By Wubba87 - 27/06/2012 10:32 - United Kingdom - Liverpool

Today, I had to have a long and awkward meeting with my boss. It wouldn't have been too awkward though, if I didn't have to avoid staring at her exposed breast whilst she fed her 8 week old baby. FML
I agree, your life sucks 26 648
You deserved it 5 200

Wubba87 tells us more.

Wubba87 12

Wow, didn't realise this would get so much attention so quickly. Thanks guys! Not suprised that this has stirred a debate on breast feeding as a whole though... To clarify, my boss has recently had a child (duh!) and has therefore been on maternity leave. This is the first time she's come back to work. I actually work in a research lab, and so my boss gathered myself and a few of my coworkers (a doctor and a PhD student) together in an office to discuss the progress of our research since she's been absent. I didn't mind having the meeting, I didn't mind that the kid was there too, and I definitley didn't mind her having to feed the child (nor do I ever mind when any woman has to do this, but especially in this case because she asked us all if it was OK to feed her before doing anything). But I have never had to work so hard on maintaining eye contact in my life! Awkward!

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Comments

Samirakate 8

Ok, I'm all for breast feeding and think that if your kid is hungry you should be able to feed them no matter where you are. But if you're say, having a meeting with an employee you need to ask if they are comfortable with it or not as common courtesy. If not ask them to wait outside til you are done. I'm ok with people breast feeding in public too but those who make a point of it by whipping their breasts out without considering it will make other uncomfortable annoy me. Just feed your kid, don't make it into an issue

8 2
jwebster 8

Ok. The mom should have waited to have the meeting til baby was done eating. NOT FOR YOU BUT FOR THE BABY! You do not cover your head when you eat. There is nothing wrong with a boob being exposed while a baby eats. It is because YOU are the sexual deviant that you had trouble looking away. Breasts are tools for feeding not your sex toys. Get over yourself!

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Spark_Slicker 19

I am a straight female and I would still have trouble looking away. I mean, if there is a whole boob out in the open and a baby is suckling it, it's kind of hard to keep your eyes anywhere else just because it's so awkward.

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Plumeriaprincess 2

I'm all for beeastfeeding but there is a thing called discression! Even as a mother of three, I have found it very akward to have another woman whip out her boob to feed the baby! Where does one look? Eye contact and a serious conversation becomesvnearly impossible! A simple baby blanket over the shoulder and feeding baby makes the world of difference! I feel for ya!

7 7
melodywarner17 0

I'm a woman, and I will never understand why some find it okay to breast feed in public.

5 11
raraisbang 12

Because it is? You don't eat in the bathroom, why should your baby have to?

7 5
melodywarner17 0

Yes, but I also don't eat during business meetings and I'm sure it would be frowned upon if I did. Having the superior of a company expose her breast and feed her 8 week old baby may be legal but is completely unprofessional and forces everyone around her to feel uncomfortable. Work is work, those lines shouldn't have been blurred.

6 5
raraisbang 12

Okay but that wasn't what your first comment was about so let's not turn it around. I totally agree breast feeding in a business meeting is unprofessional. But it is also perfectly acceptable to breast feed in public.

0 2
melodywarner17 0

The way I see it is yes, breast feeding is natural and when a baby is hungry, it needs to eat. Defecating is also natural, but when a person gets the urge to go, they don't immediately pull down there pants and start going - they find an appropriate and private place to do so. Instead of immediately exposing their breast (in this case at a business meeting, or, in my opinion, anywhere in public) a woman should take 5 minutes and find an appropriate and private location to feed her child.

1 2
monnanon 13

If a baby has the urge to go they just go, the same if they need to eat. Should a baby be hidden away just so your delicate view of the world isn't shattered by the sight of a bit of flesh? It should not have happened during a meeting but if she had not scheduled it then maybe she had no choice on the time. In public however it should be allowed. Most people would not even recognise that someone is breastfeeding because of the clothes you get to make the process more discrete.

1 0
melodywarner17 0

When you know you need to be at work or in a business meeting or at the grocery store or at a restaurant or doing something along those lines a woman can pump before hand and bring a bottle. Even if they're against formula there are tools that can be used to prevent situations like this FML. You may have a different opinion, and that's fine. But considering the amount of "Your life sucks" posted on this one subject, I would assume I'm not alone and others too feel uncomfortable with this.

2 1
bry17121794 6

What is your job exactly and why is it okay for a baby to be there

5 1
shadowPlayer 6

She shouldn't have been breast feeding, but get over it. If the baby's hungry, the baby's hungry. Next time just say you feel like you're interrupting a bonding moment and you'll come back.

6 1
AgentSmith79 9

It's a boob. Get over it.

7 0
rcmlarb 5

I was more shy about feeding my baby that way but the world doesn't revolve around you, If she is comfortable a babies hunger comes before your feeling on the matter. Get over it

6 1
HSOMGF 5

I'm all for breastfeeding, however, doing it at work during a meeting is inappropriate. It seems the woman should still be on maternity leave, but I don't know it works in the UK.

2 3