I’m a Breastfeeder! My views
Does this mean I have to plan my outings so that I feed my baby only at home? Easier said than done when feeding on demand! That I can only sit and have a coffee if a corner table is available incase my baby needs feeding whilst I’m there? That I should go to the trouble of expressing milk should she need feeding whilst I am out to save the embarrassment of others? That I should only ever feed her in private like going to the toilet?!
If you read the comments on a well know newspaper today and the last week or so as breastfeeding has hit the headlines. You will see that these are the opinions of members of the public. I’m wondering if these are common views or the minority?
A bit about me and why I breastfeed.
I chose to breastfeed, mainly because of a strong family history of cows milk protein allergy. I gave up breastfeeding my first, mainly due to embarrassment of feeding in public. He was very ill on normal formula until he went on to a hypoallergenic one. I wanted to prevent this from happening again. I am pro breastfeeding as a la leche league trained peer counsellor. However I am also pro a happy mum. I would never say to anyone breast is best, or look down my nose at mums that formula feed. I did it too! At the end of the day babies need a happy mum who is able to look after them.
I’m VERY discreet when I feed. I’ve never had any comments. If I’m going out I make sure I am wearing something that will keep me covered. At the moment as it’s cold I wear a double layer so one top up and one down and also sometimes wear a scarf to help cover up. I will head to a feeding room if there is one available or try and find somewhere to sit that is out of the way. I don’t want anyone seeing anything! I’m getting increasingly annoyed with people saying that breastfeeding mums are exhibitionists. I would be mortified if someone saw my nipples!
I understand that some mums don’t feel this way and even as a breastfeeder I’m not sure how I would feel if I was sitting opposite someone who wasn’t feeding discretely. I have to say though, I have never seen this! Most of the times I’ve seen mums breastfeeding when out and about I only know they are doing it because I do it that way too.
The whole media storm at the moment has really made me paranoid about feeding in public.
If this was my first baby again it would definitely have encouraged me to give up. I think more needs to be done to promote and normalise breastfeeding. Not all the sensationalised stuff that makes the headlines. Most breastfeeding mums are discreet and just trying to feed their hungry babies. Why should they have to wait till they get home? We don’t wait if we are hungry or thirsty!
I would love to know your views.
Like this:
Like Loading...
I’ve blogged so much about this, I was terrified with my first but now I’ve got it into perspective. When my baby needs feeding, he’s fed. I’ve got towered boys who seat as normal and I won’t let them see me hide away. Breasts are for feeding babies if you ask them. I too don’t want anyone seeing my nipples, and I’m discreet, but I won’t cover him over his head. There are laws protecting me and so long as they’re in place, I’ll be feeding my babies wherever we are.
Autocorrect got me – I have two older boys who see it as normal 😉
I recently did a post about breastfeeding in public! Please don’t let this put you off tfeedingyour baby in public. I was completely paranoid the first month or so I breastfed my daughter in public but then I realised that a screaming, hungry baby will cause far more of a commotion than a happy, feeding one. Now I honestly don’t give it a second thought. My baby needs be fed, I’m always discreet (never “ostentatious!”) so if anyone has an issue with it, that’s their problem, not mine. Maria x #SundayStars
I am with you 100% I fed both of mine for a year in public all the time. I always was discreet I would die if someone saw me uncovered. I would also feel a little weird if someone else just popped out a boob and started shoving it in a baby’s mouth. I think there is a line in between it’s natural and all this crazy no feeding in places in the media is ridiculous. People need to get over it humans have been feeding their babies since the beginning of time. Great post. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me and for all the amazing linky support in 2014! I can’t thank you enough. Happy Holidays! #sharewithme
Yes! I was nodding along with you the whole way through! i also gave up feeding my other two earlier than i would of liked due to the fear of feeding in public, with lottie though I have just gotten on with it yes I’m discreet but i won’t make my baby have a blanket over her head of anyone once there feeding you can’t see anything anyways! its the most natural thing in the world why someone would be offended by my baby feeding is just beyond ridiculous. thanks for linking up with #sundaystars
I couldn’t agree more. I never felt comfortable feeding in public. We need to normalise breastfeeding and promote it in a healthy and supportive way. Thanks for linking up to #SundayStars.
Naturalising breastfeeding is so important, really worry all this is now making it so much harder for first time mums to feel confident to feed in public!. Thanks for linking up to #brilliatblogposts
I think the whole media thing about breastfeeding is ridiculous and I will feed my baby wherever I am and whenever she needs it. I think though that this being my 4th makes me care even less about the attitudes of others. Its just a person eating a meal! x x x