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

I have not had a single negative comment about breastfeeding, it did take a couple of weeks to master being discreet but now I have it down to a fine art :). Personally I wouldn't bother with a cover up as practically nothing is on show, (you see more cleavage on show walking down the high st).In fact a friend commented on a mum breastfeeding in a coffee shop with a cover up and she got more inquisitive looks as everyone wondered what she was doing!

The most active 'interest' I have had was when the baby was screaming and it was pouring it down outside, I swung by buggy into a café, hauled baby out and fed. The guy at the counter brought me a glass of water and said he'd come back to take my order so that I didn't have to move.

Bf both DDs for 13 and 16 months and never had a negative comment. Think you feel more self conscience more than anything. I've bf in cafés, parks, playgrounds, trains, and no one has noticed (or if they have haven't said a word). I used a muslin cloth, doubles up as a quick wipe for baby

Try to do it without covering up.

Nowt more attention grabbing than a first time mother balancing a tiny baby precariously on one knee whilst fiddling around with various drapes and then trying to see her own boob from every conceivable angle to make sure there is no millimetre on show.

Better imo to get baby out, flash if you must to NO audience because no-one would be looking at you anyway and then just getting on with it.

I fed DD in public until she was 20 months and never, ever, once had a single negative comment.

I used a giant muslin till we got the hang of things and then stretchy vest/top on top combo.

Its only frowned upon by tossers.

I never had anything but lovely smiles.

I was kind of daring anyone to say a single word tbh.....

Great advice thanks so much everyone I'm not going to invest in a cover up now so thanks for saving me some pennies! Instead I'm going to just use a big muslin cloth at the start until I get used to it! Then do the vest thing and hope for the best! At the end of the day it is only a boob x

If you do the muslin thing, stick one corner in your bra-strap on your shoulder as an anchor!

But if you want everyone to stare at you, get one of these!!

my experience in London was fine, never had a comment (positive or negative!) or a look. Never used a wrap either, personally I think they draw more attention to you, whereas when baby is latched it just looks like you're holding her, but that's up to you, of course. You could practice in front of a mirror to give you confidence, or ensure you're behind a stratetically placed pillar when you're getting started.

I did the whole bra unsnapped, stretchy vest down, top up, baby on method. I had Hot Milk bras which are kind of 'peephole' so very little of your breast is exposed.

I live in a working class backward kind of town and I too have never encountered any negativity. You really can't tell what a bfing mother is doing unless you really gawp.

Currently feeding number three and I've never had anyone give any funny looks or say any thing. I have had some positive comments, believe it or not.

I never feel the need to use a cover myself. I have some nice bf tops designed to open in the right place and that works for me. (Nursing bra a must!) The only time I would use a muslin cloth to cover up would be if i was wearing just a vest top and pulling it down would expose a lot of breast. Then I would just drape it over me, above baby's head, for modesty.

That said, while I fully support the need to feed 'wherever, whenever' they need it, I do try to find a quiet spot or move away from other people if I can, as much for my own benefit as anyone else's, so that I feel comfortable and baby won't be distracted. I've fed my children in restaurants, parks, play places, coffee shops, pretty much everywhere.

I like to see mums out and about feeding their babies. It helps to normalise something that should be completely accepted anyway. Also, those times when I've not been a bf mum myself, it brings back happy memories iyswim!

I was really nervous about feeding Ds in public. He is 10 weeks old now and I have only managed to find the confidence to do it in public over the last 2 weeks or so but now I realise I was worrying over nothing! The only person to comment so far was an old lady in Costa telling me I was doing the best thing for my baby and how lovley it was to actually see someone breastfeeding. I wear feeding vest tops from h&m and will wear another top of jumper on top if it's a bit chilly. If I'm wearing just the vest top I take a scarf or use a muslin to cover up the top part of.my boob but that's only because I don't like feeling exposed

Like everyone else, no negative reactions at all. But I wouldn't do it in in public for the first 3-4 weeks until you and the the baby have got the hang of it, especially getting the latching on right. This is difficult to get right in the beginning - and pretty sore as well at first - and I wouldn't want an audience for the several attempts this can take in the first weeks!

No one has ever said a thing, except once a nice woman brought me tea and cake. I've fed my baby everywhere: trains, a bus, the tube, platforms, cafes, at work, in parks and pubs - no one cares.

I did buy some tops, the mamafeelsgood one is still my favourite, and I have a lovely Boob dress. Mainly though, I just stick him under my jumper, it wear something i can pull down.

I know this isn't relevant to the OP (who is in London) but just wanted to shout out for us backward northerners - I breastfed both my DC until 3 years old and have never, not once, ever ever had a bad comment. (Yorkshire)

DS2 is 12 months now, has been breastfed in public whenever we've been out and about and he's needed it, and I've never had any negative comments or looks.

The first few times we fed in public, I went to local breastfeeding / baby groups to build my confidence up and get used to feeding in public.

Never a single bad comment. I fed all over the place - walking through a busy shopping centre, on park benches, restaurants, planes, on the beach...

The worst thing that's happened to me is that a man sitting on a directly opposite me in a pub got up and moved, but I think that was because he felt awkward rather than him thinking I was doing something wrong.

I once had a group of school boys take the piss out of me. Not to scare you. You won't care though. You're choosing to feed your baby with your breasts and some people aren't mature enough to handle that. Not your problem.