Breastfeeding

I was with DIL in a cafe when she started breast feeding daughter, she was very discreet with back to most of the rest of cafe but a middle aged couple saw her, looked disgusted and stormed out leaving unfinished drinks and sandwiches behind. I would love to have said something but didn't want to embarass or upset DIL as she hadn't seen their reaction and was a very new mum.

My youngest daughter was on the end of my nipple for over 3 years and when she wasn't I frequently forgot my boob was out. When it was in its attire I frequently sported wet patches, so discreet? Maybe not but she was happy!

New mums everywhere should be allowed to chose how they feed their baby, either with formula or breast milk, be able to breastfeed anywhere, provided they are discreet, without discrimination.

Why must they be discreet?

Let’s hope nobody in 2021 feels embarrassed or awkward about breast feeding. It’s natural to feed your baby.
Most the girls on Love Island have half their breast out and good luck to them?

I have had that, too. We were at the Melbourne zoo and I went off in a corner under a tree to feed my baby and this vile man came and gawked at me. Horrible. I stopped the feed there and then and walked away. Mostly, though, everyone breastfed here but I didn’t find that when I had my first who was born in the uk in 1971. I joined a Nursing Mother’s Group in Australia and they were wonderful when I had problems with baby number 3 who was hard to feed, always helping and giving good advice.

I didn't get our much while my son was at the breastfeeding stage but remember one horrid occasion when I had gone to the local park, son decided he needed feeding so we were peacefully sitting in the shade under a tree, with a shawl round us, and a vile letching man deliberately came over to sit beside right beside me and leer. I hastily abandoned the feed, gathered son and myself together and had to go home. That so spoiled what should have been a peaceful time at the park, and made me feel so uncomfortable about it that I didn't go out anywhere again except to my Mum's, or friends houses until he was no longer being breastfed.

I remember using ladies stores changing rooms if if was cold or wet and in all honesty sometimes i did go upstairs to the bedroom if we had evening guests and i generally always fell asleep

It is good it is being seen as more normal though

I'm afraid I never breast fed and to this day I cannot stay in the same place as she one breast feeding. Its OK ladies it's me not you. Im afraid I have some thing that makes me very nauseous when I see some one breast feeding. Tried every thing to change it but it just won't settle. I quietly remove my self from the situation as its up to the individual what they do.

1980 asked to leave a cafe in case anyone came in. There was only me there and baby discreetly up my jumper! That experience has never left me. Mostly I was very relaxed about where when and in front of whom I fed all my babies. Perfectly natural thing to do. I was discreet and was more stressed about changing nappies when away from home as they were all prone to the odd poo disaster!!
Far too much made over those who won't, don't or can't breast feed though. No mother of a newborn deserves to be made to feel they are doing the wrong thing for their baby providing they are safely cared for ,fed,loved and cherished.

Well said! I breastfed in so many different places and situations, in caves, on boat trips, hairdressers. Always tucked her under a loose t-shirt and just went for it

My daughter inlaw is breastfeeding my 7 month granddaughter as we speak not that you would not notice. She is so discreet. In the 80s when had my boys. I was all for doing it with my first but lady in bed next to me was making all the noises of someone having a very passionate night. I was 18 and I thought no way am I doing that pass me a bottle lol. So she was the reason I never did. ?

Newatthis, my own mother was very suspicious of breastfeeding in general - and terribly embarrassed by my decision to do it. I'd just pop a small blanket over my shoulder, baby and breast in company or public.

Once, the family were all in a restaurant when baby number four suddenly woke up, needing a feed. My mother suggested I feed her in the toilet! I refused, hid everything under the blanket, and continued with dinner while feeding. Mother stormed off, finding dinner 'impossible' - as she could still hear the swallowing!

I am sure when I breastfed in the eighties there were facilities in Boots and also Mothercare with fresh nappies etc.

My babies were born in the nineties and I couldn't breastfeed my oldest but fed the younger two for nine and ten months respectively. I went straight to a cup for them, too. I was on a beach in 1993 with my second baby when he needed to be fed so l went to a large shelter on the promenade and lifted my top and began to feed him. The shelter had been empty but, at that very moment, a coach load of pensioners came in. All that could be seen of the baby was the top of his head and the elderly people were very complimentary about him.

I had my children in the 80's and 90's and breastfed them all. I had a very supportive mother who had breastfed her children during the 50's and 60's - to the horror of many around her. She didn't set out to be a "trailblazer", and she wasn't a "hippie"; she just had the common sense to realise that it was natural, time-saving and economical. Unfortunately I had way too much milk and sometimes it was a very messy job, so I did it in private. Most of the time it was in public though, including in church every Sunday

I an with Luckygirl, all three of my DD were breast fed (mid 80’s and early 1990’s) I went in for extended breast feeding too and I fed on demand so my inlaws had to lump it! I remember once having to sit on the floor of Waterstones with DD3 (1993) feeding her as she wouldn't wait

I was usually as discreet as possible breastfeeding my eldest. Everyone had an opinion, which of course they shared, and it affected my confidence. One day, though, I had booked a perm so baby had to come too. All the female hairdressers were cooing over the baby under my cape and one lovely man too. Never one to miss a cuteness opportunity, the baby turned round and gave a sweet smile to everyone. That cured my shyness!

I breastfed my son until he was one. Didn't plan it that way, but my son wouldn't accept a bottle at all, so with advice from my health visitor I went from breast to cup.
My family were quite used to me doing it - I usually had a shawl handy or a top that was fairly covering - it's amazing how I managed to do up the cup on my bra one handed!
Many shops used to have areas that were for feeding mums but these are few and far between now - our last one in my town was in Debenhams!

I have absolutely no objection to babies being breast - fed in public, but I do object to their nappies being changed in the middle of a café or anywhere else where people are eating!

I breastfed my daughter for 14 months in the late 70s when it was expected to be discreet. When breastfeeding on the beach I found that wearing one of my husband’s shirts back to front kept my modesty and gave my baby an airy slightly darkened area to feed.
My daughter became a breastfeeding counsellor (until the local authority withdrew the funding) and always made the point that women’s breasts were for the benefit of the baby, not for leery men, or for people to dislike. She also said that it was important for both the mother and child to be in a quiet and peaceful place to feed.

Witzend's story of breastfeeding in church reminds me of DS3's christening. He was born in November and christened on Boxing Day, so the church was quite full and we were in winter coats. The baby started screaming and my MiL told me to give him the breast to calm him!

(I didn't, but mainly because of the thick double-breasted coat I was wearing.)

I bottle fed my sons as in the early ‘70s as breast feeding was actively discouraged. I wanted to but the midwives said it was much easier to bottle feed as you knew exactly how much baby was taking. Also every four hours, no feeding on demand. So I never had that problem, but I remember relatives when I was a child myself, they would retire to the bedroom when they had to breast feed, never mind feeding in public. Luckily things have changed but I still regret listening to those ‘who knew better’ and missing such an opportunity.

I travelled a lot with my children and fed them discreetly. On many occasions I am sure people I was talking to were completely unaware.

My DS guzzled and slurped and could never have been fed discreetly.
I certainly never tried it in public.

Bravo your husband sounds a gem!