breastfeeding in public

M

Melli

New member
Is this really possible in HK?

It is sooo normal back home in Europe, but honestly I have never seen someone feeding in public here.

These nice nursing clothes do exist and I bought me some, but still.....

I am quite concerned I will have to stay inside most of the time, since I just learned a newborn has to be fed up to 12 times a day!

I am planning to breast feed for about 6 month.

Also, I learned the baby should not be bottle fed for the first 6-8 weeks, so pumping is not that good of an option....

What were Your experiences???
 
i never had a problem breastfeeding in public. i was quite discrete, but i never even wore one of those bibs. i thought they drew more attention to what i was doing.

i also never had a problem giving my babies bottles/pacifiers before 6-8 weeks. but right now, that is the accepted wisdom...otherwise, the baby may develop "nipple confusion".
 
i would say just do what you are comfortable with....breastfeeding in HK is not the most popular because HK people tend to be very conservative when it comes to these things, and though it is getting more and more popular, I would say it still hasn't gained the popularity as in many european places.

if you are "concealed" properly, it really won't be a big deal, i have friends who'd just take out their breastfeeding apron and feed whenever necessary. i personally am more conservative so i would stick to pacific place / elements / ifc malls where they actually have breastfeeding rooms and i could breast feed in privacy - but that's just me! people will not stare really - they know it's good, it's just the locals would probably choose to pump instead (or perhaps go all out with formula because of the convenience)...just my thoughts...
 
Hi Melli... congratulations :)

My son was breasfed till he was 10.5 months (and then moved to fresh milk). I have fed him in public - almost everywhere... in cabs, at restaurants, in cafes. With a good nursing wrap most people dont realize or care. I might have been "looked at" once or twice but overall no complaints :)

Also - there are nursing rooms at some of the malls like - IFC, Elements, Pacific Place and Mothercare - Prince's Building, Airport. They are very good. We usually tried to be somewhere around during his feed times so it could be convenient.

We introduced a bottle (of EBM) at 3 weeks. It is advised around 3-4 weeks because baby might reject the bottle after that. And they might get confused if it is introduced too early. But every baby is different and quite a lot of them manage bottle and direct nursing without any trouble at all.

All the best !
 
Hi Melli

You can get those nursing covers (I think the brand is Bebe au Lait) and they are available locally as well as from the Doubibou website (Doubibou Natural Store - Cloth Diapers, Baby Carriers, Toiletries & Many More), which ships from Macau. I didn't really have a problem feeding discretely with my cover or with a shawl thrown over.

Also, I gave my baby expressed EBM in a bottle from the time he was quite young (2 weeks old!). I guess each baby is different, but he didn't have a problem with it and drank happily from the breast or bottle. I'm sure babies can get 'nipple confusion' but thankfully it didn't happen to me. I guess what I'm saying is that it can be done.

Good luck!
 
I've bf for 8 months, anywhere I was. You can always find a confortable seat in a Starbuck... In the worse case I had to bf in toilets, and even in a taxi, but with a nursing wrap, people would just not notice and would be very respectfull.
 
Starbucks or other coffee shops are good places to bf. Be discreet and people usually don't stare. And if you are western looking, it's even more acceptable to people. My baby had bottle from about 2-3 weeks old and no nipple confusion. But i think it's more convenient to feed baby from breast than taking a bottle and try to warm it up when you are out.
 
I breastfed everywhere and anywhere for 20 mths. I didn't use a nursing bib/cover, just very discreetly lifted my top and latched baby on. Baby's face covers most of your boob, your own arm - supporting his head - protects the side view, and his body covers your tummy.

Occasionally I draped a large muslin over my shoulder, but frankly just found it got in the way.

Cafes, restaurants, benches, sofas - and yes, breastfeeding rooms too... wherever was comfortable. I tried to find a balance between keeping myself and baby happy, and not offending people. I know that it's my 'right' to nurse when and where I choose, but I am also sensitive to the fact that it can make some people embarrassed and uncomfortable.

I think it's more common in HK, particularly in places frequented by expats, than you might think. And the more women that do it, the more accepted it will become. I don't think any woman should ever have to hide in a toilet to breastfeed.

Good luck with finding what suits you and your baby.
 
I have seen mothers breastfeeding with or without the covers at restaurants on several occasions, and none of the other diners had a problem with it.
 
I breastfed a lot in public and never had a problem, though I always tried to be discrete about what I was doing. I sometimes draped a large muslin or blanket over my shoulder, but neither of my kids liked this much as they were not used to being covered during feeds! I never used a breastfeeding apron or cover, never felt the need. I dressed suitably for breastfeeding, with a vest under my top or shirt so that people did not get a glimpse of my flabby belly when I lifted my top. As others have mentioned, the big armchairs in Starbucks or Pacific Coffee are comfortable for feeding.

As for pumping, I was told to start by 3-4 weeks. I never actually gave EBM while out, but stored it for feeds when I would be away from baby.
 
I never noticed just how many people DO breastfeed in public until I was breastfeeding, then it seemed like I would see it every day! I think that a lot of people may look at it and think that they're just holding the baby close, not actually feeding...

HK isn't too bad - I never got any negative comments about breastfeeding in public. I did use a cover most of the time, and I'd generally go to a coffee shop or something like that too - but there were a couple of times when baby was hungry and I wasn't prepared so I just fed her without the cover. You've gotta do what you've gotta do ;) I never pumped and gave bottles though - I'm too lazy for that ;)
 
I was disappointed when I came to HK with how few people were breastfeeding in public (that I saw...save for that one foreigner with very large breasts in Pacific Coffee that day;). In my baby's early days I didn't care much and would breastfeed wherever I wanted, but always with a cover (I used a pashmina). But I always looked for baby rooms first, unfortunately only in large malls. I think with smaller babies it's more 'acceptable' since they are totally reliant on us. Not my thinking, just my interpretation.
Later when my baby started to get a bit fussier(5 months+) and not into doing it in public, it was harder to do it in public without showing some nipplage. I also became more modest and sought refuge in feeding rooms or toilets.
I basically just avoided eye contact with others. If I got blatant stares, I would stare back and sometimes comment back(not in the best mood when hungry baby is crying and I'm feeling flustered:).
I had a hard time breastfeeding for the first 4-6 weeks so I didn't introduce the bottle until 5.5 weeks and it was too late. He never accepted another until about 9 months old, which was a bit hard on me. For the next one I hope to introduce it around 3-4 weeks if all is going well. If it is a 'natural', even earlier.
 
The Bebe au Lait is great, I fed everywhere up until my son became too fussy around 6 months (I think if you have larger breasts it can be more difficult to be discreet!).

Coffee shops, restaurants (including chinese local places), all fine - never had any odd moments.

Introduced the bottle with EBM at 4 weeks as BF was going fine - if you are having problems maybe wait until BF is really well established. I didn't use the bottle for going out, but for those times when I was out by myself.
 
Thank You All !!
I highly appreciate Your comments and am much more relaxed now towards this topic.
Can't wait for the baby to arrive....6 more weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Hi Melli,

i also breastfed in public whenever i needed to. in the early days when bub & i were still getting used to it, i used a cover or cloth if i'd remembered to bring it. but as we got better and more comfortable at it, i used the cover less because it seemed to get in the way.

the biggest difficulty i had was occasionally not being able to find a seat anywhere (especially if i happened to be out on a sunday). though, i quickly learnt where all the coffee shops and feeding rooms were, so that became less of a problem after a while.

i fed til bub was about 15 months, but found i feeding in public discretely became more difficult after she was about 10-12 months and had more of an interest in what was going on around her than she did in milk. but by then she could usually have some other snack to tide her over til we got home, so it wasn't too much of a problem.

good luck!
 
i used the bebe au lait nursing cover, though on hindsight i wish i introduced the bottle earlier! baby is now 1 years 2 months and i'm still bfing
 
I breastfed everywhere and anywhere 33 mths for my younger and 24mths for my elder. So i have over 6 six yrs breastfed everywhere and anywhere. I never have any problem.

I also consider the biggest difficulty i had was not being able to find a seat anywhere.

However, i have just realised by visiting a HK mom's Forum which some moms in HK won't do it and against it so much.

Anyway, HK is still so conservative.
 
Whilst its nice to be culturally sensitive, its also important that people understand its just baby food!

I breastfeed my baby when he is hungry, public or not. I think it needs to be seen as more normal, so I say if you are comfortable breastfeeding in public - go for it!

:)
 
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