Comments on: Public Breastfeeding: Is There a Stigma? http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/ Dietriffic Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:34:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Melanie http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-13736 Melanie Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:01:31 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-13736 Hi Denikka, I love your comments! We need more mums like you out there promoting what is best for babies. It really does annoy me that we would get less harsh looks from some people wearing a skimpy outfit than we would breastfeeding our baby discreetly. It's so wrong, and as you say, the natural has become unnatural. Lovely to hear from you :-) Hi Denikka,
I love your comments! We need more mums like you out there promoting what is best for babies. It really does annoy me that we would get less harsh looks from some people wearing a skimpy outfit than we would breastfeeding our baby discreetly. It’s so wrong, and as you say, the natural has become unnatural. Lovely to hear from you :-)

]]> By: Denikka http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-13598 Denikka Sat, 10 Sep 2011 06:49:20 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-13598 I breastfed my son for his first year (until he self weaned, I would have been happy to continue, but he lost interest :P) and I experienced a fairly wide range of experiences. I was never ashamed to BF in public, and I regularly went out to lunch with my grandparents and always BF while I was out. I almost never BF in the car (only if he was already hungry and crying about it, generally he'd wait until we were settled before he'd start to fuss) At the restaurant, it was mostly elderly people and IF anyone noticed at all, I'd usually get a knowing smile, occasionally even a big grin or some (polite) questions. But when I went out shopping, oh man. Whole 'nother ballgame. The looks I got when at the mall or the food store. . .It was crazy. Especially at the food stores (the generally had some sort of food court type thing where I could sit) the looks were like I was tainting the food or something. Hello people. . .it's not like I'm squirting the produce XD I don't get it. None of my friends have breastfed and neither did my mother (my grandmother couldn't, my mom was adopted). I've never actually had close contact with another breastfeeding mom, and it makes me sad. The world has gone away from the way things are supposed to be. The natural has become unnatural. I have my own (admittedly harsh) opinions on formula feeding. I don't think it should be a CHOICE. I think it should be a last resort after all other options have been explored, but that a whole other rant XP Moms should be allowed to do what moms are SUPPOSED to do. And that means feeding their kidlets, whether it be breast, bottle or carrot sticks. Now that I have a second child, I just ignore the looks. If people want to stare, let them. I'm showing a whole lot LESS skin when I breastfeed than if I were in a tank top and pants XD Good on you other moms who breastfeed! Do what you know is best for your baby and let those other people shove it :P I breastfed my son for his first year (until he self weaned, I would have been happy to continue, but he lost interest :P ) and I experienced a fairly wide range of experiences. I was never ashamed to BF in public, and I regularly went out to lunch with my grandparents and always BF while I was out. I almost never BF in the car (only if he was already hungry and crying about it, generally he’d wait until we were settled before he’d start to fuss)
At the restaurant, it was mostly elderly people and IF anyone noticed at all, I’d usually get a knowing smile, occasionally even a big grin or some (polite) questions.
But when I went out shopping, oh man. Whole ‘nother ballgame. The looks I got when at the mall or the food store. . .It was crazy. Especially at the food stores (the generally had some sort of food court type thing where I could sit) the looks were like I was tainting the food or something. Hello people. . .it’s not like I’m squirting the produce XD
I don’t get it. None of my friends have breastfed and neither did my mother (my grandmother couldn’t, my mom was adopted). I’ve never actually had close contact with another breastfeeding mom, and it makes me sad. The world has gone away from the way things are supposed to be. The natural has become unnatural.
I have my own (admittedly harsh) opinions on formula feeding. I don’t think it should be a CHOICE. I think it should be a last resort after all other options have been explored, but that a whole other rant XP
Moms should be allowed to do what moms are SUPPOSED to do. And that means feeding their kidlets, whether it be breast, bottle or carrot sticks.
Now that I have a second child, I just ignore the looks. If people want to stare, let them. I’m showing a whole lot LESS skin when I breastfeed than if I were in a tank top and pants XD
Good on you other moms who breastfeed! Do what you know is best for your baby and let those other people shove it :P

]]> By: Milk Protein Allergy - Healthy Eating Ideas http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-11412 Milk Protein Allergy - Healthy Eating Ideas Tue, 10 May 2011 12:12:09 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-11412 [...] If you are breastfeeding, you do not need to stop breastfeeding, but you do need to remove dairy products from your own [...] [...] If you are breastfeeding, you do not need to stop breastfeeding, but you do need to remove dairy products from your own [...]

]]> By: Baby Weaning — Healthy Eating Ideas http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-7546 Baby Weaning — Healthy Eating Ideas Thu, 06 May 2010 11:45:37 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-7546 [...] me, being a breastfeeding mum has meant baby led weaning was a very natural extension of the process, because Elissa continues to [...] [...] me, being a breastfeeding mum has meant baby led weaning was a very natural extension of the process, because Elissa continues to [...]

]]> By: Melanie http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-6678 Melanie Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:24:11 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-6678 Lorie, I find it difficult to believe you have a daughter that age!!! Are you sure—lol :-) The more I hear on this subject, the more passionate and determined I get! It shocks me that women are so negative to other women in this way. What happened to women supporting each other? Your comment proves how far society is removed from the natural purpose of the women's body. In other cultures it wouldn't even be a discussion point, let alone an issue. Anyway, well done to your daughter for continuing despite the negativity. Lorie,
I find it difficult to believe you have a daughter that age!!! Are you sure—lol :-)

The more I hear on this subject, the more passionate and determined I get! It shocks me that women are so negative to other women in this way. What happened to women supporting each other?

Your comment proves how far society is removed from the natural purpose of the women’s body. In other cultures it wouldn’t even be a discussion point, let alone an issue.

Anyway, well done to your daughter for continuing despite the negativity.

]]> By: Lorie http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-6675 Lorie Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:50:08 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-6675 I'm so glad you addressed this topic. My daughter nurses her six month old baby boy and although no one had been directly negative to her, she has encountered stares and some dirty looks from people when she has nursed in a public place (discreetly). What we find surprising is that most of the dirty looks come from women, not men. I commend any woman who sticks with it. Breastfeeding is not always easy, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Great post! I’m so glad you addressed this topic. My daughter nurses her six month old baby boy and although no one had been directly negative to her, she has encountered stares and some dirty looks from people when she has nursed in a public place (discreetly). What we find surprising is that most of the dirty looks come from women, not men.

I commend any woman who sticks with it. Breastfeeding is not always easy, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Great post!

]]> By: Melanie http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-6648 Melanie Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:44:28 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-6648 Hi Marbeth, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Did you find Anna was hungry throughout that year of exclusive breadfeeding? I had always thought babies started to get an interest in food by around 6 months, perhaps that is not the case at all. You did brilliant to breastfeed for so long! :-) I agree with you, breast is definitely best, and I've had the same experience so far, with no sickness yet. I'm hoping it continues! Hi Marbeth,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Did you find Anna was hungry throughout that year of exclusive breadfeeding? I had always thought babies started to get an interest in food by around 6 months, perhaps that is not the case at all.

You did brilliant to breastfeed for so long! :-)

I agree with you, breast is definitely best, and I’ve had the same experience so far, with no sickness yet. I’m hoping it continues!

]]> By: Marbeth Nicholl http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-6647 Marbeth Nicholl Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:55:49 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-6647 Hi Melanie, Just wanted to say that I enjoyed reading this article and the other comments! I'm so glad breast-feeding is going well for you. I breast-fed Anna exclusively until she was one year old, and continued with several feeds a day until she was two and three months. It was hard going at the start, but I have to say that, by four weeks after her birth, I was really enjoying it, and I wouldn't change what I did for the world. I didn't mind feeding in public or in front of people; I just wore looser tops and used a blanket sometimes. Also, breastmilk definitely benefits the child's health -- I found that especially until Anna was one and a half, she rarely had a cold or any illness. Mommy's milk is definitely the best for our little ones. Keep up the good work! Marbeth (Ballymena) Hi Melanie,
Just wanted to say that I enjoyed reading this article and the other comments! I’m so glad breast-feeding is going well for you. I breast-fed Anna exclusively until she was one year old, and continued with several feeds a day until she was two and three months. It was hard going at the start, but I have to say that, by four weeks after her birth, I was really enjoying it, and I wouldn’t change what I did for the world. I didn’t mind feeding in public or in front of people; I just wore looser tops and used a blanket sometimes. Also, breastmilk definitely benefits the child’s health — I found that especially until Anna was one and a half, she rarely had a cold or any illness. Mommy’s milk is definitely the best for our little ones. Keep up the good work!
Marbeth
(Ballymena)

]]> By: Melanie http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-6638 Melanie Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:11:29 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-6638 Hi Amitola, Thanks so much for your comment. Isn't it so interesting, it seems like those who tolerate breastfeeding will only do so for a certain number of months - i.e. until the baby is say 6 months, or 1 year at most. I'm wondering if it's due to lack of education on the subject. I myself didn't realise that some of the guidelines encourage breastfeeding up to 2 years of age. Perhaps the public need to hear this more from health professionals and mainstream media. Maybe this would help them to see it is "normal," if appropriate for the child and mother. I don't know, the more I find out, the more complicated it seems to get. Hi Amitola,
Thanks so much for your comment.

Isn’t it so interesting, it seems like those who tolerate breastfeeding will only do so for a certain number of months – i.e. until the baby is say 6 months, or 1 year at most.

I’m wondering if it’s due to lack of education on the subject. I myself didn’t realise that some of the guidelines encourage breastfeeding up to 2 years of age.

Perhaps the public need to hear this more from health professionals and mainstream media. Maybe this would help them to see it is “normal,” if appropriate for the child and mother.

I don’t know, the more I find out, the more complicated it seems to get.

]]> By: Amitola http://www.dietriffic.com/2010/01/12/public-breastfeeding/#comment-6635 Amitola Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:37:08 +0000 http://www.dietriffic.com/?p=3304#comment-6635 Hi, Mel I'm not in the UK but here (Bulgaria) the situation is quite the same. Women who breastfeed their babies are a minority. For me breastfeeding is the way to stay in touch with my baby's needs, to feel his pain or share his excitement. I've been breastfeeding for 4,5 years without a break (what a record) - I have two boys - 4,5y.o. and almost 2 y.o. Everytime I feed my little boy outside (not so often lately) I get those comments and looks as if I'm kind of breaking the law or am a shameless woman. It is annoying, but I ignore them. I'm not going to miss these precious moments of intimacy just to please someone, be it friend or stranger. You are on a good way, keep it up! P.S. Great blog! Hi, Mel
I’m not in the UK but here (Bulgaria) the situation is quite the same. Women who breastfeed their babies are a minority.
For me breastfeeding is the way to stay in touch with my baby’s needs, to feel his pain or share his excitement. I’ve been breastfeeding for 4,5 years without a break (what a record) – I have two boys – 4,5y.o. and almost 2 y.o.
Everytime I feed my little boy outside (not so often lately) I get those comments and looks as if I’m kind of breaking the law or am a shameless woman. It is annoying, but I ignore them.
I’m not going to miss these precious moments of intimacy just to please someone, be it friend or stranger.
You are on a good way, keep it up!
P.S. Great blog!

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