how do you feed in public?

[CurlsLDN]

I have a 12 day old ds. Breastfeeding is going well, but I can't figure out the mechanics of feeding in public! I've tried twice, once in an empty cafe and once in our garden, so both places I felt comfortable and confident.

I'm trying to feed under a muslin, I have big boobs and they seem to be everywhere! I can't get my bra unclipped and my giant boobs out while holding the baby in the other hand. I can't get baby to latch on as I can't see him under the muslin. He gets tetchy and wriggly and everything is harder. I try to peek under the muslin and the boobs come out!

What's the trick? Can you recommend any tips or are there videos to look up?

[ineedsomeinspiration]

www.mamascarf.co.uk/products/mamadesign-products/mamascarf/
I had one of these which was quite good.
I think it is more difficult with big boobs but you'll find it easier as little one got older.
To be honest I got to the stage where I wasn't particularly bothered if people got a flash of boob. Ds was a bugger as he got older and used to stop for a look around.

[MabelBee]

At the beginning I used a Bebe chic cover. It has a sort of wire through the fabric at the top which holds away from your body so you can see the baby and they don't feel smothered.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00B6XK7YO?cache=98a7464eaee1c64fcfd80cddb47d27b3&qid=1400822869&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

[Fozziebearmum]

My biggest tip is to practice latching and unlatching in front of a mirror. You'll see that very little or anything is exposed and will be able to 'perfect' your technique.

I've always done the two tops thing (nursing vests from Mothercare) I used to use a muslin tied into my bra strap in the early days so I could cover for latching. But stopped after 12 wks or so as dd decided she hated it.

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

What I mean with the bebe au lait is that if I'm chatting with said person, I can see they can get slightly embarrassed when I start trying to position baby to feed. The cover saves them from having to try to look elsewhere. I found once positioned feeding is very discrete. Staff in pubs and cafés had no problem coming over, taking my order etc, so they couldn't have found it embarrassing to stare at a bf woman!

[OneLittleToddleTerror]

12 days is definitely early days. DD is 3yo now but I fed her for 18mo.

I usually wear two tops. A vest with thin strap or boob tube underneath a t-shirt. Then I undo the bar strap, lower the under top to expose the breast, then position baby and lift the t-shirt. I found boob tubes easier with this method. Someone up thread mention pregnancy bump bands and that should work to help cover up too. They do latch faster with age as well.

Also I have a bebe au lait too. I found it useful when feeding in front of male friends and relatives.

[feeona123]

I have a 'snoob'.

Great, can sit with my boobie out while settling little one after a feed if necessary, then put myself together when I'm finished!

[Hallloumi]

I think you're doing well to be trying at 12 days. I didn;t even try until she was about 6 weeks and I;m really not shy. At that stage most babies latch on much faster and in another few weeks mine does;t really need any help to get there which makes it much less stressful though as above she's now nosy and gets distracted feeding in public. The best 'public feeding' time for us was between 6 weeks and 3 months.

I've never used one but loads of women where I live in Canada use those breast feeding 'aprons. (including a Saudi friend who definitely wouldn't be feeding in public otherwise).

Good luck anyway

[Seeline]

I have huge boobs but never found it a problem. But then I wasn't particularly bothered if people wanted a gawp I had nursing bras, but never bothered with special clothing, or used muslins etc. I think it is like changing on the beach - if you just get on with it, no one really notices I have to say this was 9-10 years ago when bf-ing was probably even less accepted than it is now. No-one ever complained.

[CurlsLDN]

Thankyou for all the advice and lovely support. Ok, seems I am definitely expecting too,much of myself and ds at this stage!
I'll give myself a break, practice some more at home, and get myself along to a bf cafe

[Sleepytea]

Also don't forget that when you are trying to latch baby on, you will see a lot more breast than other people. Have you tried practising in a mirror. You could undo your bra clip when baby is still in the pram and so have 1 less step to worry about. It does get easier as you and baby get more practised.

[BertieBotts]

Oh gosh 12 days!! I thought you said 12 weeks! :) TOTALLY too early to be worrying. You'll be fine. Build up slowly.

[beginnings]

Congratulations!

12 days is so tiny still. They really do learn to latch on quite quickly without so much effort. DD2 (admittedly 8 months) now just picks it up and puts it in herself. Nice. Although given how much she looks around her, it's only now we've restricted feeding to home.

I would recommend turning away from other people and then pulling down a vest top and pulling up the top you're wearing over it. Once the baby is latched, you really can't see anything at all.

You're making me broody. I want a tiny one again.

[BertieBotts]

Start out feeding in the car, or feeding rooms, or in a booth in a cafe somewhere until you feel more confident. It feels like everyone is staring at you and it's taking forever to get the baby on but in reality they aren't, and it isn't.

But you need to get used to it. In a month or two you'll wonder what you ever worried about :)

[MrsAtticus]

I found a breast feeding cover really useful. Before I had one I thought 'waste of money, just use a scarf', but they are great as you don't need to hold them on and you can peep down the neck hole to see what's going on. Had one lent to me last time, this time I made my own, a poncho shape out of jersey fabric with wide neckline. very similar to this
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BABY-BIZNESS-NURSING-BREASTFEEDING-PONCHO-COVER-UP-/160944371878?pt=UK_Baby_Baby_Feeding_Breast_Pads_Pumps_LE&var=&hash=item25790838a6
No-one can see any breast!

[xfilefan]

I wear a nursing vest top underneath a tshirty top and pull the vest down and the tshirt up, or wear a nursing top (with an accessible booby area-eg www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_119020291003_-1)
I never tried a muslin as seemed like more to faff around with and the tshirt or nursing top gives good privacy.

Dont worry its early days, youl find it easier and easier and can practice doing it discreetly at home ready for when your out.
I found it hard at first, then got super used to it, and now have no worries about getting my boobs out in most places!

[meggy22]

Congrats, I found it awkward at first too. I wear a vest under my tops so can pull vest down, top up if you know what I mean. My son hates being covered. He won't bf in public now at 6 months cause he's too nosey wants to look around him! Breastfeeding is an amazing journey, enjoy every minute with your new baby xx

[RiverTam]

oh really, TheScience? Mine are from 4 years ago so maybe they've changed, but both of mine were.

[mindalina]

that breastvest looks good, but if your budget is a bit tight £1.99 vest tops from new look do pretty much the same thing. congrats, i had barely left the house at 12 days! ds will get much more efficient at latching on quickly and that will make it much easier for you too.

[TheScience]

Not all Hot Milk are peephole ones though - I have 3 different kinds and all are just normal flap down ones.

[RiverTam]

yes, it's behind the flap that clips on - basically behind that is a piece of material with a hole in it, through which appears your nipple plus a bit extra!

I bought some cheaper but far more revealing bras to begin with but so pleased I switched - the Hot Milk ones are very pretty as well as being, in my mind, far more practical!

[TheABC]

Muslin cardigans were a lifesaver for me last year, as were my slings (went topless at Bluewater shopping centre whilst little one ate and no one could see anything because I wore a stretchy wrap.)

I second the breastfeeding cafe - plus it gives you a group of like minded people to bitch about the 2am feed.

[Imeg]

I still find this a bit tricky as have a fussy feeder who tends to pull off but I find a voluminous but thin scarf works for me as I can just about see through it.
NB Don't be disheartened if it takes a while to get the hang of the pump - don't expect a whole bottle straight away. I struggled with it at first nut it works really well now.

[Baiocca]

Palm and pond breastfeeding covers are good as you can peep through the top. I lay the baby down on my lap, get everything out behind the cover and then latch him on. A bit tricky at the beginning but you soon get the hang of it.

[CurlsLDN]

Rivertam that's interesting about the hot milk bras, I've had my eye on them but bought some standard m&s ones (cheaper!) I didn't realise the hot milk ones had peephole type things, Is that behind the flappy bit? I think that could really help me!

I've also got the pump and bottles in the steriliser right now. I think knowing I have an 'emergency' bottle of breastmilk ready when we go out will really help me feel less anxious, as I can then choose to try bf if I want, but if it's too tricky there's a back up