Let's talk nursing in public.....

lyndsey774 · June 2012

I am exclusively breastfeeding and he eats on demand or every 2 hours. Soooo, needless to say he and I are attached at the hip and when he's hungry, he eats. Also, I am a SAHM so we have been venturing out and about since he was 4 days old. So far I have nursed in our church bathroom ( it has a little lounge area), restaurants, my car, a front porch of a bed and breakfast. I feel like I am getting braver and braver, but I still wear a nursing cover some of the time. How are you girls holding up?? Mostly I just nurse at home topless or in flimsy tanktops, but I have a 14 year old step-son who lives with us every other week, so I have to be a lot more discreet when he is here (obviously).

When and where do you nurse?

Do you use a cover?

What are your thoughts on breastfeeding in public and do your actions match up with how you feel about it???

Do you feel there is ever an inappropriate time or place to nurse??

JennyJensing · June 2012

If I'm out and about, I usually nurse her in the car with a receiving blanket or a nursing cover. I don't really see the point of making a show of nursing in public. I understand that it's natural and blabbity blah, but we live in such a sexualized society that I think it shocks people. My modesty wouldn't allow me to do it.

lindy27 · June 2012

I nurse at home 95% of the time. My LO eats every 3-4 hours during the day so there is plenty of time to run errands between feedings if I have to.

If I do NIP, I usually do in my car and use an Anen & Anais blanket as a cover.

I prefer to be discreet when NIP and like it when others do too, mainly because I don't want it to have a bad rap. So I try to turn away from lots of people and use a cover.

becketts · June 2012

I do most of my nursing at home. Today was my first real NIP experience (other than at homes of family or mother's room at church). I used a cover and sat on a bench at the zoo and it went great!

Like pp said, I prefer to cover up and appreciate when others do too, but I would never say anything negative to someone who didn't cover up because I know not all babies will tolerate being covered. Part of my desire to cover up is because I'm not able to nurse very discreetly. Kudos to those who can!

jlsweets · June 2012

lindy27:

I nurse at home 95% of the time. My LO eats every 3-4 hours during the day so there is plenty of time to run errands between feedings if I have to.

If I do NIP, I usually do in my car and use an Anen & Anais blanket as a cover.

I prefer to be discreet when NIP and like it when others do too, mainly because I don't want it to have a bad rap. So I try to turn away from lots of people and use a cover.

Yeah I usually nurse at home as well..if I have to go out and will be later then the alloted time I'll pump a bottle...I've breastfeed in the changing room of a store and was in there for so long I was going crazy! ha it takes forever so I'd rather be at home infront of the computer or tv

I don't see anything wrong with women bf in public but I am too shy to do so

bornmommy · June 2012

So far I've nursed at a fort (went for daddy's day cause DH is a history buff) and at my job in my classroom. The second was completely on the fly...I was there showing off baby for a lot longer than I thought I would be. He woke up so I had to find somewhere quick. Thank goodness I used my cover because a student of mine and his dad brazenly strolled into my classroom to say hi even after I said I was nursing. I think my confidence leventer NIP went up bounds after that!!!

Pdxmom73 · June 2012

I don't produce enough to EBF so we supplement. I tend to just bottle feed formula if I am out but I did nip at a friends daughters ballet recital recently. I used a cover but I almost always do even at home. I have a 17 yr old autistic son and don't feel comfortable letting it all hang out. I would always use a cover in public though. I am just not comfortable with my boobs hanging out in public. I have no problem with people who do though.

freezorburn · June 2012

I nurse mostly at home but have also done it in the car, and at postpartum support groups around other new moms, without a cover. I just recently bought a cover and used it outside of a Starbucks. I think there's nothing wrong with BIP, personally I want to be discreet about it.

I am most uncomfortable nursing when my MIL is around -- I feel like I'm under a microscope with her, because she says and does things with LO that make me feel like she is trying to re-live her days as a young mom, vicariously, through us. Creeps me out.

littleredfish · June 2012

My letdown is very strong right now so she nurses better with me reclined (and we still make a mess) so we haven't nursed in public very much and when we have I just go to the car so I can recline the seat and be comfortable. Once we get things figured out and I feel better NIP I think I'd cover up based on where we are/ who is around. If I'm at a family outing I'd be more comfortable feeding her than say a restaurant full of strangers. That's just my discression. Plus DD tends to get distracted easily so if we were around lots of people and noises she would probably nurse better covered anyways.

mrsr708 · June 2012

If I am out in public I try to have a bottle of milk I have pumped, but that does not alway happen. I have nursed at church, a restaurant and in the car. I use a cover-up. I have also nursed in the dressing room of JC Penny...she refused the bottle of breast milk I had pumped. Could not feed her in JCP bathroom and did not feel comfortable breastfeeding her in a chair in the shoe department area (it was my first time out with her).

ARenee3 · June 2012

I've nursed several times in my car, once in the dressing room of a clothing store, and three times in my classroom and the library of my school when I was visiting. I either use my nursing cover or a receiving blanket. I feel fine about it because no one sees a thing.

pithikaki · June 2012

JennyJensing:
If I'm out and about, I usually nurse her in the car with a receiving blanket or a nursing cover. I don't really see the point of making a show of nursing in public. I understand that it's natural and blabbity blah, but we live in such a sexualized society that I think it shocks people. My modesty wouldn't allow me to do it.

This. I've got some bad nipple damage right now (long story, ugh), so I'm probably going to be a EP mom soon, but I also would pump a bottle beforehand to take with us. I don't think there's anything wrong with BFing in public, but I'm too creeped out by the weirdos who would stare - it's not for me. I would throw an AA blanket over my shoulder on the side LO was nursing on for privacy, even in the car.

stemms8810 · June 2012

I nurse at home with my boobs hanging out all the time...Lol.

I have nursed in a mall, two restaurants, and my car. I am more modest and I would prefer to not NIP but I know I will have to do it sometimes.

I just bought a cover today and used it. I really like it. I feel so much more comfortable NIP now.

I personally don't mind if others BF in public obviously because I have done it myself. All the more power to the ladies who are skilled enough to not use a cover of any kind too. I hope I become more comfortable and skilled at it with time because right now I always hope to avoid it.

I don't think there is an inappropriate time or place to nurse if it's done tastefully. I am not a fan of whipping out a bare boob for everyone to see without trying to be discreet about it.

Sherbet Lemon · June 2012

I very rarely have had to NIP. At my parents' or ILs' home I just go to a separate room to have privacy. We were at a park and I went to nurse in the car, and at my SIL's shower, I nursed on a sofa in one room when most people were in the other room during a shower game. This was probably the most public I've gotten because one of the younger kids walked away from the shower game and sat next to me and started asking questions about the baby. She wasn't at all phased by the fact that I was nursing.

I think it's fine to do and wouldn't think anything negative about others who NIP, but I'm still really uncomfortable doing it. I'm sure it's something I'll just have to do when the situation arises and get comfortable with it by doing it. I will use a cover.

winter-shock · June 2012

I pretty much nurse everywhere and anywhere. Depending on the kind of shirt I wear makes up my mind on if i use a cover or not. I am always discreet and covered when I do it so I really dont have a problem with it in public

Jinnifah · June 2012

I'm not very good at not flashing the world, so I definitely am still trying to use a cover (generally a receiving blanket tucked into a bra strap).

I've only NIP a couple times, and both were pretty friendly situations - hospital Appt and at my gma's.

everywhere else I've been has offered me a private place to nurse, which I kinda prefer since I'm quite modest and introverted and actually like the break from putting on my social face

babydawson · June 2012

I have NIP in my car a couple of times. We have had alot of visitors at our house, so I have used a cover here instead of going in the other room and missing out on what is going on. The first couple of times I just asked whatever man was in the room if they would step out for a second and let me get started since that is the hardest part.

Once when my BIL, SIL and their two kids were over I had to feed Beck right as they were leaving. My 2 1/2 year old niece said she wanted to say bye to Beck, so before we knew what was happening she ran over and lifted up the cover and stuck her head in and gave him a kiss and a hug. Thankfully my BIL didn't see anything (we are close but I don't want to be boobie close with him).

PregoPuma · June 2012

I was scared at first but got over it a couple weeks ago. My LO eats every 1 1/2 to 2 hours so its inevitable he gets hungry when we're out! And when a baby is hungry he's gotta eat! Yes I feel a little weird sometimes. And yes I always use a cover! LO prefers his head not be covered but my boobs are so big it would be a spectacle w/o one! He's such a piggy little eater though he forgets within a couple minutes he just goes to town!I go to my car if possible (first choice). But ive had to nurse in restaraunts, mother's meetings, even the dentist's office! The dentist was 20 minutes late and making me wait and my son was sceaming for food and wouldnt take a Binkie! So we nursed

Oh & my LO wont take a bottle of BM cold so that doesnt work in public cus theres no way to warm it up!

livinreality · June 2012

freezorburn:
I am most uncomfortable nursing when my MIL is around -- I feel like I'm under a microscope with her, because she says and does things with LO that make me feel like she is trying to re-live her days as a young mom, vicariously, through us. Creeps me out.

Me too! I completely gave LO 2 bottles and went home in severe boob pain on Father's day because I felt uncomfortable BF at her house...

There are a couple of times I have felt uncomfortable breastfeeding but mostly I just go to my car then, it is nice because I just turn on some music and relax. I do cover up though as I don't think random people need to see my beautiful cleavage, I save that for date night with DH

jennyelf · June 2012

I've been going to a breastfeeding support group which really helped me get used to nursing in front of strangers. From there it wasn't too far a step to start getting used to nursing in front of strangers in public areas. So far, I've nursed in my doctor's office, at friends homes, at my in-law's home, my car, and an outdoor table at a restaurant. The last one was interesting, but I live in a really liberal, crunchy granola area, so I didn't really get a second glance. Figured people could either deal with fussy baby or quiet nursing baby. I bought a bunch of nursing shirts from Old Navy, and while they aren't the most flattering, they are serviceable and allow me to nurse w/o exposing much.

DCsara · June 2012

I nurse anywhere and everywhere, though I do use a nursing cover or blanket to cover up (I find it hard to get LO latched on without a nursing pillow so otherwise there would be lots of thrashing around in plain view for a while!) To me this is one of the huge benefits of breastfeeding---we can leave the house easily with virtually no preparation since as long as I'm with him, our baby has what he needs. He's already been to the zoo, out to all sorts of restaurants, to multiple birthday parties, etc, etc. We spend tons of time outside in our front yard (I have a 3 year old daughter who regularly plays with the kids next door) so I nurse DS out there all the time. It's never been an issue, I just use the nursing cover and even bring a pillow out from the house to make it easier.

The only time I've had anyone comment on it was when we were in a furniture store picking out a "big girl bed" for my daughter and I had found a place to sit and nurse on a trunk while we spoke to the salesman. He suddenly realized I was nursing the baby (under a blanket) and started apologizing saying he didn't realize I was nursing and would have stayed further away, since he didn't want us to think he was a perv! I just started laughing and said it was fine--it's not like he could see anything under the blanket. I think that as long as you are discreet, most people are happy to see a nursing mom.

BelleIsa · June 2012

I NIP with a cover. I have a two-year-old, so I can't stay home all the time. I would prefer to give bottles in public though (not because I have issues with NIP, but because I personally find it easier), so I'm pumping once a day to build a stash so that in a couple weeks I can just take some pumped milk in a bottle when I'm out.

wheelsonthebus · June 2012

I've done it many times. Most of the time I'll use a blanket to cover up, but mostly because of a fast let down that makes quite a mess. I hate NIP right now because of that and will avoid it if I can.