People who know me won't believe this, but my first breastfeeding in public experience ended in teas (mine!) more than 14 years ago. We went out to the local pub for a countermeal. He screamed. I was all fingers and thumbs. He wouldn't attach - I got that awful hot *****ly feeling. I FELT everyone was looking (of course they weren't!)
Since then I've fed everywhere, anytime. I have fed at church, at school, restaurants, parks wherever. I've never had a negative comment. (But then I think I may have a look on my face that says "Don't even think of saying anything stupid") Even fed my adopted daughter at soccer practice.
I hear, often enough, that people are asked to stop or leave. It seems unthinkable. I also notice that in my hometown you don't see mothers breastfeeding out and about. And sadly I know that leads to other mothers, even some migrant mothers believe that other women are not breastfeeding, and that bottle feeding is the norm. I have even spoken to mothers who feel uncomfortable in feeding at Mothers group because no-one else does - and they feel that they have to express and feed their baby EBM when they are at the group! Which in turn makes other mothers feel that no-one else but them is feeding. I really think it's vitally important to be seen breastfeeding, and to make it a normal part of mothering.
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