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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

How do you BF discreetly?

51 replies

lollipopmother · 09/10/2008 17:21

I am hoping to start getting out and about a bit more and the only thing that is stopping me is that I just can't seem to BF my DD (3 weeks old) without getting my whole boob out, well in fact most of the time both of them end up out of my top, along with half of my stomach! There is obviously something I'm not doing right here!

So, what is your method for discreet feeding so that I don't get arrested for indecent exposure!

Thanks.

OP posts:

bronze · 09/10/2008 17:23

Wearing two tops helps. One you can pull down the other up.

belgo · 09/10/2008 17:23

I wore a top that I could pull up, with a cardigan to cover me from the sides. Practise in the mirror, and try not to feel self concious, most people won't notice anyway.

Seeline · 09/10/2008 17:23

Baggy tops cover a multitude

soremummy · 09/10/2008 17:29

Agree with the baggy tops also try a vest top under another top and pull one down one up hth

Pannacotta · 09/10/2008 17:35

Agree with the others, stretchy vest to pull down, baggy top over which you pull up, covers your flesh and makes you feel more comfortable.
And try not to worry, I always think it is so nice to see women breastfeeding out and about, most people dont notice anyway...

digitalgirl · 09/10/2008 17:35

sometimes i drape a muslin over my shoulder that covers my boob and DS if i'm wearing a button up shirt.

LadyOfWaffleIsScaryEnough · 09/10/2008 17:37

loose top and jacket / shirt over. Baby across your lap, unclip and pull bra down, pull top up a little and lift babies head to nipple. Jacket/shirt covers your belly from the side (i hope!)

Laugs · 09/10/2008 17:40

have a look in the mirror - even when you imagine you're really exposed, you'd be surprised by how much your baby's head and body cover.

I'd recommend a loose(ish) top over a blouse (which generally make you get your whole chest out)

But I agree that hardly anyone will notice anyway. Have fun - I miss my breastfeeding jaunts around town so much!

MamaHobgoblin · 09/10/2008 21:43

You could wear one of those belly band things that you might have used while pregnant, if you're worried about flashing stretchmarks? I still flash mine and long gave up caring. TBH, I never really mastered 'discrete' feeding. Purpose-made bf tops have fiddly appertures that DS didn't like feeding from (they're elasticated, often, and would rub his nose) and baggy tops are - baggy! Honestly, you're not as much on display as you think you are, though. In a few weeks, you'll be blase about it...

whomovedmychocolate · 09/10/2008 21:44

I tend to sit facing away from the majority of folks and just not worry too much, people are generally so self-obsessed you could dance naked on the tables and they wouldn't notice. In any case, it's what your boobs are there for and it's fine

MrsBates · 09/10/2008 21:47

I never notice much except the baby nestled up.

I couldn't do it neatly either though and had to remove half my clothes and construct a sort of scaffold to get anything like comfortable. Probably one of the many reasons I didn't do it for very long.

whomovedmychocolate · 09/10/2008 21:48

For the first couple of months with DD I used a pashmina as a baby blanket and discreet drape for when feeding. Now I just don't bloody care and feed DS wherever and whenever!

madmouse · 09/10/2008 21:49

errrr, my ds is eight months and the only place i haven't fed him is the eiffell tower cos i haven't been there IYKWIM

I get my whole boob out, and they are big ones .

Have never seen an eyelid bat and never had any comments. Helps that I just don't care.

If you are uncomfortable and feel exposed practice in front of a mirror with a shawl or muslin.

Ceolas · 09/10/2008 21:50

Vest under your top definitely.

madmouse · 09/10/2008 21:53

ooh just looked at your pictures, what a cutie. the dummy brings back memories, did you get itin scbu?

the only one my ds ever deigned to use. we got to take it hom from hospital and sterilised it until it died.

DonDons · 09/10/2008 21:53

Have you tried bfing tops? bella mama and blooming marvellous have some okay ones which I used when I first started goign out in public but TBH now I just pull my top up/wear two tops etc as described below. I was very self concious at first but after a couple of weeks I couldn't give a rats. (and I am quite prudish normally too).

Shooflypie · 09/10/2008 22:05

Stretchy vests are great. But here's the thing - when you see a woman BF, do you watch intently? No! People really don't look ime.
The only time I was reluctant was on a packed commuter train in a sea of blokes in suits. But DS was weeny and howling so I fed him. The only person who looked at me was a nice older lady who gave me a sympathetic smile. You will be fine!

MrsThierryHenry · 09/10/2008 22:08

I used a wrap/ pashmina-y thing. I'd just throw it over my shoulder and over my boob, hiding the boob but not hiding my bambino.

Good luck, girl!

MrsThierryHenry · 09/10/2008 22:09

Oh, and always lift your top up, don't pull it down and hoist your boob through the neckline! Once saw an enormously-blessed woman do this - her boob was as big as her poor baby (I kid you not) and we all did a double-take!

Pannacotta · 09/10/2008 22:28

Am not a great believer in b-feeding tops but if you think it will make you feel more at ease there are some nice ones around now:
www.mummylooksfab.co.uk/long-sleeve
and
www.milkbug.co.uk/epages/BT2683.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT2683/Categories/%22Nursing%20Tops%22/L ong

littlelamb · 09/10/2008 22:33

Wear a vest under whateve top you are wearing. Pull vest down and top up- tummy and boobs are covered. I am quite shocked tbh when I see people just hoik their boob over the top of their clothes. I was sat in Giraffe one lunchtime and there were about 4 women bf, all deiscreetly, I think I only noticed them because I was one of them iyswim, I don't think anyone else would have given us a second look. But there was one woman who came in and poured her boob out over her neckline. In a way I admire her bravado, but it did make me, and some other people there, uncomfortable.

TinkerBellesMum · 09/10/2008 22:51

H&M do some nice nursing tops, normally cheaper than some of the other ones. I'm still using mine at 26 months and 23 weeks pregnant, they don't look like nursing tops.

TinkerBellesMum · 09/10/2008 22:55

I do wonder about women who deliberately expose everything, it seems like a Dafyd (Little Britain) thing. "Look at me and what can you do about it?"

I'm not saying there are limits to how much you "should" expose or I watch to see how much or I think that women "should" be careful to be discreet.

ilovemydog · 09/10/2008 23:00

I have a (bravado) tank nursing bra. It's a camisole thing that unhooks at the strap and one's tummy is kept covered...

While I wish I had enough style to just throw a pashmina over myself, I just don't have the je ne sais quoi to pull it off.

Maggieb52 · 10/10/2008 00:14

best solution for me was thisIt is so fab and I used it as a baby blanket when it got a bit chilly for DD

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