nemisis:
daffodilly:Firstly I don't have children but I have many friends who have had them and many breast fed. But none did it by bearing a breast in public in fact most you would have been hard pressed to even know that was what they were doing. A shawl or muslin or something drapped over the shoulder across the baby and breast hides everything. I think that solves the problem for people who don't like to see it although personally I would rather a baby be fed and happy than screaming and hungry any time !
Head in Lion's mouth here: -
I think that breast feeding should be a private matter and Nicola could have at least positioned herself with her back to the people in the cafe if she insisted on feeding the baby there.
I do not think that she should have had the baby sitting in the pub at all!!
Breast feeding does make some people uncomfortable and this is a fact, right or wrong and this should be taken into consideration. What next, changing the nappy on the table in the cafe as they do not have baby changing facilities, after all changing the baby is as natural as feeding it?
How do people of other faiths view this action, do they find it offensive if exposing even a woman's hair is not permitted?
Thank God for you Nemisis! I have been reading through these posts after not getting chance for a few days and I am in the camp that thinks it's not for the best in public too. Not because I am a prude, far from it, but I remember the first time my sister in law popped hers out in our living room to feed my neice, about 25 years ago, my Dad didn't know where to put himself!
My better half and I disagreed over this when it was shown, he is a Dad and is in the 'It's perfectly natural, what's wrong with you?' camp, and I have never had (or wanted) to give birth and can only see how inappropriate it is in some places and situations. I know that breastfeediong mothers can express milk and put it in a bottle, and I am sorry but I think that on certain occasions this should be done. If someone whipped them out in a pub or cafe when I was there I too would feel very uncomfortable, and I know that that does not put me in a minority of one. I'm not saying the thing shouldn't be fed, I'd certainly rather that than the resultant screaming, just that there are other ways.
Puts head back below parapet in readiness for barrage of unfriendly fire!