Segregated b/f area! GRR!

[MummaSue]

Been meaning to post this since I got back from the UK.

DH and I were in Edinburgh and we went to a large department store to find a parents room so that we could do a nappy change and give DD a feed in the warm (bbrrr, it was chilly in Edinburgh!).

Anyhoo, the parent room had 2 sections, one for nappy changes and then behind this huge wall there was a large seating area to feed. I sat myself down and got a bit comfy so that we could have a good feed and was alerted by another mother (who was bottle feeding her baby) that "the breast feeding section is round there".

I looked and indeed there was a sign pointing round a corner to the "breast feeding area". And stuck round this corner were 3 seats in front of this huge frosted glass window.

I felt like a second class citizen! DH was furious!
DD didn't care as long as she got boobie

*sigh*

[~Hestia~]

I've never seen that! Seem strange to me, and sounds like there were less seats in the BF area?

[Persephone1]

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

[Lenny]

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

Bahaha!!!

Where did you go if you were using EBM? In between?

That's too too weird!

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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;-)

[PumpkinZulu]

what the??

[Babyluv]

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

[CinderToriella]

Sorry Sue that's all i have!

With some mothers i know with bubs DD age, they are all bottle fed , when i feed DD, they look at me like i am weird,Makes me feel awful when it shouldn't ..I hate all this ,I dont look at anyone else weird so don't do it to me.

I would have been shocked if i were you to say the least

[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

[tellytubby]

Ugh that's ridiculous!!
Err, what was with the other mother pointing it out to you also? Build a bridge and get over it!

[krisp]

In my experience people in the UK can tend to be a little conservative so perhaps the BF Mummys actually "like" to be segregated? Just a thought.

Seems odd, and a little sad, though that were less chairs in the BF section...

[MummaSue]

In my experience people in the UK can tend to be a little conservative so perhaps the BF Mummys actually "like" to be segregated? Just a thought.

Exactly what I think actually. I met a few friends for coffee who also had babies and (sadly only) 2 of them are b/f and they were soooooo self aware when we were out. In fact, one only met me for an hour because she didn't want to b/f in public. There I was sitting with my boob out (haha, not quite but I wasn't scared to feed in public)!!