Parenting Forums

Posted: 27 June 2007 at 7:58pm | IP Logged

I can't get on with button-up tops so what I do is wear a loose fitting top and a special nursing bra where the cup unhooks - I unhook it and pull it down under my top, stick Hannah on and then pull the top down so it is covering my boob - so you just see her head..I practised at home first...! hannah won't tolerate having a blanket over her and really why bloomin should she?! 

I never bf'd Ellie in public - I would always go to the car etc.  that's not an option with a toddler in tow and I also now have the attitude of "oh sod it, it's just a boob"..

I even bf'd today in a cafe sat with one of my oldest male friends and his toddler son and he didn't bat an eyelid lol 

Posted: 27 June 2007 at 8:08pm | IP Logged

Thanks H!

I used to have a blanket around my shoulder and then under/over the baby (depending on how hot it was), while just lifting up my top. The blanket covered post-baby-belly and hid any fleshy bits from underneath while my clothes hid it all from above. A loose cardigan is a good one too, as you can wrap everything up in this!

I did manage to feed in a lot of places, and while I would move to a quiter area, this was mostly because my babies were all nosey and it was better to be away from too much noise! When I had Joe and we went on little family trips, I remember feeding in front of other parents without them noticing and having a chat with some old bloke who came and sat on the bench next to me for a rest and I'm CERTAIN that he had no idea what was going on. This woman you heard, Madz, is a perfect example of why legislation is needed so badly. To say 'you don't want to see it' is simply ridiculous. There IS nothing to see while feeding, you have to want to have a problem with it, and why should mothers and babies have their rights taken away by opinionated people with no understanding of the situation? I don't want to see the daily star and men's magazines being on display where my 7 year old son can easily see them and read the headlines on the front, and this is far more harmful than a mother discreetly doing the most natural and inoffensive thing in the world, yet this is perfectly socially acceptable.  How can that be?

Posted: 30 June 2007 at 2:48pm | IP Logged

I wear a vest underneath too Lynie. I have fed in public lots of times and never flashed once, well not that I know of! But even if you do inadvertantly flash a bit of flesh while latching on, it is still less than what you see in magazines/papers/telly. The who moan about breastfeeding in public never seem to have an opinion on any of these. Can't get my head around that really.

I REALLY want someone to challenge me while feeding, I have never been one to speak up, but now I am. I am woman, hear me roar

Posted: 30 June 2007 at 3:34pm | IP Logged

Baggy tops are a godsend.

I've always been discreet in the UK not to upset the bigots.  However I spent most of my youngest's breastfeeding years in West Africa where women were often seen with suckling babies/toddlers hanging off their exposed breasts and no-one batters an eyelid.  In fact, you were viewed as being abnormal if you spent time pfaffing around with maternity bras and vest tops there.  To them there is nothing more natural than a mother breastfeeding her offspring. 

I've breast fed in a bikini with a sarong dropped over my shoulder, that works a treat.

I must say that I have never been challenged anywhere when breastfeeding. 

Posted: 30 June 2007 at 4:21pm | IP Logged

i dont think people have the guts to challange you to your face,theyd much rather just slate you behind your back or whatever,prob coz they know how selfish their being and pathetic,for godsake,breasts were intended to feed young just as udders were intended for cows to feed their young and every other mammal on earth,this makes me so angry,if it wernet for people being so ill educated and up their own asses i would have prob battled on and continued feeding bronia without embarrasment etc...

xxxx

Posted: 30 June 2007 at 4:53pm | IP Logged

I can't give any tips but i did want to say my piece as i do think mothers and babies should have the right to bf in public it is natural after all and to all those people who say its disgusting they dont want to see it then DONT BLOOMIN' LOOK . ok so alot of mums dont want to do it in public but if you do you should be welcome to