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Original poster

Who thinks breast feeding in public is disgusting?

173 replies

MrsDoolittle · 24/03/2005 13:43

And another thing while I am at it (thinking that is). Did anyone listen to Jeremy Vine discussing breast feeding last week? I was absolutely flabbergasted at the number of people that phoned in and said bf in public is disgusting. I think discussion was in response to talk of the Scottish Parliament banning restaurantuers from asking bfing mums to leave - please correct me if I am wrong.
This is not a breast feeding versus bottle feeding thread but I can't believe any man would feel like this in this day and age, let alone a woman!

OP posts:
Preggars · 24/03/2005 15:40

I know she should, and I do love her, and I'm sure she has no idea how bad her comment made me feel. Some people seem to get sooo embarrassed by the mere glimmer of BREAST or particularly the sight of a NIPPLE.

Blu · 24/03/2005 15:43

I do think it's worth listening to those who claim to find it 'disgusting' as they can't be educated until we know what thier difficulties are.

The only place I ever hid the fact that I was b/feeding was when DS was in hospital on and off from 10-14 months. I would be noisily loomed over by enthusiastic nurses shouting 'oooh good, a nursing Mum, that's what we like, here you are darling, nursing Mums are entitled to meals from the trolley!' and they would try to force feed me with stuff that looked like deep-fried tea bags.

Preggars · 24/03/2005 15:45

LOL

suedonim · 24/03/2005 16:39

I heard a bit on that programme - some woman saying she'd had three children in the year dot and had never needed to feed them outside the house so didn't see why we should need to nowadays. I've fed three children in all sorts of places and never had any remarks, apart from pleasant ones. I have used bf rooms with a tiny baby, (Jenners in Edin used to have a great room, comfy armchairs and a music system with a selection of soothing CD's you could play!) when I still felt new at the job but I soon graduated to the coffee bars!

golds · 24/03/2005 16:47

My mother-in-law thinks its disgusting full stop, but then everything I try and do goes against her.

dropinthe · 24/03/2005 16:49

Ditto re MIL-she thinks its not "natural" that I still b/feed my 14 month ds.

tamum · 24/03/2005 16:53

Hell, I didn't know about that room in Jenners, suedonim. Bit late though now I have to say, of all the things the Scottish parliament have done, this is one of my favourites.

suedonim · 24/03/2005 17:13

Tamum. It was kinda hidden away - you went through the Ladies to the baby changing and it was through yet another door. But it wasn't smelly or anything, it was all very civilised.

I don't know if Jenners will still be Jenners now it's becoming House of Fraser but at least the new law will mean you'll still be able to bf in there!

tamum · 24/03/2005 17:25

Yes, we'll have to be grateful for small mercies I guess! I just hope they keep the Christmas tree and the toy department

Caligula · 24/03/2005 17:26

I find it disgusting that anyone would object to a baby feeding in public.

Now some grown-ups table manners OTOH...

Marina · 24/03/2005 17:26

I've only even been in Jenners a couple of times but I was so sad to hear the news about it falling into the corporate mitts of the House of Fraser

Mommy2Ro · 24/03/2005 17:51

I fed my DD till she was 13 months and I think I converted a few people to BF in public when I'd be on a plane or crowded tube and out came the breast and little one grew quiet and happy.... and then people's faces would change from annoyed to surprised to smiling, even approving! Sometimes... Happy baby better than screaming upset one.

That said, my DD was very good about BF. I think that there should be pleasant, quiet, private alternatives that don't smell like poo for mothers to feed their little ones. Ikea in Edmonton has a feeding area that is in the regular cafe, just with a half wall. I have to say that I hated being segregated and missing out on being part of things to go in a corner and BF.

suedonim · 24/03/2005 18:26

The corporate thing is a shame, isn't it, Marina? Still, there's always McEwan's in Perth and Roomes in Upminster, to uphold the (mini)independent store tradition! I hope Jenners will still stock my fave perfume - it's impossible to get anywhere else in Scotland. And lets hope the tree stays, complete with tweeting birds - wouldn't a plastic one look terrible??

aloha · 24/03/2005 18:32

I think people who think breastfeeding is disgusting are bizarre freaks.

tamum · 24/03/2005 18:42

Actually I think this year's was plastic, sadly. It is a shame though when everything gets homogenised by all these huge corporate...um.... things.

Sorry, back to breastfeeding in public....

Keane · 24/03/2005 18:44

lol

popsycal · 24/03/2005 18:48

i breast fed in public or the first time yesterday in ovely cafe iverlooking the sea.

i also breast fed in tesco's #mother and baby' room - in smelt of shit and i couldnt get the buggy in and i sat staring at 4 blank walss for 20 minutes

i know where i would rather breast feed.......

Cod · 24/03/2005 18:51

Message withdrawn

stitch · 24/03/2005 19:05

ffs, most bf ing mums are showing far less boob than most other women around. no one complains about their exhibitionism. which, i personally find quite disgusting sometimes.
during the summer months, i sometimes feel i am walking in a nudist colony, the amount of flesh being exposed....

jabberwocky · 24/03/2005 19:22

Of course it's not disgusting, it's totally natural. I did have one friend who did extended breastfeeding and I have to admit it was a little disconcerting when she would come over to visit and about every 5 minutes or so her 2 year old would run over, lift up her shirt and bf for about 30 sec and then run off again.

shenanigans · 24/03/2005 19:28

bitty...

bubble99 · 24/03/2005 19:53

nana bitty.......

lucykatie · 24/03/2005 21:19

yeah you are all gonna hate me...but yes i hate to see bf.

my opinion and you asked....

the whole bf repulses me...sorry.

Caligula · 24/03/2005 21:35

I don't hate you at all, LK, but can I ask why?

mummylonglegs · 24/03/2005 21:39

I actually wonder if it's really a problem with feeding in public or if it's a problem with b/f in general. I b/f dd until she was 18 months old although from 1 year old it was only morning and night (discreetly in bed, I made sure dp was blindfolded or drugged first of course in case it offended him ). Most of the time almost everyone where I b/f outdoors was pretty friendly and when they weren't I knew it was their problem not mine as I was able to feed dd without flashing my extremely minimal bosoms everywhere. BUT the most 'disgust' I had was from my MIL. She really couldn't even stand the idea of me b/f dd let alone bear to be in the same room as it when it happened. My mum too was cagey and would avert her eyes, sigh, etc. I think they deep down, if they were being honest, just like katie here, didn't like it.