One of the joys of breastfeeding is that your baby’s milk is always available on tap at the right temperature and without any special utensils! In some countries it is so common to see nursing mothers that it wouldn’t be something worth writing about. Yet it’s still a relatively rare sight in Ireland to see a nursing mother in public so here’s some information to help you…
What are our rights in Ireland? While there is the usual Irish squeamishness about breasts being used to feed babies, we do have good protection under two laws – Equal Status Act (2000 – 2004) and the Intoxicating Liqour Act (2003) – in the case of discrimination occurring in a public house.
These laws give us the right to feed our babies whenever and wherever we are, we don’t have to ask permission and we cannot be asked to move or cover up. In fact, if a member of the public harasses you, the staff of the coffee shop or wherever you are are legally bound to protect your right to feed your child not the complainant’s right to complain!
How can I make it easier to nurse in public? You often hear people saying that they think women shouldn’t nurse in public or that it’s a really embarrassing experience as the Irish Independent recently reported in a quite overblown piece.
The thing to remember is that at the start it’s a new experience for you, it can take time to get used to it. I nursed my daughter in the Dundrum Shopping Centre’s food court when she was 7 days old. I was really nervous of exposing myself to the world as she used to take a minute or so to latch on. But my hubbie took us to the food court, we sat in a quiet corner and babypixie nursed happily and went to sleep, I was so proud! And no-one noticed, we didn’t get any looks, any comments, it was great!
The first time I nursed on my own in public was nerve-wracking also, but I just did what I read in a magazine, if anyone looked at me, I just looked back and smiled, that usually embarrassed them into looking away. Sometimes I’d feel eyes on me as I nursed only to look up and see another mother beaming over happy to see a little baby being fed! Nowadays, whenever babypixie gets cranky I pop her on for a minute or so, and she’s all happy again. It makes her feel secure when we’re out and about, and that keeps her good and happy!
In my experience most people are curious and sometimes a little embarrassed when they realize what is happening. But realistically, I think most people would rather sit near a nursing baby rather than a screaming baby. I have fed my daughter on a crowded Luas and I don’t think anyone noticed or cared, the alternative was a 20 minute journey of hungry crying which I’m sure would have resulted in a lot more reaction! This was when she was very little, as any nursing mother will tell you, new nurslings need to feed a lot and not always when it is most convenient to you 
The health department have published a pamphlet which I have printed and keep in my bag, but in almost 9 months of feeding my daughter in public, I haven’t had the opportunity to use it!
Sometimes it can feel like you have to be a lactivist to nurse in public and you may feel like you’re a bit on show at times. But I guess in the long term the more women that do it and the more common it gets, then even more women will feel comfortable to nurse in public and it will become a normal thing to see, as it is in many other countries.
If you feel a little too shy when feeding in public there are a few ways you can get more comfortable. You could sit somewhere that’s not too exposed, or better still sit with a few friends or grab a couch with a good magazine! I got a few nursing tops in H&M which I found great when I was getting my feet, but any tops will do, many women wear a light vest under their top, top goes up, vest pulls down and very little is on show. Slings are great for hands-free feeding on the go, or for snuggling around a little one while they feed if you want a little more coverage.
Best thing is, when you and your baby go out all you need is you, your boobs, the baby and a nappy bag and you’re off, no need to worry about bottle warmers and sterilizers.
So, to summarise, remember you wouldn’t eat your lunch in a toilet, so nobody has the right to tell you to feed your baby in the toilet!
Good places to feed in Galway:
The Front Door Pub: On High Street, this pub does good food, coffee and juices and always has plenty of lunching mams and babies, I feed babypixie in here nearly every week, the staff are very helpful, they’ll always offer to get more drinks etc. Funnily enough, I’ve never had to change her in here, so I don’t know if there are baby changing facilities.
The Living Room pub: Off Cross Street, also does good food. Very helpful staff, great place to feed babs. Changing facilities in the downstairs toilet.
Mocha Beans: Edward Square, good coffee shop, has couches in the entrance. Has a “breastfeeding welcome here” sign on the window. Have recently added changing facilities in the downstairs toilet (June ‘08).
I’ll add more as I think of them!
Digg this :: 
stumble this! :: 
share on facebook :: 
kirtsy this
Subscribe by email
[...] We’ve never had negative comments, we’ve gotten some positive smiles, we’ve had some funny looks, but I find if you appear confident and like you’re not doing something out of the ordinary then it makes it harder for someone to complain. In Ireland you have the right to NIP anywhere you want, see this earlier post for some tips… [...]
[...] can feed anywhere you want in Ireland, but sometimes overstimulated littlepixies benefit from a little break with some [...]
Great post! I’m a canadian breastfeeding mommy moving to Dublin (possibly to Dundrum) in a month and was curious to find out if I could continue to nurse my 7 month old anywhere I choose. Thanks for the info! PS – I’m subscribing to your feed.
[...] hospital, writing a Birth Preference Plan tailored to an Irish hospital, the laws that protect our right to nurse in public in Ireland, successful breastfeeding with flat nipples, and helpful books and websites I found [...]