Government spending money on advertising to encourage breast feeding but then won't change the law! Luckily never had any problems feeding in public.

I live in England i've had no problems and i'm still breastfeeding my son and he's nearly 9 months but this is an outrage to hear what do they think breasts are there for they weren't given to us for mens pleasure, but to feed our babies, it isnt fair this is why not everyone breastfeeds because of these pompus stuck up people. How did people feed there babies before formula was invented?! THE BREAST

sorry for the rank ladies but im a firm believer in breast feeding, and so is my husband who is from africa and ladies breast feed there babies anywhere they like so even he cant understand why people would be like this

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural things in the world. I don't understand how it can be offensive?
I breast fed my son til he was one year old and was proud to do it in public places (on the train, in restaurants, in cafes, etc). I made sure that I was sufficiently covered up so that I didn't make anyone feel uncomfortable but I was very proud to do it and I will do it again with any subsiquent children.
The law should be changed

According to a major study on childhood the UK is the worst place in the developed world to grow up.

With archaic legislation and attitudes such as this are we really surprised?

I am ashamed to come from a country where naturally feeding your child is considered a public indecency.

If my child is hungry I will feed my child no matter where I happen to be, as his needs come before all others.

My first post here, but i am so annoyed i had to reply.
When my oldest was a baby (11 years ago) I was breast feeding her in public, discreetly in a corner of a cafe i might add, when i was made to feel very uncomfortable, unfortunately it had a knock on effect and i ended up stopping breastfeeding far earlier than i wanted to. Not just that one incident i might add, but peoples perceptions of it, ashamed to say some women responded the worst, especially if they had children with them.
Then with my son (6 years ago) I gave it another shot, but this time tried to arrange my life so i was home, or at a friends/relatives house around feeding time, managed to do it for longer this time, and I noticed that the general feeling about breast feeding was slightly better. But arranging your life so you are never far from "home" is very difficult.. I am dismayed to find the situation hasn't changed that much yet.
I'm currently expecting my third and determind that this time I'm not stopping. I have yet to work out how i intend to do it as life is far busier now, but I expect a few people are going to get some comments from me if they dare poke thier nose in.
The government is typically just doing half measures because they think it makes them look good. Most mothers who breastfeed try to be discreet, they don't want to be ogled anymore than other people want to see your "baps".
We need support, not condemnation.. though if mothers breast feed for longer then the chances of them being in full time work (to boost the governments employment figures, another annoyance of mine) is much slimmer.. :evil::evil::evil:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/breastfedright/ is another online petition that needs signing

With my first baby on the way I intend to try breastfeeding and hope to do so for any other children I have. I'd be descreet and wouldn't start flapping my baps about publicly in peoples faces , so if someone asked me to stop, I think I'd ask what there problem was and cause such a commotion that they'd be embarressed they ever asked me in the first place . It's what nature intended and what helped keep the human race going, so stop fighting against it !!!

Some people are just annoying.....!!! ARGH!!

:D

[Modified by: absburton on July 01, 2008 02:32 PM]

[Modified by: absburton on July 01, 2008 02:33 PM]

Its rediculous breastfeeding is one f the most natural things in the world.
Bet most of them comlaining are middle aged plus and would all have been breastfeed themselves.

Makes me glad I'm a Scottish mum

I have been breastfeeding my baby for 13 weeks now and have fed her in all sorts of places, so far I have been lucky and no one has approached me to stop or go elsewhere, but I do worry that I will be asked everytime I breastfeed. I always try to be as discreet as possible and wear those nursing bras that only uncover the nipple so I'm showing as little flesh as possible.

I fully support the change to legislation, I know it would make me feel more empowered to refuse if I where asked to leave a restaurant, etc.

I had a real problem with the thought of breastfeeding in public until I had my baby... and realised that they can't hold off to our clocks. LO is now 8 weeks old and I've had to just jump in and do it.
Now I have fed in Costa coffee, and on Clapham Common on a Sunday afternoon (and showing less flesh than half the women there!!!)

The rest of Britain needs to follow Scotland into the 21st century and support women who choose to give their babies the best, most natural start in life. God knows, it's hard enough to do without this sort of hassle!!!

anyone who stops people breastfeeding have issues themselves! how the hell is feeding your baby in the way nature intended offensive. they obviously have personal issues that need addressing not takin out on a poor hungry baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I fail to understand how the government can on one hand claim to want to increase the pitifully low Breast feeding rates in the UK (and encourage mums to stick with it to 6 months) and yet not support us from continuing.
I continue to feed where ever and when ever my 4 month old daughter needs it - I will not be ushered into toilets to feed my baby!
I applaud the Scottish government for taking steps to protect the rights of breastfeeding Mothers and the Babies that are getting the best.
I urge the English government to take the same steps.

I live 15 mins from the Lake District and if i'm out walking with my new baby in September and she needs fed then i will be breast feeding her. I cant think of anything more calming than sitting in the fresh air on a grassy bank, fantastic views and breast-feeding my baby. God help anyone who tells me they are offended by what i'm doing.

The law should be changed. What kind of world do we live in.

I think it should be an offence to ban public breastfeeding in the whole of the UK, not just Scotland.

How can government bodies like the NHS support breastfeeding when their own backer, the government, has not provided the relevant legislation to support their recommendations?

i just can't believe this - what right have people got to stop another human being form eating - as that is what we are doing feeding our babies not showing ourseleves for the sake of it and even then it is done very descreetly.
i had to feed my baby in a public toilet today - who else would eat in a toilet area!!!!!!!

It is totallly mad.

You are advised that breast is best but only when it suits the government:evil::o.

We am still trying for our first baby at the moment but I have every intention of breast feeding and will do so where and when the baby needs me to. The thought that someone could by law tell me to go and feed my child in the toliets is too awful to think about. I will, as others have said, of being discrete and I think that it is the people complaining that should be made to eat their food in the toilet and see how much they like it.
I think they should change the law and join us in the real world!

I can't believe anyone would throw a breast feeding Mum out of a resturant. I however, don't feel comfortable in public breatfeeding, what I find shamefull is, that considering the goverment are pushing breast feeding, why do they not provide bf stations, I do not want to feed my baby in public toilets but there is no where to go in my home town.

Thankfully I didn't have any problems - Costa was my usual haunt!!

I would have kicked up a huge fuss if I had been asked to stop though, if my baby needs feeding that's what I am going to do!

Looking at some of the so-called feeding rooms I certainly wouldn't use them, there was one in my local supermarket that was basically being used as a store room for spare shelving which had a note on not to remove it - thanks a bunch.

How can the government try and promote breastfeeding in hospitals etc and then prevent mums from actually doing it?

Hello,

Haven't logged on in ages... But I feel very strongly about having rights to breastfeed in public... It is disgusting that people want to ban this.
I breastfed my son in public up until I stopped breastfeeding at 6 months which was my choice. It is a natural thing to do between mother and baby and the best thing to do..
Babies have a right to eat wherever they are whether breast or bottle fed....It upsets me for people to think other wise.
Please sign me up for the petition pro breast feeding...
Thanks
SW33