Wednesday, November 15, 2006

"i can't breastfeed in public!"

do you have superhero friends who can whip out a boob and breastfeed while they're shopping at the grocery store, drinking a latte, and talking on the cell phone all at the same time WITHOUT anybody noticing what they're doing? have you tried to nurse at the mall but can't get your milk to let down because you're uncomfortable and stressed out about continuously "flashing" the passersby? does your baby hate to have a "discreet" blanket thrown on top of her head? is she so active and curious that she comes off the breast every 2 minutes to look around and see what's going on, while your boob flops out and your milk sprays everywhere?

don't worry...you are not alone.

unfortunately, i do not have any magical cure for this but i can tell you what i did. i tried carting pumped breastmilk everywhere to avoid the nursing-in-public problem, but then i was paranoid about keeping it cold enough. i tried nursing in bathrooms (so gross and inhumane, but we've all been there, done that). i tried nursing under restaurant tables in corner booths but my baby would knock her head on the table and get angry.

in the end, you're a nursing mom and your baby needs to eat -- there will be a time when you HAVE to nurse in public, so take some tips from me. and with some practice, you may not be nursing in the check-out line, but you may be able to get out of the house for more than 2 hours at a time!

my best advice to you is to get used to dressing in layers. wear a t-shirt or other shirt with a cardigan or zip-up sweater/sweatshirt on top. when it's time to nurse, find the most discreet place you can -- not because you need to be embarrassed about what you're doing but because it will make you feel more comfortable and, therefore, it will be easier for your milk to let down. put your baby into position (cradle hold hides the most), reach up under your t-shirt to unhook your nursing bra, pull the sweatshirt out around your baby's head to make a little "boobie shield," then quickly lift up the t-shirt and shove your baby's head onto your boob. there will be enough "coverage" with the sweatshirt, the draping t-shirt, and your baby's head to cover most of your boob for most of the nursing session. if, like my kids, your baby likes to come off and look around, you'll just have to keep bending over a bit and pulling things down and around to keep covered.

and when all is said and done and it's time to burp, hand your baby off to your husband/partner/friend/mother/etc (if somebody is with you) while you re-adjust your breastpad, bra, shirt, etc. if nobody is there with you, just pull down your shirt, pull your zip-up sweatshirt around your floppy boob, and burb your baby. you can always re-adjust and re-hook once baby is happily in her stroller.

the bottom line is that you do not need to be embarrassed to nurse in public. it's your right to feed, and it's your baby's right to eat. there will be times when you will "flash" somebody, but, if you think about it, they will probably be more embarrassed than you, and, in all reality, after going through the birthing process with a group of strangers, flashing a quick nipple should now rank low on your embarrassment list.

but if you're having a hard time making it work and you and your baby are not quite the boobie-duo of superheros, then get yourself a zip-up sweatshirt or button-up cardigan and you will be in business! good luck!

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