NIP vent

[Sustainer]

May I just vent here for a minute? May I just say that I am getting SO tired of people giving me dirty looks and muttering under their breath when they see me breastfeeding in public? I really don't need that kind of negative energy around me when I am trying to breastfeed my baby, you know? It seems like it happens every time! I really need to move out of this area to some place more progressive. I'm always amazed (and envious!) when other women on these boards say that all they've ever gotten is positive feedback. OK, thanks for letting me vent.

[RachelGS]

That's terrible. FWIW, I've discovered that a direct look in the eye works wonders. If they want to comment to me, I KNOW I'm better educated about breastfeeding and can tell them a few things. There's nothing they can say that I can't shoot down. But the eyebrow-raised "bring it on" look right at them usually causes them to shift their eyes and turn away.

[taz925]

I am sorry you experience negativity and good for you for carrying on despite it. I usually either don't look around so am oblivious to any reactions or concentrate on my baby and what is going on between us (saying how cute he is, how he wants "milkies" etc).

Good Luck,
Doreen

[GeorgiaGalHeidi]

ITA w/ rachel! If I feel someone staring I will look back with a serious eye. I usually get a smile back.

[StarMama]

Yeah! Does it seem like they are gonna run into a wall or something with how hard they stare at you, not paying attention to anything else?? I mean *sheesh* its JUST a boob! Its not like I'm having intercourse in public or something! It's particularly bad in my solivarius sling since its see through and I yank my breast out over my tank tops! : Not that I hide when I NIP (hell no!) but a maya wrap or something does block the view a lot.

[TiredX2]

Is this when you are nursing DS? He is a TINY baby for gosh sakes! If it is DD, I could understand a double take, but for DS?

[Mothra]

I make direct eye contact and every single time the person has backed down. No one has ever said anything directly to me. My husband has overheard comments, but no one has ever been stupid enough to say something to me directly.

I've been lucky in that I have gotten lots of postive and encouraging comments from strangers. I have LOTS of older women tell me they wish they'd nursed their kids, but the doctors back then said that formula was better.

I do my best to make the person staring at me uncomfortable. Sometimes I even say, "Can I help you?" if they look too long. That moves them along.

[TiredX2]

Just wanted to clarify that I do not think that you should be gawked at for NIP a 3 year old, just that I could at least understand a bit of a double take, though DS is an 8-01 baby and I still NIP him w/out much fuss (that I notice, lol).

[MamaAllNatural]

Dirty looks over a 3 mo?! What are people thinking? That's terrible. Just try to make eye contact with your babe and show everyone how happy the both of you are to be doing this. Or how about...when you get dirty look for nursing the 3 mo whip out the other boob and start nursing the 3 yo too! Might as well.:LOL

[apri4]

It happens to me a lot too, but I decided not to care, when people look at me like that, I look back to them with dirty look too. I just dont get it, they can eat anywhere, but my baby has to eat away from public ??

[sweetest]

Oh

My approach to the looks is to gove them a big smile

I am doing what is best for my baby - and loving every minute of it!

[Sustainer]

Originally Posted by TiredX2

Is this when you are nursing DS?

Yes, my 3 month old!

Originally Posted by MamaAllNatural

Or how about...when you get dirty look for nursing the 3 mo whip out the other boob and start nursing the 3 yo too! Might as well.

Good idea! :LOL



People usually don't say anything to me directly, just mutter under their breath, so I can't really respond, you know? If someone said something to me directly, I (or dp) would definitely have an answer for them, but when they just mutter under their breath I feel like there's nothing I can say.

Even if there were some way I could respond, it still wouldn't "fix" it. The nice breastfeeding mood has already been spoiled.

[Gidget]

Maybe when they mutter under thier breath you could say something like, Sorry I was lost in my own world there, were you saying something to me?

Ginger

[jeca]

I'm sorry that's happened to you. I guess if anyone has ever given me dirty looks I haven't noticed at all. Wait! once a pregnant woman looked at me like she was disgusted and quickly moved away. We were seated at teh docter's office no less but I just kind of shrugged her off as "poor woman, all those bottless to make".

[katja]

Wow, Apri4!
I was just going to say that I think Chicago has been a really nice place to NIP. Well, one dirty look at a restaurant when DD was 7 weeks. Imagine! But DD is almost 1yo, and it hasn't happened since that one time. I think it is a lot harder to find a good place to change a diaper here than it is to NIP. So few changing tables, and I won't kneel on a bathroom floor! Ugh!