Can I share a story? About NIP....

[kimberlylibby]

I shared this with people in one of my yahoogroups, and thought it might be discussable on here as well.

I was at the mall and Katie was fussy. We were near the food court and there is a nursing mom's room there, so I went in to try and nurse her.

There was a hard upright chair, a rocking chair, and a changing table. That's all that is in this (small) room.

There was a guy sitting in the rocking chair and his girlfriend was using the changing table to change their 1-ish-year old kid's diaper.

I came in to nurse... I assumed the guy would stand up (I was surprised he was even in there, frankly). Nope! I sat on the hard chair and started to latch her on (she was screaming loudly). It was SO uncomfortable, and we couldnt' get a good latch. So I sat on the FLOOR. Chump man doesn't even OFFER the chair.

I was being discreet at first, but she was so upset, I just pulled up my entire shirt and focused on getting her to nurse. He STARED at my boobs the whole time, thanks chump.

Finally, he leaves with the kid and she's doing something else. She proceeds to lecture me on why I should be formula feeding and not breastfeeding, because it is easier and I wouldn't have been 'in this situation' I'm assuming she meant I wouldn't have had to wait to feed her, but Katie had just started crying... whatever.

She was yelling over Katie's screams about how formula feeding is easy and I should just switch, and blah blah. It was nuts.

Anyway, turned out Katie was not hungry and was just tired, and she fell asleep on me...

But wow, I must have had the "I love to have strangers talk to me" sign flashing yesterday, cause that was just too much!

Oh, and FYI, there is a bathroom next door to the nursing room with changing tables, not quite sure why they didn't go THERE instead of the NURSING room.

[Lula's Mom]

Are you positive that wasn't a nightmare you had? Surely so many unbelievable things couldn't have actually happened...

So what did you do? What did you say? I'm pretty sure that I would have sat on the floor too, even before I tried the hard chair. But if he'd been staring at me, I would've opened my big, sarcastic mouth on him. Not to mention the education she would've gotten on breastfeeding vs. formula. :

[kimberlylibby]

NOpe, wish it was a nightmare!

I actually laughed about it (after the fact). I figure you can't change it once it happens.

I was just annoyed by creepy leer-at-boobs man. So I didn't do anything with him.

With her, I was more focused on getting Katie latched.... and just said "she's only had breastmilk and she's quite healthy!"

I couldn't believe she didn't get the hint with Katie SCREAMING to just SHUT UP!

[Kari_mom]

Oh man, you should have called mall security for parents in the nursing room without nursing! I am sure it is against the rules! I mean, that is why it is there, so no one has to see the NIP moms NIP.

That was just plain stupid for you to have to go through. And you know they talked ABOUT you after they left and patted themselves on the back for never having to soothe a crying baby in public. :

[Viola]

OMG, what a rude man! He should not have been in that room. And I really would have lost my temper if someone tried to tell me I should be formula feeding. I don't go accost formula feeding moms and tell them to breastfeed, for heaven's sake.

This kind of thing annoys me because I have heard stories from anti-breastfeeders about how women who NIP are deliberately trying to entice their husbands. I feel like this couple is probably the type who will go home and tell people about the brazen breastfeeder they saw at the mall, but leave out all the details, and then others will nod in agreement that it's horrible how militant breastfeeders are.

[sun-shine01]

She proceeds to lecture me on why I should be formula feeding and not breastfeeding, because it is easier


You could have said,
"Yes, you are right. When I think about the health and nurturing of my child, I guess I should have taken the easy road rather than the right one."

Some people!

[hunnybumm]

Back home in the mall they have a nursing room next to the bathroom. When I went to visit my family when DS was 3 mo I used that room. It was tiny and horribly hot, but they did have a comfy rocking chair and a little sink with a counter area. But not changing table.

I would have been LIVID if I had been in your situation. If DS was in a hysterical mood and I thought he was hungry I would have asked the guy to move. If he didn't.... he would have wished he had.

And to sit there and stare at you... what a rude d*&^. And we wonder why so many woman are afraid to NIP. Imagine being in a crowd of people and having a few 'lookie lous'. So sorry you had to go through this, luckily you know what you are doing is best for your child and she is ignorant and uninformed.

[soccerchic21]

That guy is a total jerk. I would have asked for the rocking chair and if he refused I would have went straight to mall security told them there is a man in the nursing room that won't let you sit in the rocker and nurse your baby in private. After all that is where most mall security would like us anyway right?

Sorry you had to go through that...and that lady! sick! She is also lucky she didn't lecture me. I would have given her a new you know what.

[philomom]

I so cannot understand folks sometimes. Here's a hug for you!

[littlecityfarmer]

I'm impressed that your mall has a nursing room! I'm sorry that rude people don't understand it's purpose!

Had I been in your situation, with the lech in the rocking chair staring at my boobs, I probably would have offered him some breast milk! Maybe he was hungry, and that's why he was being so rude... I don't know what I would have done if he accepted, though...

As for the woman-- some people just sadly misinformed...

[hallesmom]

OH HELL NO!!!!!!! (can i say that)
That is crazy and ridiculous.....what mall was it at???

[chersolly]

That lady has issues and her DH is a rude mofo.

[veganbaby]

That is just so rude!!!! Did you tell her the horrors of forumal feeding?

[Galatea]

Oooh, I want to find this couple and beat them up! I would still be furious if it were me. I don't know how you sound so calm.

[jeca]

Originally Posted by lilli78

Oooh, I want to find this couple and beat them up! I would still be furious if it were me. I don't know how you sound so calm.

I'll help you!
I would have also offered him a tast and on the women's stupid comment this has happend to me. People actually lecture me on how easier formula feeding is, easier for who? what planet are they on?

[Butterflymom]

OMG I can't believe that happened to you!

I think I would have been so livid at the woman telling me to stop BFing and switch to formula--something along the lines of, "Sorry, my child deserves the best and that's breastmilk."
and to Pervy Perverson I would have asked him if he wanted some.

:LOL

[Mavournin]

Ugh. How awful.

That woman is probably so gung-ho about formula because that dumb DH/BF/whatever told her that breastfeeding was "nasty". I mean if he's staring at *your* boobs, imagine how possessive he must be of hers. (Read: he's a pig.) I feel kind of bad for her.

But not too bad, because I'm mean and would have squirted her in the eye if she said that to me.

[Meiri]

I might've asked her if she always advertizes her stupidity to perfect strangers.
At the point where she started in on you, she asked for it IMO.

[Meiri]

There's a t-shirt at Target that says "keep staring, maybe I'll do a trick."

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by beansmommy

I'm impressed that your mall has a nursing room! I'm sorry that rude people don't understand it's purpose!

Had I been in your situation, with the lech in the rocking chair staring at my boobs, I probably would have offered him some breast milk! Maybe he was hungry, and that's why he was being so rude... I don't know what I would have done if he accepted, though...

As for the woman-- some people just sadly misinformed...

Or squirt him with the other boob!

That does sound like a nightmare and I'm sure your mind is swirling with comebacks, but if you're like me- when the baby is crying my brain freezes until I get the babe happy.

She obviously doesn't have any concept of personal space if she accosted you about FF . Even though I'm right I don't accost FF moms about how dangerous formula can be and how BF is better.