Do you hate breastfeeding in public?
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Topic: Do you hate breastfeeding in public?
Posted By: LittleBug
Subject: Do you hate breastfeeding in public?
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 7:17pm
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I'm really quite a modest person and although I have no problems with anyone else breastfeeding in public, I hate doing it myself. But one of my friends gave me a present today, and I love it! It's called a "Baby Hideaway", and it's a breastfeeding cover. It's really stylish and easy to use, allowing you to breastfeed in public without showing anything, but you can still maintain eye contact with your baby and keep an eye on them.
If you want to have a look at them, check out the website: http://www.talikins.co.nz They are NZ made by two relatively new mums. They also have a pocket for breast pads and a built-in burping cloth. I love it!   yay it's going to make things so much easier for me, we always have guests at home and it makes me feel really uncomfortable so I usually give her a bottle when they are here. But this could solve the problem.------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Replies:
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 7:22pm
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Teehee, I always loved breastfeeding in public but only coz I am quite a confrontational person so I was just *waiting* for someone to comment about it being inappropriate so I could give them my pro breastfeeding spiel lol. But no one ever did dammit! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: gemsmum
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 7:25pm
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It never bothered me overly much and I'll (hopefully) do it again this time around. I do think those things are great if you're a bit modest though! Yayyy. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 7:40pm
| I hated it. Mostly cos my boobs are huge and I found BF totally awkward without my pillow. They look quite cool but I don't think I'd actually buy one |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 7:44pm
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I like it it looks good. I didn't like feeding in public either my boobs are very small so I couldn't just lift my top up a little like most women do, normally had to unzip which was showing more than I was comfortable with.
On a funny note I was having coffee with a friend yesterday and she was feeding her baby when the young waiter arrived with coffee. He said "decaf latte?" and her baby choose that moment to unlatch and have a look at who was talking, hehe he was soooooooooo embarrased. We thought it was hilarious.  ------------- 
 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 7:52pm
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I got used to bf in public. I'm a very modest person too but you get skilled at quick (but correct) latching, and keeping your hand at the ready for nosey moments too! But I have seen those type of thing before, they seem to be fairly common in America. Personally I think I'd find it a hassle but the mums I know who used them found them pretty good. ------------- |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 8:11pm
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It didn't worry me one bit feeding in public. I fed Josh at 2 weeks old in the Plaza here in Palmy and one of the cleaners in the foodcourt was about to come over and say something to me, but was told by a supervisor that he had no right to tell me to stop. However if he had of it wold of been a bring it on as I would of ripped into him big time. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 8:35pm
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Didn't use to bother me, but Eva has recently become quite vocal whilst feeding. Dh says that it sounds like she's talking to my (aka her!) boobies. Therefore I tend to try and feed her when there aren't many people around. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: NovemberMum
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 8:40pm
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I havent yet most public place is at the Weightwatchers meeting I go to I tried for the first time without my pillow and I managed.
have yet to venture feeding at the mall etc ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 8:44pm
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I have never felt embarashed bfeeding anywhere. To me it is the most natural thing in the world to have a baby at the breast feeding. MAny of times I would be walking around pak n save doing my shopping bfeeding a little Alize lol ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 8:51pm
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I often feed in public and have had no probs with it! kabe, Lauren is the same, she has little conversations with my boobs, sometimes she gggrrrrrs at them when feeding, I think thats when my let down is being very slow and she gets abgry with it! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 3:34am
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As I said, I don't at all have a problem with others breastfeeding in public, I think it's an entirely appropriate thing to do. When I was preggers, I thought that I wouldn't have a problem BFing around others as well. But I feel differently now, maybe because Chloe latches on and off all of the time (half of the time she is fine and stays latched on but half of the time she is on and off like a yo-yo, making it really hard to be discreet). Also, I can't afford to go shopping and get "easy access" clothes, so basically I have to lift my tops up and bare my stomach to the world, which I hate because I have SO SO SO many stretch marks. Maybe I'm also self-concious about it because all of my friends are young and haven't had kids yet, and they always seem really embarrassed about visiting/talking to me etc. while I am trying to breastfeed even though they never say anything very direct about it (and I hate showing them my belly, it makes me feel like such a frump around their perfect bodies - well, they aren't perfect either but you know).
I have never minded trying to feed Chloe in front of my DH or mum, or even other mums for that matter (eg. at the Parent Centre or anything), because even if she latches on and off, I figure they all understand how I'm feeling anyway 
Anyway it was something else I felt really guilty about, not wanting to BF in public, since I am a real advocate about BFing. But I never expected to find BFing so difficult either. And now I figure, if it's going to stress me out and therefore affect my letdown etc. which makes the unlatching problem worse and makes me more stressed and so on (evil cycle), and then I feel like breaking down... I figure basically it's easier for me to bottle feed her with EBM around most people (except other mums, really) because it saves me getting so stressed, and feeling crappy and tired on top of everything else. Which is why I thought that this "Baby Hideaway" thing was an awesome idea. But maybe it's just me  ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 6:02am
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I know what you mean Janey. I'm still using nipple shields ( someday soon I'll find time to wean) and that makes me reluctant to BF in public as it makes things a little more awkward and less discrete.
Like you I've no problem feeding in semi public , at mum coffee mornings and at home, but the thought of BF'ding in a shopping centre makes me feel very uncomfortable. I think it's a good idea and the ability to see the baby/boobie would allow me to attach my nipple shield without showing all 
I wonder how it would work for tandem feeding
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 9:34am
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I didn't BF in public initially but after a little while I got used to flashing my boobs and I won't hesitate to do it next time. There are some perks to BFing in public - I got a free ride on the train because the conductor was too embarrassed to look at me.
There were a couple of situations where I preferred not to feed - for instance I went to a pub lunch for a friends birthday when Michaela was 4 mo and I expressed a bottle for her (I don't think that drinking and BFing in a pub is a good look). -------------  
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Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 1:12pm
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Maya - go and feed the next bubba at Sylvia park and see if they try and make you go to the parent rooms, would be good to see more people take them on( must admit I have only heard about this, so not sure how true it is). -------------  
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Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 1:13pm
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I haven't bf much in public- mostly because Ella is such a nosy little baby, that she would latch on and off again and my milk would just everywhere ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 1:17pm
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Janey, I forgot to say that those bfeeding covers do look nice. I always cover up with a muslin when bfeeding in public. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 1:17pm
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I have heard that too about Sylvia Park...admitedly the parents room is lovely...but thats no excuse!
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: DJ
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 1:31pm
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My DP has more of a problem with me bf in public than I do. He always drapes a muslin "hooter hider" over my shoulder.
I did have an entire family move from the table next to me to another one far away once... (my sister thought it was because they wanted the bigger table but I was unconvinced!) ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 8:10pm
I feed Caleb at Sylvia Park all the time. Are they anti? I've never had any comments made and I've fed him in the food hall, although usually coffee club (love their couches) or hoyts. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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miss wrote: