Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

B/F in public, does anyone know what the legalitgies of it are????

99 replies

GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 10:17

I am due my first LO on the 12th November. I really want to breastfeed, and dont fancy the idea of having to express before I take LO out so that I can still feed LO.

Is it illegal, like idecent exposure or is it legal to be able to whip my norks out and feed as and when LO is hungary?

I'm asking this so that if I am approched and reprimanded by someone I know my rights and the legality of it and tell them in no uncertain terms to fark off.

OP posts:
Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 10:52

TheUrbanDryad, thank you DH and I are very excited, I'm 35+2 and it seems to be going sooooooo slow, but I am sure that I will be wondering what I was thinking when I'm up at 2 in the morning. lol

Washersaurus, I will ask my MW, not there for a couple of weeks yet, but I will add it to my list. (Yes I have to have a list, I am sooooo forgetful)

OP posts:
milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo · 10/10/2007 10:52

Oh and I second UD's vest/t-sirt combo - also great when its a bit chilly.

EmsMum · 10/10/2007 10:54

Oh wait!! I just had a google to see if there was any legal advice and look at this!!

Breastfeeding in public will be a woman's right
www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23400217-details/Breastfeeding+in+public+will+be+a+woman's+right /article.do

I do hope this part of the legislation doesn't get mired; some other parts of the anti-discrimination bill could be contentious.

At least it gives a good line to rehearse along the lines of, You do realise that when the antidiscrimination bill is passed you could be liable to a £2500 fine?

Anyhow ... go for it. Its best to try to find somewhere reasonably private while you're getting used to it - takes a little practice to do discreetly. Scout around - some stores (esp Mothercare and Boots) have BF cubicles in the ladies loo area. I'm sure they wouldnt mind you using them even if you aren't buying that day. Most cafes are absolutely fine. Benches in parks and by footpaths... I never had a problem. In all likelihood, the worst you'll encounter is some naturally curious looks from small children and moony smiles from ex-BFers!

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 10:57

dryad, I've got one of those ones that look like a rucksack that you carry on your front, would that work?

MonkeyMoo (I love your name BTW) TBH i dont like the idea of feeding in a baby changing room, doesn't seem very hygenic.
I wont be put off M&S BTW, an aunt of mine works at our local one as the assitant manager, so if anyone said anything she would deffo stand up for me.

OP posts:
theUrbanDryad · 10/10/2007 10:57

MissMolly - enjoy this time! i know it's difficult, but although newborns are a lot of fun and lovely (and god knows i'm sooooo broody at the moment!) they're also very tiring! and active, bouncy 9 month old's are more tiring! make the most of this time - i know you're probably fed up of being pregnant (i kept expecting the Daily Mail to offer me in a weekend prize draw, i felt the size of a country cottage in Hertfordshire!!)

newborns are lovely and portable as well - ds always used to go to sleep in his sling/buggy when we were out and about, so don't feel like you have to closet yourself away!!

i'll look out for you on the birth announcement threads!

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 11:02

Ooh thanks Emsmum, that sound like a really good line to have prepared, that one is deffo going on my amo list

OP posts:
theUrbanDryad · 10/10/2007 11:03

i've never been able to bf-eed in one of these (it's a small pic, but hopefully you can see what i mean) as i couldn't get my boob high enough, and always felt very exposed. also, a newborn will be in a more natural position in a ring sling, and it's easier to do a tummy-to-tummy carry, which makes bf-ing easier (IMO, anyway). if you get a wrap, you can do a front carry and a tummy-to-tummy, it takes a bit of practise, but i love my wrap and still use it now!! i've got one of these but if i was going to buy another one i'd spend the extra and get one of these as i've used my friend's one and it's fab!!

newgirl · 10/10/2007 11:03

our m and s cafe are really welcoming to babies so i think their head office would be horrified - please dont let that put you off

if out with your mum she can sit in front of you and no one would ever know

you will be fine!

Judy1234 · 10/10/2007 11:04

Yes. The law is you mustn't cause a breach of the peace. So the interesting legal point is how other people react to something. Therefore nudity on a nudist beach is fine because everyone expects that and public breastfeeding is legal (and specifically so in Scotland but leave that out of it for now).

Therefore if you are breastfeeding but a load of people are getting upset arguably you might breach the law (which is why we need to change the law) even if the breast is not shown. Similarly if someone is able to lean over in the car and suck their partner off in the car park and nothing is seen even the penis etc that could also cause a breach of the peace. So it's not so much the exposure itself but the fact others might be offended. Ridiculous laws. Anyway we need to get it changed so that it's specifically lawful rather than being a law that helps the prudish and hung up.

vole3 · 10/10/2007 11:04

The only problem I've had is fitting myself and ds into one of those tables-with-seat-attached combos in an Asda coffee shop. Guess I need to stay off the Ben & Jerrys for a bit longer

marge2 · 10/10/2007 11:05

Seriously don't worry about it! after the initial few weeks when you and baby both might be a bit cack handed at it and need to wiggle about a bit to get the position right, if you pull your top up rather than opening a shirt or something then people probably won't even notice. I bfed in public the whole time - never had a problem.

p.s don't buy the crap the hospital paperwork says about 'open fronted nighties' Just wear a tshirt and lift it up! so much comfier and easier... and warmer!!

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 11:05

thanks Dryad, I know I sould make the most of the time I have left, but I started mat leave on monday and I am sooooo bored, the house is spotelss and everytime I go to take the dogs out, they seem to run and hide as they are knackered, lol so I have nothing to do but sit on MN all day and wait for Dh to come home!!

OP posts:
NAB3 · 10/10/2007 11:06

I haven't read the thread but just wanted to say it is unacceptable that you can't breast feed anywhere you want!

SharpMolarBear · 10/10/2007 11:06

will only apply up to 1 year
which IMO means that people will interpret it as illegal to bf an older child in public

SharpMolarBear · 10/10/2007 11:07

GGMM please come round here and bring your duster!

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 11:13

Xenia, I'm learning so much more about BF in public now, so I completely agree with you re the law needs changing, so that prude people cant do anything about getting offended.

Vole3, dont stay off the ben and jerrys, it's good for you and I wont hear anyone saying different

Marge2, I have bought a couple of BF tops, but sont know if they will be any good, till I actually get in to the BF. Good point re the open fron nighties, I dont wear nighties anyway, but have some for when I am the hospital anyway, bought from a charity shop, as I wont use them once I get home.

OP posts:
amazonianwoman · 10/10/2007 11:16

Haven't had time to read the whole thread but isn't it now illegal to ask a woman to stop breastfeeding in public - in rest of UK not just Scotland?

Slap me if I'm wrong! I've fed everywhere and had no probs at all.

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 11:16

Sharpmolarbear, I was thinking that I may offer my cleaning services to family and friends for a small fee.

Seriously though I re-ironed all the baby's clothes yesterday and i've got plumbers and electricians in at the mo and I have tidied all the things that they left overnight and cleaned them , they were v suppriesd when they got here this morning (How sad) but I am that bored.

OP posts:
theUrbanDryad · 10/10/2007 11:18

Primark (or Primarni as it's known on my PN thread! ) have a good range of pyjamas with vests. one thing i wish i'd known when i went into hospital to have ds is that button up pyjama tops and nightshirts take ages to undo when you're a new mum, and you have drips in your hands and you have a newborn rooting for a feed.

IMO (and it is my opinion, and not everyone will agree with me) the best thing you can do is keep your newborn in as much skin to skin with you as possible. keep their head on your chest, it will kick off the rooting instinct and will make establishing bf-ing soooo much easier.

IMO, and IME, anyway

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 11:18

It is really nice that all of you are syaing that you have next to no probs while BF out in public, it really reassures me and makes me feel much more able to do so while I am out.

A big thank you to you all for your advice and experiences.

xx

OP posts:
Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 11:20

Dryad, I am prob going to look very daft for asking this, but what is the rooting instinct?

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 10/10/2007 11:21

In all the years I've been bfing (9 years in all) I have never had a negative reaction. From anyone. I have heard of it from other though sadly but I think it's still rare.

So please don't worry.

theUrbanDryad · 10/10/2007 11:23

can i just add that i'm not a breastfeeding counsellor, or lactation consultant, just in case that last post made it sound like i was. i've done a bit of research into it, and i'm a LLL member, but i've got no formal training.

theUrbanDryad · 10/10/2007 11:27

GGMM - this explains it very well. it's an instinct all mammalian infants have, but (IMO) putting babies in boxes by the side of their mother's beds, or whisking babies off as soon as they're born can delay the reflex. that's not to say that mothers whose babies are put in hospital cots or who have their babies taken off them straight away can't bf-eed (both those things happened to me, and we still established very successful bf-ing) but IMO it's much easier if you have skin to skin straught away.

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 10/10/2007 11:31

Thanks Dryad, will reconsider my the part of my birthn plan for baby to be cleaned and wrapped before I get to hold him/her.

OP posts: