Breastfeeding is so automatic these days

[Babieseverywhere]

It is amazing to think back four years when I was a new first time mum, I was so concerned about breastfeeding in public. I would only undertake doing so when baby was desperate to feed, I could sit down and use my breastfeeding shawl. I would sit facing a corner if possible. Even used the shawl in my house sometimes, when we had visitors !

Fast forward to this morning and it only occurred to me when I got home, that the reason my child's headmaster was a bit distracted when we were chatting this morning was because I pulled baby (DD2) out of her pram and latched her on whilst chatting and discussing school related IT issues.

I have got to the stage where breastfeeding is so normal a part of life but it didn't occur to me to ask permission (which I try to avoid anyway it is my baby's right to eat after all) and I felt he responded very well, bit distracted but very pleasant to me. What a nice headmaster

Hoping this story will inspire confidence in other 'nervous of feeding in public' mothers. To let them know that it does get easier the more you do it. Oh, I passed the breastfeeding shawl to another new mother about 3.5 years ago.

That's lovely.

I couldn't have imagined bfing in public 4 yrs ago with ds1 either. Now i feed ds2 everywhere and love it. i have only once had a 'tut' and even then the tutee was admonished by others around us.

rarely see other bfers in our area, but i feel very proud feeding him.

and noone has seen my tits.

How do you bf in public? I am travelling on Weds and will be on the train most of the day and am worried about feeding in public, no about peoples comments as i am quite opinionated and have already told one of my friends that she wouldnt eat her dinner in the toilet so why shoul my son, its everyone seeing my boobs that is the worry ...

strechy vest under loose top/jumper.

babie's head covers nipple and most of boob/all of boob.

practice in front of a mirror.

I just wear tops and skirts/trousers. Pull up top and latch on baby. Baby covers most of the exposed skin.

Thinking of investing in a vest like Nicky suggested and/or belly bands. It is getting too cold for public feeding. :)

The more you do it the easier it becomes. I have had strangers walk over to talk/stroke my baby and not realising she is nursing until they are stood over us. LOL

I use to have bad dreams worrying about nursing and remember a very funny meal out when my husband and I managed to alert the entire Pizza Hut staff and customers to the fact that I needed/trying to feed my breastfed baby, by faffing about with breastfeeding shawls and finding a seat in a corner (big ) When if I had just picked up DD1 and latched her on, noone would have noticed.

Drewsgirl, trains are easy places to feed. I ended up talking to everyone in the carriage I was in last month. Baby (DD2) kept breaking off nursing to smile and 'ggggrrrr' at people. You'll find people will smile and chat to you, plus they will ask you loads of questions about breastfeeding.

I have been nursing for over four years solid, three children and I can not remember a negative comment outside HV and family (go figure) certainly all strangers have been nice to me.

Drew, a vest top and cardi always helped me. You can pull up the vest top and the cardi will keep you covered from the people at the side. Baby's head will cover your boob.

I think that if you use shawls etc you only draw people's attention to what you are doing. Much better to just do it, most people will think you are just cuddling your baby anyway.

Enjoy your trip, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Thanks for all the ideas, really when i am home i just wear a vest top that has easy access but wasnt sure about in public as i always pull it under my boobs not over.

Babies - I still have my belly bands from being preg i had not thought of wearing them but seems a v good idea if you have a black vest pulled up with baby under and the black belly band covers you up :) probably for people walking past then would just think it was the vest and the baby was having a cuddle.

just a thought. When i was on train was a bit of a tight squeeze to feed when sat at a table if that makes sense. Had to turn sideways iyswim. Ime most people don't comment. I have more positive comments and from people wanting to know about bf cos they never done/did it! Def recommend cardigan and loose clothes. Good luck

I agree, I certainly feel there are more BFing mums around than 3 years ago, and keep bracing myself for negative comments but have yet to have any (actually I didnt with DD1 either). Last week in a cafe a woman came up and said "how lovely", she said she always felt she had to hide away when feeding her now grown up children. Good to know some things have changed positively! I agree with tip re baggy cardies, and on the train try & avoid seats with tables as doneit said, as can be a bit of a squeeze (& watch out for bumpy track!)

good to hear that it seems to be more common these days. I bf'd in public for the first time this week and was very proud of myself and DS. I was nervous about it and did cover myself with a blanket, but thinking about it i doubt if anyone actually noticed. it is very liberating knowing that i can go out shopping, etc without having to rush back in time for his next feed.

" I have had strangers walk over to talk/stroke my baby and not realising she is nursing until they are stood over us. "

I had this at the weekend, at a toddler group fete and this old lady came over and stroked his head. Bloody old ladies and their baby stroking. I have also had my dad come to talk to the baby and kiss him on the head, I don't think he realised I was feeding, even after he had done it. If felt quite smug as this was a couple of minutes after my mother had "kindly offered" that I go up to her bedroom to feed in private because clearly I had travelled 6 hours with a small baby to spend time in an empty bedroom when all my family were catching up downstairs.

Incidentally Drewsgirl, this might help, this is my favourite nursing vest and top layer combo, with the muslin for backup (although DS has a great habit of grabbing the muslin and flapping it about, I still find tucking it into my bra strap stops it going awol)

sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs830.snc4/69080_481158336868_503476868_6944619_4329969_n.jpg

I am not sure DH realised I was still nursing when he took that.

that is a good trick with the muslin. and that is surely the biggest mug of coffee i have ever seen!!

i second cardigan and bump band combo. i don't quite get on with the vest option - it gets in the way - but bump bands cover my tummy beautifully.

Great story from the OP!

Drew - I agree with some of the earlier posters vests are the way to go. I found (esp in winter) that a vest under a jumper was great, pull the vest down and the jumper up and all bits of flesh are warm and cosy (especially the bit with the baby on!) Cardigans also work well. I was also nervous about feeding in public for the first time and as I was feeding twins it often took a long time so I would say priority is to find a comfy seat! Use the shawl to pad your back!

At first I just used to brazen through it even though I was uncomfortable but then I realised that a) most people don't notice b) no one who notices cares and c) any one who cares is far less important than your lovely baby! I would imagine that pretty much all your fellow train passengers would rather a bf-ing Mum than a screaming baby. As they get older they do have a tendency to stop halfway through to have a wee look around but by then you won't care! Go for it! PS any minor embarrassment you feel now will just toughen you up for when you have to take a toddler out and about (think tantrums and inappropriate comments)!

That's great Babieseverywhere.

Unfortuantely I have given up with public bf. I'd rather have the faff of expressing than try to feed him out of the house.

At home he feeds really well (in nursing chair with my brestfriend). That might actually be the problem as when feeding just being held by me he squirms, wriggles and pulls off constantly, displaying my boobs to all and sundry (which I just cant get comfortable with).

Tried nursing cover and he just thrashed about underneath it- must have looked quite funny to anyone watching, like I was trying to smuggle a cat into Starbucks or something.

My saving grace is that he's a 3 hr feeder and I have a lot of help so can get by.

I am desperate for some negative comments so I can have a fight, but all i get is lovely comments, it's very irritating

Cosmosis glad to hear it.

A lady did come up to my friend and I in Starbucks and say "It's lovely to see you girls breastfeeding. It's great that it's becoming fashionable again"

Made me laugh (and always nice to be called a girl when you're the wrong side of 35)

cosmosis i'm with you - I'm dying for someone to say something negative so i can put them right!

i have bf both of my DCs in public in all sorts of places no probs but both have been very 'off and on' so unless i cover up with a bf cover they would repeatedly flash my nipples to all and sundry.

aww, that's wonderful. unfortunately i never got to that stage where i felt comfortable enough, especially as ds got olde i felt peopl would be more likely to notice and object so i really only fed him at home and at my ums but i wso wish i had just gotten past it and fed him wherever.

BaT sorry you are having struggling to feed in public but your "smuggling a cat" line has made me lol :o

BE - that is SUCH a lovely post to read!!