Real womens, Real thoughts on breast feeding.
What do others people think of breastfeeding in public?
During a baby shower I arranged for my sister, our conversation turned to breastfeeding, something my sister is playing to do for as long as she is able to do so.
I can honestly say I was utterly shocked by some of the reactions and views that other women have regarding breast-feeding.
I am all for everyone having your own opinion, but I can honestly saw my jaw nearly hit the floor whilst talking to this room full of women.
My Breastfeeding experience
I breastfed both my children, granted it only lasted between 10 and 14 days before I gave up and hit the bottle ( the formula milk kind, the wine came later! )
I must admit I felt slightly pressured into breastfeeding my first child, I was a young mum and looked like a child myself, so I wanted to do everything by the book mainly to impress the midwives and health visitors.I had also read my bounty book and new of the long-term benefits breast milk gives your child, especially during the first week.
I tried so hard to master the art of breastfeeding, latching on was the easy part for me, although I was often found sitting with the hairdryer aimed at my nipples to stop the intense pain I had.
Producing the milk was the reason I gave up breastfeeding.I would sit for up to an hour feeding my little one, he would still cry as he was not satisfied enough with the quality of milk I was giving him.
My last straw came when I walked to a local shop which was only a five-minute walk away from my home, I got to the end of the street when I was called back as he wa screaming for more food!
I couldn’t even express enough milk to fill a bottle, this is when I realised that whilst I was trying to give my little one the best start I was actually just leaving him hungry.
As soon as he started on formula milk he turned in to a very happy content baby and I could relax and be a better mummy.So I never got to the stage of breast-feeding in public.
The same scenario happened with my second son, I managed to feel less guilty this time as I knew it wasn’t my fault, I just couldn’t produce enough milk and the quality of the milk I was producing was just not good enough.At least both my babies were able to get the colostrum from the first weeks breast milk.
Women’s thoughts on Breastfeeding in public
I just assumed most women would be very understanding and all for breastfeeding in public, I thought if anyone would find it offensive it would be the male species.
Whilst at the baby shower we were all discussing breastfeeding, I was shocked when I discovered over half of the women there either wouldn’t breastfeed in public or didn’t like to see other mums breastfeeding their babies whilst out and about.
Some even went as far as to say they found it very offensive and would put them off their lunch. Even though I don’t agree with this, I admire there honesty.
One mum felt so strongly that her breasts were for her and her partner, not for feeding a baby with.
Out of all the women there only three mums had breastfed their babies and only one had carried on past the first two weeks.
If I was in a room full of men I would have expected these thoughts and feelings, I was totally in shock and maybe slightly naive in thinking every mother found this the most normal thing to do.
My jaw almost hit the floor when one of the ladies told me that whilst out on a family birthday, her brothers friend was eating his food whilst at the next table a women was breastfeeding her baby. Instead of turning away and carrying on with his meal, he stood up and walked over to the next table and told the mum that her breastfeeding was putting him off his food, he went one step further and asked her to stop feeding her own baby or move somewhere out of sight.
I thought we were living in the 21st century, maybe someone should have told him this.
Women need to be encouraged with regards to breastfeeding and not be gawped at or insulted. I really thought times had moved on, sadly the prejudice seems to be still there.
I would love to hear your breastfeeding stories positive or negative, have you come across any negativity or do you disagree with breastfeeding in public yourself.
NHS ADVICE ON BREAST FEEDING IN PUBLIC
TAKE A LOOK AT HOSTING A BABY SHOWER
CHECK OUT THIS BREASTFEEDING REPORT
I don’t understand what the problem is with breast feeding in public. We are constantly surrounded with unnecessary nude images where as this is a natural and sensible way to fed a baby. I think people should stop being so negative about a positive action.
I have to admit I was shocked by a work colleague ol who said she would not even attempt to breastfeeding as she saw her boobs as belonging to her and her husband.
I have been lucky enough to breastfeeding all my children with little issue and don’t have a problem with people breastfeeding in public as I do it myself. I do however understand how some people feel about it and am very discreet – I have had to turn my head away quite disturbed a couple of times by women letting it all hang out!! There is no excuse for that these days with so many nursing fashion choices around these days. If you nurse discreetly there is nothing on display, unless you have a curious baby who insists on looking around every few minutes as they get older lol
I’m always surprised by negative reactions to breast feeding. Not to impugn bottle feeding, I did a combo of both, but when did manufactured become better than the real deal? Especially to the point of putting someone off to their lunch. I just don’t get it.
Having fed my son to 23 months when he self-weaned I went full circle on this – from being unsure I could do, finding the first few months really tough, joining an amazing local support group, through to pro-breastfeeding campaigns with Lactivist and lobbying my MP for better access to support for local breastfeeding mothers! I just wish more people had access to a good (real and online) support network, and that the media wasn’t fixated on the ‘ooo isn’t it gross/revealing’ to feed in public/full term breastfeeding!
I breastfed both mine and believe that whatever the mother feels is right more than likely is.
I’m not anti bottles at all I’m just tight lol I could breastfeed so did as was cheaper.
I also fed them where ever I happened to be. I was lucky as I only ever received positive feedback and comments but wouldn’t have stopped had I been asked to either.
Great post
I first want to say that I experienced the same exact thing that you did with having a low milk supply. My first daughter was exclusively on formula by 2 weeks and I’m wondering how it’s going to go with the new baby I’m expecting in December.
As far as the breastfeeding goes, I’m a very modest person so the act of breastfeeding in public itself doesn’t put me off whatsoever, it’s when I can see the boobage lol. I’m perfectly comfortable as long as there is some kind of cover! Otherwise, the little kid in me comes out and I feel like I have to turn away to give the woman privacy.
Thanks for your kind and honest comments. I hope the breastfeeding will be possible with your new baby, I think I was just unlucky that it happened with both of mine.
I know what you meen by the little kid in me comes out and I feel like I have to turn away to give the woman privacy. Sometimes I feel more embarrassed that I might be staring too much.
Fingers crossed with your breastfeeding, by the sounds of it you will be nearly at your due date.
Great post. I breastfed my son for five months – on planes, in car parks, etc. but I always did it very discretely and to be honest most people wouldn’t have realized I was doing it (though I never felt the need to have him tucked under a shawl – it was a case of one top up, the other down and him in the middle!) I think it depends on how it is done. I never had any negative comments even when people did realize what I was doing – only understanding smiles. I only breastfed my daughter for three weeks (later discovered she was tongue-tied and that caused her breastfeeding problems) and I found it much more inconvenient to be carting bottles around. I still feel guilty I didn’t manage to go on longer with her so I understand completely how you felt – but as you say they did get the important early weeks.
Thanks for you lovely comment.
It is great to know you received only positivity around your breastfeeding time.
I am so sorry you too couldn’t breastfeed for as long as you intended.
Carting bottles around and heating up Milk is so much more of a hassle than having it to hand at the perfect temperature and natural.
Unfortunately that wasn’t possible for some of us including you and me.