Thoughts on topic of bf in public

[minties]

I've breastfed in public, but VERY nervously. I can't latch a baby without exposing my entire breast, including my nipple. I just don't know how not to. I have E cup boobs, and need a pillow and arm to hold the baby up and my other hand to hold and shape my breast. There are no hands free to do anything discreetly.

I don't have any issues seeing breasts/nipples in public but am shy about my own body, more so in front of my mother etc.

 

[Itsychik]

With my first baby, I was extremely shy about breastfeeding and didn't want ANYONE other than DH around me when I was feeding DS. When I was out in public, I initially hid myself in bathrooms and as DS got older I just started carrying bottles of formula around with me (I wasn't able to pump enough). This resulted in me often missing feeds and from an early age my supply dwindled and although I was able to bf until DS was 8 months old, he had to be combi-fed almost the entire time. As other OP's have said, I felt extremely isolated. Whenever we had friends over I went upstairs and hid in our bedroom, but DS was a SLOW feeder and each feed took 30 - 45 minutes so I missed out on loads of social time and felt really withdrawn. I was also upset with the amount of well-meaning people who told me that I *shouldn't* be bf'ing in the bathroom, and that I should be able to do so where ever I wanted, because I just wasn't comfortable with that.

When my DD was born, I did a complete 180. As others have said, I 1) didn't have the time to hide in a private place while my DS was running around also, and 2) I felt a lot more confident with my ability to bf (and DD was a champion nurser!) so I bf'd anywhere and everywhere. I used a cover exactly twice, and it was extremely uncomfortable and I couldn't see DD well and it irritated her. I also started baby wearing and learned how to use my stretchy wrap to help feed DD one-handed (and also help cover/hide her) and I always used the 2-shirt approach (one up, one down) so there was very minimal exposure.

Ironically, the only one who EVER made any comments about my breastfeeding in public was my own mother (who pretty much thinks it's inappropriate to bf in public at all) but we live in different countries so this was only on a few occasions when we were visiting. DD was bf until 16 months and I did feel uncomfortable NIP'ing as she got older than 9 / 10 months, but before that I never had any issues.

In general, my opinion about breastfeeding in public is that it shouldn't be an issue. I think it's respectful of others to try and do so discretely, whether for you that's using a cover, or the double-shirt approach, or whatever else works for you. I still feel a bit uncomfortable when I see others bf'ing in public (which makes no sense at all, I know) but I always applaud those mothers in my mind for being able to do so. I don't think it's unreasonable that some parents don't want their own children exposed to "blatant" (entire top down?) nudity while breastfeeding (not all parents are prepared to answer the questions that might follow from their own children, and I can respect that also). With all the other terrible things going on in public places, I don't understand why people pick something as natural as breastfeeding to get upset about...

 

[Mthoodmom]

It does take a little practice to get good at breastfeeding in public, but after a while you get better at it and used to doing it.

I never used a blanket to cover my baby or my boob while breastfeeding-- it was never necessary. the baby's head and your shirt cover almost everything (though if you have enormous boobs, it might be a different story, understandably so.

Honestly, I was much more mortified by people possibly seeing my flabby postpartum belly than my boob. Luckily the baby keeps that part covered most of the time!

 

[jessmke]

I am a FTM, my daughter is now 4 weeks old and I am breastfeeding her. We had family over for Christmas and I breastfed in front of them while wearing a nursing top. I did also use a muslin blanket once or twice while I was getting the hang of feeding discreetly. When we took the baby out to a restaurant I used a cover, but it's really just a light weight almost sheer grey scarf. Once I get better at feeding I will likely ditch the cover, but right now I sometimes have to hold my boob and wrestle the baby into place and there is a lot of nip flying about. If I were at the restaurant with friends I wouldn't care, but when I'm siting across the table from my dad I don't really feel comfortable with him seeing my boob, any sort of nakedness was discouraged when growing up, my dad was even uncomfortable seeing me in a bikini when I was a teenager. I couldn't care less if strangers see my boob briefly, and if I were in a more casual public environment (a park, coffee shop, at a friends house, etc) then I definitely wouldn't bother with the cover. I always wear a nursing top when I take the baby out, but that's more because I don't want to pull my shirt up and expose my nasty flabby post partum belly! I'd rather people see my boob than my belly!

 

[babydustcass]

I would love to feed in public this time, and hopefully with the help of my very supportive midwife I will be able to do it. With my DD i experienced an over active let down which made public breastfeeding a nightmare. As soon as I would start feeding, the milk would literally come pouring out both nipples like they were powered backed by jets, Id have to sit with a towel under my unused breast whilst feeding from the other, it was much to fast by the time we got to 4 weeks in and felt it was unfair to both of us to continue the battle on our own, what with LO coughing and spluttering, it was all round discomfort for us both. When id told my mw she practically said well at least you have enough milk and thats it. My new MW is confident we can make it not get to that point this time, and I would SO LOVE eventually to be able to nurse my little one where ever i need to and have no qualms about public feeding, babies shouldnt be made to feed in the toilet, no one else in their right mind would eat their breakfast there much less an infant. eww!