Segregated b/f area! GRR!

[Freya]

I have seen a segregated BF/FF parents room like that in Scotland. I was really shocked at first but my pal said it was because a lot of BFing mums are nervous about feeding in public, especially if they have a very new baby, so in the BFing only area they feel more comfortable to feed because everyone is in the same posistion. I did like it more than the parents rooms in some malls here where the feeding area is a small cubicle with a curtain round it for privacy. At least in the segregated area I didn't feel like I was in a box

But overall I prefer a nice big feeding room where all parents can mingle regardless of how they are feeding their bubs. But then I am not nervous about feeding in public.

I think you have a valid point there but I think like you said at the end that it should be a everyone welcome area and not segregated. Maybe if it wasnt taboo in a PARENTS ROOM to breastfeed infront of those who dont then who knows; those mothers may go on to feel more comfortable with the idea of themselves, or others, breastfeeding.

I can remember breastfeeding DS3 at Taronga Zoo when he was nearly 10mths old on a park bench right at the giraffe pen. Some people gave me death stares and Dh loudly exclaimed that it was quite funny people were cooing over the baby giraffe BREASTFEEDING but giving dirties to a human being doing it. Its ridiculous.

[CrazyLady]

I've heard there is still a bit of stigma towards BF in the UK, I saw a show on foxtel about a group of women campaigning to change ppls views. It's sad

Yeah, I saw an article on it. Apparently they're a bunch of prudes. My friend is glad she's having her baby here

[Kazmar]

ETA: Maybe it's so the bottle-fed babies don't get jealous?

funniest thing I have heard in a long time!

[MantaRay]

I don't think it's a bad idea to have the option of privacy for mums who prefer it. Some mums really don't like bfing in public, especially if they have more difficulty being discreet like mums with large breasts, feeding twins or using nipple shields. However I don't like the idea that mums aren't welcome to bf in the open area if they prefer it. I personally wouldn't have moved, but then I'm one of those "difficult people" who plopped myself down on the floor of shops to feed if DS didn't want to wait for the parents room (or if I couldn't be bothered taking the boys to the other end of the centre ).

[luna moth]

I don't think it's a bad idea to have the option of privacy for mums who prefer it. Some mums really don't like bfing in public, especially if they have more difficulty being discreet like mums with large breasts, feeding twins or using nipple shields. However I don't like the idea that mums aren't welcome to bf in the open area if they prefer it.

:yeahthat: I'd have said "Oh, thanks, but I'm fine here" and carried on with my business. I assume that the feeding areas are there for those that want them... not because that's the only place to feed, ITMS?

[Nelle]

I totally get the need/want for privacy (when I first was learning to bf, I loved those curtained cubicles where I could let it all hang out while we figured out our groove), but then I suppose if attitudes were more accepting, maybe they wouldn't be needed anyway. I'm sorry you were asked to move though. That doesn't seem very inclusive or fair. I remember as I got better at fairly discretely feeding that I'd just plop myself on the comfiest looking couch in the parents room and shun the single armchairs with high arms (err?) in cubicles or hidden behind a curtain.

[CrazyLady]

There's one thing to provide an option but another to say "go to this area". Whenever I have been in one they've always had screened areas or cubicles too.

[CinderToriella]

I just don't agree with BF mothers not being allowed in a certain area
But i agree with everyone who said some woman do want privacy so it is great to have an area , that they can be comfortable in

When i first started to BF i wanted privacy coz it was all new and i was nervous around ppl when i was doing it , then i got over it and was ok with it, not i am at the stage where i will feed my DD anywhere BUT i find most times i do need a quiet place with minimal distractions coz DD wont feed properly will keep pulling off to look around etc

[meow]

I don't like the idea that mums aren't welcome to bf in the open area if they prefer it. I personally wouldn't have moved

Yep- I agree. I was with my sister when she was feeding on seats in the middle of a shopping centre once and a cleaner told her where the parent's room was. I was rather peeved but she just said thanks and stayed where she was. I don't recall ever feeding in a parent's room (maybe a couple of times if I couldn't find anywhere else to sit?) but I was never told about somewhere else to feed so I must have looked too comfy for anyone to butt in I always fed on seats in shopping centres etc, or generally in a cafe/food court so I could sit and enjoy a snack & drink at the same time.

[Kazmar]

Screw it altogether, I do it in the food court

I do understand that some mums want privacy, fact is, that screen isn't there for breastfeeding mothers to feel more comfortable;-)

[CinderToriella]

I would do it in a food court IF my DD would let me
She just wont feed properly anymore ,when its loud ...Love a good cafe/coffee shop but

[MummaSue]

I definitely agree that it's for women who are a bit shy doing it in front of others - hell, I didn't do it in front of people for about 2 months till I got the hang of it!!

Was just a bit annoyed that it was pointed out to me to go and sit somewhere else. I was too shocked to be my usual mouthy self about it too LOL.

I definitely had a different experience breast feeding over there. Everyone was so keen for me to tell them when I was "going to stop". I also got some looks when b/f in public. Which were met with evil stares from me as if to say "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough".

[beckoes]

most....no, all of my friends and family in the UK think i am wierd/gross for still BFing DD and cant even get thier heads around the possibility of feeding two kids at the same time! i just whipped 'em out and fed her where ever i wanted when i was staying there, mainly as i was so used to doing that here and didnt reallt thing anything of it, till it was pointed out to me by my 14 year old sister that i was getting funny looks!
A friend who i met up with while i was there was so worried about BFing her baby, who was only a few weeks old, in public, she had expressed and had a bottle with her to feed him! i was shocked....but sadly not as shocked as they were when i BF my 10 month old in public!
I dont remember the parent rooms, it wouldnt be SO bad if the two areas were the same but it sounds like th BF area was not as nice as the other area!

[Traveller]

I definitely agree that it's for women who are a bit shy doing it in front of others - hell, I didn't do it in front of people for about 2 months till I got the hang of it!!

Was just a bit annoyed that it was pointed out to me to go and sit somewhere else. I was too shocked to be my usual mouthy self about it too LOL.

I definitely had a different experience breast feeding over there. Everyone was so keen for me to tell them when I was "going to stop". I also got some looks when b/f in public. Which were met with evil stares from me as if to say "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough".

I found in Australia it was assumed I was going to breastfeed. In Scotland (after succesfully BFing two babies) I was asked if I might, consider trying to breastfeed. I said no, I'm just going to do it There is definitely a huge difference in attitudes over there, everyone is so worried about offending people that nobody can relax when it comes to things like breastfeeding.

[MummaSue]

It truly IS a totally different culture.

And on another note, ALL of my friends there were raving Gina Ford fanatics I had many discussions on why I wouldn't be doing controlled crying - most of which were met with blank stares when I told them my reasons and statements like "well you'll have problems down the line". It would seem that her books are the only parenting books around, don't you know. *sigh*

[onthefly]

Oh. so that's why they have curtains in those places? I actually didn't realise that. so hang on, why are the uncomfortable chairs behind the curtains and the comfy lounges on the outside...?

[berrme]

When i first started to BF i wanted privacy coz it was all new and i was nervous around ppl when i was doing it , then i got over it and was ok with it, not i am at the stage where i will feed my DD anywhere BUT i find most times i do need a quiet place with minimal distractions coz DD wont feed properly will keep pulling off to look around etc

I was thinking the same thing. I needed the curtained cubicles for a while as DS1 kept stopping to look around at everyone walking past if we were in public. It is one thing to feed when the baby is attached to you boob, but another to have your boob bared every couple of minutes, and feeding takes half an hour longer than it should.

I do agree that the separate rooms should be an option, not something that is forced on BFing mums. I certainly didn't use them for my own modesty or to avoid offending other people.

[Loveinamist]

i live in the uk and can gladly say have never seen this sort of setup. i have seen dingy changing rooms with a chair in that is supposed to be for feeding but these were for bottle and breastfeeding. I have breastfed in London, Manchester, Birmingham and here in Somerset and have never seen this. Perhaps it is only in Scotland? I have also never had a negative comment or evil look and I am not discrete! It is boobs all out with me! Lol! Breastfeeding is not the norm here and it is still sort of a hippy thing to do but if membership of our local breastfeeding group is anything to go by then things are getting better. Don't know for how much longer though since the government is going to make big cuts in the support women get which is already minimal. I agree with an earlier poster who said it is due to am attitude of breastfed being something you ' try' and a general belief that it is too hard, mixed in with a ton of incredible myths and misinformation. So pretty standard for the western world! My impression is that it is much worse in the US. Where women seem to be getting all sorts of grief for feeding in public etc.