Breastfeeding In Public

joanlawson

Rehab, I wasn't advocating that gay people and women should go on such marches, but I can understand why they feel the need to do it. In the same way, I can understand why some women use breastfeeding as a form of protest, although I don't agree with that.

I totally agree with you about the cost to the taxpayer of these protest marches etc. The freedom of people to protest and to express their views shouldn't be at the expense of others. With freedom comes responsibility, and this is sometimes forgotten.

You're quite right, Rehab, it IS the 21st century, and there's so much hypocrisy. It seems it's OK for women's breasts to be shown in advertisements, films, newspapers, magazines etc. but then not so acceptable to be seen when breastfeeding. It's a funny old world :roll:

tkachev

I could not breastfeed in public. I found it difficult in front of family members so would go upstairs. However I do feel if a child is hungry it is okay. I would probably sit in a baby feeding area (mothercare used to have them) designed to be private and comfortable and hopefully clean!

I have never objected to others baby-feeding in public but I try to look elsewhere.I would defend women's rights to feed in public but know there have been some complaints lately on religious grounds.

Elizabeth x

dreamdaisy

In our over-sexualised society I think we have lost sight of the proper use of mammary glands. They are not there to sell cars, make up, toothpaste, newspapers, novels etc they have a function and that function is to feed a baby. Breast feeding is a glorious thing, it should be celebrated and accepted as the norm. I feel ashamed, even guilty, that a woman who needs to perform this natural and essential act is forced to creep off into the shadows, to become a social pariah for doing something so natural, just to save the narrow-minded ones their blushes. I think it's a culture thing - Brits are not good at coping with anything regarding natural bodily functions, hence the sniggering double-entendre humour in postcards etc. Bodies come in two sorts, we all have one, none of us are anything special - ooooh, sudden thought: do those overblown ghastly fake ones work as they should? I don't see why they wouldn't but anyone who does that to themselves in the first place is unlikely to be a champion for breast feeding. Their inflated mammaries are anything but natural. DD

tkachev

I would go into the 'shadows' because I would not like to show my body.

E x

elainebadknee

Its not about shadows and yet again I will use the word discretion again......Again its a personal thing too

dreamdaisy wrote:

In our over-sexualised society I think we have lost sight of the proper use of mammary glands. They are not there to sell cars, make up, toothpaste, newspapers, novels etc they have a function and that function is to feed a baby. Breast feeding is a glorious thing, it should be celebrated and accepted as the norm. I feel ashamed, even guilty, that a woman who needs to perform this natural and essential act is forced to creep off into the shadows, to become a social pariah for doing something so natural, just to save the narrow-minded ones their blushes. I think it's a culture thing - Brits are not good at coping with anything regarding natural bodily functions, hence the sniggering double-entendre humour in postcards etc. Bodies come in two sorts, we all have one, none of us are anything special - ooooh, sudden thought: do those overblown ghastly fake ones work as they should? I don't see why they wouldn't but anyone who does that to themselves in the first place is unlikely to be a champion for breast feeding. Their inflated mammaries are anything but natural. DD

jillyb1

Wow ; feel like I'm stuck right in the middle on this debate ! I breast fed all 3 of my children whether they were hungry when at home or if we were out at shops , restaurants , parks , museums , anywhere in fact . The important thing though is that very few people realised that I was doing so as I always carried a shawl and draped it around me and the baby while feeding . My babies are now all in their 30s so it was necessary to be discreet in those ancient medieval times ; but I can't help agreeing with those who ask for discretion to be used in the 21st century too . Interesting discussion . Jillyb

elainebadknee

HI Jillyb1

Youre not in the middle because you can regonise the need for discretion....And had this person acted as you had there would be no issue at all....This can apply to many situations and tempted as I am to answer to the above replies re gay marches, being a gay woman myself, I recognise that either some people use it or they dont - discretion....

Elainex

jillyb1 wrote:

Wow ; feel like I'm stuck right in the middle on this debate ! I breast fed all 3 of my children whether they were hungry when at home or if we were out at shops , restaurants , parks , museums , anywhere in fact . The important thing though is that very few people realised that I was doing so as I always carried a shawl and draped it around me and the baby while feeding . My babies are now all in their 30s so it was necessary to be discreet in those ancient medieval times ; but I can't help agreeing with those who ask for discretion to be used in the 21st century too . Interesting discussion . Jillyb

Poppyg1rl

Hi Elaine,
I breastfed my 3 sons for a year, if baby needed to be fed when we were out I did, babies feed on demand. I always tried to find somewhere clean and quiet to feed, in my experience if baby was distracted by noise they wouldn't feed well and I'd be up half the night then with a collicky baby!.
Breastfeeding can be difficult for a new mum, but it's been proven over and over again to be best for baby, and as a mum that is your priority.
I would be disappointed if a new mum reading this thread was put off breastfeeding, but I do see your point Elaine that some people find it uncomfortable to watch, it is such a shame that facilities such as a mother and baby nursing room are not always available, I flatly refused to nurse my babies in a toilet which was often all that was on offer.
X

elainebadknee

HI

Well I very much doubt my opinion could put a new mum off this decision...Its not about naming and shaming, if that how some people have construed my post then they have not taken the content of it correctly...
And i will say it over and over again. anything is fine done with discretion and diplomacy not in your face, you can equate that to quite a lot of life situations...

Elainex

Poppyg1rl wrote:

Hi Elaine,
I breastfed my 3 sons for a year, if baby needed to be fed when we were out I did, babies feed on demand. I always tried to find somewhere clean and quiet to feed, in my experience if baby was distracted by noise they wouldn't feed well and I'd be up half the night then with a collicky baby!.
Breastfeeding can be difficult for a new mum, but it's been proven over and over again to be best for baby, and as a mum that is your priority.
I would be disappointed if a new mum reading this thread was put off breastfeeding, but I do see your point Elaine that some people find it uncomfortable to watch, it is such a shame that facilities such as a mother and baby nursing room are not always available, I flatly refused to nurse my babies in a toilet which was often all that was on offer.
X

elainebadknee

Well yet again if somethings shoved in your face then i dont think anyone likes that and Id say that applies to both and many other situations we find ourselves in in life.....

rehab44 wrote:

elainebadknee wrote:

HI

Well I very much doubt my opinion could put a new mum off this decision...Its not about naming and shaming, if that how some people have construed my post then they have not taken the content of it correctly...
And i will say it over and over again. anything is fine done with discretion and diplomacy not in your face, you can equate that to quite a lot of life situations...

Elainex

Poppyg1rl wrote:

Hi Elaine,
I breastfed my 3 sons for a year, if baby needed to be fed when we were out I did, babies feed on demand. I always tried to find somewhere clean and quiet to feed, in my experience if baby was distracted by noise they wouldn't feed well and I'd be up half the night then with a collicky baby!.
Breastfeeding can be difficult for a new mum, but it's been proven over and over again to be best for baby, and as a mum that is your priority.
I would be disappointed if a new mum reading this thread was put off breastfeeding, but I do see your point Elaine that some people find it uncomfortable to watch, it is such a shame that facilities such as a mother and baby nursing room are not always available, I flatly refused to nurse my babies in a toilet which was often all that was on offer.
X

If I am offended by any action I tend not to look and leave the area, but that action denies me my rights, I am of course referring to marches and demonstrations by minority groups and not breast feeding.

stickywicket

Is this a storm in a G cup?

Some years ago I was in Ikea, with my student son, looking for the loos. He suddenly grabbed my arm and said

“They’re not down here, Mum.”

“I think they’re just a bit further on.”

“They’re not.”

He led me out of what he subsequently informed me was the baby-feeding area.

Sorted.

mellman01

I feel all dizzy!. :shock:

joanlawson

stickywicket wrote:

Is this a storm in a G cup?

Some years ago I was in Ikea, with my student son, looking for the loos. He suddenly grabbed my arm and said

“They’re not down here, Mum.”

“I think they’re just a bit further on.”

“They’re not.”

He led me out of what he subsequently informed me was the baby-feeding area.

Sorted.

If you were in Ikea, you were lucky to find your way out at all