Nursing in Public
Sooner or later, every nursing mom is faced with a room full of people and a hungry baby. Learning to nurse in public in a way you're comfortable with will make breastfeeding even more easy and convenient.
That's What Breasts Are For
It's natural to feel uncomfortable the first few times you nurse your baby in public. Breasts have been so sexualized in this culture that a lot of people forget that our breasts' primary function is to nourish babies.
But there's a lot of hypocrisy involved in the idea that nursing publicly is indecent. Think about it: How often do you get through an entire day without seeing almost-exposed breasts, whether they're on a magazine cover or popping out of a low-cut shirt on a girl at the mall? Most nursing mothers show far less skin than that while nursing their babies. It takes just a moment to get the baby latched on, which you can do turned away from the action in the room. Once he's latched on, your baby's head will cover your nipple and all or most of your breast.
You're Within Your Rights
Breastfeeding in public is legal anywhere in the United States. Some states have laws specifically reinforcing and protecting a mother's right to breastfeed her baby in any public place, while other states have legislated that breastfeeding does not constitute indecent exposure. Unfortunately, many people are still ignorant of this, and nursing mothers are sometimes harassed by security guards or other authority figures who don't know any better. If anyone asks you to move to a private area or, worse yet, the bathroom (would
Essential
If you have very large breasts, you may have to be creative about nursing in public. For instance, you might have a hard time finding nursing bras and clothing in your size, or it may be more difficult to nurse discreetly. Keep practicing. As you get more comfortable with nursing in general, you'll probably become less concerned with the possibility that somebody might see a flash of skin.
Practice Makes Perfect
Regardless of their right to nurse in public, many women are a little timid about actually doing it. If you are nervous about taking your show on the road without rehearsing first, practice a few times in front of a full-length mirror, either at home or in a dressing room in a department or clothing store. You will probably be surprised by how little — if any — skin actually shows while you're nursing your baby, especially if you're wearing a loose-fitting shirt or nursing top.
Find a Quiet Spot
A comfortable chair or bench that's a little bit out of the way makes an easier, more relaxing way to ease into breastfeeding in public. Some babies are very distracted by bright lights, noises, and people walking by. The first time you nurse in public, try bringing a friend or your husband along to sit next to you and give you a hand getting the baby latched on and your clothing settled back into place. Having another person there can help you feel less exposed.
Essential
If you aren't comfortable with breastfeeding right out in the open at first, try nursing in your car, a dressing room, a corner booth at a restaurant, or even in the outdoor furniture section at the department store. As your baby gets older, nursing gets easier, and you're out and about more, you'll figure out the techniques and places that work best for you.
Try a Sling
Baby slings make it easy to nurse in public discreetly. They cover you up and leave both your hands free for getting positioned — you can just tuck your baby's face down into the sling over your breast and lift your shirt. It can be tricky to nurse in a sling the first few times, so practice at home, or better yet, ask the person who sold you the sling or a knowledgeable friend to help you get the hang of it.
To Cover Up or Not?
Some moms prefer to cover up with a blanket or shawl when nursing, but this method has some distinct disadvantages:
A blanket can block your view of your baby entirely, making it much trickier to get him latched on just right.
Your baby might get too hot underneath a blanket or shawl, or he may not like being unable to see you and may refuse to nurse.
Covering up announces to the world: Hey! There's some breastfeeding going on under here! It may make it more obvious that you're nursing.
Instead of putting a blanket all the way over the baby's head and shoulder, you might consider just wrapping it around his body, coming up a little behind his head. That way you can cover any part of your stomach or side that might be exposed, and his head will get a little bit of cover without being too hot or stuffy.
If you're covering up to avoid offending people, you're doing it for the wrong reasons. Breastfeeding is natural, and it's healthy for both you and your baby. Ignore the strange looks and whispers, and do whatever you think is best.
