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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Has anybody ever said anything negative to you when you've breastfed in public?

68 replies

flubdub · 29/06/2008 12:47

Just wondering really, as everyone gets worked up about bf-ing in public, so are people rude about it?

OP posts:

PortAndLemon · 29/06/2008 14:18

Never.

NickiSue - a ff friend of mine said that she was afraid of getting comments in public and at the time I thought she was being over-paranoid, but perhaps not.

My favourite MN story remains the one where AlistairSim, who had ff from birth, had a complaint made about her in a cafe because someone thought she was breastfeeding! (full story here).

Original poster

flubdub · 29/06/2008 14:26

Iv looked at that thread before SD, but I didnt see of any that would be near me.
In near Preston in the NW.

OP posts:

theSuburbanDryad · 29/06/2008 14:27

We still need volunteers to run picnics Flubdub! We're hoping for one in York...

evenhope · 29/06/2008 14:27

Nobody has ever said anything negative to me, although I've often expected it. I've fed all of mine wherever we are, whenever they've needed it.

SOH lovely story (wish my 15 mo would start speaking!)

StealthPolarBear · 29/06/2008 14:32

No, never
NickieSue - I have recently been introduced to the wonderful phrase "Off you fuck" - you may find that helpful if you ever get similar comments in the future I can't think of a better response to "I hope that's expressed milk"

theSuburbanDryad · 29/06/2008 14:35

My response to "I hope that's expressed milk" would have to be, "I hope those are silicone breasts/hair implants"

wonderstuff · 29/06/2008 14:40

Strangetown boots do have a pro breast ffeding policy, tis laminated and in the parents room in my local branch, states that if a women wants somewhere private and they dont have a parent room they should make managers office available, and if women would prefer to feed on sales floor should be provided with a chair, and undre no circumstances should be asked to feed in the loo.

I haven't had any comdments, eveen when dd gsot distractead and left me hexposed at costa yesterday no pone looked phased

wonderstuff · 29/06/2008 14:43

apologies for typing, was bfing..

BouncingTurtle · 29/06/2008 14:50

Thought as much wonderstuff
I can't type at all when bfing as ds is far too wriggly!

Never had any negative comments though at Alton Towers when I asked where the nearest place to breastfeed was(ds having gone from sound asleep to about to starve to death in 3 seconds flat), I was directed to the nappy changing room! I used the "sandwich in a toilet" line on them.
However when I fed him in a couple of the indoor eateries, never had a problem.

Nikki - on your behalf, it's none of their business... though you could have told them it's a pina colada

ShowofHands - your dd sounds so cute!! And very polite

kkdmom · 29/06/2008 14:55

never/

my favourite mn repartee is from the MNer who was being mooed at by some teens.

she told them that obviously they were mooing rather than talking because their vocabulary have been stunted because they were formula fed.

MKG · 29/06/2008 15:02

No, but where I live you can get fined for asking someone to stop bfing in public.

jeanjeannie · 29/06/2008 15:48

No direct comments....YET! But was at a kiddies farm yesterday and one bloke was giving me filthy looks and nudging his girlfriend (think Vikki Pollard) and made me feel very uncomfy. He'd already been moaning loudly that there were field mice running around the rabbit pens - he thought that was 'disgusting'......it's a FARM FFS!! So, he probably thought I was an odd cow

geekgirl · 29/06/2008 15:50

no, other than some teenagers staring and giggling in the Debenham's cafe. And I brazenly breastfed 3 children whereever required.

Notanexcitingname · 29/06/2008 19:32

Nothing but positive comments. I'm not discreet, either, but obviously have a "don't even think about making a nasty comment look"
The last time I fed in public he was 13 months, at a wedding. I was wearing a dress, so we're talking seriously indiscreet. No-one said anything

moopdaloop · 29/06/2008 19:34

never
nothing but smiles

minster · 29/06/2008 19:44

Never, I'm brazen too.

scorpio1 · 29/06/2008 19:46

Not anything yet, 10 weeks in, just 'good for you' comments.

themildmanneredjanitor · 29/06/2008 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

flubdub · 29/06/2008 20:36

tmmj - how annoying!

OP posts:

wonderstuff · 29/06/2008 21:08

My extended family are a bit like that tmmj, I was really suprised and a bit to find myself on my own every time I fed dd at a recent party, was soo boring

wickedwitchofthenorth · 29/06/2008 21:25

Hi flubdub. I'm in Preston too (well Preston postcode but technically nearer to Lancaster)

Have fed in public a few times (DS is 6mnths)and have never had a negative comment ( and have had just the one positive comment ) I don't think people even realise I'm feeding him.

Was v self conscious at first but now I'm much more confident.

wickedwitchofthenorth · 29/06/2008 21:25

Hi flubdub. I'm in Preston too (well Preston postcode but technically nearer to Lancaster)

Have fed in public a few times (DS is 6mnths)and have never had a negative comment ( and have had just the one positive comment ) I don't think people even realise I'm feeding him.

Was v self conscious at first but now I'm much more confident.

hunkermunker · 29/06/2008 21:27

I wrote about it here - some interesting comments posted

nervousal · 29/06/2008 21:31

never any negative comments - but when we were visiting my Mum we were in a restaurant when dd needed fed. Knowing the culture in NI doesn't really support public bfing nad not wanting a scene I said I'd go somewhere quiet to feed her. Mum insisted everyone eat up and that we go home!! didn't know what to say. If it happened again Iwould just whip out a boob attable and say "no need.."

whomovedmychocolate · 29/06/2008 21:35

Lots of tutting from old ladies in the M&S cafe. But the staff are quite good at coming over and making encouraging comments about how nice it is to have someone taking advantage of their pro-breastfeeding policies (they always say this is a very loud voice which shuts the biddies up).

I had a funny comment from a midwife last week when I was in hospital - I'm very pregnant and still nursing DD 20 months and she came in and said 'ooh my daughter is the same age, but your daughter is so lovely and chubby - must be all the gold top she's getting' . DD is not actually chubby, she's much taller than average so looks big that's all. I was a tad cross and told her I was very lucky that I'd been able to sustain breastfeeding for so long in light of all the negative pressure on breastfeeding mums and she did admit that she was impressed because 'half the mums in this ward don't even both to start.'

Which prompts an interesting question, if you come across a very new first time mum at breakfast in the post natal ward and she's delighted because her baby slept for several hours - something she entirely puts down to the fact that she quit trying to nurse last night and gave her baby formula - should you say 'well actually most babies do sleep variably and it's bog all to do with the cow milk'? Esp. when you know she will probably think you are an absolute freak to be nursing a toddler?

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