Breastfeeding in Public

Arwen78 · July 2014

I'm been thinking about this issue for a while now. What are the true rights of women breastfeeding in public in US?

I'm planning of breastfeeding and plan to if I must in public. Yet, I hope to do so as discreetly as I can. I'm more worried that it seems some just look for a reason to point out the fact a women in breastfeeding anymore. Any stories of public breastfeeding?

BlessedBee83 · July 2014

I have 81/2 month, and I bf in public. Here's my experience...

First, each state has it's own rights as far as specifics go.

For me, the hang up was in my head. My advice: Don't let yourself be hung up! My own insecurity kept me from leaving the house for at least a month! Most people really don't care. I've had some people commend me for BFing; no one has ever said anything rude.

The key is, you just have to go out and do it. The more you go out and live life while being a nursing mama, the more comfortable with it and skillful at it you'll be. It's amazing to me how easily I can pull my boob out without anyone noticing now!

ejb23 · July 2014

I joined a moms support group at my hospital where I practiced nursing in public (aka a private room with a nurse and 10 other mamas and babies). I got the hang of it after a few weeks and am now totally confident even without a cover. Just wear a tank and shirt then you can pull down tank and pull up shirt. Very descrete and easy with practice.

flcl · July 2014

@casey78 provided a link with great info on BF IP for each state.

I'm pretty new to this myself. I find using an A&A muslin blanket to drape over us is so much easier (and more comfortable) than using the nursing cover... especially during these warm summer months. My preference though is to nurse LO in my carrier. That way, I don't have to stop whatever we're doing and he can eat on the go!

nursebride2be · July 2014

With my first I had joined a new mom group through the hospital, it was great practice to nursing outside of the house. Eventually started feeling more comfortable to nurse anywhere with a cover. With my second I feel a lot more comfortable nursing in public. Have even nursed in my ergo a couple of times.
I purposely wear a tank top that I can easily pull down under a shirt I can pull up, makes it easier to discreetly nurse. You will feel like people are stating but most don't even care. Good luck

TheBorg7of9 · July 2014

I personally think that a cover draws MORE attention to the fact that you are nursing and look kinda ridiculous. Like a burka. I am 6 months into nursing my second. I nurse anywhere without a cover. I wear v neck tshirts from old navy and pull them down. If I feel like it I put a muslin blanket over the top of my boob but not over the baby. No one has ever said anything to me. I'm pretty sure hardly any one really notices. Just practice at home. In most states you have the right to nurse wherever you have the right to be.

Valancyy · July 2014

I nursed in public all the time, I never used a cover. I think a cover is too much of a hassle, plus I don't think it's necessary. You shouldn't feel that you have to cover up.

I never received a single weird glance or comment (from an adult). I do have a story of a little girl in a park. I was nursing my newborn on a bench, and this little girl was following my family around. Her grandmother asked if she was bothering us, and we said no. She was probably about 2.5 or 3 years old. She came over to me when I was nursing and watched. She seemed fascinated. She asked, "what is he doing?" I told her. The grandmother didn't seem to care and I had to feed my baby!

A lot of the time it's really hard to even tell you're nursing. I've seem other mothers NIP and even I have a hard time telling if they're really nursing, or just snuggling the baby. Unless they use a cover, then it's obvious!

You really do get more comfortable the more you do it.

TheAnalyticalMommy · July 2014

When i first started nursing, I thought I'd NEVER nurse in public. The idea just seemed so out there to me because i'm normally really self conscious. But... nursing is important to me and i've embraced it like a lifestyle. Eventually, i just had no choice. At first i'd look for a private/hidden spot to nurse but i'm over that

Yesterday, I nursed my LO on a tractor ride that was completely packed with people. While I was nursing, someone was talking to me about how cute his feet are LOL.

Eventually, I just accepted that I had to feed my baby and i wanted to feed him with the best thing I could - BF.

I only use a cover out of respect for my husband who gets uncomfortable at the thought of me pulling my boob out in public though he's VERY supportive of breastfeeding. I think he's just uncomfortable at the though that someone might be rude towards me if they see me do it (and he knows I'd turn momma bear on someone if they did!)

I'm all for it! You have to continue to live AND feed your baby... if you're going to nurse exclusively, you're going to NIP. No one has every said anything negative to me.

sschwege · July 2014

The more you do it the more comfortable you will be with it. With my first I was pretty nervous about it in the beginning months, even though where I live in IL you can BF anywhere a mother and baby are allowed to be. With both of mine, I used a cover until the baby started fighting the cover, then I went without. I've gotten so comfortable now that I don't even do it out of necessity, but at times convenience. DS is 18 months old so I can obviously give him a cup or a snack, but for example this morning I didn't have time to nurse him when he first woke up, so I nursed him at the library while DD was listening to books at Story-Time. I have never noticed anyone react negatively to it, on the contrary I have had a few people commend me on my decision to BF.

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