How many people have been harrassed for bf in public?

[tessie]

I've been bf for 9 months and I live in a city where bf rates are very low (although the hospital, community midwives, health visitors and volunteer doulas are working hard to improve the rates but I've never had as much as a funny look. And I've fed her in shopping centres, restaurants, supermarkets, libraries, on the train etc.

I'm hoping that the stories here are not the norm and that most women haven't been harassed for bf in public.

[bajamergrrl]

I've only been bf for 33 days but so far no one has given me problems when I NIP. I've nursed in restaurants and stores so far.

[mamazee]

I did get a funny look once, with dd #1. But no harassment.

[Ruthla]

I've nursed 3 kids for a total of 6.5 years, about 5 of them when we nursed in public (DS preferred to nurse only at home when he was over 3.5).

During that time, I had exactly ONE negative experience with nursing in public. DS was about 10mo, and both girls were in a gymnastics class once a week. I'd hang out and wait during the class, since it didn't pay to go home. There were a lot of "medium sized boys" (7-10ish) who liked to follow DS around while their sisters were in class. I would nurse DS whenever and wherever he needed it, and didn't care if there were some little boys hanging around.

The director of the gymnastics place asked me not to nurse DS in front of the other boys. None of the boys' parents complained to me; just the director of the studio. I don't even remember how I responded. I think I tried to be a little more discreet when nursing him, or maybe I asked the boys to leave DS alone for a few minutes when he needed to nurse.

In any case, there wasn't any harrassment involved, although it was an uncomfortable situation. And it only happened that one time in my entire breastfeeding career.

Yeah, I had some funny looks when nursing while pg, or nursing a toddler, but I think overall I've had more smiles than weird looks.

[Evergreen]

Never. All comments have been positive and all second glances have involved smiles or thumbs up.

[StrawberryFields]

I am not sure what the breastfeeding rates are in my area but I only really know two other people who breastfed other than myself, so I am guessing not great. I have never been harassed or bothered for NIP. Once when 2.5 year old ds was in a bad accident I practically had my shirt off leaning over the bed in order to nurse him while he was restrained in the hospital having his head scrubbed and stapled. The look on the nurses' faces made me figure they were totally shocked and freaked, but even then no one breathed a word about it.

I did have a nurse practitioner read me the riot act for still breastfeeding my then-13 month old dd. But dd was not with me and I was not nursing in front of the NP--she apparently just thought I was "doing it for me" at that point.

[jjawm]

Never been harassed, but I had a wonderful experience when I was nursing dd as a newborn. I was in Target, in the food section, and a woman came over to me. DD was just weeks old and I thought she'd complain. Instead she said how wonderful it was, and bought me a juice! That experience gave me the courage to nurse everywhere.

[zinemama]

In my combined 7 years of breastfeeding I never got anything but positives.

[Mama~Love]

Does being harrassed by DH count? Then yes, I have.

[laohaire]

DD is 4 years old and still nursing. I *think* that one time a lady gave us a funny look when we were nursing in a parked car, but who knows, it might not have even been negative (maybe just, "whoa, are they NURSING?").

I've nursed on airplanes (a lot). At Target (a lot). At EPCOT Center - only positive experiences there. At museums. At grocery stores. At WalMart (not too much). In public parks. On the beach on a couple of occasions. At work (that one was easy, my boss is even more crunchy than I am).

My post is not to say I don't believe harassment exists - sadly I think it does. And it probably varies by region and location. But it seems like it's not too common overall, thankfully.

When DD was a baby I worried about it, and when we flew on planes DH and I would get all worked up thinking of how we'd deal with it if we were harrassed. Nope, the only comment we got on an airplane was a stewardness who offered a pillow to put under DD's head (and DD was at least 2 at the time, too).

At this point if somebody had something nasty to say, I don't even think I'd get ruffled, I don't know why my attitude changed on that. I think I'd just shrug and say "well, poo on you" or something.

[Sharlla]

Not once, heck I've even nursed while standing in line at the DMV LOL

[isign]

We have low rates of bfing here, and it is rare to see anyone NIP. I've been nursing for 2 years as of yesterday (16m #1, 9m+ #2 and 2m tandem, so proud of that), and really have not had many comments. I got a dumb remark from a Dr about nursing while pg, and one shop owner asked me to go into the bathroom - we left - but other than that, I've never gotten any comments. I used to nurse during church service, and recently, when our nursery committee was requesting something private for nursing moms at church, the church administrator was surprised that anyone was nursing at church - there were 3 of us nursing at the time.

[cwat]

I've been asked to leave and/or cover up at the mall on two different occasions! (of course that was about 3 yrs ago)

[springbabes]

In nearly 8 years of BFing I was only harassed once. A young male employee at a thrift store tried to convince me I couldn't BF there. He was really worked up about it. I was calmly explaining to him that he was mistaken when another customer came up and started yelling at him to get a life. He ran off to get his manager and never came back. I talked to a cashier and one of the managers on my way out, suggesting they discuss state law with their employees. They were both very apologetic.

I've had several positive comments over the years including an elderly woman at the state fair who said, "Good for you!" as she walked by.

[Lynn08]

Originally Posted by Mama~Love

Does being harrassed by DH count? Then yes, I have.

Same here! My dh is the only person to ever tell me to cover up (or worse, actually try to cover dd's head - which I just laughed at because she was pulling it off before he even finished "covering" her) or "be careful" when I nip. He thinks he's helping me when he does this. He's concerned about what other people will do or say and doesn't want me to have to defend my actions. Which I've never had to do, despite not "being careful".

[Rivka5]

I've always had positive reactions. There were only two times that I worried I was about to have a negative experience. Once I was flying with my baby alone, so the stranger in the next seat was literally a few inches away from my breast. I thought she might be uncomfortable with the close quarters, but she immediately commented that seeing us brought back memories of nursing her own kids, and how nice nursing is.

The other time was when my family went to an Orioles baseball game. I sat down and started to nurse, and the next thing I noticed, the usher was leaning down and saying something to my husband. I was afraid he was saying that I couldn't nurse there, but then I heard what he was really saying: "Is this the baby's first game? You can stop by the concierge desk on your way out and they'll give him a special certificate."

The same usher also reseated us (without being asked) so the baby would be in the shade for the whole game. He was surprisingly alert to infant needs.

[Belle]

I voted no, but I guess I've been harassed by my mom. She's embarrassed when I NIP in her presence. She thinks I need to cover up more. Whenever she says that I look down and can't for the life of me figure out what more I could do to cover up since no skin is showing but Mom's kind of funny like that. No one else minds.

I've gotten several thumbs up and "Good for you"s

[kcstar]

Once at an Outback, another family complained.

Once at the YMCA, the woman at the guest seemed to think I was supposed to go to the family changing room / shower / bathroom to nurse.

Once with the extended family, we were playing cards and my uncle said "Hello, Public!" and I said "Hello, Family!"

[minkajane]

Two years, four states, countless NIPs, even NIPing in my military uniform and at my desk in front of my First Sergeant, and nobody ever said a word to me, with the exception of a couple of positive comments. I am thrilled about it and I like to think that more women are being supported to breastfeed, even though we do still hear about the occasional harassment.

[Jojo F.]

So far only positive comments. But I have bresatfed infront of friends who told me they would not be mature enough to handle situation. In the meit tai they had no idea I was brestfeeding my baby Either way, I would have taken care of my baby as I saw fit. Once I was at DS's t-ball game trying to get DD to latch on while at the bleachers in the mei tai. Apparently some grandma saw me and proceeded to tell me what an awsome thing I was doing for my baby She then talked about how her family members experienced BFing in Europe while they lived there, apparently THAT'S where I need to be!

Boobs are for life and are beauitful

I am waiting for the day someone says something to me!!! I will firmly plant my butt down and proceed as necessary