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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:
rowan1971 · 09/04/2007 17:32

So... if I'm bfing in a restaurant, and the great stupid ninny of a manager tells me to put myself away or get out, I'm perfectly within my rights to refuse, am I? Doesn't the manager have the right to eject anyone for pretty much any reason?

yellowrose · 09/04/2007 18:24

I don't think there are enough mad people around to do assualt & battery on a nursing mum, but there are enough mad people to stare and look at you in a disapproving way or even say something silly like "would you mind doing that somewhere else ?" neither of which count as a criminal offence.

I think legislation to protect nursing mums al la Scotland would be a bloody good thing and long overdue, because let's face it in England in most public places it is "tits out for the lads" mentality, but not to feed your baby. Hopefully legislation will raise awareness if nothing else.

We NEED proper legislation to go hand in hand with a public change of attitude, which unfortunatley is going to be a long time coming.

podglet · 09/04/2007 19:17

I'm definitely up for a meet up in London for this. I haven't faced any negativity (having a 6 ft 4, 18 stone, scary looking DP helps) but I do hate the way bf'ing mums are expected to feed their babies in disabled toilets aka "the baby room". Anyway, if I did get any funny looks, I wouldn't know - am registered partially sighted

DS is 23 weeks and still going strong - and I have now bf in Harrods!

yellowrose · 09/04/2007 20:28

you are far less likely to be pestered in Harrods than in a local greasy spoon caf full of construction workers.

kamikayzed · 09/04/2007 20:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

yellowrose · 09/04/2007 20:34

...although of course the construction workers may ask why you don't pose for page 3 instead of feeding your baby...

Lio · 09/04/2007 20:40

i am likely to come to a London feed-in, UrbanDryad, or if there regional ones then I would join in a Hertfordshire one. Will keep an eye on your thread. Ilana, have signed the manifesto.

Spidermama · 09/04/2007 20:50

I may or may not be able to make it BUT I would certainly be able to help you get good press coverage. CAT me if you want. It's a great idea.

theUrbanDryad · 09/04/2007 20:53

great stuff!! thanks everyone for your support. i have a few confirmations from people i know in rl as well (i do have real friends - honest!) as well as some bf-mothers of older children which is all good stuff.

i honestly never thought about bf-ing in public until my mw mentioned it in antenatal classes. i had never thought that some people might be averse to it. now i marvel at my naivety - not so much from my own experiences, but from what other people have said on here.

so - if i say So And So Date, So And So Time, are people going to be ok with that? i was thinking of a Saturday, but might be more tricky for people to get around London then - so input is appreciated!

theUrbanDryad · 09/04/2007 20:53

Spidermama - i don't have CAT. email me at [email protected]

Lio · 09/04/2007 21:02

Go for it UD, if I can, I will.

cathcart · 09/04/2007 21:03

great idea urban! will do my best to make it and support in any way

kamikayzed · 09/04/2007 21:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DimpledThighs · 09/04/2007 21:27

I would come for sure - thing is am not bfeeding at the moment but would come to give moral support - I think this kind of thing is som important (as I have told you before) and want to give my supportin any way.

Good for you (in a non-partronising way if that is possible!)

yellowrose · 09/04/2007 21:27

kk - the message wasn't in response to your post - it was a follow on from my previous one, although re-reading yours I can see why you thought I meant you lol

kamikayzed · 09/04/2007 21:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cazee · 09/04/2007 21:53

I think numbers are key, so could we make it "breast feeding mothers and their supporters", and drag along as many of our friends and relations as possible?

kamikayzed · 09/04/2007 21:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrannyandZooey · 09/04/2007 22:53

DS tried to breastfeed me in Tesco's today

does that count as political activism? He has always been so advanced for his age

shirleymac · 09/04/2007 23:22

I'm in Scotland so in theory don't have to worry about being harassed when I bf ds but I do still have to put up with the disapproving looks, tutting etc. Doesn't bother me tho' & I've fed him everywhere - cafes, buses etc. Only time I felt a bit funny was just before xmas when I took his big sisters to our town's huge new clothes shop. The girls were in trying on stuff & ds started really howling for a feed. I asked an assistant if there was somewhere I could sit for 5 mins to give him a quick feed & she said no. I just shrugged, lifted him out the pram, undid my shirt & fed him standing in the middle of the store. After 2 different ppl complained that I should at least be given a seat I was allowed into the disabled changing room. I wrote to the store to ask about their bf policy & they wrote back apologising & saying they were passing it on to their management but I doubt if anything will change. I did get a £25 gift voucher out of it tho . . . Still, enough waffling. I think your idea's brilliant as we need to change people's attitudes as much as we need to change the law & I just want to wish you all luck xxx

ProfYaffle · 10/04/2007 08:30

Re the day of the week, Saturday would be better for me as I can bring dh to help negotiate the tube etc, make it a family day out with a spot of bf thrown in!

Lizzzombie · 10/04/2007 08:39

UD - as an alternative to BF en mass outside parliment or outside somewhere could it be done in an art gallery.
There are enough paintings around of 'madonna & child' where she is breast feeding her baby. Its not considerd bad taste, its considered art there. Plus its a nice peaceful environment, yet its an environment I would not neccassarily bf in public on my own in. You know what I mean? Also, it would then promote the fact that BF is a skill - an art if you like!
Just a thought.

tibsy · 10/04/2007 08:44

good for you shirleymac! they didnt have a seat in the whole of the store? thats just bloody petty and obstructive

urban, if it is a weekend, i may be able to rope dp in so the lonDON THING MAY BE A goer for me too

Lizzzombie · 10/04/2007 09:13

E.g. this painting at the national gallery could hardly be called distasteful. And most of us who BG are way more discreet than this. this

theUrbanDryad · 10/04/2007 09:15

right, i'm going to provisionally say Saturday the 19th May then. of course - it's not exclusively limited to bf-ers, bring dp's, grandparents, friends, hangers on etc etc.

as to the venue - i'll admit i was only thinking of Hyde Park because i was trying to think of a space big enough to fit upwards of 100 women and their - possibly over-excited children - into one space! i love the idea of an art gallery, but i think we'd be a bit cramped.

do any of you Londonites know of a statue (for example Boadicea or Britannia or something) that is bare-breasted? i'd like to have an icon from history, that sets a precedent for bf being the societal norm rather than ff, IYSWIM. any ideas much appreciated!

get that date in your diaries ladies! and bring as many people with you as you can!