Hi moms
you’re back with the Happy Breastfeeder. Today we are going to talk
about get cozy about nursing in public. You know, you’ve had a baby
but you don’t want to be a hermit for a year. You may not want to
go through all the inconveniences and disadvantages of pumping
bottles to go out.
So I want you
to try to get comfortable with nursing in public. Sometimes you
hear horror stories about people commenting in the news about moms
being asked to leave public places when they are breastfeeding.
Don’t go to Victoria’s Secret and try to breastfeed because they
don’t like breasts there or whatever.
It’s highly
unlikely that that will ever happen to you. I have four children
and have been breastfeeding nonstop for the last 8 ½ years in every
place unimaginable and only once have I ever had anyone say anything
negative. It was really just dumb – a security guard in the mall.
On the other hand I have gotten so many positive comments, sometimes
people will just admire your baby and sometimes they don’t even
realize she is breastfeeding.
Or if they do
they will express their approval like oh man that’s great you are
breastfeeding or they’ll share a story about their own babies if
it’s a grandma who approaches you, oh I remember breastfeeding my
babies or whatever. Here’s some tips though about breastfeeding in
public. Try nursing shirts. You can get some of these at a lot of
different places, motherhood/maternity stores sell them.
You can try
online at
www.motherwear.com and there is a lot of other sources of nice
breastfeeding clothing. Try a baby sling. When you wear your baby
in a sling it’s almost impossible for someone to tell if you are
breastfeeding. I have been walking through the grocery store with
my baby in the sling nursing and I would have people come up to me
and peek in and not even know. They were wondering is that a puppy
in there or what but they never even realized I was breastfeeding.
Sit in front
of a mirror and practice watching your baby at home, see if you can
do it without ever showing anything at all. If you practice you can
get really good at it. Really honestly I think the very most
important thing is attitude. Wear a big smile. Don’t look
embarrassed or sheepish. Don’t look down at your baby because
that’s kind of a dead give away.
Turn your
back a little bit and get the baby latched on quickly and quickly
rearrange your shirt and then look up and then just give everyone a
smile. Don’t apologize. You are meeting your baby’s needs. There
is nothing to be ashamed of. There is some more tips for discreet
breastfeeding in public if you visit
www.sexynursingbra.com/breastfeeding-in-public.html I will talk
with you later. I’ll be back with more happy Breastfeeder tips.
Happy Breastfeeder Part Seven
