Gen Y Embarrased to Breastfeed

[briggsy's girl]

i'm with shanti - at the tail end of gen x i think. i too feed anywhere and everywhere! i have boob tube things that cover my tum, and we feed discreetly. half the time people don't realise i'm feeding til they're literally right there!

i think some of the problem for gen y - especially the younger end of gen y - is that everything about everything is so sexualised! nothing is seen as something simple, it has to have sexual context to it. and it rubs off! you start to feel embarrassed about it - especially if you're not a strong person

i'll admit the thought of BF in public terrified me to start with. i am a bigger busted chicky, and we had some attachment issues. when i first came home from hospital, half our feeds were laying down in bed as it was more comfy - and obviously i couldn't do that at the shops! but, we need to eat, and there is no way we could NOT shop - or not feed while shopping as it's a fair trip there and back from here. so, when DD was about 3 weeks old, she got ratty at the shops, i went and sat out the front of bigw while DH paid, and we had a feed. since then, i've been confident enough to feed anywhere.

there has only ever been one person that just made me feel uncomfortable feeding - he just had a vibe, and i couldn't feed near him. he wasn't leering or anything, didn't say a word, but i just got a bad feeling and simply didn't want to feed near him.

i think the more society normalises breast feeding, the less embarrassment there will be. when we're home, i will lay on the bed or on the floor on hot days and DD can come and go as she pleases - so yeah, i have boobs out a bit - but she knows the difference. if she messes about and won't feed properly in public, it goes away for a while and then is offered again once she is more settled and not so sticky-beakish!

in 8 months i've only heard one comment - and that was when i was in a takeaway food place, sitting in a corner feeding DD at 3 months - a lady walked past to go to the loo, then went back to her partner and got their food - when they went to sit down, she suggested they sit at a different table to where he wanted, as "there are heaps of free tables, the lady is feeding, be nice and give her some privacy" - apart from that, nothing!

i really don't think people comment (or even notice) as often as i thought they would before i started feeding!

[Jellyfish]

Just wanted to say that it IS okay to be nervous about public feeding -- I find public speaking makes me nervous, doesn't mean there is anything wrong with public speaking and it is the same for this. If your partner (or anyone reading this) wants to use a blanket or two tops or any other method then DO IT and don't feel ashamed. The important thing is that YOU (the breastfeeding mother) feel comfortable -- not the people watching or judging as they pass, not any other breastfeeding mothers who might feel like you are reinforcing negative connotations -- just focus on you and your baby!!

[spenceee]

Just wanted to say that it IS okay to be nervous about public feeding -- I find public speaking makes me nervous, doesn't mean there is anything wrong with public speaking and it is the same for this. If your partner (or anyone reading this) wants to use a blanket or two tops or any other method then DO IT and don't feel ashamed. The important thing is that YOU (the breastfeeding mother) feel comfortable -- not the people watching or judging as they pass, not any other breastfeeding mothers who might feel like you are reinforcing negative connotations -- just focus on you and your baby!!

Thats what I'm talkin bout willis... regardless of what should be the norm for society with regards to BF (i believe that nobody should bat an eyelid, but they do, so this is why the Y feels embarrased). The focus should be on getting baby mother's milk if available.

Thanks to all for posting