How do you feel about BFing in public?

mochalattemama

Will/do you cover or not? 
Will/do you find a private location or do you BF anywhere? 
Are there arrangements for pumping once you return to work? If so, what are they? 

I'm not sure what I plan to do, because I don't know what my comfort level is yet. I do know when the baby needs to eat, that is my only priority. Not looking for a nice, private place. 

henderson1026

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

bendicott7

@henderson1026, well said.

JBear02

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

This, pretty much. It's illegal to not allow women to breast feed in public, at least in Michigan. I'm not sure how comfortable I'll be doing it in public, but I believe that women should be able to breastfeed anywhere, so I'm going to do it until I *get* comfortable.

WildRumpus

I don't have an issue with it, and am sure I will at some point. I'll likely cover up, just to be respectful of others around me, but unless there is actually somewhere like a mother's room for me to excuse myself to, I'll be the person breastfeeding at the mall. Babe's gotta eat

mochalattemama

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

I'm super curious because there is this movement I've noticed on Facebook where women no longer cover up which I do think is awesome. But sometiiiiiiiiiiimes they get a little preachy and almost shame women who feel more comfortable covering from doing so. 

amarissa85

I will cover up but I am not running to any bathrooms or behind closed doors. 

Ruger04

I will BF were i need to when i need to. But I will not have my breast exposed. I don't see anything wrong with women who are more open about it. I just am not one of them. 

hnic14

I will nurse anywhere I do cover up but have never felt uncomfortable nursing in public if people stare I just stare back until they break eye contact, I dunno I find it humerous that ppl stare or could be uncomfortable with me feeding my child... Shrugs

Alex+Noah

I am going to cover up but I am not going to go hide in order to feed my child. I was working at a school and there was never a place I knew of to pump unless it was in a bathroom. I'm very blessed that I will be able to be a SAHM.

alijeff2313

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

This

mochalattemama

In the Affordable Care Act, there is a requirement that employers find a place for you to BF that is not a bathroom. I am not clear as to when that portion is effective. 

Soleil3

It depends on where I am really. For the most part I dress so I can be discrete, a camisole and a shirt over the top so I just pull up the top layer. I don't ever really just let it all hang out.

henderson1026

mochalattemama said:

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

I'm super curious because there is this movement I've noticed on Facebook where women no longer cover up which I do think is awesome. But sometiiiiiiiiiiimes they get a little preachy and almost shame women who feel more comfortable covering from doing so. 

I'll be covering up b.c 1) I'm not showing off my goodies 2) I might get cold 3) I don't want baby getting distracted.

Oh and 4) it is about feeding my child not making a political statement

mochalattemama

Well, and a lot of us seem to be baby wearing of some sort, so that kind of helps conceal the boobage. 

CelticWife

I BF where ever I need to.

That being said, I always use a cover. If anyone has stared at me, I have never really noticed.

I always have DH bring a bottle of BM to a restaurant when we eat out. (I do not find nursing at a table relaxing.)

lydsyjane

I definitely will be covering up, as I'm pretty conservative when it comes to my body. But I won't be afraid to BF in public using a cover. As for work, I have several non-bathroom options which is really nice.

Rowcate

I will not hide and will do my best to cover up.

WashingtonQueen

I breastfeed wherever I am at the time and I don't cover up, way too much of a pain in the ass. Xander would scream and make a huge spectacle if I put something over his head, he didn't like it and it got way too hot. It drew way less attention not covering up.

lydsyjane

WashingtonQueen said:

I breastfeed wherever I am at the time and I don't cover up, way too much of a pain in the ass. Xander would scream and make a huge spectacle if I put something over his head, he didn't like it and it got way too hot. It drew way less attention not covering up.

Never thought of this. Maybe I'll surprise myself and go uncovered!

mochalattemama

Yeah, I've just noticed a lot of women post things like "would you want to eat in the dark?" etc. I was curious how women all over feel. 

mochalattemama

henderson1026 said:

mochalattemama said:

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

I'm super curious because there is this movement I've noticed on Facebook where women no longer cover up which I do think is awesome. But sometiiiiiiiiiiimes they get a little preachy and almost shame women who feel more comfortable covering from doing so. 

I'll be covering up b.c 1) I'm not showing off my goodies 2) I might get cold 3) I don't want baby getting distracted.

Oh and 4) it is about feeding my child not making a political statement

Touche. It should not be a political statement. 

mochalattemama

CelticWife said:

I BF where ever I need to.

That being said, I always use a cover. If anyone has stared at me, I have never really noticed.

I always have DH bring a bottle of BM to a restaurant when we eat out. (I do not find nursing at a table relaxing.)

Haha, yeah, I haven't had the opportunity yet, but it seems pretty distracting. 

MidwestMeetsMA

I'm in the minority - I'll probably try to find a pretty private place, and if I can't, potentially use my car.  I'm just a very shy girl when it comes to these kinds of things (um, sometimes I feel like skirts that hit above my knee are a little bit scandalous) and I think I'll be calmer, which will be better for baby, if I'm in my own space.

MommyKristin88

I'm one of those women that breastfed wherever and not always covered. I preferred to be covered, but my daughter would constantly push away the cover, blanket, or whatever I was using. Eventually I stopped fighting her and just went without. Both of my jobs accommodate nursing moms (time allowed and private space, including so-called lactating rooms).

kwrecks

I will nurse in public.  I have a cover and plan on using it.  I don't see anything wrong with nursing without a cover, anyone I've ever seen do it without covering up is discrete and you don't see anything anyway, so I don't really have an issue with people not covering up.

PackersFan315

After I get a groove going on at home to make sure I can maneuver everything with ease, I will bf in public, but will cover up because I'm just more comfortable that way. I still have to ask my employer about arrangements since there are few rooms without windows exposed to the hallways. The only rooms without windows are bathrooms. I work in an elementary school and it's all pretty open, and there's only 1 conference room and that is used frequently.

CelticWife

mochalattemama said:

Yeah, I've just noticed a lot of women post things like "would you want to eat in the dark?" etc. I was curious how women all over feel. 

I don't know about anyone else, but my babies eat in the dark at night anyway. It isn't exactly dark under a cover, either.

MinnesotaMomma91

mochalattemama said:

henderson1026 said:

mochalattemama said:

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

I'm super curious because there is this movement I've noticed on Facebook where women no longer cover up which I do think is awesome. But sometiiiiiiiiiiimes they get a little preachy and almost shame women who feel more comfortable covering from doing so. 

I'll be covering up b.c 1) I'm not showing off my goodies 2) I might get cold 3) I don't want baby getting distracted.

Oh and 4) it is about feeding my child not making a political statement



Touche. It should not be a political statement. 

I cover ds up cause he likes to pull off then latch back on. And really no one needs to see my breast in all its glory.

That being said, i still get weird looks if im holding ds with a blanket over him. What about bf is so offensive to people?

mochalattemama

CelticWife said:

mochalattemama said:

Yeah, I've just noticed a lot of women post things like "would you want to eat in the dark?" etc. I was curious how women all over feel. 

I don't know about anyone else, but my babies eat in the dark at night anyway. It isn't exactly dark under a cover, either.

Well, I'm just pretty sure we're not scarring them for life by covering during feedings. I didn't know if I was in the minority there. 

Texasmomma13

Like most of the others I plan to BF wherever whenever, but I will use a cover. As for pumping while working, I am self employed. Obviously when I work from my home office it won't be an issue but when I am out in the field I spend my time in courthouses, on the road, and in meetings. So, those days may be a little tricky, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.

BelhurstBride

You gotta do what you gotta do! To this day I still get all flustered when DD cries, so I pretty much fed her where she demanded it. Sometimes I used a cover, sometimes I didn't. It's pretty easy to dress in a manner that makes it discrete, even without a cover, and it got pretty easy to plan trips around when she'd most likely want to eat.

mochalattemama

LAMuehlen said:

henderson1026 said:

mochalattemama said:

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

I'm super curious because there is this movement I've noticed on Facebook where women no longer cover up which I do think is awesome. But sometiiiiiiiiiiimes they get a little preachy and almost shame women who feel more comfortable covering from doing so. 

I'll be covering up b.c 1) I'm not showing off my goodies 2) I might get cold 3) I don't want baby getting distracted.

Oh and 4) it is about feeding my child not making a political statement

Touche. It should not be a political statement. 

I cover ds up cause he likes to pull off then latch back on. And really no one needs to see my breast in all its glory. That being said, i still get weird looks if im holding ds with a blanket over him. What about bf is so offensive to people?

That, I do not understand. I do notice that certain members of society would rather lock a nursing mother in a closet than to see her BFing even covered. It is not offensive, it's natural. That being said, my own mother constantly attempts to talk me out of nursing. I think she feels that because I'm deciding to nurse, I'm somehow declaring her a bad parent as she did not. Perhaps people who didn't breastfeed or weren't breastfed have some sort of aggression toward it. I don't know. 

lorow0715

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

I agree with @henderson1026. I plan on covering up but I will feed my child whenever and where ever she needs it. To me- BF is such a miracle and I will not hide it. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to look at it.

lydsyjane

mochalattemama said:

LAMuehlen said:

henderson1026 said:

mochalattemama said:

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

I'm super curious because there is this movement I've noticed on Facebook where women no longer cover up which I do think is awesome. But sometiiiiiiiiiiimes they get a little preachy and almost shame women who feel more comfortable covering from doing so. 

I'll be covering up b.c 1) I'm not showing off my goodies 2) I might get cold 3) I don't want baby getting distracted.

Oh and 4) it is about feeding my child not making a political statement

Touche. It should not be a political statement. 

I cover ds up cause he likes to pull off then latch back on. And really no one needs to see my breast in all its glory. That being said, i still get weird looks if im holding ds with a blanket over him. What about bf is so offensive to people?

That, I do not understand. I do notice that certain members of society would rather lock a nursing mother in a closet than to see her BFing even covered. It is not offensive, it's natural. That being said, my own mother constantly attempts to talk me out of nursing. I think she feels that because I'm deciding to nurse, I'm somehow declaring her a bad parent as she did not. Perhaps people who didn't breastfeed or weren't breastfed have some sort of aggression toward it. I don't know. 

This blows my mind!

lydsyjane

Woah, sorry for the intense quote brackets.

DosChicas1417

I use a cover-up when BF in public.  As for pumping when I go back work, my company has designated rooms.  US law requires companies over 50 employees to provide a lactation room, other than a restroom. 

For more information check out this site.  Break time for nursing mothers

mochalattemama

lydsyjane said:

mochalattemama said:

LAMuehlen said:

henderson1026 said:

mochalattemama said:

henderson1026 said:

I'm not gonna go hide in a corner, but I will cover up. 

I'm super curious because there is this movement I've noticed on Facebook where women no longer cover up which I do think is awesome. But sometiiiiiiiiiiimes they get a little preachy and almost shame women who feel more comfortable covering from doing so. 

I'll be covering up b.c 1) I'm not showing off my goodies 2) I might get cold 3) I don't want baby getting distracted.

Oh and 4) it is about feeding my child not making a political statement

Touche. It should not be a political statement. 

I cover ds up cause he likes to pull off then latch back on. And really no one needs to see my breast in all its glory. That being said, i still get weird looks if im holding ds with a blanket over him. What about bf is so offensive to people?

That, I do not understand. I do notice that certain members of society would rather lock a nursing mother in a closet than to see her BFing even covered. It is not offensive, it's natural. That being said, my own mother constantly attempts to talk me out of nursing. I think she feels that because I'm deciding to nurse, I'm somehow declaring her a bad parent as she did not. Perhaps people who didn't breastfeed or weren't breastfed have some sort of aggression toward it. I don't know. 

This blows my mind!

I've had friends in the same situation and I strongly suspect that parents (or anyone who extends that sort of advice) tend to feel somehow judged by it. 

Emeraldeyed315

I agree with a lot of PP. As I figure out how to bf, I will prob find a bathroom/mothers room. Once I get more comfortable I will mostly cover up but I am okay not covering if I have clothes that do a decent job of still covering my belly/other boob. 

tokenhoser

I breastfeed anywhere.

I only use a cover if it makes me more comfortable. I used one for a bit with DS, and then didn't once we got confident and he got a giant noggin that hid most of the view. I doubt most of you "OMG! Cover up!" folks have even a hint of what nursing an older baby will be like. You'll look back and smile at yourself in a few months if you're still at it. These decisions involve two people, not just you. Your baby will have an opinion.

I won't be back at work until around a year; at that point, I don't need to pump. I did keep nursing when together with DS.

mochalattemama

michellewatne said:

I use a cover-up when BF in public.  As for pumping when I go back work, my company has designated rooms.  US law requires companies over 50 employees to provide a lactation room, other than a restroom. 

For more information check out this site.  Break time for nursing mothers

Aw, thanks for the link! Hopefully this will be helpful to moms.