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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

New Gov Poilcy: Breastfeeders get a private area to feed at Service Stations!

61 replies

Poohbah · 02/04/2008 19:22

Obviously, someone in government is listening!

All motorway service stations are to have private free access to breastfeeding areas!

[[

OP posts:
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 19:24

well its a start i suppose.
tho youd prob have your own comfy car with bottle of drink and travel sweets handy in the car park if you were in a service station... or am i being obtuse?

CantSleepWontSleep · 02/04/2008 19:33

Will that be the same area that will be used for nappy changing so full of stinky nappy bins?

If it is then no thanks. I'll stick with feeding wherever I like.

StarlightMcKenzie · 02/04/2008 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 19:42

me, i'll bf anytime anywhere. i dont give a monkeys if it makes anyone uncomfortable... its perfectly natural.

in fact, i used to be half wishing someone would say something negative, just so i could use a witty putdown or perhaps unleash some wrath... depending on my sugar levels at the time

nightshade · 02/04/2008 19:46

just another form of segregation and viewing of breast feeding as abnormal.

do bottle feeders have a 'special' area???

time the government put more substance behind there policies, instead of these half baked measures.

Original poster
Poohbah · 02/04/2008 19:49

Me too Lilymunster but not all of us are as shy and retiring...grin

The policy requires there to be a totally separate area for breastfeeding. Hopefully well away from the stinky nappy bins.

OP posts:
Original poster
Poohbah · 02/04/2008 19:54

I agree in a way Nightshade but once I had to wait 10mins to get in the changing room with a very heavy baby as someone was feeding their baby in there. I think the main toilet was not suitable to change a nappy in for some reason.

OP posts:
LilyMunster · 02/04/2008 19:59

oh i dunno... i tend to agree with nightshade tbh... but if people are all timid and its actually going to stop them bf...

sheesh, people need to grow more backbone! [diplomatic NOT]

what was on the link? didnt work for me... was it minxy?

Original poster
Poohbah · 02/04/2008 20:03

Doh...

www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/network/policy/roadfacilitiespolicy.pdf

OP posts:
Washersaurus · 02/04/2008 20:03

Hmm I always worry about policies like this - will I now be forced to sit in segregated area to feed at the services now (instead of waving my nips around as I normally do whilst feeding in public )

Kathyis6incheshigh · 02/04/2008 20:06

I think it shows someone in government isn't listening.
They're thinking 'Hmm, how can we placate the breastfeeding lobby? More education? Better trained health visitors? No, too expensive. How about we issue a directive to service stations - looks good and won't cost us a penny!'

Apologies if I'm too cynical....

Kathyis6incheshigh · 02/04/2008 20:07

I mean, I don't remember a succession of threads on the subject 'where can I breastfeed in a service station?' 'wanted to bf my child but there was nowhere to do it at the motorway services!'.....

Original poster
Poohbah · 02/04/2008 20:22

I would be annoyed if I was told to move from Costa Coffee when feeding to the special area.

OP posts:
verylittlecarrot · 02/04/2008 20:25

There's a special area in Costa? never knew that.

Sabire · 02/04/2008 20:30

FFS!

When are they going to simply change the law so it becomes illegal to ask women to stop breastfeeding - like in Scotland? They seem to prefer the idea of hiving off bf mothers into corners so they're invisible to the rest of the population.....

Original poster
Poohbah · 02/04/2008 20:31

Well when the policy is implemented there will have to be a special area.

OP posts:
LaDiDaDi · 02/04/2008 20:33

I would never want to go to a special area.
What next? Bells around your neck if you bf so that anyone embarrassed by a normal activity can look away when they hear you coming.

Bf measures like this do nothing to normalise bf which is what is truly needed.

Washersaurus · 03/04/2008 09:52

Or, maybe we could all be issued with those weird 'hooter hiders'?

FAQ · 03/04/2008 09:56

why can't they just make somewhere for mums to feed their babies (whether it's FF or BF) in private if they want to??

I have to find a (very) quiet spot to feed DS3 otherwise he won't drink his bottle, and I remember DS1 was the same when I BF him, he wouldn't have a proper feed, and then I'd have to feed him again VERY soon afterwards (even when he was older.

onebatmother · 03/04/2008 10:02

madness. The baby-feeding equivalent of scented panty liners.

MrsBadger · 03/04/2008 10:23

this is just plain odd

I have fed dd quite happily in numerous service stations. I mean they all have a cafe hence tables and chairs, whihc is all you need, non?

More use to issue a directive to places that don't have 'bf facilities' (ie chairs) like petrol stations or supermarkets.

Washersaurus · 03/04/2008 10:27

I DON'T want to sit in a private area on my own to bf! I just want to be able to feed my baby whereever and whenever tis necessary. Are you listening to me you pesky government policy makers?

BITCAT · 03/04/2008 11:27

I agree, its not us ie the bf mothers that have the problem. Its everyone else thats at fault, and if i ever saw anyone commenting about a mother breastfeeding or being asked to stop..i would have to speak up and make them feel very very small.
Get a life, its natural and we should be able to do it wherever and whenever we feel neccessary!
You wouldnt ask a farm animal or a dog or cat to stop feeding their babies would you, and its the same thing...makes me so angry. And why should we be forced to lock ourselves away because of some idiots who cant see past the sexual side, at the end of the day no one bats an eyelid when woman walk around with low cut tops on parading their clevage around, and bf is hardly sexy is it!
Far better that the government make it acceptable for women to feed there children whereever they like and to be against the law to remove us or treat us badly. They need to work on changing peoples attitudes, i mean they can ban smoking so surely they can put something in place for us. Asda has a bf room but its in the same room as the toilet, nappy changing room so would you eat your dinner in the toilet..no i dont think so, why should we expect a baby to.

Highlander · 03/04/2008 11:39

no thanks. BFing is normal and natural. I'll feed my sprog whereever I like, and not be spirited away like a bad smell. If folks don't like the sight of me BFing then they can naff off.

LadySanders · 03/04/2008 11:43

i was b/feeding my ds2 last week in costa coffee, an old chap came and sat down right opposite me at the table, stared at my boob for about 10 mins, asked "how old is he?", i said "5 weeks", he carried on looking for another few minutes, then remarked "i wish i was him". i was toying with saying "you're making me feel very uncomfortable" but then figured it was probably teh most excitement he'd had all day. but does rather nicely illustrate the dilemmas of b/f in public!