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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Positive public breastfeeding experiences!

63 replies

LaDiDaDi · 12/04/2010 15:26

I've had loads of positive experiences whilst feeding ds and I thought that it might be nice to do a thread so that women thinking about bf can see.

  1. Fed during my eye test with a male optician who's only comment was, "much easier to do it like this than if he was crying".

  2. Fed whilst trying on necklaces at the jewellers, they just asked polite baby questions eg "how old" etc and helped me try on.

  3. Fed at the checkout at Sainsbury, checkout woman got someone to pack my bags for me and asked if I needed any more help.

  4. Fed at the checkout at Tesco, people in front unpacked my shopping, checkout lady and woman behind me packed my bags whilst sending me off to sit down on a seat and wait.

Often feed at the park, whilst waiting to pick dd up from nursery, in cafes etc etc without a negative comment but I've been really impressed by the helpfulness that I've had in the above situations.

OP posts:
ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 12/04/2010 15:30

Only one as far as I can remember (no negatives though, just no one seems bothered either way TBH!) was one lady who caught my eye as I fed on a bench in the town centre and she veered more towards me and said "That's the most beautiful thing in the world" and walked off I was beeming for days

jemjabella · 12/04/2010 15:32

Not had any specifically positive experiences yet, but no negative ones either - which is a positive in itself!

MathsMadMummy · 12/04/2010 15:33

Aww. just marking my place, this thread is going to be lovely!

not had any particular comments, most people don't even notice! I did feed DS while we were registering him though, the registrar was lovely and chatted about how she'd fed her DCs.

OP am amazed you fed at a checkout?! that's impressive!

heading4home · 12/04/2010 15:35

Two that stick in my mind, although there were loads (a few years ago now):

Once on a train, I was bfeeding dd and trying to open a water bottle. The kind man sitting opposite me took the bottle from me, opened it and handed it back, without batting an eyelid.

When dd was getting older, 2 or so, I was feeding her on a train again (I think) and a woman said "I think it's wonderful that you are still feeding her."

pregnantpeppa · 12/04/2010 15:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ConnorTraceptive · 12/04/2010 15:43

I was feeding ds2 in the local garden centre cafe and the the lady clearing tables offered me a glass of water saying "ooh that's thirsty work for mum you must drink lots of water"

I've never had a negative feeding experience with either ds

MrsBadger · 12/04/2010 15:56

lovely random lady in M&S cafe cut and buttered my scone for me - impossible to do with one hnad
(now I know better and buy a pastry)

BertieBotts · 12/04/2010 16:05

I was always worried about feeding DS once he was over one, but strangely enough I have had more positive comments since he has been older! Mostly along the lines of "Oh, it's so great you are still feeding him, wow!" but I have also had a few people say "It's nice to see someone breastfeeding, I breastfed my DD until 2.5 and I always felt like I was the only one" - it's just made me feel more comfortable feeding too because it's nice to encourage other people to feel comfortable.

cfc · 12/04/2010 16:15

I was bf my LO in a cafe and a lady opposite me with her 10 month old struck up a conversation with me about how I was so lucky and my little fella too and told me her story which involved feeding until 5 weeks whereupon she got mastitis and a breast abscess which became infected and septicimic (sp?) and she had to have an op and she couldn't go on with the pain.

Made me realise that although I've had my battles with bf, there's always always someone worse off.

picc · 12/04/2010 16:22

Was really worried about feeding DS in public when I first had him (not cos I thought there was anything wrong with it, just cos I was worried about comments/looks etc)

But needs must and everything. I ended up feeding him everywhere, and never once got a negative comment. Lots of smiles, and it always seemed to be old ladies that came up and told me how lovely it was. Very unexpected and lovely.

Did a lot of travelling on trains, and a few plane journeys. Just fed DS for as much as each journey as I could, as it kept him quiet.

On one plane journey (with awful horrible Ryanair) I ended up sitting in the middle of two people (male and female), and after a bit of a worry about it, decided to just get on and feed DS. Turns out the people either side of me were together (hmmm... thanks for moving up and letting me sit to one side of you, folks!), and they both worked at Gt Ormand St with babies!! They just chatted away happily to me the whole journey. It was lovely....

PDog · 12/04/2010 16:24

This is a lovely thread. DD is 4mo and I still don't have the courage to feed in public.

Can't quite manage to get latched on without exposing my whole boob or feed without my cushion. Feel I should be better at it by now

Much kudos to you OP for feeding at checkout (bows down in awe)

darcymum · 12/04/2010 16:30

Only one really and I'm not sure I could describe it as that positive. Feeding my first DC in a cafe and elderly couple passed me stopped and stood over me cooing and saying isn't that lovely ooh....

I was quite shy about feeding in public and just smiled back while all the time thinking "ok, move on"

No negative comments even after three children.

PrettyCandles · 12/04/2010 16:33

I was feeding dc3 in a supermarket cafe when a youngish mum came up to me and asked if she could sit at my table. There were plenty of other tables, but I didn't mind at all. So she sat down and said, nervously,

"Is your baby sleeping?"
"No, he's having a feed."
Big sigh of relief "Oh I hoped that's what he was doing! Do you mind if I feed mine, too?"

Of course I didn't! She had been so nervous, having to feed her baby out of her home for the first time. I'm so glad that I was there, and that she felt confident enough to go ahead and feed her dc.

We've bumped into each other from time to time since then, and the last time I saw her she was sittign on a park bench, completely relaxed, feeding her newborn while her 3yo played.

ShowOfHands · 12/04/2010 16:39

I have fed dd everywhere, at checkouts, whilst wandering the supermarket, cafes, in the street, on buses and trains, in the car whilst leaning over the carseat in heavy traffic etc.

Had one negative comment and lots and lots of positive ones. Even the negative one turned round eventually. A bloke complained about me bfing 8wk old dd in the gp's surgery. He told the receptionist 'that woman over there is boobfeeding in public' in a very agitated voice and the receptionist smiled brightly and said 'ooh I know, isn't it just lovely?' He left.

Had some horrible comments from hvs and gps and went to see a new older male gp recently to get some antibiotics. Explained I was still bfing my nearly 3yr old and expected a lecture. He was utterly lovely and very pleased. Said he sees it far too infrequently and that natural term breastfeeding is wonderful etc. I fell immediately in love with him.

BertieBotts · 12/04/2010 16:57

Aww PrettyCandles that is a lovely story

FakePlasticTrees · 12/04/2010 17:09

A couple of weeks ago I met up with our NCT class for a coffee in the tea room of the local National Trust place. 3 of us were busy feeding our LOs when a bus full of OAP's turned up. Lots of mutterings from them in our direction, when one of the old dears stood up and came over to us. I was just getting my "don't pick a fight with me" face on when she loudly announced that she was a retired health visitor and "how lovely it is to see young mums* feeding their babies the way nature intended" and shot a look that could freeze the fires of hell at the grumpy muttering OAPs.

*sweet of her to say young mums, we are all in our 30's and 40's...

MathsMadMummy · 12/04/2010 18:47

PrettyCandles that's a great story! I'm about to start training as a BF peer supporter, can't wait to help other mums.

rubyslippers · 12/04/2010 18:52

The best was Valentines Day - me, DD, DS and DH were out for lunch (very romantic ). DD was around 4 months old and feeding a lot

i was struggling to hold/juggle/feed so the lovely couple on the table next to me took her after she had finished one side so i could eat my dinner with 2 hands

the cooed over her - they had 6 grandchildren and were so sweet

my most glamorous experience was at a Chanel make up counter where all the counter girls swooned over her - DD was 3.5 weeks old at the time and teeny weeny

i have fed DD everywhere and mainly been met with stunning indifference

littlemefi · 12/04/2010 18:52

I quite often travel to stay with my parents who live a 4 hour car journey away.
I have to stop at services to feed DD and at first felt a bit uncomfortable sitting in the coffee shop feeding her, but the second time I made the journey, there was a lovely couple with a newborn breastfeeding, and I asked if I could sit with them, rather than feeling a bit exposed on my own.
A lovely waitress pulled a chair over for me so I could join them, and we had a little chat, and I felt so much relief at having a bit of company while feeding, that it made the whole journey so much better for me

BoobBuffet · 12/04/2010 19:23

PrettyCandles - I must be hormonal or something, that brought a tear to my eye!

I was feeding DS in a lovely little cafe with a friend. A lady was just leaving, and smiling indulgently and cooing at us, so much so that she walked into the door! Not positive for her, but bloody hilarious for us.

She was fine btw [denial of sadism emoticon] and not only did it give me the best laugh I'd had in (sleep deprived) ages, it did make me feel all warm and fuzzy that she'd thought it such a lovely sight.

Sella · 12/04/2010 21:25

Fed dd2 in Ikea cafe once and an older couple were sat opposite, the lady came over to ask if I needed any help which I thought was lovely!
Recently cracked feeding dd3 in sling (I'm v proud!), was in Boots getting some photos done and a little old lady came up and poked her head in - thought she would be horrified but just asked all the usual questions and said how lovely she was! Later in green grocers did the same with check out lady - ended up talking about breast feeding her babies and walked out without paying for my bananas!

Downdog · 12/04/2010 21:33

I fed DD all over the place - people were always very sweet.

The first time I took her into work I fed her before and after - though not during the visit. The only time I really felt shy about it (my colleagues are mainly male). By the second visit (it was Christmas and we went to the pub for an office drink = I was on matenity leave but went for a little while) I just got on with it & felt fine.

I only had one negative comment and it was from a friend. We were in a cafe in West End and she was all titchy (she's from a very uptight family) and she starts telling be how people sitting behind me were whispering & laughing etc at me feeding. They probably hadn't even noticed - I think she was the one who was mortified! LOL!

this is really lovely thread and I just wanted to acknowledge.

Flowergarden1 · 12/04/2010 21:43

Fed my nearly three-year-old son on a bench in the middle of Green Park just as the entire working population of Central London descended for lunch. Nearly all the hordes of men in suits passing by gave me a smile or a friendly comment as I sat there in skimpy top, boob exposed.

GoldenSnitch · 12/04/2010 22:04

We took DS out for the day for his 3rd birthday and ended up in Pizza Express for lunch. DD was 3 months and needed feeding so while DH took DS to the loo, I latched her on and we got on with it. Soon after, the waiter brought our starters and coo-ed over the baby, then DH and DS got back from the loo. We sat and ate our starters and main courses before DH realised I was feeding! He thought I was just cuddling her!

Last weekend, we took my brother out for lunch. After a while he asked me if DD (now almost 4 months) was pretending to feed. "No, she's actually feeding" I said

Seems I am more subtle than I gave myself credit for

My MIL always comments how beautiful BFing is too. Even in front of my SIL (her daughter) who chose to go straight to formula without ever attempting BF. Makes me feel a little guilty but very proud.

milkmummy1 · 12/04/2010 22:07

I am the same as you guys really - wherever there is a seat, i will feed on it, regardless of where it is!

Most people have been supportive and I dont think Ive had had any negative comments. If anyone stares rudely at me, I just stare at them back or smile at them until they look away

I think this country is getting a little bit more used to us getting our boobs out in public to feed our loved ones, its just a lot of peoples ignorance and old fashioned views that are still getting in the way (ie a lot of older people I know have made comments about how breastfeeding in public is obscene should be done behind closed doors where no-one can see it... yawn).