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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

first venture out and nervous about feeding

17 replies

peanutMD · 13/03/2013 07:29

DD is 8 days old and apart from a fee advised cup feeds in hospital has been breast fed but today e have to go or first outing to register her and I'm a bit worried about the logistics of it all ai haven't even tried to be discreet yet :o

would it bee okay to express a bottle for her or will this cause havoc with BF as its not fully established yet?

Thanks

OP posts:

JollyYellowGiant · 13/03/2013 07:34

How long will it take you? How are you getting there? I BFed in the car a lot a few times.

I wouldn't express yet if you haven't done it before - expressing may not be easy, DD may not take a bottle and then you'll have gone through a lot of faff for nothing.

Really, it is unlikely anyone would be negative when you are BFing a baby so young. They probably wouldn't even notice.

Pozzled · 13/03/2013 07:38

It is a little early to give a bottle really, although just as one-off it would probably be fine. (Sorry, not helpful, I know!)

Are you going on your own to register the birth? If not you could disappear off somewhere to feed if you need to. Think about places you could go that are fairly private if you'd be more comfortable. Most big supermarkets have a baby room, as well as department stores and mothercares. If you arrive early, feed somewhere and then walk the baby in the pram for a bit so she falls asleep , you should be okay.

McPheetStink · 13/03/2013 07:40

I used to sit in the back of the car

Failing that, if you're heading in to town. Marks and Spencer have a policy to allow breastfeeding mums sit in their changing rooms to feed. They don't rush you, and you take priority

Congratulations!

Pozzled · 13/03/2013 07:41

Just to add, I fed in front of the registrar when I registered DD2. She didn't bat an eyelid. They deal with babies 6 weeks and under, they must be so used to it.

seventiesgirl · 13/03/2013 07:46

Please don't worry too much about it. First time can be daunting but trust me, a few months down the line it'll feel so natural to be out and about feeding. Take the advice above and find somewhere private, most places are happy to help.

newtonupontheheath · 13/03/2013 08:20

Marks and spencer cafe is good for feeding That's where I went when we registered my ds.

Also, our registry office had a feeding room...

EauRouge · 13/03/2013 08:32

A lot of mothers are nervous the first time. If you are worried about nip slips then you could keep a muslin square or shawl handy. The two tops method is recommended a lot on MN and it does really work. Put on a stretchy vest underneath any old top, and then you pull one up and one down so only a tiny bit is showing.

Also remember that breastfeeding is protected by law. You cannot be made to stop breastfeeding, asked to move etc. This is a really good guide to your rights.

It is so, so rare for people to get arsey about it. I'm a BF veteran and have never had one single negative comment from a stranger about BF in public. I BF my DD1 in a cafe the other day and no-one said a thing. She is 4yo.

tomatoplantproject · 13/03/2013 08:38

I second the idea of bringing a shawl or muslin to hide yourself under and vest and top. I was really nervous the first time but you soon get the hang of it. I organised shopping around John Lewis stores to begin with and they were a real life saver.

Congratulations and good luck!!

notcitrus · 13/03/2013 08:42

Our nearest reg office has a private room for new self-conscious mums to feed in and encouraged feeding during the appt, having a break, and generally couldn't have been lovelier.

So we registered dd as a family outing as well.

Think about where there are changing rooms, private rooms in clinics, friendly looking cafes with sofas facing away from the crowd, while you get your confidence up, and soon you'll only be considering the comfiness of the seating and the price and quality of the coffee!

Lampfamm · 13/03/2013 08:56

I completely understand your anxiety. I could never find anywhere easy to feed. It's only really easier now because dd is better at feeding. When she was really little she used to make discrete feeding impossible! I used the car a lot too. Another tip - Churches can be good places to bf when out and about. They are usually pretty empty and the pews leave loads of room for kicking legs! Good luck

Original poster

peanutMD · 13/03/2013 09:33

Thanks everyone :)

I've kind of gone against the grain on this occasion and expressed 3 ounces of milk which dad will feed if needed, if she gets upset obviously I will just say sod it and go for it.

I will invest in some stretchy tops for the one up/one up down method whilst I'm out and have a practice infront of the mirror over the next free days so I can be more confident and just go fir it without the faff :)

OP posts:

MyNameIsAnAnagram · 13/03/2013 14:55

The registrar will have seen hundreds of women bfing before, they must be well used to it - they register brand new babies after all, and a big percentage of those will be bf. My tip would be to find out what local cafes your NCT groups go to, they'll defniitely be bf friendly and should be a good place to go for your first public bf.

SquidgersMummy · 13/03/2013 16:02

Hi - breastfeeding tops are terrible - the two tops method is great - I use my gap maternity stretchy vest to pull down then any top I fancy to pull up. NOONE notices. First time I went out I sat opposite the till at Morrisons cafe to make myself get over it. Honestly no one was arsed in the slightest. If they realise, women tend to smile at the baby - men look away worried you think they are perving. Practice in the mirror - you really can be discrete without it being difficult. Go on - get out there!! X

WillSantaComeAgain · 13/03/2013 16:12

I know some people hate them and think they're for "showing off" but I used one of those shawl things that had a stiff top so you could see the baby and the boob, but no-one else could. I still remember feeling so so nervous the first time I did it in public. I got a bit better by the end, but I like to think that if I have more DC, I will be much more relaxed about it.

OhdearIquit · 13/03/2013 16:42

When DD was tiny, I was really self-concious about feeding in public. You know, when it takes ages to latch them on in the first place. So when I was out where there were shops, Iasked to feed in a changing room cubicle. No problem...

Pozzled · 13/03/2013 16:50

Hope it all went well. Did she need/take the expressed milk? Don't worry if you still feel awkward about feeding when you're out, it will all fall into place after a while. I found it helpful going to baby and toddler groups where others were also feeding.

Original poster

peanutMD · 13/03/2013 21:57

Well DD stayed asleep the while time we were out so didn't need after all but I bumped into a friend in town later on so we went for a catch up and DP took DD home and fed her, it was lovely to have that break but I won't be making a habit of it!

I bought a few stretchy vests from Tesco so will get practising over the next few days :)

I'm meeting up with a few friends and their babies next week so will just go for it then, should he interesting though given I an the only one breastfeeding :o

OP posts:

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