Would you breastfeed in a traffic jam?

[KathyMCMLXXII]

I ask because it was in an NCT leaflet on the advantage of bf when I was waiting for my scan the other day.

I just don't see how you could do it without getting the baby out of its carseat, and with our infant carrier, there was no way you'd be able to get the baby back in again and safely strapped up without pulling over and getting out of the car, which you can't always count on being able to do in a jam....

Unrealistic advice, or did we just have a silly car set?

I did a 5 hour car journey with my dd when she was about 6 weeks old, just leant over her and let her feed without getting her out of her carseat! Felt a bit odd but worked a treat.
I wasn't driving at the time though. That would be impossible.

Yes. Done it on the M4 when the traffic was at a complete standstill.

if you could see the road was blocked - eg an accident and you could be sure you would have time to get the baby back into the seat safely, then yes - but otherwise no.

Odd thing to put as an advantage !

Wow, Bluejelly! Wasn't it uncomfortable?

Not uncomfortable just felt a bit pervy! Sort of cow like
But loads better than having to pull over every hour or so

i too have leaned over and fed the dds when traffic has been bad - of course wasn't driving at the time!

This thread is opening my eyes.... the things you learn from Mumsnet.

I have fed my dd in a traffic jam! cars not moving any more than about 1 mile an hour - literally and dd who was about 8 weeks old was screaming her lungs out so i jumped in the back and fed her - why not? (i obviously wasnt the driver

I've done the dangling over thing too. Would never have thought of doing it, but read it on MN. A bit sore on the back though and you can't see out the window but luckily ds nodded off every time I did it.

I've leant over dd as a baby and fed her while she stayed strapped in

not while I was driving though
If traffic is staitonary I'd take her out and plonk her back in once we started moving again

I've bfed DS2 in the back of VVVQV's car in traffic

Also bfed DS1 in traffic jams twice (once when he was 4mo in a 5-hour nightmare jam caused by chap deciding whether or not to jump off the QE2 Bridge - if I'd known it was that, I'd have bloody pushed him!).

I wouldn't do it if I was driving though.

Yes, mean I've done the leaning over thing - although did get DS1 out of his seat in the 5-hour jam to look at the lorries (first-time mum ).

not the best advantage I've ever heard of though, surely taking a spare bottle along would be just as easy (or easier??)
and I'm another of the 'leaner overs'

Absolutely Morocco - I didn't think leaning over was possible so got into the habit of taking a bottle of ebm in the car, which was easy enough, so as an advantage of bf over bottle feeding it's a bit weak. Even if you had to warm it up you could have one of those in-car bottle warmers that plug into the cigarette lighter.
On the other hand when it's an unexpected traffic jam like the one HM describes, bf wins hands down....
Will definitely try this leaning over thing next time, even if it does make me feel like a cow

Yup, done it on the A1 near Catterick when traffic was at a complete standstill and the travel report on 5Live said that we weren't going anywhere soon! I got out of the front passenger seat, went round to the other side of the car behind the driver's seat, unstrapped ds and fed him. I've also fed him in a motorway services car park and changed him on my knee there too cos it was raining very hard and I didn't want to get ds wet!

A bottle was not an option for a staunch breastfeeder like me I'm afraid.
I must say though leaning over, the truckers alongside got an eyeful of nature at its most useful
Discretion not assured in that over hanging position, certainly not with melons that resemble a soggy football.

FED DD3 MANY TIMES LEANING OVER THE CAR SEAT ON THE M25. GAVE PLENTY OF LORRY DRIVERS A CHUCKLE AND A LAUGH I CAN TELL YOU!

oops caps lock is on, sorry cant bebothered to retype it all

I've expressed quite a few times in the car too.

I'm just mad fer getting me norks out though.

i wasnt driving tho.

Many many times i have bf ds and dd while in the car. Never been in a traffic jam long enough but would do the same then.

travelling in the middle of the night it helped my 2.8 old relax and sleep int he car. worked a treat.