Marks & Spencer cafe: breast-feeding mother asked to leave & feed baby in toilets:OK?

peachyprice

Azari wrote: »

Well the answer to your question is quite obvious.

Because only in the case of breast fed babies does someone have to expose a part of their body that it is normally considered impolite (or even offensive) to expose - albeit only momentarily.

It's not necessary at all to expose any part of the body to breastfeed a baby and unless you were sticking your face into most nursing mothers chests you wouldn't know whether a baby was feeding or sleeping.

notanewuser

My 4 best friends have been breastfeeding their children for the last 3.5 years. I couldn't tell you what shape, colour or size their nipples were despite sitting right next to them as they fed their children thousands of times.

I couldn't pick them out of a nipple line-up!

janiebquick

flossy_splodge wrote: »

I realise it will not be a popular view but I'm afraid I object STRONGLY to a female breast feeding in public.
I never found the need to do so in my own turn, some years ago and certainly do NOT want to witness someone else doing so.
I appreciate modesty has gone out of the window these days but I would be the one complaining if forced to witness this when trying to have a peaceful cuppa.
(stands back and waits for the righteously indignant to deny me the right to MY opinion).

So, presumably, a male breastfeeding in public would be OK then?

Azari

peachyprice wrote: »

It's not necessary at all to expose any part of the body to breastfeed a baby and unless you were sticking your face into most nursing mothers chests you wouldn't know whether a baby was feeding or sleeping.

Ah, but that's not the point.

It's what the complainers imagine they might see (or someone else might see) that bothers them.

Or at least I assume that's their problem.

peachyprice

Azari wrote: »

Ah, but that's not the point.

It's what the complainers imagine they might see (or someone else might see) that bothers them.

Or at least I assume that's their problem.

Very true.

I feel the same every time I see a man, I can't help but imagine what's going on in their trousers. I keep reporting them to the police for flashing, but they just come out with some BS about it not being flashing if I'm only envisaging what's going on, they just don't understand how this offensive behaviour is distressing me.

Buellguy

Crabapple wrote: »

Wow! :rotfl:

One thing I never understand when breastfeeding debates start on forums or news sites, is the number of people who start going on about having to see such a sight and how mothers should be discreet.

I've never once seen one of the women who wap their baps out at every opportunity! I have however seen plenty where you really couldn't tell. As a breastfeeder I don't mind if people are aware I am feeding my baby but I they won't be seeing anything else (and that's without using covers).

I'm also pretty sure people can look somewhere else!

I did have the misfortune of being in a cafe when a certain female did this, and was very outspoken as to the fact that she was going to breastfeed in public. VERY loudly making everyone aware of what she was doing. The look on her face when everyone in the cafe (full at the time) just ignored her and carried on eating/drinking was a bit of a classic!!! you could see she was extremely disappointed that no-one objected/even deigned to give a s$%t

Newbold

Buellguy wrote: »

I did have the misfortune of being in a cafe when a certain female did this, and was very outspoken as to the fact that she was going to breastfeed in public. VERY loudly making everyone aware of what she was doing. The look on her face when everyone in the cafe (full at the time) just ignored her and carried on eating/drinking was a bit of a classic!!! you could see she was extremely disappointed that no-one objected/even deigned to give a s$%t

Are you quite sure this isn't more to do with your perception of the event than the actual event? It really is incredibly unusual for a woman breastfeeding to behave in the way that's suggested.

Buellguy

Newbold wrote: »

Are you quite sure this isn't more to do with your perception of the event than the actual event? It really is incredibly unusual for a woman breastfeeding to behave in the way that's suggested.

Unfortunately no (to the extent that one woman over the otherside of the caf! told her to 'just shut up and get on with it!!'), incredibly unusual, yep, only ever seen it happen once, think she was one of those people who just wanted to be noticed/argumentative etc and was wound up when no-one in the place rose to it

flossy_splodge

peachyprice wrote: »

Stop staring then.

What a quite inane response to a serious discussion.

flossy_splodge

Azari wrote: »

Ah, but that's not the point.

It's what the complainers imagine they might see (or someone else might see) that bothers them.

Or at least I assume that's their problem.

I'm so glad you italicised the word 'imagine' and then admitted it's your ASSUMPTION.
Incorrect assumption I'm afraid.
What 'bothers' me is what is actually on view.
I agree wholeheartedly that many breast feeding mums do so in a modest and unobtrusive way.
HOWEVER.... there are also those that don't. Those that seem to have the opinion that 'it's natural' so no-one should complain.
It's 'natural' to go to the toilet but I certainly wouldn't do that in public.
It's natural to make love but I certainly wouldn't do that in public either etc etc.
We seem to be forgetting the 'rights' of those who hold a contrary point of view.
Of course it is not ok for a mum to have to feed her baby in a toilet. But nor do I want to see it in public.
End of.