expressions from passerbys for bottle/breast

[Ivy-Rose]

Hello,
I was wondering if there is anyone else out there that combines the breast and bottle and if you have noticed the difference in the looks you get from passer bys.
I was at a private hospital today and my baby needed feeding. She is a fussy feeder when out and she even has a problem having a bottle feed as eveything distracts her. (It is her age 61/2 mths) I noticed as I was sitting in the hallway outside the very small waiting room that I got smiles and expressions that seemed to say how beautiful it was to see a breast feed baby.
I had been trying to feed her for about 20 minutes and I was not into just letting it hang out while she swung her head back to see what that was going by so I decided to make my back up, her bottle.
Well it was from then that I noticed the looks went from a oh how lovely to a stare.
I was puzzled for a second then realising I was bottle feeding and that it was less approved of than the breast. I had no smiles or sweet looks just hard stares.
These people that stared were aged from young to old and not one person gave me a disapproving look when I was breastfeeding only bottle feeding.
Has anyone else noticed this.
Emma ADD ON. This most certainly isn't a battle of breast or bottle please don't make it that. It is simply asking if people that do both have noticed the diferent expressions, good or bad.

[razzle]

My daughter BF for only about 4 months because I had so many problems. In fact, the last month of that was expressed milk in a bottle. I didn't feel comfortable whipping my boob out in public anyway. One (older) woman actually made comment about me not BFing one so young and I told her to mind her own business and that the bottle was actually breastmilk. It shut her up! Do what's best for you and YOUR baby - not what's best for other people! ;)

[possum]

Hi there Ivy-Rose,

I bottle fed all my 3 boys and I can honestly say that when I bottle fed out in public, I always received smiles from people, both men and women :)

Do you think people stared at you because one minuite you were breastfeeding and then the next you were bottle feeding? :confused:

I dont really think they were negative towards you bottle feeding, just the fact that as I said above, you were breast feeding and then you swapped to a bottle thats all. :cool:

keep happy,
Possum :)

[Ivy-Rose]

Hi again,
I only noticed that there was one person that walked past during both types of feeds, there may have been one or two more the rest only pasted the once. The person that passed twice was one of the few that was polite about both. This isn't the first time this has happened. I've just noticed that some places I have been are like that. I very rarely do both as it is normally either the bottle or the breast as I have a routine to the feeding.
I am very sad to say that with my second child I attended a group (I will withhold the group type as not all the groups are like this) I started of breastfeeding but this became very difficult for other reasons and when I finally excepted that I needed to go to bottle I was shunned by some of the group and was made to feel very uncomfortable and I wasn't the only one. The few of us that was bottle feeding left the group after a few months and meet up. So even other mothers can be critical. This was a few years ago as she is three and things have changed in this types of groups since then.
Emma

[possum]

Hi again Ivy-Rose, :)
Some people can be very cruel can't they? The experience that you had with the group that you left was very sad...especially that we are all mothers. I am glad that you left them as I would have done the same. ;)
I too had a similar experience, not with feeding, but been so called 'snobbed' ( I was not the only one at this particular group that was ignored) that I just picked up my son and left, never to go back...like you, I found another group of mums who were great!
keep happy,
possum :D

[veronica]

I was at a private hospital today and my baby needed feeding. She is a fussy feeder when out and she even has a problem having a bottle feed as eveything distracts her. (It is her age 61/2 mths) I noticed as I was sitting in the hallway outside the very small waiting room that I got smiles and expressions that seemed to say how beautiful it was to see a breast feed baby.
I had been trying to feed her for about 20 minutes and I was not into just letting it hang out while she swung her head back to see what that was going by so I decided to make my back up, her bottle.
Well it was from then that I noticed the looks went from a oh how lovely to a stare.
I was puzzled for a second then realising I was bottle feeding and that it was less approved of than the breast. I had no smiles or sweet looks just hard stares.
These people that stared were aged from young to old and not one person gave me a disapproving look when I was breastfeeding only bottle feeding.

Hi Ivy-Rose and others

I have not had to bottle feed but have also noticed how difficult it is to now feed my bub due to distraction, so I try to avoid doing it in public these days. The other day, however, I had no choice and decided to feed. Well the stares I received! I couldn't believe it - it made me quite mad :mad: . Most of the looks were from older people. I was wondering if they thought it just shouldn't be done full stop (yet its not rude all you can see is a shirt and the back of a babies head), or whether it seemed my bub is too old. She is very tall for her age (6mths). I was wondering if anyone else had noticed this?

I won't really comment on the breast v's bottle arguement because I don't think there should be one! - except for:

We are all mothers who try to do the very best for our bubs breast or bottle! :)

[shell]

hi i have bottle feed from the start and when i give her a bottle when im out .I get funny looks . if to say there are places you should you should do that . doesnt what you do people will look at if it be in a good way or bad

kylie
chloe 5 months :rolleyes:

[yummmmy_mummy]

i breast feed my daughter for 6 weeks but then got concerned when the doctor told me she hadnt put on enugh weight which she had but the doctors scales were wrong so i started bottle feeding to make sure she gets enough food and now i think about i think i made the right choice for me as i was having trouble breast feeding as i have rather large breasts and i think with my next baby when i decide to have it i will do the same breast feed for 6 weeks then bottle and breast then only bottle

and i agree it doesnt matter what which u decide to do u are always going to find someone who will critisize u and stare

[Ivy-Rose]

Hello Yummy mummy,
I to have larger sized breasts and found that alot of people that have them had trouble feeding. I had a great nurse in hospital when I had my first bub and she saw the trouble I was having and suggested I put a rolled up washer under my breast to lift it a little. Ihave aslo known some with really really big breasts to use a rolled up cloth nappy. Maybe these ideas will help with you next bub and make those first few weeks a little easier. I know if I was caught without my washer I was a real mess just had so much trouble. But I have feed 3 bubs now my first till 10mths, my second for 5mths and my third who is supp feed as well but mostly breast and she is just 7 mths.
Hope this helps.
Emma

[Zoe & Troy]

Hi. Thoughout my pregnancy I was certain I was going to breast feed. Breast is best as the saying goes. Well when my son Jayden was born tongue tied the plan went out the window. We had his tongue cut, and lactation nurse to try to get him to breast feed but he wouldn't have a bar of it.

I had no problems with anyone staring ect, until one day I went out with a girlfriend who breastfeed. We were in the parents room full of breastfeeding mother and babies. When I pulled out Jaydens bottle the room went silent. I felt so belitted by every mother in the room. I felt like I had to explain myself.

After that situation, I have learnt that everyone is going to have their own thoughts on the matter, but you have to do what right for you and your baby, and If a few bad looks come with it, unfortunatly you just have to live with it.

Hold you head up high, good luck from Zoe

[Ivy-Rose]

Hi there,
I am so sorry you had to go though such a difficult moment.
It is really sad that other mothers do this. You would think that as a mum they would have some understanding that it may not be possible for all mums and bubs to breastfeed. It isn't slways a person chose it is chosen for them.
Cheers Emma :)