Church goers come in

tattooedtragedy · January 2014

We are likely going to attend services for the first time since LO was born this sunday and I'm trying to decide how I would handle it if LO gets hungry in the middle of service. I'm BFing but I'm not sure if I should leave the room or stay and discreetly nurse either in the carrier or with my cover. I will likely have a bottle ready to go but she always calms more quickly for the boob also we go to a very progressive UU church but we are one of the few families with small children. So WWYD or how have you handled this situation?
TIA

Whitterpow · January 2014

Luckily, my church has nursing/cry rooms in the back with one way mirrors. They were occupied last Sunday so I went to the nursery area and nursed with a cover. I always feed LO right before we leave, but it never fails that he always wants to eat again before church is over.

aundrea1225 · January 2014

I would plan on feeding right before we head out. Our church has a huge lobby area where I would feed her if she got fussy. They even have back pews right by the door that all the moms sit at, its pretty cool. Just do whatever is easy for you. Its ok if she cries a little before u excuse yourself. I think every service I've been to I've heard a baby act up. Its natural and normal.

MommyEllenSue · January 2014

I go outside to the sitting areas around the sanctuary. We have t.v's there also so I can still watch the service.

tyedyeme12 · January 2014

We also have a designated "mommy area". However, I agree that there is nothing wrong with a baby crying just a little before you excuse yourself. You could also pump and pack a bottle and feed if you want. However there is a mom at my church that will feed her son during the service with a cover. I don't think anyone has given it a second thought.

mavgirl_73 · January 2014

I personally have nursed all 3 in the service with a cover. We usually sit in the back anyway. I've never been side-eyed. As for those who think it's inappropriate to feed your child in the church (not the foyer/lobby/vestibule/narthex) that's ridiculous. Any church or church goer who side eyes a mother feeding her child clearly doesn't understand the phrase "that which you do to the least of these (children) you do unto me." OP feed where you want/feel most comfortable. You said you go to a very open church so it shouldn't be an issue. Good luck!

imrachellea · January 2014

I feed LO before we go but again, never fails that she gets hungry there. Our church facilities are an older church so they aren't wired with service feed in the mothers room so I would nurse with a cover or give a bottle.

mavgirl_73 · January 2014

@sailortink, as former Catholics it does bring joy to my heart that the Pope is breaking down a bit of the barriers for people within the Church. I nursed our first two before we jumped ship (Episcopalian now for many many reasons) in mass and honestly never felt weird about it.

Kbrittonhart · January 2014

I always pumped and carried a bottle in for church but if you are giving her the breast then I would go outside the sanctuary into a more private area ( not necessarily the restroom)

Whitterpow · January 2014

mavgirl_73 said:
I personally have nursed all 3 in the service with a cover. We usually sit in the back anyway. I've never been side-eyed. As for those who think it's inappropriate to feed your child in the church (not the foyer/lobby/vestibule/narthex) that's ridiculous. Any church or church goer who side eyes a mother feeding her child clearly doesn't understand the phrase "that which you do to the least of these (children) you do unto me." OP feed where you want/feel most comfortable. You said you go to a very open church so it shouldn't be an issue. Good luck!

I agree with this. I should have specified in my response that the reason I don't just use a cover and stay is because I'm still not comfortable nursing in public. It still requires a lot of finagling. I don't think twice about others who do it though. Do what you're comfortable with.

mavgirl_73 · January 2014

@whitterpow I knew what you meant.

ugoglencoco · January 2014

I nurse with a cover in church. I think it's silly that anyone find it inappropriate to nurse in church... We go to a church that is very old and doesn't have a lobby or anything like that though. But honestly, I wouldn't have thought to go in there even if we did have one. My 2.5 year old is probably causing more of a scene in church than I am by BFing so he's a good distraction lol

jaykay627 · January 2014

mavgirl_73 said:
I personally have nursed all 3 in the service with a cover. We usually sit in the back anyway. I've never been side-eyed. As for those who think it's inappropriate to feed your child in the church (not the foyer/lobby/vestibule/narthex) that's ridiculous. Any church or church goer who side eyes a mother feeding her child clearly doesn't understand the phrase "that which you do to the least of these (children) you do unto me." OP feed where you want/feel most comfortable. You said you go to a very open church so it shouldn't be an issue. Good luck!

My thoughts exactly.
When we first started going again after LO was born, I tried to time it where she would eat between Sunday School and the worship service, but that didn't work out very well. So now I just nurse during the service with a cover and no one seems to even notice, much less care. Agree with Mav that it's whatever you feel most comfortable doing.

tattooedtragedy · January 2014

Thanks for all the feedback ladies!
I still haven't decided what i'll do but the more I think about it the more I think that nursing in the back wouldn't be a big deal for our church

gcama85 · January 2014

We go to a UU church too! I think nursing in the back would be fine but like other posters, I'm just not really good at public nursing so I'd probably step out. If you're comfortable with it, I'd just sit in the back and go for it if you need to.

crazyblessedmamma · January 2014

I just nurse in service with a cover. I am the pre-k ministry coordinator at our church though, so in just a couple weeks I will be off maternity leave and will not be able to be in service very often, so I don't want to miss it. I agree to do whatever you are comfortable with, but I don't think its necessary to leave and i don't personally consider it inappropriate....God created us and he created our bodies to be able to nourish our babies, and IMO that should not be frowned on, especially in church. I do think discretion and a cover should be used, though out of respect for others (we attend a large Assemblies of God church and modesty is important to me, but, hey... this is all just my opinions).

ETA- clarity... my brain is foggy from zero sleep...and it shows!

mavgirl_73 · January 2014

SailorTink said:
@mavgirl_73 we're Episcopalian now too, for probably the same reasons :-P

VerySurprised · January 2014

I still have not made it back to church since the baby arrived.

Our church has a nursing room, so I could go there if she needs to eat. Ideally, I'd like to bring a bottle of BMilk, but she is not a big fan of bottles these days.

amberpro · January 2014

I feed right before we leave the house and haven't had any issues. We also have a cry room if necessary.

If we didn't, I'd sit in the back and nurse with a cover. If you're not confortable with with NIP yet, you can always go to the nursery. But that's about your comfort level. I don't think anyone should have a problem with you nursing in church.

Chichigo · January 2014

I feed him right before we leave and put him in the wrap as soon as we get to church. He usually sleeps the entire time we are there. I wouldnt move to feed him, though. I'm Catholic, the pope supports breastfeeding in public, and my state has awesome laws re public breastfeeding. I only cover while getting baby latched, and wear an infinity scarf that covers the top of my breast.