coverage hopefully not a problem.

i think local groups could work well - perhaps in coalition with the Baby Cafes? but grand gestures work well for the press, which is why i like the idea of a massive bf.

OP posts:
Jenkeywoo · 08/04/2007 21:35

I would love to be involved but cannot contemplate dragging baby and toddler around London to do so! When is breastfeeding awareness week? I'm trying to get my local breastfeeding group to do something but it's hard to get people motivated.

weeonion · 08/04/2007 21:36

i agree that larger gestures tend to work better - a central focal point with smaller localised meet ups as well. it would be great to get some endorsement - not necessarliy meaning the tacky celeb route but someone with a bit of kudos / credibility. i know it may be short notice - but isnt breastfeeding week coming up - an ideal time to do it? it coudl be promoted in advance through NCT? la Leche? - it woudl be good to get some broader organisational support.

i think the idea of it being more a family celebration than a demo/ protest may encourage more to attend?

Cazee · 08/04/2007 21:40

Fabulous idea . I will certainly join. I think it is so necessary to get a law to ensure you can breastfeed, and press attention will help achieve this. we could also lobby our MPs at the same time, maybe even get one ot two to support the action.

chilledmama · 08/04/2007 21:42

Definately up for a local sit in...btw whats a baby cafe???

SenoraPostrophe · 08/04/2007 21:43

just a thought: isn't harrasment per se illegal? Isn't the problem that people don't see asking a mother to stop bfing as harrasment? campaigning on that basis may be more successful as it won't involve a change in lawe.

could be wrong. have had wine.

but anyway. how about a postcard campaign, whereby we all feed in as many places as possible and send pictures somewhere. then it can be an art project too or something

weeonion · 08/04/2007 21:46

i think there is a stronger case in that another part of the uk has managed to change the law - ie scotland.

i think the idea of a postcard campaign could be great - also - a photoblog on a website - where we all send in pics of where we are breasfeeding.

it woudl be good to tap into local infrastructures/ networks/ groups and use that opportunity for local action and awareness. something in the capital will get more attention tho' - a feed-in in front of westminster??? big ben??

chilledmama · 08/04/2007 21:52

Senora- wine is never a bad thing!! DH agrees with your sentiment about harrassment. I feel very lucky that I've never faced negativity in public places, some odd looks yes

rowan1971 · 08/04/2007 21:54

Count me in, UrbanDryad. Can get into London quite easily.

FrannyandZooey · 08/04/2007 21:56

Ds has stopped breastfeeding but he could come and feed his cuddly tiger as he was doing the other morning, perhaps?

Tigers need milkies too, I think people forget that

chilledmama · 08/04/2007 21:57

Sorry can I ask again...what a 'Baby Cafe'?

hunkermunker · 08/04/2007 22:00

PMSL at tigers need milkies too

I think that it's bonkers that the law wasn't passed for England and Wales as well as Scotland - I know why, I just think it's bonkers.

FrannyandZooey · 08/04/2007 22:07

A baby cafe is a place where women can drop in and get breastfeeding support and information

and usually get a cup of tea as well, hence the name

weeonion · 08/04/2007 22:08

chilledmama - did a google www.thebabycafe.co.uk/

there is only one in scotland - bah

Original poster
theUrbanDryadLovesCremeEggs · 08/04/2007 22:08

the Baby Cafe that i go to is a support group for new mums (and not so new mums) primarily run - i think - by the LLL. i went there for bf-ing support when ds was 7 weeks old, and they were fab.

ok - so far we have:

local sit ins. i can't organise regional things, so maybe people could take responsibilty for that?

photblog. any suggestions would be appreciated. i was thinking perhaps a Myspace page?

large meet-up in London. if i get in touch with the NCT and LLL do you think we could do it for breast feeding awareness week? it's 13th-19th May? so we'd be looking at Saturday 19th May.

milkies for tigers. absolutely.

OP posts:
weeonion · 08/04/2007 22:11

is there any chane we could start posting on other threads to get support - get mumsnet on board for it??

Original poster
theUrbanDryadLovesCremeEggs · 08/04/2007 22:20

i've put links to this thread from most of the recent post natal threads.....

OP posts:
babydrivertoo · 08/04/2007 22:31

on the political side, might be worth keeping an eye on the Discrimination Law Review which Govt is doing at the moment. I was working in a related area before I went off on maternity leave, and one of the areas where they were thinking of extending harrassment/equality provisions was about maternity and postnatal which would include bfing. I don't know when the consultation paper comes out (might already be there) but may be worth writing in support when it's avaible. Would be on the Dept for Communities and Local Govt website or via DirectGov website.

rowan1971 · 08/04/2007 22:48

babydriver - is this the consultation document that recommended outlawing harrassment of mothers bf-ing... so long as the child was under 2?

A suitable case for protest, I reckon.

EllieKthePA · 08/04/2007 23:07

i'm up for it, i intend to bf this baby and he'd better be out by then

in East Anglia so can either organise something in this area or travel to London, whichever works best