BF in public?

gina_bo_bena

I was just curious who BF in public and how do you go about doing it?  Do you use a blanket to cover up?  Go into the bathroom?  If you cover up, do you put the blanket over you first, then whip out the boob and get LO latched?  Just trying to figure out the logistics of this   It seems so simple...

Also, do you recommend a blanket or a special BF apron thing?

Thanks ladies!

Oh ya - and have you ever had any issues with people saying anything negative?  Bad experiences?

tarahnpaul

I just feed her when she's hungry, no covers or blankets unless there's someone who's creeping me out.  It's whatever you're comfortable with so you can get out of the house.  I've never had anyone say anything, but i'm in seattle and it's pretty commonplace around here.

iteachk

It's not very common where I'm from, but I do it all the time.  I've never gotten any negative comments or looks.  I don't care for the nursing covers - they scream, "Hey, look at me!  I'm BFing!"  LOL.  I try to wear layers, so my whole stomach isn't exposed.  I start with a blanket over her head, but take it off when she's latched and comfy.  Only a tiny part of my breast is exposed, but it's completely covered by her head.  Most people have no idea that's I'm nursing.

I nurse in stores, restaraunts, and even once in the middle of a church service. 

EngleK

I have a Bebe au Lait nursing cover.  It is really nice because there is some plastic in the top that lets you see baby while keeping everything covered.  I don't feel comfortable without it.  It covers all the way down to my lap too, so your stomach is not being shown either.

moviesprincess

I use a nursing cover that has boning in the top so I can look down at him. I do it wherever we are (like tonight at Walgreens waiting in the clinic). I always wear a nursing tank so that my stomach is not exposed because my cover does not cover me all the way around. I would love to just be able to pull my shirt down a little once he is latched but I am really large chested and it is too difficult.

rjveldman

I've only fed my DS once in a bathroom and I asked for a chair from a lady in the store. Who wants to sit on a pot with pants on? Otherwise, I do it in the car.

MissManda

I try to wear tops that I can pull down instead of having to have my stomach exposed. I use a blanket... I have a nursing cover, but DS doesn't like anything on his head! He will let me cover him long enough to get him latched, but then gets restless and stops eating if I don't uncover the majority of his head. Depending on where I am, I will uncover him as much as I'm comfortable with... In restaurants, I cover him more than if I'm at home with family over (and then, even... I'm more comfortable with my dad than with my inlaws because they don't get it!).

The only negative comments I've ever gotten are from MIL! I actually find people to be very supportive! :-)

drcolleen

W/ DD1 I would use the carrier as a cover- whatever we were using that day, pouch/ring sling/wrap.  I would have a tank on under my t-shirt so I could pull the t-shirt up and still have abd covered.  w/ dd2 I haven't had the need much but again set her up when we were getting out of the car and did the same w/ a k'tan.  Don't know that anyone noticed I was nursing, I did have friends peek into the pouch the first time I saw them 2-3 weeks PP to see babe before I could stop them b/c she was nursing.

belladonna11307

I use a cover.  I had planned on just using a blanket, but then a friend of mine made me a really awesome custom cover (including designing the fabric!) with boning in the top so I can see LO.  I love it!  Easy to slip over my head and keep in place, which is more important now that LO wiggles all the time!  She also put two pockets on the inside, which have come in handy when I've had something in my hand that I didn't know where to put (cell phone or once I even had an escaped nursing pad!).  I'm not that graceful about getting LO latched and not flashing the world, so it's a life saver!  I've never had negative comments, actually I've never heard comments at all.  I had a lady give me a circular to flip through once when she saw I was reading the credit card application!  It really all comes down to what you're comfortable with.

gina_bo_bena

Thanks ladies!  It's nice to know no one has had any bad experiences or anything!  I don't know what I pictured, but I guess I imagined people giving a BF mom the side eye or something.

I'll probably end up trying a blanket at least (and maybe get a cover).  I don't think I've ever seen one person BF in public here.  I live in the midwest and it's pretty conservative.  

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions!

fluffnbuck

We nurse anywhere, anytime and never with a cover. But I am 100% comfortable doing so. Do what you're comfy with!

blu-eyedwife

EngleK:

I have a Bebe au Lait nursing cover.  It is really nice because there is some plastic in the top that lets you see baby while keeping everything covered.  I don't feel comfortable without it.  It covers all the way down to my lap too, so your stomach is not being shown either.

I use the same.  I usually find somewhere to sit when I NIP because I haven't gotten the hang of the carriers and it's hard to walk around holding my LO (I have giant breasts and he has a teeny tiny head so he needs some help with support).  Some stores have chairs (like our supermarket, or barnes and noble), otherwise I go outside and sit on a bench (the benefits of California).  If we're at a park, I'll just plop myself down on the grass.  I hate nursing in the car, but I'll do it - I just feel so cramped.

I've never had a negative comment.  I always think it's funny when people don't like using covers because it says "Hello, I'm breastfeeding" because really - if you're nursing in public, why do you care if people know what you're doing?  I use it because of that "little head/giant breast" thing which means you can see almost my entire breast when he eats and I don't love sharing that part of myself with strangers. And also, the only comments I've ever received when NIP involved people walking by and saying "shhhh the baby is sleeping" so I'm pretty sure that people don't know what a nursing cover is.

winter-shock

I BF in public all the time. I general was able to unlatch my bra with my shirt still on. I used a nursing cover as well and no one ever said a thing.  I did this in malls, swimming pools, pretty much anywhere. I tried to be respectful of people who are uncomfortable with it by making sure my nursing cover actually covered us up and no one seemed offended by it. 

pepomntpat

I just nurse. I did use a blanket in the beginning, but found it to be more of a pita than it was worth.

Helix07

fluffnbuck:

We nurse anywhere, anytime and never with a cover. But I am 100% comfortable doing so. Do what you're comfy with!

 

This. At first it was pretty uncomfortable but once he was older and better at latching I was more comfortable. I always wear a nursing tank when going out under my shirt. That way I can pull my shirt up and not expose anything.