Feeding and Nutrition

Re: Nursing in public

mamaSD — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:43:30 GMT

The trick is to relax. If you're relaxed, then nobody even notices. They may think that you're cuddling or putting the baby to sleep, if you just put a blankie over the top of you two. If people make a big deal out of you nursing in public, just ignore them, they're not comfortable with it. And if they persist, don't say anything to them, just turn your back. That's how I did it when I was nursing with my daughter, after I got comfortable enough to nurse her, of course.

Re: Nursing in public

ChanelleCarchio — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:13:11 GMT

Both my children unlatch to smile and coo almost every time they feed. I don't breastfeed my son who is almost 2 anymore but that was always my favorite time with him.

Re: Nursing in public

APmomma — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:55:20 GMT

@ChanelleCarchio

I know! I love looking at my babe, too. Isn't it the best? Plus, the babies usually love looking at their mommas, too! Sometimes they unlatch just to smile at mom. It's heart-melting.

I read that when babies are born they can't see anymore than 8-12 inches away. That's the perfect distance for them to look at their momma's face while the baby nurses! It's great bonding time. After about 2 months, my baby didn't want to be covered up anyway.

Re: Nursing in public

ChanelleCarchio — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:21:28 GMT

I've never had any kind of problem nursing in public. I feel like if it's ok for you to give a baby a bottle in public then it's ok to nurse in public. Most of the time I will use a nursing cover but if I'm just at a friend's house or a relative's, and if they don't mind, I just feed without it. There's nothing to be ashamed of and I hate having to cover up my beautiful baby's face.

Re: Nursing in public

AnswerDad01 — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:41:25 GMT

My wife has a nursing smock which she puts over herself while she is nursing. This has been a God-send and has made a potentially uncomfortable situation much easier. She never felt self-conscious and never made anyone else feel uncomfortable. They sell them in most maternity shops.

Re: Nursing in public

mamaSD — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 06:48:23 GMT

I usually used a blanket with my child. This time around I plan to use a light shawl, as my son will be born here in a month or so, so it'll be warming up. There are tons of ideas, I know people who have used the slings to BF in. Good luck on your BFing adventure!

Re: Nursing in public

APmomma — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 18:56:19 GMT

@SillyKaren You're right. Seeing nursing does make people uncomfortable because it is not the norm. Seeing people in wheelchairs also makes a lot of people uncomfortable. I hope that our society becomes more open. I totally agree with you!!!

Politeness probably isn't what stops people from saying something to a nursing moms. Most states have laws that allow women to feed their hungry baby whenever and wherever mom & baby have a right to be. If anyone said something to me about it, I'd definitely tell them that I have a right to feed my hungry child...the same as a bottle feeding parent.

Body parts can have more than one purpose. I think my husband's biceps are sexy even though they're used to help him pick up heavy objects. He thinks my neck is sexy even though it's used to turn my head. Not all cultures obsess about breasts the way that westerners do.

Re: Nursing in public

SillyKaren — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 16:27:44 GMT

I appear to be alone here, but I think nursing in public makes people uncomfortable. At least, it makes me, my friends, family, and everyone I've ever heard talking about it until I read this post really uncomfortable. Most people are just too polite to say anything, especially to someone nursing, because they feel it is not their place. I have literally never heard anyone say, until here, that they are comfortable with seeing a woman breast feed in public. With that said, I definitely think more public places need a separate "mother's room" or nursing station, because it is definitely not sanitary (or a pleasant experience!) to nurse in a bathroom stall. Also, I think pumping in front of your significant other is not for every couple, and certainly not for most couples. It is important for you and your spouse to be comfortable in the woman's new role as a mother, and that means different things for everyone. It it is also important to continue to be seen as a sexual being, both by yourself and your partner. I have heard many female friends say that once they started breast-feeding, they no longer felt the same sexually about their breasts as they once had. Every couple (every person!) is different, of course, and has different ideas as to what that means. I just wanted to put this other opinion out there...

Re: Nursing in public

APmomma — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:43:02 GMT

@brtnywlms My baby, like many, would not tolerate having a blanket over her head once she hit about 5 weeks. I've nursed in public a lot without a blanket. Most people have no idea what I'm doing. It just looks like I'm cradling my daughter. Those people who did realize what I was doing didn't care. I'm sure they were just happy that she wasn't crying. :-)

Re: Nursing in public

MommyRN4 — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:33:42 GMT

In many of the malls around here, there are nursing stations in the bathrooms and many department stores have bathrooms that have little mini lounges in them (like Dillards and Macy's). I used to nurse in those. At times when I was in a restaurant or something, I used to just go in my car for a little privacy, but in the end...if the baby needs to eat, then the baby needs to eat. I tried my best to be respectful of others who were around me, but I expected them to be respectful of me as well.

Re: Nursing in public

Jess_BabyRN — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:27:38 GMT

I think at some point you just can't win. I responded to another member a few nights ago as she was getting judged for not breast feeding! It might be interesting for you to read through her post and the comments that follow. It sounds like you have gotten some really good responses here! Keep us posted, :) Jess

Re: Nursing in public

APmomma — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:55:34 GMT

@WriteMommy01

Interestingly, breastfeeding in public is LESS accepted than it was in the past. Remember that historically breastfeeding was what everyone did. If a mother was unable to feed her child then another lactating relative or a wet nurse did it.

Bottles, etc. did not always exist.

Re: Nursing in public

SarahLette — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:03:31 GMT

i feel you i am a young first time mother and sometimes i jus got to whip it iut to feed her..i try an atleast put a blanket over her but one time an older women gave me the evil eyre for nursing her in a giant egale so i jus winked at her an she did the clasic old angry lady walk away wit her nose up:]

Re: Nursing in public

brtnywlms — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:08:56 GMT

keep a blanket with you so when you do have to feed him that you can just put a blanket over him and no one can see. for the most part people are respectfull about it but only on occasions do you get that random person that will stare and be rude. but just ignore it if they do.

Re: Nursing in public

APmomma — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:33:36 GMT

@PediNurseJulie

My DD also got restless, pulled off a lot & refused to have anything cover her. So I understand. That's why I gave up trying to cover. Most people don't even realize that she's nursing.