Anytime anywhere! I breastfed both my bubbas in public without a worry in the world! Yes, I used to cover up, but I had no difficulties covering up and feeding at the same time. In my experience, I found parenting rooms to be few and far between, often dirty, and lacking in space. If I neede to feed, I fed. If people didn't want to "see it" they simply didn't look! I think 9/10 you'd have to be looking pretty hard to spot a breastfeeding mother anyway as it's usually done so discretely!

I don't understand why something so natural, beneficial and essential (ETA: Essential as in baby is hungry/needs a feed, not as in breastfeeding is essential) to a baby can be deemed inappropriate

Lanie

I do it anytime anywhere. I get stares and dirty comments sometimes but ignore it. I did have a guy call me a slut the other day and I looked at him and said how'd you figure that? The worse thing with this was he was only 15 or 16, so I told him to shut up cause he wasn't old enough to know what it meant. he replied by telling me he has already "scored" with a dozen or so girls. My friend looked at him and said well that makes you a slut!!!! He was not happy and he walked away.

I say good on mums who bf in public this day and age you see more flesh on girls in their bikinis at the beach!!!!!

I voted anytime, anywhere. Flop them out women!!! Be proud of your ability to nourish your child! Geebus, in SOME countries, women are topless all the time!

LOL, I think its a beautiful thing, the same way I think pregnant tummies are beautiful, stretch marks and all, and I love seeing a pregnant belly in the same sense.

I breastfed Finn, in public if needed, and I have big boobs, so it wasn;t easy to be discreet at times! My poor Dad couldn't cope, he would leave the room for fear he'd accidentally see something, rofl.

Gosh I'd love to Breastfeed - I have scars from here to breakfast - that'd scare em more than the boobs! ROFL



I look at Mum's breastfeeding - only coz I think it's pretty amazing!

I'll repeat what i said in the other thread...

breastfeeding is NOT, i repeat NOT about the boobs, it's not about sex, or 'bodily functions'... it's about FOOD, about feeding our littlest citizens.

LOL kell re: your dad leaving the room!

And viva the national geographic channel! LOL!

I voted anytime, anywhere. If bubs is hungry it needs to be fed. When I was trying to cast a 14 month old child once who was crying and screaming (I don’t blame him, strange person, strange environment doing a strange thing to his legs) Mum kept flopping her breasts out in front of him trying to get him to take one to comfort him. At the time I was rather uncomfortable and embarrassed as I was unsure where to look, but she was doing it to comfort her screaming child and was perfectly comfortable doing it and I realised, hey, this is my problem not hers. If a child is in need of food or comfort and the mother feels comfortable feeding in public, that’s fine by me, if it makes me feel uncomfortable, that’s my problem not hers and I can look elsewhere/go elsewhere, whereas the baby needs to be fed.

I confess I feel a bit uncomfortable with women breastfeeding openly in public - I'd prefer them to go to a parents room, their car, or a more private place if possible, or at least be very discreet. I don't mind it at all if it's someone I know in my home, or whatever, but somehow in the middle of the shops or something just makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. However I'm not a mother and I'm sure my perceptions and opinions will change when I am (a long way off).

I voted "it's OK with me - anywhere, anytime".

I was a bit self conscious initially with Mackenzie and so did not always feel comfortable out anywhere doing it, but I have no problem with other mothers doing it wherever and whenever they want.

It's funny, I wish I had been stronger, particularly around my FIL. I know he felt embarrassed so I used to go into another room. Annoying thing was though that I then had to disappear at his place and at my own. Next time, I am not changing my behaviour in my own house...

I love to look too Lib so we are both weirdos! And I don't mind anyone watching me either, as long as they smile and don't scowl!

I have had people here come up and pat his cheek while feeding! A *little* offputting sometimes! And I don't know how many times I've been in the bank or somewhere and some old Korean grandma has announced to everyone "LOOK! That baby's BREASTFEEDING!" then everyone stares.

my uneasiness around babies and pregnant women extends to BF I am afraid. And I think (and this may change with expereince) but if a clean parents room was provided then I would definately be using that. Also as soon as the child can hold a bottle it's over.

so what if you cant do it discretly? What if the parents room is at the other end of the shopping centre and your kid is screaming? I tell you what happens, people give you filthy looks as if to say 'why dont you feed that child and stop it screaming'

i don't find it uncomfortable - it's not like someone is doing it specifically to show me their boob. Even when friends i've been around have breastfeed right in front of me - a moment or two to avert the eyes which they attach bubba, and then it's like the baby it just there - little breastage to be seen!

in my current frame of mind, i would 'cover up' with something over the shoulder (depending on the shirt i guess!) - for my own shyness reasons - but then i figure by the time i've been through the 'leave your dignity at the door' phases of pregnancy and birth, i might get over the body hangups!

THere are not always parent's rooms in small towns. There most certainly aren't where I live, therefore I had to make do with whereever and whatever I could.

I remember on my way to melbourne (7hr drive without stops) when Mia was 4 or 5 months old we stopped at Maccas for lunch, I sat in a corner far away from everyone else as not to offend anyone, then sat the baby bag infront of me so no boobie was shown and and old couple who were sitting a few tables away looked at me with such distaste and then moved to the other side of the building

I love watching babies breast feed too (and get jealous because I wish I'd done it for longer). I also get that 'let downy' feeling occasionally when I hear a little baby cry (yes I am weird too!).

Bows to Alani

I knew someone else would have had the same problem

Megs your guess is as good as mine

hey Jaime, I love Jayden's security tee shirt - where did you get that?

what a facinating topic.

i voted discreetly, i wouldnt feel comfortable bfeeding in public and i know h2b wouldnt want me to.

i feel that it is bonding time that i feel should be done in private. Eg. if i were at home and people were over, i would go to my bedroom to feed.

i dont think bfeeding and eating like we do can be compared either. one involves plates and cutlery or hand to mouth action, not b00b to baby.

JMO, but it sounds like alot of people have a bit of a chip on their shoulder and will do it whenever where ever just to make a point, i am generalising here but thats the impression that i get from a few women, not from here but in general.

BTW hasnt anyone heard to a b/pump?

I'm sure we've all heard of using a breast pump, but why should we feel it's necessary to use one when breast feeding is so natural? If the mother doesn't have a problem with feeding her baby naturally in public, then there shouldn't need to be an issue.

eta: Jaime makes a good point too, it's just not possible for some to express and successfully feed their babies enough.

I don't think anything against breastfeeding and I applaud those who openly feed their children.

To me, seeing a woman breastfeed her baby is nothing in comparison to seeing teenagers (and other ages) wear skanky, next-to-nothing clothes or in summer when you see men stroll around shopping centres without a shirt.

Breastfeeding is natural and I can only hope that I am able to feed Logan out in public. I think for me it will be a little hard at first as I am not overly comfortable getting my boob out even for a little bit, so I will be feeding him in parent's rooms etc until I feel comfortable enough to be in 'open air' so-to-speak.

I agree, each to their own, parenting is a hard enough gig without the guilt and judgements we place on one another over all these kinds of issues.

Be it for bottle feeding, breastfeeding in public, or cloth v disposable or whatever. Be passionate about what you believe in, but respect the rights of others to do things differently.

Remember, every child is different, every mother is different - there is no way what you perceive as the "right" thing, will therefore be right for all these varied match ups of child and parent.

Mums work the hardest job, no annual leave, no sick days, 24/7 - It upsets me that as nurturers and caregivers, we as mothers turn on one another, when we are the ones who truly can offer the great support that would make it that bit easier.

Goodness. How non-controversial of me, I must need a lie down and a ccol facecloth.

I bf in public, but always discreetly as possible. I would use a cloth nappy, put one corner up under my bra strap so it wouldn't blow away, and cover up. Most people could tell what i was doing, they just couldn't see the pink bits..

Had a few times as bubs got older they would reef the nappy down as it blocked their view and expose mummy (eek!!)

I find it interesting the people who say they would leave the room or go to a parents room etc...

IN the real world, you get scenario's like this..

You meet 3 freinds for coffee, sit down, place orders, bub starts grumbling ( You think, I just fed you, ya little guts, you CAN'T be hungry AGAIN!!)

coffee and cake arrive, bub is getting quite vocal by now.. So, decision made - feed baby.

Do you?

A. Go to parents room/car and feed bub as suggested by some. Come back, coffee is cold, cake is dried out, and have to reorder..... or

B. Get comfy, cover up, feed bub, enjoy cake, enjoy coffee, enjoy time with freinds and feel great bub got morning tea too.

Breastfeeding is very rewarding, but can also be very isolating. Constantly leaving a room when you have visitors or are visiting, or in church etc... will leave you feeling isolated from the rest of the world..

Be discreet, and enjoy the experience...

But please don't expect a woman to leave the room just to feed a baby..

Natalie

oh i knew i was going to step on a few toes here!

i just think we are all clearly of different opinions and thats fine, i can only imagine how frustrating it is to have a screaming child and i suppose you would just have to because you have to feed in public.

just in my experience mothers have been a little 'whatever' about the subject. i cant say i come accross the subject often, so it is hard to have opinions that are based on what you see in public and not family or friend related.

dont mean to offend any of the mums here. just 'expressing' my opinion, like the rest of you are.

I voted anywhere as long as the breast and baby are covered. Only cause it is a little uncomfortable when a stranger has their boob hanging out for all to see (even though it is a good purpose).
Do it anywhere you like, just don't be an exhibitonist about it.

when i say 'what ever' i mean blaze' (sp?), like a real attitude 'that i shal not be inconvenienced because i have a baby'. Not saying that you are an inconvenience if you b/feed, but thats also what i meant when i say a bit of chip on their shoulder. Maybe i have encountered some weird mothers, and not the nouturing kind?

for something i really dont encounter on daily basis, it seems to be very passionate argument for alot of people. i suppose if you have experienced comments or wierd looks, of course you will say "when ever, where ever" (we all sound liek Shakira now!) almost like a silent protest 'i am mother and i will provide!'

it is a very sensitive topic and one that always gets a few people fired up.

i guess its just a topic that will divide people for ever and thats just the way it will go?