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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Disgraceful incident - Bristol

109 replies

nowadoubledee · 25/02/2010 12:03

This poor woman, shame on you First Bus, Bristol

www.thisisbristol.co.uhttp//www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-mother-thrown-bus-breast-feedin g/article-1866200-detail/article.htmlk/homepage/Bristol-mother-thrown-bus-breast-feeding/article-186 6200-detail/article.html

OP posts:
pigletmania · 25/02/2010 23:37

I am and this is the type of thing that puts women off bf. Some of the comments . I am and at the people not sticking up for this woman. There should be a feed in on First transport buses, i wonder what these negative people would do in a country where bf is the norm. They are the ones that would be seen as abnormal not the bf mums.

pigletmania · 25/02/2010 23:39

I want to bf if i have a 2 dc but it would have to be a military operation if i needed to feed outside. I would need one of theose hooter hiders or i would not go out in public for fear of something like this happening, or would need to express or take formula just in case.

givecarrotsachance · 26/02/2010 08:10

7day I heard this on the radio this morning and immediately went online to find out more. I am shocked and disgusted at not only the way that you were treated, but that noone stuck up for you. I am sure that you realise that had anyone here been on that bus they would have fought tooth and nail for you. Call the police? Bring it on...

I just wanted to say that I will be writing to your bus company, your MP, my MP (in Yorkshire) and various Government agencies (dept of transport, dept of health) on your behalf and those in your situation and making the strongest protest not only of your treatment but explaining that this is exactly why the Breastfeeding Bill in England and Wales was required.

I carry "Why I'm Anti-Nestle" credit-card sized cards to give to places which serve Nescafe to politely suggest that they consider using a different brand (available from the Baby Milk Action website). They're short, consise and polite explaining briefly about the boycott. I wonder whether the LLL or NCT would consider producing something similar about the protections that there are for breastfeeders (limited in England and Wales as they are), and why breastfeeding in public is essential if a mother is to actually have a life. It would be easy to carry and while it wouldn't have solved this problem, it's something to be able to carry if by any chance one is approached and doesn't feel able to articulate the facts.

This is a rare problem and high profile coverage leads to worried mothers who don't want to have to go through the same thing which in itself is terrible. It MUST be stopped but please, to anyone who this happens to, if at all possible try to stand up for yourself (awful as it is) and let them call the police! If not, make a huge fuss when you're home and with a supportive partner or family member or friend who can help.

RibenaBerry · 26/02/2010 08:31

Amy,

Poor, poor you. FWIW, if I had been on your bus, I would have made a fuss for you. You've been amazing to have the strength to kick up a very big fuss and show First up for the twonks that they clearly are...

pigletmania · 26/02/2010 09:09

My goodness me its disgusting . I hpe that it is made illegal to stop a bf mum from feeding. I ff but it is blatant discrimination, they would not do that to a ff.

Lymond · 26/02/2010 10:25

7day - Well done for going to the press. I am in awe of you!

(You even got positive support from Matthew Wright this morning, and his usual views on breastfeeding are not supportive! He might retract now that you're on mumsnet though, he has declared war on us!)

givecarrotsachance · 26/02/2010 11:55

Damn, concise

givecarrotsachance · 26/02/2010 12:02

There is a case to bring against them for sexual discrimination actually. There is additional protection for Amy here under the Maternity protection laws which apply until the baby is 27 weeks old. She could bring a case under both laws against the bus company.

If anyone comes across this, remember that breastfeeding itself is protected, in absolute fact every mother IS protected under the sexual discrimination act and also (up to 27 weeks) the maternity protection law. In Scotland there is additional protection up to 2 years where anyone asking a BF mother to stop can be fined £2,000. But just because we don't have this here, doesn't mean we're not legally protected. We are.

Knowing what your LEGAL rights are and politely explaining this if you are hassled should be enough.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 26/02/2010 12:56

To be honest, I am a lot more shocked by some of the comments on the article in the mail, than by the bus driver slinging her off. He was just one ignorant individual. the number of anti-breastfeeding comments on the comments section have absolutely disgusted me. I am actually quite angry

comments like:

would you defecate in public
just being exhibitionist
why did she not carry a bottle of warm milk
selfish
why didn't she feed before journey

I know they are daily mail readers but FFS PEOPLE! get a grip!

rant over

tiktok · 26/02/2010 13:32

The comments in the Daily Mail are hilarious.

The one I like best is the one that says the mother should have explained to the baby that she would have to wait patiently until she got home, and not to cry.

Dear God.

mumof2222222222222222boys · 26/02/2010 13:43

Maybe the Mail has a purpose...I am laughing my socks off.

Amy - well done and so sorry you had to put up with such plonkers.

aquavit · 26/02/2010 14:02

I'd like to say well done Amy too, and I am so sorry that you had to go through that, and that no-one stood up for you. What you've done in response, by publicising it, is brilliant.

carrots that is very interesting about the sexual discrimination act and I'm glad someone who knows can explain it (I started another thread this morning asking just that cos I couldn't find this one )

But this incident does make me think that new legislation, like in Scotland, would make women's right to breastfeed in public without harrassment better known - and in particular, better known to the people who might do the harrassing.

sarah293 · 26/02/2010 14:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MindySimmons · 26/02/2010 14:28

Good old Daily Mail - what a terrible story and shame on Bristol (I live there so feel very sad).

But for a little light relief and to remind us how idiotic these people are, try this...
www.qwghlm.co.uk/toys/dailymail/

MindySimmons · 26/02/2010 14:29

Just tried it myself and got 'WILL BRUSSELS BUREAUCRATS GIVE HOMEOWNERS DIABETES?' lol

pigletmania · 26/02/2010 15:26

Yes i read those stupid idiotic comments, morons some people eh.

pigletmania · 26/02/2010 15:27

I read the Daily Mail and i dont think i am that bad

DorotheaPlenticlew · 26/02/2010 15:30

Just posted on other thread about this, won't duplicate here but well done 7days -- furious that you had to go through this.

I have breastfed on a bus in Edinburgh before and will end up doing so again I'm sure, when DD is born. Traffic in Edinburgh means you can easily be stuck on a bus for ages with a hungry baby and have no choice. It's no fun feeling like people are hostile though.

As for the fecking DM comments ... the mind boggles.

pigletmania · 26/02/2010 17:08

Most DM readers have made themselves out to be complete and utter morons and ignoramuses

givecarrotsachance · 26/02/2010 17:58

piglet I'm sure that you are perfectly lovely. But the DM (and this opinion is nothing to do with this article with was surprisingly pro BF) is quite frankly, FOS. Its "opinions" are simply written to inflame people who can't create their own opinions and the language that they use is constantly and intentionally inflammatory and opinionated as opposed to what a newspaper should be - delivering the news in an unbiased way.

Now clearly every paper is not entirely independant, but some are worse than others. DM is simply the Mirror or the Sun for the middle classes.

I would not want to generalise about the DM reader, but the DM in general should be burned rather than be recycled (and I'm a seriously passionate recycler) as its filth simply contaminates otherwise pure, new, white paper.

pigletmania · 26/02/2010 18:34

Well givecarrot a lot of the DM readers do not exactly put themselves in a good light, have you read the comments on there, the mentality of some people. I am a DM reader by the way.

Jools78 · 26/02/2010 19:23

Has anyone seen this?

Ann Widdecombe in favour of chucking BF mums off buses?

I urge you to write to her here and tell her what for!

Jools78 · 26/02/2010 19:28

7Day I just wrote a long lengthy email to Ann Widdecombe to support you and to berate her. I will let you know if I get a response. This was shocking.

TheYearOfTheCat · 26/02/2010 20:56

7 Days - so sorry that you had to go through this, but well done for not caving in, and for being so articulate in your comments to the press.

I have just contacted Ann Widdecombe's site to express my disappointment that she chose to express ('scuse the pun) such unhelpful views.

I'd love to see a feed-in on the company's buses.

BTW, your baby is gorgeous.

luluvalentine · 26/02/2010 21:54

have also emailed the stupid idiotic bint