Read inspiring stories from breastfeeding mums about their experiences of breastfeeding in public.
Australia, Commonwealth of (Press Release) May 3, 2008 --
Nursingwear is committed to supporting breastfeeding mums to feel free to breastfeed in public. Nursingwear, leading Australian online retailer of breastfeeding clothes and nursing wear, The Australian Breastfeeding Association and My Child Magazine are running a joint campaign aimed at supporting breastfeeding mums in feeling free to breastfeed in public, aptly called FEEL FREE TO FEED.
Winning stories are published in MyChild magazine. Now you can also read selected inspiring stories online...
Surprise… Boob!
Recently a friend and I went to the Australian Breastfeeding Association Hot Milk Conference in Melbourne, we are both trainees from Perth. Our last day in Melbourne was Saturday and so we didn’t have to trek back to the hotel after Hot Milk before heading to the airport, we decided to take all our baggage with us to the conference and leave it in the cloakroom. We had just handed our keys back and were standing outside the hotel getting ourselves organised for our 15 to 20 minute walk. It is important at this point in the story to set the scene – here are my friend and I, babies in slings, my bub Seth is seven months old my friend’s nine months old. Here we are both with large, heavy suitcases, prams, nappy bags and assorted paraphernalia. A taxi pulled up and two other lovely women from our hotel hopped into the taxi with their bags. They offered us a lift, which we declined because we were both travelling with our bubs and didn’t want them in the car without restraints.
The taxi driver, a sweet, older, very Italian man, got out of his car and started loading up bags, and the women hopped into the taxi. Just as the taxi driver was about to close the passenger door we asked if we could put our suitcases in the taxi to make the walk to the conference a little easier. They agreed, so this lovely driver began to load up all our suitcases and bags. It was at this point he lifted my very heavy suitcase and commented on what was in it, we had a bit of a laugh and he started asking me about my bub who was strapped into the sling with a blanket on his head. He had a blanket over his head because he had been feeding and trying to go to sleep, and all the excitement keeps him awake – also I am not very discreet when it comes to breastfeeding in the ABA sling.
Anyway, the taxi driver started rubbing Seth’s legs and in quite an accent saying, ‘Oh he is a-lovely eh? What a be-u-wdiful boy, hey, lovely, just be-u-wdiful eh!’ He then asked if he could lift the blanket to have a good look at him to which I happily agreed – he is gorgeous so why wouldn’t I want to show him off? The gentleman proceeded to take the blanket off and as quickly as he looked in he jumped back in fright and said, ‘Oh my! Oh! I am-a sorry love I did-a-not know he was-a feedin’, I am-a sorry!’ I hadn’t even given it a second thought, to be honest, the man looked a little embarrassed and taken aback so I reassured him and told him ‘Don’t worry, it is just a boob’ or something to that effect. With renewed enthusiasm and no longer put off, he pulled the blanket back and started to croon and talk to my bub, saying it was ‘the besta thing, it was-a great stuff, eh?’ He then patted me on the back and leaned over and kissed baby on the head – 2cm away from my boob! He was the sweetest, most gorgeous man, very naturally affectionate. In normal circumstances I would have been uncomfortable, but this man was a gentleman, obviously a very proud grandfather and a pro-boobie one at that. It was like I had made his day, he was all smiles and muttered to himself as he got into the car “ the best thing for them & it was lovely to see”.
Granted it was a little odd and I was a bit stunned at the time, but it made for a good giggle on the walk to the conference. I only wish I got his name so I could have thanked him somehow for making my day and being so accepting of breastfeeding in public.
Winning stories are published in MyChild magazine. Now you can also read selected inspiring stories online...
Surprise… Boob!
Recently a friend and I went to the Australian Breastfeeding Association Hot Milk Conference in Melbourne, we are both trainees from Perth. Our last day in Melbourne was Saturday and so we didn’t have to trek back to the hotel after Hot Milk before heading to the airport, we decided to take all our baggage with us to the conference and leave it in the cloakroom. We had just handed our keys back and were standing outside the hotel getting ourselves organised for our 15 to 20 minute walk. It is important at this point in the story to set the scene – here are my friend and I, babies in slings, my bub Seth is seven months old my friend’s nine months old. Here we are both with large, heavy suitcases, prams, nappy bags and assorted paraphernalia. A taxi pulled up and two other lovely women from our hotel hopped into the taxi with their bags. They offered us a lift, which we declined because we were both travelling with our bubs and didn’t want them in the car without restraints.
The taxi driver, a sweet, older, very Italian man, got out of his car and started loading up bags, and the women hopped into the taxi. Just as the taxi driver was about to close the passenger door we asked if we could put our suitcases in the taxi to make the walk to the conference a little easier. They agreed, so this lovely driver began to load up all our suitcases and bags. It was at this point he lifted my very heavy suitcase and commented on what was in it, we had a bit of a laugh and he started asking me about my bub who was strapped into the sling with a blanket on his head. He had a blanket over his head because he had been feeding and trying to go to sleep, and all the excitement keeps him awake – also I am not very discreet when it comes to breastfeeding in the ABA sling.
Anyway, the taxi driver started rubbing Seth’s legs and in quite an accent saying, ‘Oh he is a-lovely eh? What a be-u-wdiful boy, hey, lovely, just be-u-wdiful eh!’ He then asked if he could lift the blanket to have a good look at him to which I happily agreed – he is gorgeous so why wouldn’t I want to show him off? The gentleman proceeded to take the blanket off and as quickly as he looked in he jumped back in fright and said, ‘Oh my! Oh! I am-a sorry love I did-a-not know he was-a feedin’, I am-a sorry!’ I hadn’t even given it a second thought, to be honest, the man looked a little embarrassed and taken aback so I reassured him and told him ‘Don’t worry, it is just a boob’ or something to that effect. With renewed enthusiasm and no longer put off, he pulled the blanket back and started to croon and talk to my bub, saying it was ‘the besta thing, it was-a great stuff, eh?’ He then patted me on the back and leaned over and kissed baby on the head – 2cm away from my boob! He was the sweetest, most gorgeous man, very naturally affectionate. In normal circumstances I would have been uncomfortable, but this man was a gentleman, obviously a very proud grandfather and a pro-boobie one at that. It was like I had made his day, he was all smiles and muttered to himself as he got into the car “ the best thing for them & it was lovely to see”.
Granted it was a little odd and I was a bit stunned at the time, but it made for a good giggle on the walk to the conference. I only wish I got his name so I could have thanked him somehow for making my day and being so accepting of breastfeeding in public.
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