Breast feeding in public

SomersIsles · May 2014

Seriously... How do you ladies pull this off??

When I'm in the privacy of the nursery the process to nurse is ridiculous. I pull my shirt up over my bra... So now my whole belly is exposed. Then, because either I randomly leak if DS doesn't latch right away or if he dribbles, I tuck a burp cloth over my bra that is now unclipped and folded down. Otherwise my bra gets a big wet spot. Then LO occasionally wrestles me as I try to get him to latch. PLUS I usually have to burp often leaving my boob exposed.

How do you do it?? Everybody and their mother would have full view of my whole boob often! And I'd be a leaky mess.... So annoying.

coreyeliz · May 2014

This is me exactly. It's such a messy, exposed process. I have no idea how to get it done in public.

jrw526 · May 2014

^^^ this exactly!

SomersIsles · May 2014

Let's also not even get into the fact that I may unintentionally squirt a stranger if they get too close

stephcrosby09 · May 2014

Tank and breast pads are a must. It gets easier the more you work at it. I still won't feed her from the breast anywhere she needs to be quiet, like church because she is not quiet.

ProudMommy030614 · May 2014

Gotta layer your tops

and offer innocent bystanders a poncho

)

bingbongsmama · May 2014

I can't imagine trying to bf in public. I'm completely topless and it takes 3 pillows to get in the right position. On top of that, baby needs almost complete silence and no distractions. Hopefully when she gets older we can nurse out of the house with a cover but definitely not right now.

katykatykaty · May 2014

I'm a big fan of nursing in my car. It's easier to keep DD contained in her car seat while I'm feeding LO, and I like the extra privacy. That said, I definitely flashed several people while attempting to NIP on a bench in a very busy mall. I just try not to care and hope everyone else feels the same way.

liamandlettie · May 2014

I tried before practicing at the mall and flashed like 3 people. I decided to sew a cover that went all around and tried it out successfully at a park. There were lots on moms and babies so I thought it was safe. The latch wasnt the best but it worked. Wouldn't say it was graceful or anything!

Pinecone21 · May 2014

For me, the issue is finding a comfortable way to hold LO without using a pillow. She usually nurses for 20 minutes or so. Any suggestions for holds that won't kill my arms?

BTBergstrom · May 2014

^^^this my arms and hands kill from holding her head!! I just keep thinking it will get easier when she has more head control. I love my breast friend pillow allows me to use my hands freely while she nurses away.

acdiaz11 · May 2014

As a FTM, I thought I would have a lot of issue NIP. My motto is "just do it". I figure it's going to bother people more if LO is screaming her head off then if I accidentally flash them or if the can see my belly. I always have a blanket over me, so if strangers catch a glimpse they can bet it was an accident.

ladyglittersparkles · May 2014

Toss my cover on unlatch bra and I usually have a cami or racerback tank on that I can pull down so my belly is covered.
It gets hot under my nursing cover though.
As I was doing this today my old boss decided to show me the Jamie Kennedy skit on this exact subject
Lol

mfarmer0811 · May 2014

I like to wear shirts that I can pull down with the bra. I have a few tips like that, and I find it makes it a lot easier.
I nursed at dinner tonight in a pretty swanky restaurant, and no one even paid attention. You gotta feed your kid, and I don't feel like I should have to go the bathroom or car to do so.

It made me really nervous at first, and I would have to go somewhere else in total privacy to get him latched on, but with practice It got easier.

pepperedmoth · May 2014

Pinecone21 said:
For me, the issue is finding a comfortable way to hold LO without using a pillow. She usually nurses for 20 minutes or so. Any suggestions for holds that won't kill my arms?

Try sitting cross-legged and leaning forward using cradle hold as opposed to cross-cradle. Cradle is much less tiring for me, and sitting cross-legged, or even just crossing my legs at the knee, often gives me enough lift.

ETA: I just tried it to see what I actually do. I use my other arm to support the first arm, and I lean BACK, not forward, so my chest takes more weight and my back doesn't hurt.

Re: clothing, my favorite method so far is to wear a tank with nursing bra that I pull down combined with a cardigan or buttoned shirt that I just open and then strategically drape.

I don't use a cover. I do practice just not caring by nursing in progressively more public places!

MeggsM · May 2014

I NIP 'd today in a restaurant for the first time ! As far as holding her I rolled her blanket for under my arm and held her with both arms - the right supporting the left. I used my cover and really only used the one side and had my otherarm free so it made things easier. I was nervous but it worked out well - I only freaked out a bunch of college guys and some dude on crutches who tried to steal a peep at my boob( enter death glare from DH)
Edit; silly iPhone

Andreabills · May 2014

I have mastered the art of layering. Tshirt comes up, nursing tank and bra fold down, baby girl's head shields my boob until she's latched. I'm jealous of those of you who's LOs will tolerate a cover, Ava will have none of it.

So far as positioning goes, I usually cradle her in the crook of my arm and that puts he at the right height and position to nurse.

scrumpfy · May 2014

I am not at all comfortable NIP, but LO will not take a bottle from me. If I'm out with someone, I'll ask them to stand in front of me while LO latches, because that's when my boob is on full display. Then I cover up myself with a blanket and her head covers my boob.

novelblessings · May 2014

I haven't attempted in public yet but I've done it plenty of times in front of family members. My MIL finds it weird and always offers for me to sit in another room.

I was going to feed her in public last night an event we went to but everyone rushed to get me a room to sit in, so I just took it.

I've been just covering up with a blanket. It took some figuring out to not flash people but it's doable. I've always been wearing a nursing cami as well.

fish8412 · May 2014

I still haven't had to nurse in public but I've practiced at him with my nursing cover. I'm sure it will be a mess the first few times I do it.

jtenkorang · May 2014

Yep I bring bottles. I'm still intimidated by nursing in public. I haven't had to be in a situation where I needed to go to the car yet but I'm sure it will happen.

VanessaBee · May 2014

I am by no means a NIP master, but I really like my NuRoo scarf. It snaps into a bunch of different styles and the vest-like one is perfect for me. It's light like a blanket - Baby kept getting super hot under my nursing covers - but it stays in place and doesn't slip off my shoulder. Baby still wiggles around a lot, like he always does when he's nursing, so I'm sure I look like I'm auditioning for a part in Alien, but it's a guaranteed 30-ish minutes of happiness in a restaurant!!

Edit: I also invested in a couple of nursing tops from Gap. They have a built in nursing bra thingie (I still wear a nursing bra under them) so it eliminates the tank top layer.

huskymomma94 · May 2014

Nursing tank under your shirt. Then you don't have to worry about your belly being exposed.

Pinecone21 · May 2014

Thanks, guys. I'll have to practice my cradle hold! And I never thought to cross my legs.

LittlePigeon · May 2014

I have only NIP twice so far. I have found restaurant booths are my friend because of the privacy. I have a nursing scarf and I think it is a little easier to manage and more discreet than a regular cover (which always just looks like an apron to me). It has 20 or so snaps so you can snap to fit however you're nursing.

I really like it. One of the girls I coach asked me where the baby was when she notified the stroller was empty the other day, not even noticing she was under my scarf nursing. An 18 year old girl may not be the best test, but hey I will take it.

BrideNamedMeg · May 2014

I like to sit on the floor when possible, it's easier for me to cross my legs or keep one knee up and stuff an A&A swaddle under DD's head to keep her in place. I almost always put a blanket under her anyway as I can use it for coverage if needed and it catches milk dribbles.

For attire, like others, I wear a nursing bra, and tank top that I can pull down under a regular top. If I don't have a tank I want to wear for some reason, I wear a bella band to cover my stomach and back. I hate having all that exposed skin, I find that way more uncomfortable than an occasional nip slip.

When I started venturing out with DD1, I'd go places that I knew were nursing mom friendly like BRU. I heard from friends that Nordstrom has a mother's room (and they're REALLY nice) so malls that had a Nordstrom were also a frequent destination. It's definitely harder when they're little and still have trouble latching. Once they're bigger it tends to be easier, until they reach that nosey age when they pop off every three seconds to see what's going on around them

memo9 · May 2014

It took a couple of months with my first to feel comfortable NIP. It gets better with time and experience too

huskymomma94 · May 2014

Also, these are the best nursing tanks ever. They have cups in so you don't have to wear a bra--they look very shapely and nice.

https://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=974290362&MasterCategory_Id=MC29&green=47CBB2E1-A6B0-5703-A91A-A8CF0368F602

pepperedmoth · May 2014

Guise, I am NIPing RIGHT NOW!

I am at my fave hippie natural foods store sitting on a bench. Right leg crossed over left, LO on left breast in cradle hold, partially covered by my woven wrap and partially by the burp cloth.

All the hippies are smiling at me. :-)

liamandlettie · May 2014

huskymomma94 said:
Also, these are the best nursing tanks ever. They have cups in so you don't have to wear a bra--they look very shapely and nice.

https://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=974290362&MasterCategory_Id=MC29&green=47CBB2E1-A6B0-5703-A91A-A8CF0368F602

Did you think they ran big? I had to get a size down. Im all about tanks and cardigans!

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