Bf'ing mamas come on in

Skylight21 · December 2013

I'm taking Lilly to my brothers indoor soccer game tonight, not many people go to watch but I know if she cries I need to feed her. I guess I'm just kind of nervous about feeding in public for the first time.

So question is, when you fed your LO in public for the first time how did you feel? Did you just sit on the first bench you saw and fed or did you go to the moms room by the bathrooms?

macadamia03 · December 2013

I was never brave enough to whip out a boob in public. I always went to the bathroom. Some public places have chairs for breastfeeding moms just inside the bathroom. Once we were at a Hard Rock Cafe and they had single bathrooms. I didn't want to sit in there and hold up the bathroom for 20-30 minutes so I asked a manager. She set me up in there private dinning area. I just always felt more comfortable in a quiet location. It will probably be different this time around.

Skylight21 · December 2013

Cashingn2 said:
I pump before going out and never stay out more than 3 hours. I hope public bf'ing goes as well for you as swaddling.

I unfortunately don't have a pump yet

. I'm not so sure I understand the swaddling part though ? O.o

Ansleyturner · December 2013

I bf'ed in public for the first time the other day with a cover and people still loved to stare.. But I guess they are just curious or surprised so it doesn't bother me. Just go for it and expect people to look at you but don't let it bother you.

KFED103 · December 2013

I never was anywhere with a "mom's room". I never nursed in a bathroom. Just no.

If you want to sit where everyone else is, do it. If you want you use a cover, do it. You could practice before you go out. Maybe bring and extra sweater or blanket for baby's head support. I know i miss my Boppy like crazy when I'm out on public

watercolor5 · December 2013

When I started nursing DD1, I'd often nurse in the car, esp if we were out to eat or in a very public place. I have no problem nursing in public and have done it at the pediatrician's, the hospital, and at homes of friends or family, and I just find a quiet corner and use my nursing cover. Whether or not I feel comfortable nursing in public depends on what kind of public we're talking about though, and I just go with my gut and do what I'm comfortable with at the time.

In a few months I'll be more likely to bring a bottle of pumped milk though, because it's just so much easier.

kaiteygrl · December 2013

I agree with PPs. I personally have a hard time with getting her in the boob while covered because we are both new.

ekruegerrn · December 2013

The first time I nursed in public, I was at an Eastern Star dinner with MIL. DS started crying, so I put my nursing cover on and started trying to get him to latch on.

One of MILs Eastern Star friends came over, pulled up the cover and started to manhandle my boob, telling me how I was doing everything wrong.

I was terrified to try NIP again!! I finally tried again while sitting at the mall. Cover on, it still took a long time to get him latched on. No one stared at me (that I noticed) and it all worked out fine. Just be confident, and realize it is clumsy while you are first learning how to nurse discretely.

Good luck!!

bumpuser2505903 · December 2013

It is a bit overwhelming at first but I really encourage you to go for it. I felt best with a cover and a chair with a back for support. Once you do it a few times you will build your confidence and be able to do it anywhere. It was way better for me in the long run not to worry about bottles/pumped milk/etc. if you feed a BF baby a bottle of BM technically you should pump around that same time to keep supply up (especially early on) and that's hard to commit to when your out and about. Also, it made it easier for me not to feel trapped at home or have major time constraints on when I had to be back, etc. Good luck mama!

northport6 · December 2013

Cashingn2 said:
I pump before going out and never stay out more than 3 hours. I hope public bf'ing goes as well for you as swaddling.

I do this, too.

northport6 · December 2013

Skylight21 said:

Cashingn2 said:
I pump before going out and never stay out more than 3 hours. I hope public bf'ing goes as well for you as swaddling.
I unfortunately don't have a pump yet . I'm not so sure I understand the swaddling part though ? O.o

Maybe consider getting a cheap manual pump to bridge the gap? They can be as inexpensive as $20.

jaykay627 · December 2013

Is there going to be anyone there with you that you don't mind flashing your nips to? The first time I nursed in public, my mom helped hold up a little blanket while I got LO latched (the cover I ordered hadn't come in yet since she was 3 1/2 weeks early) and then we were good to go.

As for nursing in the bathroom, I too find that pretty gross. There's no way I'd eat my meal in a public restroom, so why would I expect my baby to? But, to each her own.

Skylight21 · December 2013

Just to clarify, in my city there are mom rooms in the malls that are not in the bathroom itself. It is a separate room that has couches and chairs, change tables in them. You put your own blanket or pad down on the change table. But this is what I meant by moms room, not the actual bathroom. I should have clarified earlier.

I do have a cover, my mom an some friends will be at the game with me, they are practically my sisters so I'm not to worried if they catch a nip slip, it is everyone else that will be there.

pink flamingo · December 2013

I am breast feeding in my car right now ! Um I would have just done it in the restaurant but the cover I bought is still in the mail and it has better coverage than the current one I'm using . I am nervouse doing it for the first time in public but my baby has to eat so you do what you have to . I've done it at the peds office, at home with friends in the room and at breast feeding meetings but that's it. I don't really count those as public though at this point

Skylight21 · December 2013

@Cashingn2 said:
@skylight21, our mall has those too. Sometimes, I go to lunch at the mall for that reason lol.

The chairs are more comfortable than the food court seats :P

jaykay627 · December 2013

Skylight21 said:
Just to clarify, in my city there are mom rooms in the malls that are not in the bathroom itself. It is a separate room that has couches and chairs, change tables in them. You put your own blanket or pad down on the change table. But this is what I meant by moms room, not the actual bathroom. I should have clarified earlier.

I do have a cover, my mom an some friends will be at the game with me, they are practically my sisters so I'm not to worried if they catch a nip slip, it is everyone else that will be there.

Gotcha! I think in that case, it really is just what you feel comfortable with. I like AmyG*'s suggestion of practicing in front of a mirror. That way you can judge how exposed you will be!

@JaxxM - You have me convinced! My Moby is still in the box. I'm a little intimidated by it, but I'm gonna be on a mission to conquer it now!

airsica · December 2013

I tried nursing at the pedi. The other day, it's a lot harder than I thought. I'm so use to my boppy at home. My little man is ok with the cover but I like the idea to bring a jacket or blanket to help with support. I also like the idea of practicing at home in front of the mirror, I think I'm going to try that.
I would probably try nursing at the game, I might go to the side or back but am not a fan of nursing in a bathroom unless the have a sitting area.

MsCat19 · December 2013

Until I really had figured out what was comfortable for me I would go to my car, turn on the music and get comfortable to nurse. Once I figured out where my comfort level was, I started breastfeeding where ever. I used a receiving blanket folded up on my shoulder and would pop my boob out the top of my shirt. The blanked covered any boob hanging out, and that made me more comfortable. Now I don't GAF at all - I'm already going to get nasty looks for BFing a toddler while pregnant. Go ahead. Stare at me. Say something. I dare you!

lijah · December 2013

Use a nursing cover!

mh89 · December 2013

I usually look for somewhere private but if nothing is available I just whip it out (I have a nursing sweatshirt with extra pieces to cover her head as well as a cover I occasionally use if the area is super crowded or awkward). I'm kind of over caring about possibly exposing my boob to strangers, though I do try to avoid it.

I was also super nervous about feeding in public with my first daughter (especially because I had the added complication of needing a shield with her) but it got easier with time. Just act like its not a big deal and most people will treat it that way, if you look nervous or embarrassed people will perceive it as an embarrassing thing.

aundrea1225 · December 2013

I have yet to BF in public yet, but I do have a pump and would probably pump before hand, but if I couldn't I would just make sure I had something to at least cover myself up a little, like throw a swaddle blanket over us. Hope it goes well for you

zou bisou · December 2013

I think I exposed everything to everyone the first time I tried. It was so stressful. Baby was pulling at the cover, Dh was telling me every time he could see a nipple, it was not fun. But it got much easier. My second baby was a little wiggler too so I had to get even more creative about how to do it and feel like I was comfortably covered. This is what I've learned:

- Finding a place close to a wall and ideally seated is easiest. At least one side of me isn't open to viewers.
- All covers are not created equal. Some have flimsy openings at the top and then I can't keep a visual on baby when I look down. Not so great for airflow either. I like the kind that are starched or reinforced at the top. More stiffness. The better covers have a little more fabric on the sides for more draping and less gaping too.
- If you can, use the straps of your bra to tuck the cover fabric into so it's more form fitting to your body. That would help me keep the cover in place a lot better around my shoulder.
- Bf where ever you're comfortable. I've been shamed more for bf'ing in a decent bathroom than I have for bf'ing in the open public. Let's not kid ourselves about how sanitary any public space actually is. The bottom line is a hungry baby was fed to the best of my ability.
- If you do get any looks, I've found making eye contact to be an effective response. You staring at me? Fine. I'll stare at you too. I can stare for a long time too.
- ETA for one more: Sometimes sweater wraps make as good if not better covers.

pink flamingo · December 2013

I just whipped out the moby and my husband and I figured out how to use it . Now I have to wait for my LO to wake up from her titi coma. I'm going to you tube breast feeding in a moby while I wait .

ugoglencoco · December 2013

I actually did it today, before we even left the hospital. It's so damn cold that DH's car didn't start in the hospital parking lot so I went and sat in au Bon pain while he tracked down someone to jump him. Brady started rooting and crying and I just figured I had to do what I had to do... I turned towards the wall in the booth to get a good latch, but I actually felt pretty comfortable. I didn't feel too exposed or weird like I thought I would! Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, good luck!

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