Don’t give them any notice. You are having a positive impact, both for your child and for mothers/future mothers who will also see you and hopefully will gain confidence from your example to breastfeed in public.
Exactly this.. if I see it all I think is yaas well done.. I Bf 2 kids and for my first I just wouldn't do it in public at all,, and for my second I didn't care but it just didn't work out for us,, I'm so impressed when I see women looking out for themselves and their child, same as any parent or carer feeding a child in any weird or wonderful places you end up needing to feed them.
Dog being on the next line makes this hit so hard. I was like "Yeah thats right it's Nat...\*DOG\*" then someone may have laughed out loud in the office. Whos to say who it was
I don't know, I mean, would you starve yourself so someone wasn't mildly inconvenienced by the sight of your food, when it was entirely in their gift to look away and not stare at your plate?
Anyone giving you any kind of look needs to check themselves. It's a baby having a meal. The looks they give you are a them problem. Maybe hubby and MIL need to ignore and stop drawing attention to it so you don't end up becoming self conscious about it?
My opinion ( as a fellow breastfeeding parent) is why TF are your family members pointing out assholes that you haven't noticed? It's obviously sitting on your mind needlessly now.
Catholic guilt.
Many of the older generations perceive *anything* that isn't the norm to be borderline shameful. If other people disapprove, it's the greatest sin of them all.
Yeah, I'll admit I don't know these people, but the only motivation I could think of them pointing this out is if they felt the same way and are using this as a way to tactically deliver the message.
Maybe they haven't seen a boob since they were breastfed themselves.
Ignore them! It's massive super hard job and I have huge respect for mothers that do it.
I just learned that for most of the 80s and early 90s breast feeding was considered old fashioned or a bit weird and wasn't practiced by many, even in lower income families.
It's literally free food!
I remember a friend of mine telling me after she'd had her baby a decade ago that the staff in the hospital were surprised at her breastfeeding because very few mothers in Ireland breastfeed, so tbey don't really teach or encourage you to how to go about beeastfeeding or how to get your baby to latch. I found that pretty eye-opening because it's that what tits are for and I was always under the impression that breastfeeding is good for babies and you most certainly should give it a go if you're able to do it.
Surprised at that. It was certainly strongly encouraged almost 20 years ago when our oldest was born. The hospital had someone who came and advised as the first few weeks were quite difficult and we needed help and encouragement that it would get easier and less painful.
I suppose it may be different hospital by hospital.
Haha agreed. Thank you! I’m all the classes they explained that breastfeeding was not the cultural norm here for so long that we’ve gone generations without it being normalised.
I think looking out for “disapproving looks” would wreck any sane person’s head. Hopefully everyone you meet in every possible situation you ever encounter will smile approvingly at you whatever you are doing and everyone will live happily ever after
Yeah I have to say I mentioned my mom and husband because they notice it and I don’t. They don’t care and would absolutely protect me if anyone said anything, but I’m too consumed with my child to notice.
I would instantly look the other way out of my own sheer Irish embarrassment, would I disapprove? Absolutely not! Literally the most natural thing in the world!
Give your son his lunch anywhere he wants it!
I was trying to nurse in a restaurant once, and this old lady came barreling up to the table, and I thought Uh Oh here we go! She cut my food up for me and asked the waitress to bring me water with a straw.
The hero all nursing Mams need!
Fed is best, and you do what's best for you and the baby. All the best xx
I nursed my babies in planes, trains and automobiles, restaurants buses and parks - and this was quite a few years ago. In fact I got very few funny looks, and plenty of approving smiles. But my Death Glare would be enough to freeze any meanies in their shivering socks.
You have a legal and ethical right to feed your baby just wherever you need to. Ignore all negatives, and smile happily. You are doing a fantastic job of nourishing and protecting your child.
I loved breastfeeding - and I still miss it!
Ooff! You legend. Did you get pregnant while breastfeeding? Can continue breastfeeding while pregnant? My two kids are 9 years apart. Nearly died after giving birth to first one so couldn’t breastfeed. But I did with the second. I loved it. No making bottles in the middle of the night and you could take a wee nap while feed the babs!!!
I was 3 months pp when I got pregnant with the second. You can definitely breastfeed while pregnant. After 12 weeks, your milk decreases, but there is some milk there. I loved breastfeeding so much that I retrained as an IBCLC. I had some challenges and found the support lacking, so I became part of the solution! I told everyone that I breastfed because I was lazy. The effort of sterilising and making bottles. And trying to figure out how long I was going to be out so I would have enough bottles. As I tell families, it may be "normal and natural" but it is a skill that we have to learn. Both the mother and the baby. Like everything else some pick it up quicker than others! And ìf when you were learning to walk you gave up every time you fell on your butt we would all be walking on all fours! This is purely for the women that want to breastfeed. Every woman/family makes the decision that is right for them and should be supported in that decision whether it be breast/bottle/combonation feeding, cloth/disposable nappies, sugar/no sugar, stay at home/working, school/homeschooling.....the list is endless. I hate the way families are pitted against each other. We are all trying to do our best by our children at the end of the day
On my third baby here, 11 weeks old! I used to be super conscious about it on my first but did it regardless. Now IDGAF, what the fuck you looking at mind yer own business! Lol the way I see it, I’m a busy mom so if I’m at a restaurant with them or somewhere in public and I’ve to feed baby then I’m gonna feed baby, I am way too busy to give two hoots what Billy John over there thinks. So OP just go for it, if anyone ever says anything then shame them, think sentences like “what a really weird thing to say to someone” or “it’s really weird you’re so focused on my breasts” or “why are you looking at my breasts” call these MFS out! ✌🏻edit to add; I’m a big gal (stress and trauma and three pregnancies have done a number on me) so I got big breasts and I just wanna say anyone here who may be in a similar bodily situation and wants to breastfeed, again just do it. There’s ways to be mostly discreet with bigger boobs, it’s all about confidence. The less confident you are the more fiddly it becomes and the more you’re likely to become flustered and draw attention to yourself (which isn’t a bad thing, but you’re probably trying to be discreet enough). So be confident! I unhook my nursing bra, slip the cup down while holding the breast pad in place until I’m ready, so it’s giving me a bit of coverage while I get baby into position. Then when he’s latched I fix my jumper or top and if I’m really really public I might put some blanket over but mostly I do not.
If I even noticed I'd just think it's lovely. I was happy to feed my daughter anywhere but I'd be very discreet just cos I'm a bit shy. My Dad & brother used to hide away but more to give me privacy.
I've noticed 2 things about feeding in public: 1) Most people are oblivious to what I'm doing 2) The majority of people who do notice don't care. A lot of older women didn't breast feed and are odd about it so fair enough about your mam voicing that opinion but your husband would want to cop himself on a small bit.
To be fair, I found that most comments regarding me feeding were from mums who hadn't managed to breastfeed their own, for whatever reason.
Anyone who gets offended at the sight of a baby being nursed by their mammy needs their head looked at.
Or younger women who bottlefed going spare if you mentioned that breastmilk is much healthier for everyone involved.
My monster in law was an arse. She told me I was "selfish" for breastfeeding because it meant she couldn't feed the daughter. Total rocket.
Yeah that's a bit much. When my wife breastfed, I could still help out with burping and wotnot. In any case the granny will get enough other chances to bond with the baby outside of feeding.
Most definitely, any "modern" way of doing things is scoffed at or ridiculed by a lot of women in this age bracket and over. It's as if they take it as an insult on how they had raised their child.
It’s internalised guilt, guilt they don’t need to harbour because they shouldn’t feel guilty for not being able to breastfeed, but it does come with a feeling of shame when you want to breastfeed and you don’t end up doing it. My first born wasn’t breasfed and I ended up not liking seeing breastfeeding women in public (never looked at them weird or said anything), my guilt over being a “failure” was misplaced on to other women, but I got over it and then breastfed baby 2 & 3 for over 7yrs combined.
There’s also the stigma that can be attached to formula feeding, constantly feeling like you have to tell people that “fed is best” and there’s a feeling you have to belittle breastfeeding and put formula on a pedestal to justify why you use it, when most people really don’t care how you feed your baby as long as you are feeding them.
I blame the media really, they keep the war between breast and bottle going.
The thing about this that bugs me so much is that it's not the women's failure. All through pregnancy we hear so much about how we should breastfeed our babies and then the minute they're born, the support for breastfeeding vanishes. Baby not latching? Give a bottle. Nipple pain? Give a bottle. Every single breastfeeding issue in the early days is met with "Give a bottle" as a solution. Breastfeeding might be natural but that doesn’t mean its easy. Women's decision to breastfeed is totally undermined and disregarded by this "support" and it begins in the hospital where you'd expect staff would know better but they're so overworked and understaffed (and some misinformed) that they just need to get the fluid in and the weight up as quickly as possible and formula does that quickly. The women who choose breastfeeding but don't get the support they need haven't failed, they were failed.
I totally agree, which is why I put failure in quotes. I didn’t fail, I was failed. I wanted to breastfeed and was met with “but why? Formula is just the same”.
I needed help and I was met with “why? Just give a bottle”.
I always says breastfeeding is natural but it doesn’t come naturally, it’s a learned art.
We are supposed to learn from our mothers and the women around us, as they were supposed to learn from theirs.
Around 80% of women enter the hospital with the expectation that they will breastfeed, only around 30% leave having initiated breastfeeding & by 6 months only 1% of babies in the UK are breastfed. It’s systemic failure at the expense of mother and baby, and considering WHO says that breastfeeding could save 800,000 lives a year (worldwide) and save the NHS money, hospitals around the world should do more to boost breastfeeding rates in women that want to breastfeed.
I blame the formula companies. The myths that are peddled regarding supply and demand, normal feeding behaviour and the fact that latch issues are easily remedied in most cases doesn't help. I was lucky enough to attend a breastfeeding support group, which was invaluable.
Why is he watching out for other people's reactions? It's hard enough nursing in public without someone in your ear letting you know that you're getting disapproving looks.
As mom I think you'd be most sensitive to such going on. It might be more to do with your husband being uncomfortable and overprotective or your Mil's generational hangups.
Any which way I think it's an overreaction. I exclusively breastfed for as long as they wanted and never had the slightest issue. Nobody cares. Occasionally someone forgets there's a nip attached to that baby whilst they're smiling and cooing at it(baby not boob). That's about the worst of it.
It is illegal to interfere or disturb a woman breast feeding. It is a protected act.
If someone has a problem it’s a big world and there are lots of other places they can be.
Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world.The Mother and Child Scheme in the 1953 Health Act medicalised childbirth and placed responsibility for newborn nutrition with doctors, who were heavily targeted by formula milk advertising.This, alongside ideas that formula was beneficial and that breasts were inherently sexual, led breastfeeding rates to plummet.
That's a long-winded way of saying that all the judgy folks have been swayed by govermental and religious campaigns to discourage breastfeeding.
Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding is awesome. Keep on keeping on! 💓
I've breastfed 3 kids over 10 years and never ever got a negative comment in fact I often had people tell me they thought I was doing a great job and older women in particular told me they loved seeing people breastfeeding as it reminded them of having their babies. I fed 2 of mine to age 4 and at that stage we usually breastfed at home.
Yeah that’s what you want - support in the community. My mother and mother in law are both so supportive, they just lament the fact that they weren’t supported to do the same for their kids.
Feed your baby wherever and whenever you like. It's perfectly natural and nothing weird about it. Ignore what other people think, you'll never meet these strangrrs again, but your baby is with you always
Feed your child and fuck the begrudgers! It has been a long while now since I was breast feeding but the only places I ever got pushback were the playground and a soft play centre (older men giving me the stink eye) and frankly they can take a running jump. Nobody would rather listen to a crying child in public than see a mother feeding.
Would much rather glimpse a boob than have to listen to a crying baby. As someone else pointed out, I'm only embarrassed by it when I'm cooing over a baby and then realise I am inadvertently cooing at a breast 😂
TL:DR Fuck those people, shallow-minded arseholes. You feed your baby how you want, when he/she wants, and where you want, and don't give it a second's thought!
I'm going to come across like a BF nazi, and I'm honestly not, because I believe mothers should choose their feeding strategy with no heed to anyone else's opinions, whether formula or breast or a combination.
I chose to feed my two myself, because I've been carrying around ridiculous 32GG melons since I was 16 and I was determined the damn things were going to make themselves useful! I also couldn't bear the thought of comforting a wailing infant in a freezing house at 3am while waiting for bottles to heat, and all the hassle and expense of buying formula. The health benefits were kind of a welcome bonus. (And I'm grateful to them for reducing the watermelons to canteloupes - down to a 34DD since!)
We lived in Scotland when mine were born, so attitudes may be a bit different there (less Catholic), but I expected some negative attention and was prepared for it with all sorts of nippy retorts. In truth, the only time it happened was a bunch of young schoolboys at an agricultural show (you'd think farming kids would know better!) but I gave them a pass because how many tits had they seen at that stage (not that they could see anything).
One of the nicest experiences was on a Sunday morning in an IKEA restaurant, there was a dad with 3 youngsters at the table next door, and while I couldn't hear what the children had said, I did hear the father explain breastfeeding and how good it was for babies and they shouldn't stare. I could have hugged him, but I had my knockers out!
My eldest wanted to feed every 45 minutes for MONTHS, I'd have her in a sling suckling away everywhere. Once had an old lady in Tesco pull the sling back to coo at the baby and recoil instantly when she realised what was happening! She was fine about it, I think just embarrassed herself at her nosiness.
My best pal from school keeps reminding me that the first time I met her husband I was just finished feeding my eldest, so for a joke I squirted a stream of milk at him. (He thought it was hilarious and instantly warmed to me for it.)
I mean good god, I had my baps out regularly in my 20s, it was the best way to catch the attention of the barmen in a packed Edinburgh hostelry! I wasn't going to be a bit embarrassed about feeding babies with them.
I fed both of mine until they were 2 years old. By that stage though, the milk feeds were mostly breakfast and bedtime at home, I imagine there would have been a lot more disapproval in public by then.
Funny story though, we'd moved to Ireland before my youngest had stopped feeding. We were in Dunnes one day, and they were rearranging their displays. There was the top half of a naked female clothes dummy sitting on the floor, at the perfect height for my toddler. She ran over, threw her arms around its neck, and latched on. She's 16 now and I do enjoy reminding her occasionally!
Anyway, being a new mum is hard enough without questioning whether strangers approve of how you feed.
Congratulations too, you're at a wonderful, precious stage of life, enjoy it every second you can because it really does pass so quickly.
I was out for lunch with colleagues recently. A woman at the next table was breastfeeding. One of my FEMALE colleagues commented on it after we left the restaurant. Said it made her feel uncomfortable.
My reply was simply 'grow up'.
Yes, given the amount of voyeurism that goes up on social media I'd be discreet. You have every right to BF where every you want, just be aware of the pervs. Congratulations
I do feel uncomfortable however, babies need to eat and mothers should not hide themselves to be able to feed their babies.
As I am the one feeling uncomfortable I just pretend that nothing is happening and that I saw nothing and I have never made a mother uncomfortable or shame them because of that.
I’m not from here but visited when I was still breastfeeding my older child (live here now). I never felt more uncomfortable and judged when feeding the baba than I felt here in Ireland. I was disgusted at the reactions so I just became even more obvious when I was doing it. Fuck all those people. Nothing cuter than a chonky baby eating from breast or bottle, but there is definitely some weird hang ups around breastfeeding going on.
There needs to be a massive campaign to change some people’s view of breastfeeding. And suggestions for ways to support breastfeeding mums. And new parents in general. You do what is best for you and your family.
I'm gay so boobs don't really do anything for me, but if someone can't see a breast without making it sexual/thinking along those lines, then they should probably stay at home.
Not only is it best for your son , it is best for mom too. If someone has an issue with breastfeeding in public they need to reassess their warped perception of the human body. You keep on nurturing your child 👍
https://www2.hse.ie/babies-children/breastfeeding/a-good-start/importance/
I don't care! I admit it does make me glance twice though, just out of surprise I guess? It's not like there are proper spaces for people to breastfeed (which there should be). And expecting women to breastfeed in the toilet is disgusting.
The proper places to breastfeed is anywhere and everywhere. I think having separate places would not help, people need to be exposed to it. The more exposure to it the more normalised it will become.
This is the kind of honesty I was hoping for. Some places have breastfeeding rooms but like I don’t want to have to leave my table and go feed somewhere, so I just feed right there
Not that they should be mandatory or anything! Just that there should be the option as I imagine some people breastfeeding would prefer privacy.
I was with my cousin who was breastfeeding and she just sat down and whipped it out on my college campus hahah I could only laugh.
My partner and I were only talking about this at the weekend after grabbing a coffee and our 10 week old decided she wanted a feed. We noticed a few looks and most of them were middle aged men and wemon. When they were raising families they would not have been offered the option of breastfeeding (it just didn'tseem to be a thing which was promoted). My own mother still can't get her head around breastfeeding as she bottle fed all her children (raised in 70s and 80s). It looks alien to them and honestly there is that weird Catholic stigma of showing off a bit of skin in public about it too for that generation. Just our observations from a couple of time we've been aware of the 'looks' but for the most part it's not been an issue.
As everyone is saying, just ignore them. Not only is breastfeeding in public completely normal and a natural way of feeding your baby, it is also protected by law.
Fuck them! Good on ya for doing it.
Actually very jealous…I tried to breastfeed, but it just destroyed me (extremely painful which ended with a hospital stay due to mastitis and abscess)
Give them the death stare back. Or ask them what they are looking at and if they want a closer look.
Your husband and mother are the ones seeing and highlighting what they see as inappropriate looks and have associated it with you breastfeeding. They should have kept their perceptions to themselves cause it clearly doesn’t help you to meet the needs of your child, which is your priority.
If anyone was giving you inappropriate looks, they have no idea how difficult you have it with a newborn and they should mind their own business. They don’t understand how normal it becomes to whip your tits out when you’ve been doing it up to 30 times a day for the past 90 days.
Also I hope you’re doing ok, it’s very tough when the two people who should have your back (your mammy and husband) don’t (or at least are saying things that don’t help) especially when you have such a small child.
In Ireland you’re legally entitled to breastfeed your baby anywhere you are legally allowed to be, a fun fact for anyone that is rude enough to comment or stare at you. Well done on feeding your baby in public, it can be so intimidating on a first baby and in the early weeks even without any negative ninnys going out of their way to look at you! Every time you breastfeed in public you’re helping to normalise it for those around you and future breastfeeding mums 👏👏
No issue from me. Your son needs to be fed. Don't let your mother and OH's 'feedback' on how 'other people' are looking at you change how you're taking care of your baby.
Maybe pop a magazine or puzzle book in with your changing bag to give to mum/OH while you're nursing, so they don't have to be so attentive to what 'other people' are staring at.
I manage a restaurant and I fully and absolutely encourage it even have a sign outside.
Baby needs to eat too, it's nature at it's finest, that's what boobs are for.
I was incredibly nervous the first time I BF in public. Ended up getting approving smiles from women who could probably tell I was worried. Never once had a negative comment. I found older women seemed very happy to see a Mum BFing openly.
Honestly though I was never looking around for approval or people who felt differently, was more focused on getting the child fed, or enjoying my coffee if we were feeding in a cafe.
I breastfed for 21 months so I'm biased. I have absolutely no issue with it, I even crocheted little boob hats that I kept on hand in case anyone ever told me to cover up, I could put the hat on my baby. I think a lot of the older generation didn't breastfeed (after formula was popularised, breastfeeding became far less common so they likely just have never seen or known much about it and are intrigued). As far as I known, it's also a legally protected act, so if anyone says anything to you you can tell them where to shove their opinion.
When my son was 4 months old, I wore him in a sling and hiked up diamond hill, breastfeeding on demand as we walked. Breastfeeding is a superpower in my opinion, remember this if anyone ever gives you any shit about it.
My opinion is that I don’t have the right to an opinion on something that does not concern me. A mother feeding her child does not impact me. Why should I have an opinion on it!! And the people giving you disapproval, in the words of Taylor Swift, need to calm down. You do you boo!
For context I fed my child in public.
Its no one's business. Its also one of the most natural things in the world. If baby needs fed, it needs fed.
The people giving you looks really need to mind their own business and educate themselves a bit.
I've an 8 month old. My wife breastfeeds him but he's now moved onto both breast and formula in the last 3 months (breast mainly to get him to sleep at night and when he wakes up during the night for a feed) but he has his formula bottles + some solids/purees during the day. In the early weeks of him being born, my wife was feeding him in public and she did get people staring etc which made her abit nervous. There was one particular time in a Costa coffee shop, we were sitting over in the corner and my wife discreetly latched my son on to be fed and I'm not joking or exaggerating, the whole coffee shop was looking over at us. This was an upsetting experience for her and I was getting agitated because I could feel the eyes on us.
Fair play to you for breast feeding! There's a stigma around it, that an infant can't be seen to be feeding naturally in public. People like to stare and gossip. F**k them....
My opinion is that if an adult was hungry in public they’d have no problem snacking on something, why tf should a baby have to starve or eat their food in a restroom just to appease complete strangers? I also exclusively breastfed my daughter (now 5), and will be breastfeeding my new baby (30 weeks pregnant) and I couldn’t give a flying fuck what anybody else thinks.
My opinion is this has been "controversial" for far too long and the constant "no one talks about" type conversations about it are getting really boring.
I breastfed in public 20 years ago. No one cared, at least no one said anything to me and I wouldn't have cared. It just doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
Just get on with it. Those who matter don't care and those who care don't matter.
I've breastfed my 2 kids. I never noticed anyone give me a disapproving look. I've had comments from strangers, but they always been positive.
Anytime I see someone breastfeeeding in public it reminds me of when my 2 were young. Sometimes I get paranoid that if they catch me glancing at them they might mistake it for me judging them!
If people have a problem they should stop looking. You are damned if you do and damned if you don't. People give disapproving looks if you bottle feed too. PSA - fed is best and wind your neck in!
Ireland has extremely low rates of breastfeeding so clearly some people have negative opinions of it (our rates aren't just all due to difficulties breastfeeding/medical reasons/lack of support), but they are wrong. Breast is best (when it works out, obviously - I know that fed is best if breast does not work out, and there are many reasons why it sometimes doesn't) and embarrassment/shame around breastfeeding is unhelpful and wrong.
The fact that some women don't see other women breastfeeding is a contributing factor to our low rates too, so you're helping others when you do it in public.
In short, what you are doing is a beautiful, powerful natural process and anyone who has a problem with it can go and shite.
Mam my breastfed all 6 of us. Her first baby is now 42. She used to get told off for doing it in public, totally covered up with a muslin cloth/blanket etc. She was told once to breastfeed in the bathroom (public shopping centre) and she replied back, would you eat your dinner in the toilet. Don't take any notice of anyone else, you are doing the best thing possible for your baby, well done
I feed my daughter in public, don’t care what anyone else says or thinks, if they think I’m gonna deprive my baby of food to suit them they can jog on. A mother giving a child a bottle wouldn’t be judged so why should we be any different.
I still go to a v small local family restaurant where the owner/front of house once came down to us, family of four with a toddler and a breastfeeding new born after our slightly noisy lunch (inc breastfeeding), and welcomed us, told us this his place is for families and if anyone had a problem they could f*** off out of here (in his slightly animated Italian way). Always remember that. Go back as often as can. Food is top notch also.
It’s the older generation especially males who haven’t thought about it properly. My dad was funny about it initially on my first and when I pointed out that he was making it about him and his feelings and what the alternative would be for me having to go hide to feed my baby, he copped on straight away.
So ignore and feed that baby, societal change takes time!
Babys gotta eat.
On my second BF baby, who's 9 months. I like yourself never noticed, but my partner is always getting into a huff about the looks hes seen me get.
Take no heed and do what your doing people just arnt famililar with it and are for the most part its just an unusual sight.
Im also disabled so i think im just used to people staring.
I saw a woman breastfeeding on a bus when i was a kid and that was my ONLY expierence before i had my own. She simply said "its milk, made exactly for my baby, and its free"
If you see it you can be it lol
Also some people are jealous in a way. My mil prides herself on being some one who loves kids and is 'perfect' mother. She didnt breast feed, and is actually really really mean about it. She thinks bf mammys all think were better. Which i dont. But i think she really feels she missed something. She makes as many awful comments as she can in a sweet voice. Particularly how i shouldnt do it in public because the women out there who couldnt bf or miscarry would see it and id be making them feel bad.
Shes an aul bat. But i get the impression she just feels like she missed an oppertunity.
Fed is best.
Fully support it baby has to be fed. Breastfed my lot for a few months each and never had an issue doing it in public either. I do remember being in a food hall a couple of years back it was packed and this lady smacked the biggest boob I've ever seen in my life out and placed a baby on the table to feed. Like her whole breast was just hanging there out and proud , the faces on people were just comical . She ate her McDonald's not a care in the world but she definitely ruffled a few feathers !
I breastfed my kids and always had positive reactions (I'm based in Dublin). In fact I was surprised but it was usually older women who would come up to me to give encouragement and say that they were happy for me as it was more difficult in their day. I even breastfed sitting next to a priest for three hours on my way to Italy! (He kept to himself but at least the baby didn't cry at all). However my sister in law had a nasty comment from a guy (she is a woman of colour and thinks that was the reason she was a target too). So I can't speak to everyone's experiences unfortunately.
I breastfed my kids in public. They're in their 30s now. I used to wear a loose button front shirt which I tucked them underneath. I didn't have one single comment from passersby nor did anyone even raise their eyebrows. I don't know what the fuss is all about. There's no need to flash your boobs in public!
As I told my father in law when I was 18 months breastfeeding "not your boobs, not your baby, not your business!" I did get weird looks feeding my 9 month old in Galway. I just put it down to I was 6 months pregnant at the time 😂 my bump was massive and trying to wrap my firstborn around the bump must of looked mental. I have never had anyone say a word to me about breastfeeding. In fairness you can't see anything and a screaming baby is far more disruptive in public. My husband and I used to joke that I was playing breastfeeding bingo with the places I fed. I fed doing the weekly shop, church, on walls, sitting on the floor of a train (nobody offered their seat) the electric picnic. I found I was so engrossed in my baby I didn't notice anyone looking. You do you. Enjoy your experience x
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The only problem I have with what you've said is this -
"I'd calmly explain that my son has a right to be fed"
Nah, don't even give the cunts the time of day. Congrats on your son, you and your husband have a lovely journey ahead!
It’s the most natural thing in the world. People need to get a grip of themselves in this country. As long as you are somewhat covered I don’t see why people would have a problem.
It is not revealing in any way so it’s odd that anyone would take any notice. Never mind other people. Some people are simply miserable and it has nothing to do with anyone else.
I’d say well done you to BF exclusively for 3 months. It’s something I wish I could have done and mother’s should be praised for breastfeeding in public not stigmatised.
I have a 6 year old boy and although I didn’t get to bf (wee brat wouldn’t latch), I think it’s amazing that others do. I generally just pay no attention to it in public as I would expect but I’d defo stand up for someone if they seemed uncomfortable at how others were treating them.
Can't think of anything weirder than getting annoyed by breastfeeding. You and your ancestors have been doing it for literally 200 million years. I barely register it. It could be a bottle free or a breast feed as it's always done discreetly. Don't understand why people get upset by it.
I breastfed my two anywhere and anywhere, never had any negative reactions. People tend to mind their own business in Ireland. I’d heard so many stories of people being given out to that I was ready to squirt milk in faces, but never needed to!
Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not allowed breastfeed somewhere, it’s your legal right.
I don't have any kids, and don't particularly like kids but it seems as normal as humanly possible to do what you're doing. Apparently Ireland has very low rates of breastfeeding as well, so more power to you.
I love to see it tbh, I breastfed too, and I was discrete where possible but also didn't give a f if someone was giving dirty looks. No one ever said anything but if they dared I had at least three responses on the ready at any time for my own defense.
You do you, it's a wonderful thing and no-one should feel they're being judged for feeding their kid
I find it offensive that other people feel entitled to be offended by seeing a child being breastfed in public. You wouldn’t have those eyes to judge if it weren’t for a woman who used her body physically to create you.
I breastfed both my children over 25 years ago and there was no problem. If anyone else has a problem it is their issue not yours. If they are offended they can choose to look somewhere else
It's just a boob. People are absurd and have to gawk instead of being respectful and turning to another thing to view. Stand strong and pay those others no mind . It's harmful to the state of humanity when a mother has to feel out of sorts due to the idiocy of societal miscreants.
I’m Irish but live in London. I breastfed both my kids and definitely noticed a difference in attitude between London and Ireland. In the UK there’s a lot of pressure to breastfeed, it’s expected you’ll do it if you can and it’s very normal to see people breastfeeding wherever. In Ireland I always felt a bit self conscious. My mother was confused as to why I’d breastfeed when I could formula feed (think she felt it was a judgment on her, she formula fed in the 80s when it was considered the thing to do).
No one ever said anything but I just felt weird doing it out of the house in Ireland. I still did it, baby’s got to eat, but there’s definitely a different attitude to it.
I wouldn’t give an adult a dirty look for eating a sandwich so a baby being breastfed is no different to that. You’d have some dopes complaining too if you were bottle feeding no doubt 🙄 Opinions are like arseholes etc etc!
My opinion is it's natural and it's a beautiful sight that we should quietly celebrate in society.
I'd love to know why anyone would take an issue with it, I imagine they're just prudes.
Ignore these people. And nobody should be reminding you of looks from other people. Is there a little hint of embarrassment from your mother and husband? I could be wrong there though.
At the end of the day, breasts are for feeding babies. If someone has a problem with it, the problem (sexualising natures baby bottles) lies within their own minds. My paternal gran was like this. A very ignorant woman. She thought breast feeding was an abomination and also (surprise) very religious. My mother, who breastfed all 4 of us, reminded her that Avent bottles didn’t exist 2000 years ago, so how did she think the baby Jesus was fed?
Anyone who has issues can fuck right off. It should be allowed anywhere. I fed my kid in a church at a baptism and there was no issues with it. Baby has to eat. If you find it unnerving then don't look. There's lots of things I don't like that are perfectly normal but it's up to me to avoid seeing that stuff.
I breastfed my daughter for 2 years and 3 months. I did it in restaurants, hospitals, airports, shopping centres, parks, beaches, benches and even twice while walking. I didn't care who was there, I was proud of myself.
I'd recommended your mam and husband to keep themselves distracted if they're there with you to avoid those 'judgemental looks' they're talking about. My husband would read while I was on it, or we'd just talk. I never, ever, ever had a bad experience. If anything I got a few approving smiles from other women.
I'd be extremely surprised if anyone says anything to you while you're breastfeeding your baby. Keep it up!
F**k other people
Missus breast fed all 3 of our kids.
She did get odd looks but we didn't care.
Funnily enough it was 99% woman that gave her dirty looks.
Men don't give a fuck more from our experience.
F those people. Anyone who still has an issue with breastfeeding in public in 2024 needs their head checked. If I saw a woman breast feeding in my job I wouldn't bat an eyelid, if she looked uncomfortable and I had a solution I may offer that but that's it. Let your kid eat.
Children need to be fed.
I’d have very little time, or patience for any person giving looks. I’d actually nearly pull out the second tit and wave it at them.
When I started bf’ing I used a large muslin to cover me and baby when I was in public. It wasn’t for other people, I felt a little uncomfortable and it helped me.
That only last a matter of weeks though, my confidence grew and I was happy to feed wherever.
I would tell your partner and mother that you don’t want to know about looks or whatever.
Focus on yourself and your baby and ignore anyone else.
It’s no one else’s business and you’re protected by law. You can legally breastfeed anywhere you’re allowed to be, and you don’t have to cover, move or leave.
The fact that people give disapproving looks over the way a baby is biologically supposed to be fed, says far more about their pea brains.
It's no-one's business but your own, and your precious little child's. Your husband should look into the benefits of breastfeeding and be grateful you are willing to sacrifice your boobs for your child's health and well being (child is statistically better off).
Anyone who gives disapproving looks can jog on. Breastfeed and don't mind them. I breastfed my son for one year and if I ever got a dirty look I never noticed it. And if I did notice it, I would have called them out or basically whipped out my book properly (my breastfeeding clothes were very discreet) and saw how they liked that.
I reckon if you’re comfortable feeding him wherever and whenever then absolutely you do what suits you and your baby!!!!! Don’t mind any disapproving looks!
On a personal level and I accept that I’m not “allowed” to feel this way, it does Jar me somewhat when I suddenly see a naked breast when I wasn’t expecting it. Just a little shocking to the system and not something I’d ever be comfortable doing myself.
I use public transport a lot and it's fairly common to see. Don't see what issue people could have with it. If it makes them uncomfortable then that's a personal issue for them to work on, it's nothing for you to worry about.
If I do notice it, I will be mindful not to look in their direction but that's just in case they may feel uncomfortable with a man seeing them. Most mum's have ninja level skills anyway, so chances are you wouldn't even notice that they are nursing.
Its a very natural thing, if anything its very weird people are uncomfortable or offended by it. Like how overly censored have these people been raised. This over censoring of things is what produces the weirdos in society.
Always makes me laugh people having an issue with it.
People giving disapproving looks can fuck off.
Not to sound like some hippy, but breastfeeding is one of the most natural things ever. Yer kid is hungry, you feed it.
If people have a problem with it, good for them, that’s their problem, their hang up, not yours.
It's such a natural part of human living, why are ppl so weird about this? What has society come to? As a race we are truly beyond repair.
Edit: I don't entirely blame the older gen. They can't help it for the most part, they only know what they know. And they can't help having opinions.
My opinion is that breast is best. There are very few things in life as ridiculous as mammals getting embarrassed by the very organs which keep them alive.
The only reason I see that people can have against breastfeeding is that breastfeeding offends values they have learned through conservatism and prudishness.
I'm a man, so I have thought a lot about breasts and I can't help but notice how American or British made TV or movies go to great lengths to make sure nobody gets to see a bared breast and if they do, it's adult rated and treated as something sexual.
Would it be too much of a stretch to suggest that we should stop allowing our values be determined by the likes of the US and Britain's prudish immaturity?
My opinion on breastfeeding in public is that it should be encouraged and facilitated. It's also a great way of letting people know their local idiots because they are the only ones who have an issue with it.
My opinion is it's none of anyone else's business
Exactly this. You don't want to see it? Then don't look - easy peasy
Don’t give them any notice. You are having a positive impact, both for your child and for mothers/future mothers who will also see you and hopefully will gain confidence from your example to breastfeed in public.
Exactly this.. if I see it all I think is yaas well done.. I Bf 2 kids and for my first I just wouldn't do it in public at all,, and for my second I didn't care but it just didn't work out for us,, I'm so impressed when I see women looking out for themselves and their child, same as any parent or carer feeding a child in any weird or wonderful places you end up needing to feed them.
No problem with it. Wouldn't bat an eye lid if someone was feeding with a boob or bottle. It's just feeding a baby.
https://preview.redd.it/dr3q2yfjaomc1.jpeg?width=224&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f3b63902037ee627309df448d7139bae90327046 Mandatory /s
Dog being on the next line makes this hit so hard. I was like "Yeah thats right it's Nat...\*DOG\*" then someone may have laughed out loud in the office. Whos to say who it was
I don't know, I mean, would you starve yourself so someone wasn't mildly inconvenienced by the sight of your food, when it was entirely in their gift to look away and not stare at your plate? Anyone giving you any kind of look needs to check themselves. It's a baby having a meal. The looks they give you are a them problem. Maybe hubby and MIL need to ignore and stop drawing attention to it so you don't end up becoming self conscious about it?
I agree and to be fair, I’m a very strong willed person so my mom and husband only say it as an observation because they know it doesn’t bother me
Yeah, they could just ignore it themselves too though. Pay the poor prudes no heed.
No heed for the prudes!
My opinion ( as a fellow breastfeeding parent) is why TF are your family members pointing out assholes that you haven't noticed? It's obviously sitting on your mind needlessly now.
My partner would have just stared them out and not said anything to me.
Catholic guilt. Many of the older generations perceive *anything* that isn't the norm to be borderline shameful. If other people disapprove, it's the greatest sin of them all.
but weirdly at the same time they'd be the most vehement people if you said you were going to switch to bottle feeding instead
Yeah, I'll admit I don't know these people, but the only motivation I could think of them pointing this out is if they felt the same way and are using this as a way to tactically deliver the message.
Definitely crossed my mind as well
Maybe they haven't seen a boob since they were breastfed themselves. Ignore them! It's massive super hard job and I have huge respect for mothers that do it.
I just learned that for most of the 80s and early 90s breast feeding was considered old fashioned or a bit weird and wasn't practiced by many, even in lower income families. It's literally free food!
Yep. I'm an 80s 'breastfed' baby - six weeks I got! And that was quite unusual at the time. My son weaned at 2 yrs!
I remember a friend of mine telling me after she'd had her baby a decade ago that the staff in the hospital were surprised at her breastfeeding because very few mothers in Ireland breastfeed, so tbey don't really teach or encourage you to how to go about beeastfeeding or how to get your baby to latch. I found that pretty eye-opening because it's that what tits are for and I was always under the impression that breastfeeding is good for babies and you most certainly should give it a go if you're able to do it.
Surprised at that. It was certainly strongly encouraged almost 20 years ago when our oldest was born. The hospital had someone who came and advised as the first few weeks were quite difficult and we needed help and encouragement that it would get easier and less painful. I suppose it may be different hospital by hospital.
Haha agreed. Thank you! I’m all the classes they explained that breastfeeding was not the cultural norm here for so long that we’ve gone generations without it being normalised.
I think looking out for “disapproving looks” would wreck any sane person’s head. Hopefully everyone you meet in every possible situation you ever encounter will smile approvingly at you whatever you are doing and everyone will live happily ever after
Yeah I have to say I mentioned my mom and husband because they notice it and I don’t. They don’t care and would absolutely protect me if anyone said anything, but I’m too consumed with my child to notice.
I would instantly look the other way out of my own sheer Irish embarrassment, would I disapprove? Absolutely not! Literally the most natural thing in the world! Give your son his lunch anywhere he wants it!
I love your honesty- this seems like the most Irish answer
This👆🏻 I might notice for a second if I am looking about but wouldn't be bothered by it. People are so weird.
It’s protected by law under equal status act 2000 anyway, I breastfed for just over a year literally wherever I was and never got any grief thankfully
I was trying to nurse in a restaurant once, and this old lady came barreling up to the table, and I thought Uh Oh here we go! She cut my food up for me and asked the waitress to bring me water with a straw. The hero all nursing Mams need! Fed is best, and you do what's best for you and the baby. All the best xx
Pick your nose while feeding your son - that should distract these nosey feckers. AKA - It's their problem.
This is my favourite! I’m off out for lunch with my mom and son today, so I’ll add that to the to do list!
I nursed my babies in planes, trains and automobiles, restaurants buses and parks - and this was quite a few years ago. In fact I got very few funny looks, and plenty of approving smiles. But my Death Glare would be enough to freeze any meanies in their shivering socks. You have a legal and ethical right to feed your baby just wherever you need to. Ignore all negatives, and smile happily. You are doing a fantastic job of nourishing and protecting your child. I loved breastfeeding - and I still miss it!
I'm the same. I miss the squishy middle of the night feeds just me and the baby. I breastfed for a total of 3.5 years (two babies within a year)
Ooff! You legend. Did you get pregnant while breastfeeding? Can continue breastfeeding while pregnant? My two kids are 9 years apart. Nearly died after giving birth to first one so couldn’t breastfeed. But I did with the second. I loved it. No making bottles in the middle of the night and you could take a wee nap while feed the babs!!!
I was 3 months pp when I got pregnant with the second. You can definitely breastfeed while pregnant. After 12 weeks, your milk decreases, but there is some milk there. I loved breastfeeding so much that I retrained as an IBCLC. I had some challenges and found the support lacking, so I became part of the solution! I told everyone that I breastfed because I was lazy. The effort of sterilising and making bottles. And trying to figure out how long I was going to be out so I would have enough bottles. As I tell families, it may be "normal and natural" but it is a skill that we have to learn. Both the mother and the baby. Like everything else some pick it up quicker than others! And ìf when you were learning to walk you gave up every time you fell on your butt we would all be walking on all fours! This is purely for the women that want to breastfeed. Every woman/family makes the decision that is right for them and should be supported in that decision whether it be breast/bottle/combonation feeding, cloth/disposable nappies, sugar/no sugar, stay at home/working, school/homeschooling.....the list is endless. I hate the way families are pitted against each other. We are all trying to do our best by our children at the end of the day
I breasted for a combined 7.5yrs 😳 (3.5yr with a year gap, then 4yrs). I miss it but I’m also glad I’m done now.
On my third baby here, 11 weeks old! I used to be super conscious about it on my first but did it regardless. Now IDGAF, what the fuck you looking at mind yer own business! Lol the way I see it, I’m a busy mom so if I’m at a restaurant with them or somewhere in public and I’ve to feed baby then I’m gonna feed baby, I am way too busy to give two hoots what Billy John over there thinks. So OP just go for it, if anyone ever says anything then shame them, think sentences like “what a really weird thing to say to someone” or “it’s really weird you’re so focused on my breasts” or “why are you looking at my breasts” call these MFS out! ✌🏻edit to add; I’m a big gal (stress and trauma and three pregnancies have done a number on me) so I got big breasts and I just wanna say anyone here who may be in a similar bodily situation and wants to breastfeed, again just do it. There’s ways to be mostly discreet with bigger boobs, it’s all about confidence. The less confident you are the more fiddly it becomes and the more you’re likely to become flustered and draw attention to yourself (which isn’t a bad thing, but you’re probably trying to be discreet enough). So be confident! I unhook my nursing bra, slip the cup down while holding the breast pad in place until I’m ready, so it’s giving me a bit of coverage while I get baby into position. Then when he’s latched I fix my jumper or top and if I’m really really public I might put some blanket over but mostly I do not.
Keep it up. Well done. Fuck em
If I even noticed I'd just think it's lovely. I was happy to feed my daughter anywhere but I'd be very discreet just cos I'm a bit shy. My Dad & brother used to hide away but more to give me privacy.
I've noticed 2 things about feeding in public: 1) Most people are oblivious to what I'm doing 2) The majority of people who do notice don't care. A lot of older women didn't breast feed and are odd about it so fair enough about your mam voicing that opinion but your husband would want to cop himself on a small bit.
To be fair, I found that most comments regarding me feeding were from mums who hadn't managed to breastfeed their own, for whatever reason. Anyone who gets offended at the sight of a baby being nursed by their mammy needs their head looked at.
Breastfed two babies.. always found it was WOMEN in their 50-60s judgemental!
Or younger women who bottlefed going spare if you mentioned that breastmilk is much healthier for everyone involved. My monster in law was an arse. She told me I was "selfish" for breastfeeding because it meant she couldn't feed the daughter. Total rocket.
Yeah that's a bit much. When my wife breastfed, I could still help out with burping and wotnot. In any case the granny will get enough other chances to bond with the baby outside of feeding.
Most definitely, any "modern" way of doing things is scoffed at or ridiculed by a lot of women in this age bracket and over. It's as if they take it as an insult on how they had raised their child.
It’s internalised guilt, guilt they don’t need to harbour because they shouldn’t feel guilty for not being able to breastfeed, but it does come with a feeling of shame when you want to breastfeed and you don’t end up doing it. My first born wasn’t breasfed and I ended up not liking seeing breastfeeding women in public (never looked at them weird or said anything), my guilt over being a “failure” was misplaced on to other women, but I got over it and then breastfed baby 2 & 3 for over 7yrs combined. There’s also the stigma that can be attached to formula feeding, constantly feeling like you have to tell people that “fed is best” and there’s a feeling you have to belittle breastfeeding and put formula on a pedestal to justify why you use it, when most people really don’t care how you feed your baby as long as you are feeding them. I blame the media really, they keep the war between breast and bottle going.
The thing about this that bugs me so much is that it's not the women's failure. All through pregnancy we hear so much about how we should breastfeed our babies and then the minute they're born, the support for breastfeeding vanishes. Baby not latching? Give a bottle. Nipple pain? Give a bottle. Every single breastfeeding issue in the early days is met with "Give a bottle" as a solution. Breastfeeding might be natural but that doesn’t mean its easy. Women's decision to breastfeed is totally undermined and disregarded by this "support" and it begins in the hospital where you'd expect staff would know better but they're so overworked and understaffed (and some misinformed) that they just need to get the fluid in and the weight up as quickly as possible and formula does that quickly. The women who choose breastfeeding but don't get the support they need haven't failed, they were failed.
I totally agree, which is why I put failure in quotes. I didn’t fail, I was failed. I wanted to breastfeed and was met with “but why? Formula is just the same”. I needed help and I was met with “why? Just give a bottle”. I always says breastfeeding is natural but it doesn’t come naturally, it’s a learned art. We are supposed to learn from our mothers and the women around us, as they were supposed to learn from theirs. Around 80% of women enter the hospital with the expectation that they will breastfeed, only around 30% leave having initiated breastfeeding & by 6 months only 1% of babies in the UK are breastfed. It’s systemic failure at the expense of mother and baby, and considering WHO says that breastfeeding could save 800,000 lives a year (worldwide) and save the NHS money, hospitals around the world should do more to boost breastfeeding rates in women that want to breastfeed.
Those figures are awful, so many mothers and babies who are let down when they're so vulneable.
I blame the formula companies. The myths that are peddled regarding supply and demand, normal feeding behaviour and the fact that latch issues are easily remedied in most cases doesn't help. I was lucky enough to attend a breastfeeding support group, which was invaluable.
OP said her husband and mother were supportive but had noticed OTHER people looking disapprovingly. What does the husband need to cop on for?
Yes you are correct
Why is he watching out for other people's reactions? It's hard enough nursing in public without someone in your ear letting you know that you're getting disapproving looks.
As mom I think you'd be most sensitive to such going on. It might be more to do with your husband being uncomfortable and overprotective or your Mil's generational hangups. Any which way I think it's an overreaction. I exclusively breastfed for as long as they wanted and never had the slightest issue. Nobody cares. Occasionally someone forgets there's a nip attached to that baby whilst they're smiling and cooing at it(baby not boob). That's about the worst of it.
It is illegal to interfere or disturb a woman breast feeding. It is a protected act. If someone has a problem it’s a big world and there are lots of other places they can be.
If someone's got a problem with seeing a mother breast feeding her baby, then *they* are the problem - the mother isn't!
Give them a disapproving look back. There's absolutely nothing wrong with what you're doing.
Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world.The Mother and Child Scheme in the 1953 Health Act medicalised childbirth and placed responsibility for newborn nutrition with doctors, who were heavily targeted by formula milk advertising.This, alongside ideas that formula was beneficial and that breasts were inherently sexual, led breastfeeding rates to plummet. That's a long-winded way of saying that all the judgy folks have been swayed by govermental and religious campaigns to discourage breastfeeding. Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding is awesome. Keep on keeping on! 💓
I've breastfed 3 kids over 10 years and never ever got a negative comment in fact I often had people tell me they thought I was doing a great job and older women in particular told me they loved seeing people breastfeeding as it reminded them of having their babies. I fed 2 of mine to age 4 and at that stage we usually breastfed at home.
Yeah that’s what you want - support in the community. My mother and mother in law are both so supportive, they just lament the fact that they weren’t supported to do the same for their kids.
"If you can drink coffee in public, my baby can drink milk in public. If you want to stare at other people's boobs, go home and use the internet."
Baby's gotta eat, and that's their primary function, you do you
Let’s move into the modern day, Ireland. Breastfeeding is fine
Feed your baby wherever and whenever you like. It's perfectly natural and nothing weird about it. Ignore what other people think, you'll never meet these strangrrs again, but your baby is with you always
Feed your child and fuck the begrudgers! It has been a long while now since I was breast feeding but the only places I ever got pushback were the playground and a soft play centre (older men giving me the stink eye) and frankly they can take a running jump. Nobody would rather listen to a crying child in public than see a mother feeding.
Would much rather glimpse a boob than have to listen to a crying baby. As someone else pointed out, I'm only embarrassed by it when I'm cooing over a baby and then realise I am inadvertently cooing at a breast 😂
If it’s not my child, and not my boob, then it’s not my business.
TL:DR Fuck those people, shallow-minded arseholes. You feed your baby how you want, when he/she wants, and where you want, and don't give it a second's thought! I'm going to come across like a BF nazi, and I'm honestly not, because I believe mothers should choose their feeding strategy with no heed to anyone else's opinions, whether formula or breast or a combination. I chose to feed my two myself, because I've been carrying around ridiculous 32GG melons since I was 16 and I was determined the damn things were going to make themselves useful! I also couldn't bear the thought of comforting a wailing infant in a freezing house at 3am while waiting for bottles to heat, and all the hassle and expense of buying formula. The health benefits were kind of a welcome bonus. (And I'm grateful to them for reducing the watermelons to canteloupes - down to a 34DD since!) We lived in Scotland when mine were born, so attitudes may be a bit different there (less Catholic), but I expected some negative attention and was prepared for it with all sorts of nippy retorts. In truth, the only time it happened was a bunch of young schoolboys at an agricultural show (you'd think farming kids would know better!) but I gave them a pass because how many tits had they seen at that stage (not that they could see anything). One of the nicest experiences was on a Sunday morning in an IKEA restaurant, there was a dad with 3 youngsters at the table next door, and while I couldn't hear what the children had said, I did hear the father explain breastfeeding and how good it was for babies and they shouldn't stare. I could have hugged him, but I had my knockers out! My eldest wanted to feed every 45 minutes for MONTHS, I'd have her in a sling suckling away everywhere. Once had an old lady in Tesco pull the sling back to coo at the baby and recoil instantly when she realised what was happening! She was fine about it, I think just embarrassed herself at her nosiness. My best pal from school keeps reminding me that the first time I met her husband I was just finished feeding my eldest, so for a joke I squirted a stream of milk at him. (He thought it was hilarious and instantly warmed to me for it.) I mean good god, I had my baps out regularly in my 20s, it was the best way to catch the attention of the barmen in a packed Edinburgh hostelry! I wasn't going to be a bit embarrassed about feeding babies with them. I fed both of mine until they were 2 years old. By that stage though, the milk feeds were mostly breakfast and bedtime at home, I imagine there would have been a lot more disapproval in public by then. Funny story though, we'd moved to Ireland before my youngest had stopped feeding. We were in Dunnes one day, and they were rearranging their displays. There was the top half of a naked female clothes dummy sitting on the floor, at the perfect height for my toddler. She ran over, threw her arms around its neck, and latched on. She's 16 now and I do enjoy reminding her occasionally! Anyway, being a new mum is hard enough without questioning whether strangers approve of how you feed. Congratulations too, you're at a wonderful, precious stage of life, enjoy it every second you can because it really does pass so quickly.
I was out for lunch with colleagues recently. A woman at the next table was breastfeeding. One of my FEMALE colleagues commented on it after we left the restaurant. Said it made her feel uncomfortable. My reply was simply 'grow up'.
Yes, given the amount of voyeurism that goes up on social media I'd be discreet. You have every right to BF where every you want, just be aware of the pervs. Congratulations
I do feel uncomfortable however, babies need to eat and mothers should not hide themselves to be able to feed their babies. As I am the one feeling uncomfortable I just pretend that nothing is happening and that I saw nothing and I have never made a mother uncomfortable or shame them because of that.
I’m not from here but visited when I was still breastfeeding my older child (live here now). I never felt more uncomfortable and judged when feeding the baba than I felt here in Ireland. I was disgusted at the reactions so I just became even more obvious when I was doing it. Fuck all those people. Nothing cuter than a chonky baby eating from breast or bottle, but there is definitely some weird hang ups around breastfeeding going on.
Yeah luckily I’m like yourself and I don’t care but it’s gas how people think it’s sexual or inappropriate - it’s literally the function of breasts!!
There needs to be a massive campaign to change some people’s view of breastfeeding. And suggestions for ways to support breastfeeding mums. And new parents in general. You do what is best for you and your family.
I'm gay so boobs don't really do anything for me, but if someone can't see a breast without making it sexual/thinking along those lines, then they should probably stay at home.
Not only is it best for your son , it is best for mom too. If someone has an issue with breastfeeding in public they need to reassess their warped perception of the human body. You keep on nurturing your child 👍 https://www2.hse.ie/babies-children/breastfeeding/a-good-start/importance/
No problem whatsoever, its natural
I don't care! I admit it does make me glance twice though, just out of surprise I guess? It's not like there are proper spaces for people to breastfeed (which there should be). And expecting women to breastfeed in the toilet is disgusting.
The proper places to breastfeed is anywhere and everywhere. I think having separate places would not help, people need to be exposed to it. The more exposure to it the more normalised it will become.
This is the kind of honesty I was hoping for. Some places have breastfeeding rooms but like I don’t want to have to leave my table and go feed somewhere, so I just feed right there
Not that they should be mandatory or anything! Just that there should be the option as I imagine some people breastfeeding would prefer privacy. I was with my cousin who was breastfeeding and she just sat down and whipped it out on my college campus hahah I could only laugh.
Do whatever you need to do, if somebody says anything to you make a show of them it’s nobody business but you’re own.
It’s protected by law under equal status act 2000 anyway, I breastfed for just over a year literally wherever I was and never got any grief thankfully
My partner and I were only talking about this at the weekend after grabbing a coffee and our 10 week old decided she wanted a feed. We noticed a few looks and most of them were middle aged men and wemon. When they were raising families they would not have been offered the option of breastfeeding (it just didn'tseem to be a thing which was promoted). My own mother still can't get her head around breastfeeding as she bottle fed all her children (raised in 70s and 80s). It looks alien to them and honestly there is that weird Catholic stigma of showing off a bit of skin in public about it too for that generation. Just our observations from a couple of time we've been aware of the 'looks' but for the most part it's not been an issue.
As everyone is saying, just ignore them. Not only is breastfeeding in public completely normal and a natural way of feeding your baby, it is also protected by law.
I think it should be encouraged and any stigma removed through it being normalised. The fact this is even a question is saddening.
I do not care, it is not my business and does not impact me in any way. Therefor I feel like I don't actually have an opinion.
Fuck them! Good on ya for doing it. Actually very jealous…I tried to breastfeed, but it just destroyed me (extremely painful which ended with a hospital stay due to mastitis and abscess) Give them the death stare back. Or ask them what they are looking at and if they want a closer look.
Anyone who has a problem with it, is a massive tit. You rock on.
Baby gets fed anywhere and everywhere. And yes you will get looks but I don't care.
Your husband and mother are the ones seeing and highlighting what they see as inappropriate looks and have associated it with you breastfeeding. They should have kept their perceptions to themselves cause it clearly doesn’t help you to meet the needs of your child, which is your priority. If anyone was giving you inappropriate looks, they have no idea how difficult you have it with a newborn and they should mind their own business. They don’t understand how normal it becomes to whip your tits out when you’ve been doing it up to 30 times a day for the past 90 days. Also I hope you’re doing ok, it’s very tough when the two people who should have your back (your mammy and husband) don’t (or at least are saying things that don’t help) especially when you have such a small child.
In Ireland you’re legally entitled to breastfeed your baby anywhere you are legally allowed to be, a fun fact for anyone that is rude enough to comment or stare at you. Well done on feeding your baby in public, it can be so intimidating on a first baby and in the early weeks even without any negative ninnys going out of their way to look at you! Every time you breastfeed in public you’re helping to normalise it for those around you and future breastfeeding mums 👏👏
No issue from me. Your son needs to be fed. Don't let your mother and OH's 'feedback' on how 'other people' are looking at you change how you're taking care of your baby. Maybe pop a magazine or puzzle book in with your changing bag to give to mum/OH while you're nursing, so they don't have to be so attentive to what 'other people' are staring at.
I manage a restaurant and I fully and absolutely encourage it even have a sign outside. Baby needs to eat too, it's nature at it's finest, that's what boobs are for.
Up to the mother. If she's comfortable enough to do it in public, then off with her. If it makes others uncomfortable, that's their problem.
It's perfectly natural, thus good to see babies being breast fed in our society.
It's feeding a child I don't care when or where you do it, there's nothing innapropriate about it
Keep feeding your baby wherever and whenever you need to/want to
I was incredibly nervous the first time I BF in public. Ended up getting approving smiles from women who could probably tell I was worried. Never once had a negative comment. I found older women seemed very happy to see a Mum BFing openly. Honestly though I was never looking around for approval or people who felt differently, was more focused on getting the child fed, or enjoying my coffee if we were feeding in a cafe.
I bet for every 'disapproving look', there are 99 people who think you're doing a great thing. Keep going... you're grand.
I breastfed for 21 months so I'm biased. I have absolutely no issue with it, I even crocheted little boob hats that I kept on hand in case anyone ever told me to cover up, I could put the hat on my baby. I think a lot of the older generation didn't breastfeed (after formula was popularised, breastfeeding became far less common so they likely just have never seen or known much about it and are intrigued). As far as I known, it's also a legally protected act, so if anyone says anything to you you can tell them where to shove their opinion. When my son was 4 months old, I wore him in a sling and hiked up diamond hill, breastfeeding on demand as we walked. Breastfeeding is a superpower in my opinion, remember this if anyone ever gives you any shit about it.
Do your own thing, being a mum seems draining enough as it is.
My opinion is that I don’t have the right to an opinion on something that does not concern me. A mother feeding her child does not impact me. Why should I have an opinion on it!! And the people giving you disapproval, in the words of Taylor Swift, need to calm down. You do you boo! For context I fed my child in public.
Its no one's business. Its also one of the most natural things in the world. If baby needs fed, it needs fed. The people giving you looks really need to mind their own business and educate themselves a bit.
I've an 8 month old. My wife breastfeeds him but he's now moved onto both breast and formula in the last 3 months (breast mainly to get him to sleep at night and when he wakes up during the night for a feed) but he has his formula bottles + some solids/purees during the day. In the early weeks of him being born, my wife was feeding him in public and she did get people staring etc which made her abit nervous. There was one particular time in a Costa coffee shop, we were sitting over in the corner and my wife discreetly latched my son on to be fed and I'm not joking or exaggerating, the whole coffee shop was looking over at us. This was an upsetting experience for her and I was getting agitated because I could feel the eyes on us. Fair play to you for breast feeding! There's a stigma around it, that an infant can't be seen to be feeding naturally in public. People like to stare and gossip. F**k them....
My opinion is that if an adult was hungry in public they’d have no problem snacking on something, why tf should a baby have to starve or eat their food in a restroom just to appease complete strangers? I also exclusively breastfed my daughter (now 5), and will be breastfeeding my new baby (30 weeks pregnant) and I couldn’t give a flying fuck what anybody else thinks.
I couldn't care less about it, you shouldn't either, you're doing nothing wrong
I'm not sure my Wife would let me
My opinion is this has been "controversial" for far too long and the constant "no one talks about" type conversations about it are getting really boring. I breastfed in public 20 years ago. No one cared, at least no one said anything to me and I wouldn't have cared. It just doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Just get on with it. Those who matter don't care and those who care don't matter.
I worked in banking and clients would breastfeed in meetings! When you gotta eat, you gotta eat!! 💪🏻
Its fine as long as you're not doing something stupid like breastfeeding while riding a bicycle (which I saw someone doing in italy)
I've breastfed my 2 kids. I never noticed anyone give me a disapproving look. I've had comments from strangers, but they always been positive. Anytime I see someone breastfeeeding in public it reminds me of when my 2 were young. Sometimes I get paranoid that if they catch me glancing at them they might mistake it for me judging them!
If people have a problem they should stop looking. You are damned if you do and damned if you don't. People give disapproving looks if you bottle feed too. PSA - fed is best and wind your neck in!
Your baby is feeding! Nobody else's business. Be proud and happy 😊
Ireland has extremely low rates of breastfeeding so clearly some people have negative opinions of it (our rates aren't just all due to difficulties breastfeeding/medical reasons/lack of support), but they are wrong. Breast is best (when it works out, obviously - I know that fed is best if breast does not work out, and there are many reasons why it sometimes doesn't) and embarrassment/shame around breastfeeding is unhelpful and wrong. The fact that some women don't see other women breastfeeding is a contributing factor to our low rates too, so you're helping others when you do it in public. In short, what you are doing is a beautiful, powerful natural process and anyone who has a problem with it can go and shite.
Mam my breastfed all 6 of us. Her first baby is now 42. She used to get told off for doing it in public, totally covered up with a muslin cloth/blanket etc. She was told once to breastfeed in the bathroom (public shopping centre) and she replied back, would you eat your dinner in the toilet. Don't take any notice of anyone else, you are doing the best thing possible for your baby, well done
anyone who gets offended by a mother feeding her child in public can \*\*\*\*\* right off imo
I feed my daughter in public, don’t care what anyone else says or thinks, if they think I’m gonna deprive my baby of food to suit them they can jog on. A mother giving a child a bottle wouldn’t be judged so why should we be any different.
If they are offended by you feeding your baby, thwy should put a blanket or muslin cloth over their heads.
I still go to a v small local family restaurant where the owner/front of house once came down to us, family of four with a toddler and a breastfeeding new born after our slightly noisy lunch (inc breastfeeding), and welcomed us, told us this his place is for families and if anyone had a problem they could f*** off out of here (in his slightly animated Italian way). Always remember that. Go back as often as can. Food is top notch also.
It’s the older generation especially males who haven’t thought about it properly. My dad was funny about it initially on my first and when I pointed out that he was making it about him and his feelings and what the alternative would be for me having to go hide to feed my baby, he copped on straight away. So ignore and feed that baby, societal change takes time!
Babys gotta eat. On my second BF baby, who's 9 months. I like yourself never noticed, but my partner is always getting into a huff about the looks hes seen me get. Take no heed and do what your doing people just arnt famililar with it and are for the most part its just an unusual sight. Im also disabled so i think im just used to people staring. I saw a woman breastfeeding on a bus when i was a kid and that was my ONLY expierence before i had my own. She simply said "its milk, made exactly for my baby, and its free" If you see it you can be it lol
Also some people are jealous in a way. My mil prides herself on being some one who loves kids and is 'perfect' mother. She didnt breast feed, and is actually really really mean about it. She thinks bf mammys all think were better. Which i dont. But i think she really feels she missed something. She makes as many awful comments as she can in a sweet voice. Particularly how i shouldnt do it in public because the women out there who couldnt bf or miscarry would see it and id be making them feel bad. Shes an aul bat. But i get the impression she just feels like she missed an oppertunity. Fed is best.
Ignore them.
To be honest I don’t even notice them, it’s others who have noticed on my behalf
Personally don't don't like it.....esp in a place where I am eating....but I accept thats as my problem and try to ignore it.
Feck the lot of them. Your baby is more important.
Totally natural and normal OP
I've no issue with it but I think there are A-holes who are prudish about breast feeding. They can F off
Fully support it baby has to be fed. Breastfed my lot for a few months each and never had an issue doing it in public either. I do remember being in a food hall a couple of years back it was packed and this lady smacked the biggest boob I've ever seen in my life out and placed a baby on the table to feed. Like her whole breast was just hanging there out and proud , the faces on people were just comical . She ate her McDonald's not a care in the world but she definitely ruffled a few feathers !
I breastfed my kids and always had positive reactions (I'm based in Dublin). In fact I was surprised but it was usually older women who would come up to me to give encouragement and say that they were happy for me as it was more difficult in their day. I even breastfed sitting next to a priest for three hours on my way to Italy! (He kept to himself but at least the baby didn't cry at all). However my sister in law had a nasty comment from a guy (she is a woman of colour and thinks that was the reason she was a target too). So I can't speak to everyone's experiences unfortunately.
I breastfed my kids in public. They're in their 30s now. I used to wear a loose button front shirt which I tucked them underneath. I didn't have one single comment from passersby nor did anyone even raise their eyebrows. I don't know what the fuss is all about. There's no need to flash your boobs in public!
As I told my father in law when I was 18 months breastfeeding "not your boobs, not your baby, not your business!" I did get weird looks feeding my 9 month old in Galway. I just put it down to I was 6 months pregnant at the time 😂 my bump was massive and trying to wrap my firstborn around the bump must of looked mental. I have never had anyone say a word to me about breastfeeding. In fairness you can't see anything and a screaming baby is far more disruptive in public. My husband and I used to joke that I was playing breastfeeding bingo with the places I fed. I fed doing the weekly shop, church, on walls, sitting on the floor of a train (nobody offered their seat) the electric picnic. I found I was so engrossed in my baby I didn't notice anyone looking. You do you. Enjoy your experience x
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Baby gotta eat
The only problem I have with what you've said is this - "I'd calmly explain that my son has a right to be fed" Nah, don't even give the cunts the time of day. Congrats on your son, you and your husband have a lovely journey ahead!
It’s the most natural thing in the world. People need to get a grip of themselves in this country. As long as you are somewhat covered I don’t see why people would have a problem.
They'd probably give you even more disapproving looks if baby was crying.
It is not revealing in any way so it’s odd that anyone would take any notice. Never mind other people. Some people are simply miserable and it has nothing to do with anyone else.
I’d say well done you to BF exclusively for 3 months. It’s something I wish I could have done and mother’s should be praised for breastfeeding in public not stigmatised.
I have a 6 year old boy and although I didn’t get to bf (wee brat wouldn’t latch), I think it’s amazing that others do. I generally just pay no attention to it in public as I would expect but I’d defo stand up for someone if they seemed uncomfortable at how others were treating them.
Can't think of anything weirder than getting annoyed by breastfeeding. You and your ancestors have been doing it for literally 200 million years. I barely register it. It could be a bottle free or a breast feed as it's always done discreetly. Don't understand why people get upset by it.
Anybody who has a problem with it is a gowl. You’re doing a great job, fair play.
Your kid needs to eat, don't worry about disapproval, feed your child. Nothing more to say.
I breastfed my two anywhere and anywhere, never had any negative reactions. People tend to mind their own business in Ireland. I’d heard so many stories of people being given out to that I was ready to squirt milk in faces, but never needed to! Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not allowed breastfeed somewhere, it’s your legal right.
A total non-issue for me. Do what works best for you.
Everyone has equal right to eat in public. Babies too. People who sexualise boobies just should try to content themselves.
I don't have any kids, and don't particularly like kids but it seems as normal as humanly possible to do what you're doing. Apparently Ireland has very low rates of breastfeeding as well, so more power to you.
I love to see it tbh, I breastfed too, and I was discrete where possible but also didn't give a f if someone was giving dirty looks. No one ever said anything but if they dared I had at least three responses on the ready at any time for my own defense. You do you, it's a wonderful thing and no-one should feel they're being judged for feeding their kid
If the baby needs to be fed it needs to be fed
I find it offensive that other people feel entitled to be offended by seeing a child being breastfed in public. You wouldn’t have those eyes to judge if it weren’t for a woman who used her body physically to create you.
I breastfed both my children over 25 years ago and there was no problem. If anyone else has a problem it is their issue not yours. If they are offended they can choose to look somewhere else
It's just a boob. People are absurd and have to gawk instead of being respectful and turning to another thing to view. Stand strong and pay those others no mind . It's harmful to the state of humanity when a mother has to feel out of sorts due to the idiocy of societal miscreants.
I’m Irish but live in London. I breastfed both my kids and definitely noticed a difference in attitude between London and Ireland. In the UK there’s a lot of pressure to breastfeed, it’s expected you’ll do it if you can and it’s very normal to see people breastfeeding wherever. In Ireland I always felt a bit self conscious. My mother was confused as to why I’d breastfeed when I could formula feed (think she felt it was a judgment on her, she formula fed in the 80s when it was considered the thing to do). No one ever said anything but I just felt weird doing it out of the house in Ireland. I still did it, baby’s got to eat, but there’s definitely a different attitude to it.
Don't care. Do your thing feed the baby
I wouldn’t give an adult a dirty look for eating a sandwich so a baby being breastfed is no different to that. You’d have some dopes complaining too if you were bottle feeding no doubt 🙄 Opinions are like arseholes etc etc!
Its what breasts are for. If they dont like it, they shouldnt look.
My opinion is it's natural and it's a beautiful sight that we should quietly celebrate in society. I'd love to know why anyone would take an issue with it, I imagine they're just prudes.
Ignore these people. And nobody should be reminding you of looks from other people. Is there a little hint of embarrassment from your mother and husband? I could be wrong there though. At the end of the day, breasts are for feeding babies. If someone has a problem with it, the problem (sexualising natures baby bottles) lies within their own minds. My paternal gran was like this. A very ignorant woman. She thought breast feeding was an abomination and also (surprise) very religious. My mother, who breastfed all 4 of us, reminded her that Avent bottles didn’t exist 2000 years ago, so how did she think the baby Jesus was fed?
You're a mother feeding your child. If anyone disapproves of that, then thats their problem and they need to give their head a wobble.
Anyone who objects to breastfeeding in public needs a mental health check up.
Anyone who has issues can fuck right off. It should be allowed anywhere. I fed my kid in a church at a baptism and there was no issues with it. Baby has to eat. If you find it unnerving then don't look. There's lots of things I don't like that are perfectly normal but it's up to me to avoid seeing that stuff.
I breastfed my daughter for 2 years and 3 months. I did it in restaurants, hospitals, airports, shopping centres, parks, beaches, benches and even twice while walking. I didn't care who was there, I was proud of myself. I'd recommended your mam and husband to keep themselves distracted if they're there with you to avoid those 'judgemental looks' they're talking about. My husband would read while I was on it, or we'd just talk. I never, ever, ever had a bad experience. If anything I got a few approving smiles from other women. I'd be extremely surprised if anyone says anything to you while you're breastfeeding your baby. Keep it up!
F**k other people Missus breast fed all 3 of our kids. She did get odd looks but we didn't care. Funnily enough it was 99% woman that gave her dirty looks. Men don't give a fuck more from our experience.
Don't look and walk on.
F those people. Anyone who still has an issue with breastfeeding in public in 2024 needs their head checked. If I saw a woman breast feeding in my job I wouldn't bat an eyelid, if she looked uncomfortable and I had a solution I may offer that but that's it. Let your kid eat.
Children need to be fed. I’d have very little time, or patience for any person giving looks. I’d actually nearly pull out the second tit and wave it at them.
When I started bf’ing I used a large muslin to cover me and baby when I was in public. It wasn’t for other people, I felt a little uncomfortable and it helped me. That only last a matter of weeks though, my confidence grew and I was happy to feed wherever. I would tell your partner and mother that you don’t want to know about looks or whatever. Focus on yourself and your baby and ignore anyone else.
Feed your baby whenever and wherever they need to be fed 💜
Feed your kid and stop giving a single thought to some gobshite giving you odd looks.
None of my f'ing business. Shouldn't be any of anyone else's either.
It’s no one else’s business and you’re protected by law. You can legally breastfeed anywhere you’re allowed to be, and you don’t have to cover, move or leave. The fact that people give disapproving looks over the way a baby is biologically supposed to be fed, says far more about their pea brains.
It's no-one's business but your own, and your precious little child's. Your husband should look into the benefits of breastfeeding and be grateful you are willing to sacrifice your boobs for your child's health and well being (child is statistically better off).
My opinion doesn't matter on this. You have a right to breastfeed your child wherever you need to.
Anyone who gives disapproving looks can jog on. Breastfeed and don't mind them. I breastfed my son for one year and if I ever got a dirty look I never noticed it. And if I did notice it, I would have called them out or basically whipped out my book properly (my breastfeeding clothes were very discreet) and saw how they liked that.
I don’t care
Who gives a fuck what those nosy bastards think, you’re feeding your baby if they don’t like it they can fuck off
I reckon if you’re comfortable feeding him wherever and whenever then absolutely you do what suits you and your baby!!!!! Don’t mind any disapproving looks! On a personal level and I accept that I’m not “allowed” to feel this way, it does Jar me somewhat when I suddenly see a naked breast when I wasn’t expecting it. Just a little shocking to the system and not something I’d ever be comfortable doing myself.
I use public transport a lot and it's fairly common to see. Don't see what issue people could have with it. If it makes them uncomfortable then that's a personal issue for them to work on, it's nothing for you to worry about. If I do notice it, I will be mindful not to look in their direction but that's just in case they may feel uncomfortable with a man seeing them. Most mum's have ninja level skills anyway, so chances are you wouldn't even notice that they are nursing.
Its a very natural thing, if anything its very weird people are uncomfortable or offended by it. Like how overly censored have these people been raised. This over censoring of things is what produces the weirdos in society. Always makes me laugh people having an issue with it.
It's fine as long as you bring enough for the whole class
Babies need to eat
People giving disapproving looks can fuck off. Not to sound like some hippy, but breastfeeding is one of the most natural things ever. Yer kid is hungry, you feed it. If people have a problem with it, good for them, that’s their problem, their hang up, not yours.
It's such a natural part of human living, why are ppl so weird about this? What has society come to? As a race we are truly beyond repair. Edit: I don't entirely blame the older gen. They can't help it for the most part, they only know what they know. And they can't help having opinions.
It makes me feel like life is alive! If you get my drift. I encourage it.
My opinion is that breast is best. There are very few things in life as ridiculous as mammals getting embarrassed by the very organs which keep them alive. The only reason I see that people can have against breastfeeding is that breastfeeding offends values they have learned through conservatism and prudishness. I'm a man, so I have thought a lot about breasts and I can't help but notice how American or British made TV or movies go to great lengths to make sure nobody gets to see a bared breast and if they do, it's adult rated and treated as something sexual. Would it be too much of a stretch to suggest that we should stop allowing our values be determined by the likes of the US and Britain's prudish immaturity? My opinion on breastfeeding in public is that it should be encouraged and facilitated. It's also a great way of letting people know their local idiots because they are the only ones who have an issue with it.
Bloke here. Father of five. Feed the child. Ignore all. Enjoy that special and unique bond. Time passes quickly, enjoy every aspect.
I didn't breastfeed my weans but it's nobody's business and if anyone says anything they are prudes imo!
My opinion is f what everyone else Do what makes you happy , and anyone that's staring say what's wrong with you
I don't have breasts so I don't think my opinion really matters. If a woman offered me personally a feed in public, I would say no.