Made in Chelsea star Binky Felstead has been opening up about the challenges she faces while breastfeeding in public.
Binky - along with heiress Tamara Ecclestone and Christine Bleakley - discussed the topic during a special segment on Lorraine, called: "Why are mums afraid to breastfeed in public?"
During the discussion, Binky revealed that breastfeeding baby India, one month, in public makes her feel “uncomfortable” and “nervous”.
“The thought of exposing myself in public kind of freaks me out,” Binky confessed.
"Obviously, I've never had to get my boob out in public before. When I have done, I've had people staring, and the odd looks is kind of, 'Put it away'. Like I said, it just makes me really flustered,” the young mum explained.
"Trying to get the baby under the shawl and onto the boob just creates a lot of people staring.”
Tomorrow @BinkyFelstead joins us to talk about how she felt uncomfortable breastfeeding in public for the first time. Did you feel the same? pic.twitter.com/oGtGQUxvCr
— Lorraine on ITV (@ITVLorraine) July 31, 2017
Tamara - who is a keen advocate of breastfeeding, and still breastfeeds her three-year-old daughter Sophia - reassured Binky, saying: “It's weird people staring, not what you’re doing.”
Binky responded by saying: "If you get a boob out, that's the attention on the boob - not what you’re doing.
"I do hope I man up and go, 'Hang on, this is my baby, this is the most natural thing in the world.' But it is still bothering me.”
She added that being a new mum meant that breastfeeding was still very new to her and that she hoped it would become easier to feed in public as time went on.
Binky received support from other mums who shared their thoughts on the difficulties of breastfeeding in public. "I feel the exact same about breastfeeding in public," one mum tweeted. "Thank you."
ON NOW: @BinkyFelstead and @TamEcclestone talking breastfeeding in public pic.twitter.com/A5aFFkVAQX
— Lorraine on ITV (@ITVLorraine) August 1, 2017
While another wrote: "It can feel so lonely - I'm so thrilled someone I admire so much feels the same! Such an honest interview - inspiration to all us new mums."
The reality star was recently heavily criticised for how she held little India’s head on a TV appearance, on This Morning.
As she discussed her labour and plans for more kids, some viewers became concerned about how she was holding the little one.
One person questioned: "Was I the only one who was worried about the baby's head, because it wasn't being held properly? #thismorning."
Someone else commented: "Omg, does Binky know how to hold a baby? #ThisMorning."
Being a new mum is certainly very tough, and we hope things will get easier for Binky soon. Have you faced problems while breastfeeding in public, mums? Leave us a comment and let us know.
