The issue of visitors is something we discuss in our group meetings. In our 
culture no one will bat an eyelash at the sight of a breastfeeding mother, 
and very few mothers will feel embarrassed to breastfeed in front of people.

However, I like the analogy I heard or read once (I forget where of from 
whom, apologies if you are reading this): you would not bring a roomful of 
people along on date. Let alone to your honeymoon. Why then would you want 
a parade around you when you are getting to know your newborn? Even if the 
mom is not embarrassed to feed the baby around people (and that to me would 
be THE ONLY issue, I don't care whether the visitors feel OK with a 
breastfeeding mother and baby, if they don't it is THEIR problem), why 
should she have to get to know her newborn and learn to do something new 
with people around?

We tell the moms that if they want people around and feel up to it, go 
ahead and call everyone and ask them to come. If they don´t, then call 
everyone and ask them NOT to come, to the hospital or to their home. A new 
family is entitled to its privacy. After they are all settled down at home 
and having a great time with breastfeeding and she can walk and sit 
comfortably, then they may come. If they bring food or offer to do chores, 
even better :-)

So, even if everybody is happy and cooing around the breastfeeding mom and 
baby, the mother should be able to ask for visitors to stay home.

Best regards

Veronica Garea LLLL
GALM Bariloche
IBFAN Bariloche - LLL Argentina


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