Breastfeeding in public...is it really frowned open? :(

[Cherryblossom200]

Hi everyone,

I'm a new mummy to be, I'm nearly 5 months now and I really want to breastfeed my little girl when she is born. But I keep reading bad press about the public image of breast feeding mums. I plan on being discreet and get a pretty wrap or something to drap over her and just sit quietly in the corner of a cafe etc. I just wondered if this was acceptable? Personally I don't really get the pulling your boobs out in public without much covering you, even I get a bit embarrassed! But each to their own

But in general if you cover up do people still stare or ask you to leave the premises?

Many thanks

Cherry xx

Sorry was supposed to say frowned 'upon'! x

In my experience (London) people are grand with you BFing in public. You may get the odd gawp but I would be v surprised if people were openly hostile.

When bf you don't see boob. You looking down on baby - you'll see more than anyone else looking around.

Honestly have a go in front of a mirror and have a practice at latching on and off. A scarf will help but once you've got it you won't flash. Most people don't care!

I have a 10 month old DD and have never had a single negative comment regarding breastfeeding in public. It is illegal for breastfeeding mums to be discriminated against, and therefore you cannot be asked to leave premises such as cafés for breastfeeding. I'm sure there are still some people around who don't agree with it, but my experience is that these are in the minority. I had a cover for public breastfeeding but actually found it wasn't needed, I just wore 2 tops and pulled one up and one down, therefore nothing was exposed anyway. Best of luck with your new arrival and with breastfeeding, it can be hard work but is extremely rewarding.

Sometimes stories do get in the media and everyone gets all worked up and there is a load of hype. But in general, no, it isn't frowned upon and nobody even notices. Once you get to grips with feeding you will be fine. Most people I know find it easier to sort themselves out without a cover aas they can see what they are doing and therefore get baby on quickly and with minimum fuss. Plus most babies complain if you drape something over their heads .

3 children here, all breast fed. Was still feeding the youngest in public at 2 years old (he is now 2 and a half, still feeding but doesn't really ask to feed int he daytime any more). I have never had any bad comments.

The main thing is to know your rights and feel confident so that if you do have the misfortune to have some eejit tell you off you can reply in a calm manner and pint them in the direction of the equality act.

It's fine. I have breastfed both children until 2 years( in london for home and across the world travelling). Generally I mainly fed out when under 1 ish as when older they just fed in eve before bed, but did occasionally feed both at Same time when out ( just over 1 year gap between them)

I did buy lots of nursing dresses though as usually always wear dresses and didn't want to have to change for a few years. So spent a fair bit but invested well as most could be worn in pregnancy also

I have breastfed my now one year old her whole life in public and have never had a negative comment! I can understand why you feel nervous but go for it! Good luck!

PS check out whether there are any peer support breastfeeding groups near you, in RL or on Facebook. There is a brilliant one in the Reading area if that happens to be anywhere near you!

Thanks everyone, I've heard about the two tops thing which I will be trying. I just hope my baby does actually take to breastfeeding!

I'm from London so hopefully should be ok and no staring! I think practicising first will be a good idea - thank you x

I never experienced any negativity. I fed her all over the place. Cafés, park benches, windy hill-sides. I did have one person (Hampton Court Palace I'm looking at you) suggest I could feed my baby in a toilet, but that was the only time anything slightly odd.

Ps. I practised in front of a mirror!

I never exposed my boobs while breastfeeding! I don't know how people do tbh.

Wear a strappy vest under a looser top. Pull the strappy vest down and catch it under your boob, open your bra or slip the strap off your shoulder then pull the looser top up, the loose fabric (shirt or tshirt) will drape over your boob (and baby if you want) .

Its a good thing to practice (to see what others might see) at home before you have the baby. Sit in front of a mirror if you like. Sometimes a bright wrap or cover can draw attention to what you're doing. But the vast majority of people won't even know (or care) what you're doing. The rest will recognise because they have been there themselves. Anyone who is disapproving can mind their own business. Your right to feed your baby and your babies right to eat is protected by law.

Good luck

Hmmm ok I think I do need to invest in some nursing dresses/tops - I hadn't even heard of them before!

I've got massive saggy boobs, and bf in public is a bit embarrassing. I have to lop the whole thing out, and covering up is difficult because I have to be able to see to steer baby and nipple in the right direction.
Even so I've never had a negative comment. If the baby needs feeding the baby needs feeding.

I’ve never had anyone say anything,ive had a few smiles and awws but nothing bad.Im disappointed tbh i like an argument.

And im not discreet either,i don’t feel the need to be,i have big 36g boobs and i don’t do the vest under top thing,i get my boob out over the neckline of my top and feed away.don’t do feeding covers or muslins,i have nothing to be ashamed of.

I fed for a year and never got any comments. I tried a cover once and didn't like it, the heat from my dd made me feel much hotter than without a cover and she must have felt the same. I have never seen a woman exposed when feeding, I don't know where these stories come from. If you do feel a bit exposed then you can sling a muslin over your shoulder.

I bf dd absolutely everywhere, on planes, on trains, in big cities, small villages, parks, Starbucks, restaurants, at the London Olympics, in front of friends and in front of strangers, basically if she was hungry she got fed. I took her out somewhere every day and fed her using my h&m nursing tops but no cover blanket thing. I now feed ds in public too.

I think most of the time people didn't even realise I was feeding, occasionally an old lady would come up to peer at the baby and get an eye full of boob when she leant over but nursing tops are really discreet. The only time I've had people comment is when they come up and say something positive to me (normally along the lines of ahh how lovely, I bf my dc and I really miss it now they've weaned).

I was going to say what Uri said - don't bother with special BF clothes (bit rubbish in my limited experience) - go for vest you can pull down with looser top you can pull up.

I never had any problems at all - and I fed in cafes, on public transport, at work when I went in to show the baby off (v. male dominated work place due to being techy, but no-one batted an eyelid). Nicest moment was on a train when a little boy of about 5 asked his dad what I was doing, and the dad just calmly said "it's like giving the baby a bottle only his mum's body's making the milk instead."

(I only made it to the 8 week mark, but that was a combination of my PCOS and DS' tongue tie - would have loved to have BF-ed for longer).

Good luck with it. It's a lovely and convenient (and free) way of feeding your baby. (And no washing up, hooray).

I've only ever had positive comments. I fed DC1 until 10 months, mostly with 2 tops. I used a scarf more often with DC3 as she was more distractable or often fed her in the car. I still feed her now at 18 months but usually at home and only in the car if out as shes too wiggly and is happy with a snack instead in the day.

I breast fed twins for over a year and never had any negative comments. A few interested stares (esp from children) but that's just because it's not that common. Usually I would just smile and they'd smile back.

Nobody ever paid any attention and I never covered up. Impossible with a difficult feeder. I really don't like this ' breast feeding is okay as long as you are discreet' thing. Woman, know your place! ( which is apparently at the back of the bus/ cafe, covered up where no one will notice you).

I didn't like a lot of breast feeding clothes because they were stretchy and I felt self conscious of my post baby body. Breast vests are great though, like the vest system described above but you don't have to worry about pulling your top down so it just makes it a bit easier.

No one ever said anything negative, just lots of supportive comments. Enjoy, it is. Lovely thing once you get to grips with it.

I've never encountered a single bad comment. Tbh you can't really see very much when feeding. I've had a male friend come up to play with the baby once while I was latched on. He didn't realise she was feeding and thought I was just cuddling her hahaha was a little bit red faced when I told him the reason DD was ignoring him was because she was too occupied having her milk!

While *DD was latched on. Not while I!

DC1 BF for 18 months
DC2 BF for 5 months and counting...

I'm in London but breastfed all over Europe and the deepest most rural/conservative areas of the UK.

Not a single negative comment, ever.
Positive comments and smiles - too many to count