Breastfeeding in Public

[Anonymous]

I'm a new mom and starting to think about venturing out with DD. How do I go about breastfeeding in public? I'm generally a modest person and I'm not sure how to approach this. Do people breastfeed in stores? Do you try and find a semi-private place?


Are nursing tops a good investment? Any recommendation for where to buy them?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

You are likely to get a wide variety of answers on this topic. It really depends on your comfortability which I think increases as you get used to Bfing out of the home. I really do not feel uncomfortable about it, but I recognize that there is a need to be modest and discreet to some degree as a way to be polite and respect other people around me. I struggled at first a bit because we have to use a nipple shield which makes me need 2 hands (without one free to hold a blanket up) so I ended up buying a little nursing apron that goes around my neck to help. It did make a difference.

I have nursed my 9 week old everywhere - the train, Nordstrom's, the front seat of my car, Starbucks (several times). I try to find a corner, but you will not see me duck into a bathroom to nurse. sorry to those that feel that is appropriate. I can think of no greater place I do not want a young infant hanging out in for long. I take bottles of pumped milk out with to restaurants when I can, but there are days that my breasts can not handle missing a feeding without being really painful so the bottle isn't always an option.

For nursing tops.....well, I don't use them. I will say don't try to feed in public without a nursing bra....been there done that and did not go well. unfortunately though I am really limited on nursing tops/bras due to my size (32G - no comments as this is natural and not desired) so I make do with what I can.

The answer here really is you do what is comfortable to you in my opinion. If pumping and using bottles is better than go ahead. If you are feeling good about nursing anywhere and everywhere then go for it....recognize not everyone feels the same about that decision, but don't let it influence your comfort level.

[Anonymous]

Get a Hooter Hider! Google for a number of online retailers. It really makes me feel more comfortable nursing in public. I still try to bring a bottle of pumped milk when I can, but if not, the Hooter Hider is key to maintaining some sort of modesty. As an added bonus, it's also great to keep my almost 4-month-old focused on the task at hand instead of looking around and getting distracted.

[Anonymous]

I bought a nursing shawl that made it much easier and made me feel more comfortable. http://www.lovedbaby.com/ The L'oved Baby nursing shawl is made of an ultrasuede fabric that absorbs stray milk or anything else easily and wears well. I had the tan version. I sometimes even wore it as just a regular shawl if I was cold.

I cannot imagine nursing in public without a nursing bra - one-handed operation is key. As for nursing tops, I used them sometimes, but I ended up just trying to make sure I had a top where I could get easy, ready access.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

We did not use a hooter hider type thing, because it made me more self-conscious; I felt it drew more attention. If you think it will make you more comfortable, though, go for it! Try it at home first, as some babies don't like to be under blankets while nursing and will flail to get out!

What worked for me -- I usually wore a nursing bra, a tank-top/t-shirt, and a cardigan or unbuttoned blouse over that. When I nursed, I released the cup in the nursing bra, lifted the shirt and latched baby on. Between the shirt, the baby, and the cardigan/blouse, hardly anything was showing.

I usually chose out-of-the-way places because that worked better for me and my baby -- we were both distractible. The car was very handy on long shopping trips. Once I sat in a corner chair in Borders. I used the nursing room at Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us and Nordstrom (the latter is LOVELY). I nursed at a coffeehouse and no one blinked an eye. I also nursed at airport gates and on airplanes, and in the park.

I didn't mind nursing in public but I didn't love it, so I found that once we were on a bit of a sleep schedule, it was easy not to have to nurse in public -- baby would wake up from her nap, I would nurse, and we would go out, making it home in time for her next nap. Repeat. YMMV!

I don't think nursing tops are a good investment. I've never really understood the concept -- are you supposed to buy a whole wardrobe's worth? They're expensive, and if you buy one or two, you're going to get pretty bored of those pretty fast. Layering my normal clothing worked just fine for me. I would recommend trying that first and seeing how it goes.

[Anonymous]

I posted a question about this not too long ago so you might do a search on it for even more responses.

[Anonymous]

Blankets and nursing bibs, are just attention grabbers.

I had nursing shirts, and would walk around nursing my baby, and no one would ever give me a second look. I even just went through a few pictures, and while I remember nursing when one was taken, it just looks like I was holding a baby.

I would use a burp cloth to cover the breast while latching, and unlatching. Then I would clasp my bra from the top of my shirt.

[Anonymous]

I'm a big fan of nursing in dressing rooms -- much cleaner and more comfortable than bathrooms!

[Anonymous]

I would never bf in a bathroom.
Nordstrom does have mothers' areas adjoining their ladies rooms.
I only wore my one nursing top when flying.

[cmkeough]

Kudos to you for BFing!

I have a 7.5 week old and have been BFing in public since she was 2 weeks. I ended up getting the "Hooter Hider/Be Beaulait" and it's fantastic, I've had several people approach me asking what it was and where they could buy one. You can purchase them online or at Buy Buy Baby.

I've used nursing tops as well as regular tops and I prefer my nursing tops with a nursing bra, much easier access. Not to mention my back or belly aren't exposed. I've nursed while walking with my DD, seated at a restaurant while eating, in the car (without the hider) and any other possible place it seems. I'm not terribly modest but I know that others would probably prefer not to see a gigantic boob/nipple while they're out shopping, eating or running their errands. Hence my purchase of the hider.

Best of luck and you just need to do what best suits your and DD needs.

[Anonymous]

You can get a hooter hider at Target now! Good for you for BF.

[Anonymous]

OP: The best way to do this is to practice. As you get more skill, you will be less self-conscious. I would go to my local starbucks at some off-peak time of day, and sit in a back corner and give it a try. I would NOT feed my child in the bathroom. You both deserve better than that. If you have an oversized sweater with you, you can be extremely discrete without one of those silly hiders (that some babies hate).

I never really understood the hider things. You may as well paint it "NURSING MOM HERE!!! DON'T LOOK."

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I agree that the "hooter hiders" are kind of obnoxious and draw a lot of attention to something that otherwise can be very discreet. And it's one more thing that you have to remember to take with you. AND it's another (unnecessary) step that you need to take when you have a hungry and cranky child in your lap. Oh, plus I find the name dumb and the concept itself borderline offensive -- not because I'm an exhibitionist, but because seriously, is there any other situation in our entire culture where people try to get women to hide their breasts? Hooters are fine to display as long as they are displayed sexually and for people's enjoyment, right? As long as they're displayed to try to sell something, right? As long as they're displayed to entice and attract, right? Whoooppps, sorry to get off track there......................

Anyway, see if you can feel comfortable by using the right combination of clothes. Usually a longish t-shirt or tank top type shirt, with another cardigan/jacket/button up shirt over top, will do the trick. I usually can breastfeed without anyone seeing hardly anything. I've also bought and used an assortment of nursing tops, although i will say that only the most expensive ones (think boutiques rather than Motherhood or Target) are really worth anything - the ones from Motherhood always get misshapen and stiff in my opinon. Put your money into a fabulous nursing bra that easily latches and unlatches.

I breastfeed pretty much anywhere I need to, although I do look for the most quiet, comfortable and semi-private spot available. That said, I've nursed in airports, grocery stores, church, walking down the street (very easy with a tiny newborn), at the park, at the zoo, at the smithsonian....the list goes on and on. And, I'm pretty modest and very conciously try not to flash anybody. Like a PP said, practice a bunch in front of a mirror, get the right clothes, and try not to stress about it too much! You will be fine!

[Anonymous]

I carry a bottle or two with me, but have had to nurse in public on occasion when my now 9-wk-old has been particularly cranky. It's been fine in cold weather with sweaters and things and a shawl or receiving blanket thrown over a shoulder. I've nursed in restaurants (booths are pretty discreet), Costco!! (there was a lone sofa on display in the back) and in Indian temple! I will_not take my kid or his food into the bathroom. Even when I pump at work, I do it in my office, although I've seen other women on my floor using the bathroom to pump.

[Anonymous]

I don't wear nursing bras or nursing tops, and I also don't wear a hooter hider. I've BF two kids now, and I think that once you get the hang of it, nobody will notice that you're nursing. I just wear two piece outfits and lift up the shirt and bottom of my bra enough to get the baby latched on (he's 7 months old now). Once he's nursing, I just use the shirt to cover up the rest of me. I sometimes use a blanket, but older babies hate to have their heads covered.