Breastfeeding in public - help.

[mustangcanwait]

I don't want to be one of those women who's life is limited by breastfeeding, but I'm struggling at the moment with feeding in public.

DD is only 18 days old and I have managed to go until today without needing to feed in public. One day, she got hungry just as we were leaving somewhere so I fed her in the car, other than that, she has been fine as we haven't really been anywhere for long enough.

Although today I had to go to a coffee shop in a busy shopping centre so I could feed DD. I tried to feed her with a Muslin covering but she was struggling to latch properly, kept coming off the boob and trying to latch again, the muslin kept falling down and DSD (12) kept asking "is she feeding yet?" (Which was obviously a great help ) and both me and the baby were getting frustrated. It worked out eventually and actually nobody batted an eyelid in the coffee shop about me feeding which made me feel a bit better but it was such an ordeal I don't want it to put me off trying again in future.

Does anyone have any tips on how to discreetly breastfeed in public, or should I just get over myself and whack my baps out so the world can see my nipples? (Genuine question, if you did this and have tips on how to build confidence with it, please share!)

I found it so difficult feeding ds2 while out and about with ds1. I was able to feed in the sling (joys of elastic/saggy boobs). You just need to remember you've had your boob out when you take the sling off!

I have breastfed for over four years and I’ve never caught anyone apart from very young children staring.

Ah yes, there is this. My eldest - does reasons we never figures out - used to infuse the word "nipple" with the word "elbow". So occasionally I'm coffee shops there would be a loud "Look, mummy, that baby is drinking milk from that mummy's ELBOW!"

The Gap jumpers are really good but you do need to remember to do the zips up! Poor Amazon delivery driver has got more than he bargained for on more than one occasion!

You're only 18 days in, I was so nervous at that point, now she's almost two and I get my boobs out anywhere.

Although I have lived in the zip front tops from Juno Jack's for the entire time. Super easy to zip open, keep you relatively covered and then zip closed so easy.

www.junojacks.co.uk/shop/the-juno-3-4-sleeve-mumma-top-in-mint-ecru/

I had got a lovely breastfeeding cover from Amazon for around £14... just wore it around the neck and was large enough for good coverage.

BebeChic.UK Top Quality Oeko-Tex® Certified 100% Cotton Breastfeeding Covers * Boned Nursing Tops - Slate Grey/White dot https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00B6XK7YO/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_pT.yEbGEG1GXQ

Who wants to eat with a scarf on their head? Made me chuckle.

Nothing to add as you’ve had lots of good tips! I suppose, consider how you’re sitting when you’re out- you can always choose a table where you’re facing the walk rather than the room, for example. But honestly - no-one’s looking!

Definitely nursing tops - I wear ones from H&M when out, and long cardigans so when winding baby, it’s easy to cover up by just pulling the cardigan round or top down - I’m not so bothered when actually feeding but find it more exposing when he bobs off.

With my first baby I did all the two tops, scarves, muslins fussing around.
But I realised - no one noticed.
And if they do notice, they look the other way and pretend as hard as possible that they didn't notice

By the third baby I just wore button up shirts or stretchy lowish cut tops and whipped a boob out.
Never had a funny look or comment!

As a FTM when my DS was born I worried that we'd be struggling with latch at every feed for the duration of breastfeeding.
Luckily, as he got older it kept getting easier and from about 6 weeks (maybe earlier, can't quite remember) it was a case of: Show baby boob, baby starts feeding like a dream.
Haven't even thought about his latch in weeks (currently 15wo) as he just knows what to do now.
By the way, you're doing amazing to be out and about so much with her at that age. I think I had managed one very short trip to a cafe when mine was that small so well done!!

My friend has had 11 children. She's breastfed every single one. I've been there through most of the 11.

I've seen her nipple. Once. And that's because I was actually looking directly at her boob! Can't remember why. Think her necklace had fallen down. Anyway. I've been next to her nearly every time and nope. Can't see nothing. She just feeds wherever she needs to. You don't end up seeing anything really.

Good luck!

I feel you OP! I'm a FTM and when I started BF in public I found it really awkward. At first I wore button up tops and put a scarf over but it got really hot for my LO and I was a bit flustered because I had to get my whole boob out. I ended up buying some BF tops from mothercare and that was a total game changer. They made it much easier and it was much more discreet. The brand of clothes is called "Blooming Marvelous" (RIP mothercare). Also don't be so hard on yourself - like everything it takes practice to build confidence

I never used a cover in public, but did have some nursing tops. Agree with pp who said just practice latching in front of the mirror a couple of times. You'll see that very little is on show!

I would find something to distract your DSD so she isn't (unknowingly) making you more flustered; ask her to order the tea and cakes at the counter or something.

Congratulations

Trying to cover up makes it all sooooo much harder. If you wear a nursing top or use one up one down, very little will be on show anyway, and likely blocked by the baby's head. Getting flustered as the baby cries and you try to latch while staying covered is so much more stressful IME. I think I tried to cover once in the early weeks and never bothered after that. The only comments I had were from two other mothers of young kids who said it made them all nostalgic to see me feed. Not a word or glance from anyone else.

People have given you great advice here. Just wanted to reassure you that although I pop my -very large- breasts out everywhere and anywhere to feed them with minimal attempts to cover up if I'm honest, no one has ever said anything to me. Most people try really, really hard not to look.

Sorry if this is repetition I haven’t read the whole thread but your baby will get so much better at latching on as they get bigger, also feeding gets so much quicker, it will become second nature when you’re out and about. tend to do stretchy vest top pulled down and jumper pulled up/ vest pulled down dress pulled across and drape a muslin across my exposed boob and shoulder (not really covering baby as it tends to annoy my baby).

I whip them out anytime too, but I took me time to be that confident, last week I bf my DD2 who is 5 weeks as i put my shopping on the belt in asda. It is what you feel comfortable with and what is safe, I have quite large boobs so need to be able to see the baby's latch so I know she can breath though her nose. I've never had a comment either, well only positive ones.

I wore layers - a thin vest top underneath my top, so my top lifted up and the vest top pulled down with my bra. Very little skin exposed and no one batted an eye.

Your baby is still really little. Soon you'll be so used to it, many times I had people coming up to look at the baby not realising I was halfway through feeding it. That can be awkward 😄

I wear a breastfeeding hoodie I got from here : wwww.stylishmum.co.uk its been so cold so at least keeps me warm. When its warmer its easier t wear tops you can just pull down.

It is this one that I got stylishmum.co.uk/hoodies-1-c.asp

x x

Nice advert there, mate! I'll make a habit of avoiding that brand.