breastfeeding and going out

[temitemi]

Hi all, I'm a ftm to a 10 day old and could use your advice. I feel I really need to start getting out of the house but I'm also breastfeeding and he doesn't have a schedule yet so I can't predict when next he'll want food with more than a few seconds notice when he starts moving his mouth, followed by very loud crying shortly after.

I know lots of places have areas for breastfeeding and have read women also use cafes or changing rooms which I'm fine with, but what I can't quite figure is how to make it there in time before he starts crying as he is proper screaming.

Do you just let them scream for minutes while you find a place? If you pop into costa for instance you can't really just sit down without a drink but equally can't stand in a queue with a hungry baby? I've just not got a clue how to handle it.

What Gojustgo said. I was nervous the first time and then completely stopped caring. You don't have to be discreet, you are doing something natural.

My tips...

Breastfeeding tops, with fabric panels rather than clip/button/popper fastenings.

Always have a muslin, or two, to hand for handling forceful let down and sickie-ups.

Get along to a local breastfeeding support group, or a baby group with lots of other who breastfeeding mums who you can see in action, to give you a confidence boost that you are not the only one doing it.

Grow some thick skin, if your baby cries it is because he is a baby and no reflection on you, and by breastfeeding him you are doing the best thing for him. Anyone who doesn't understand this is an arsehole and not worth thinking about!

And my dh tip to me the first time out to a cafe when DD was a few days old...

Just whip 'em out and get it over and done with!!

It’s summer so you can always just find a bench/patch of grass to sit and feed... much easier in this respect than winter babies!

Thank you super-mommas, this is very useful and inspiring!

Yep, just sit and feed wherever! My little girl is 7 weeks old and decided yesterday she was ravenously hungry in the middle of a nature park
I didn’t want to sit down anyway as there were mosquitos everywhere so I just breastfed her walking along. That is the beauty of breastfeeding

when you are out & baby is being carried or in buggy you will find that they usually sleep longer -obviously feed first as others have suggested -I used to wear loose shirt which could be pulled up one side at time with enough extra material to drape & low cut "opera" wire bras. Check on web where there are baby feeding places fortunately the weather is great so bench seats are suitable outside, You can always carry shawl if you feel a bit shy at first.

My son is three weeks old today. I breastfed exclusively and today is first time I breastfed publicly outside of hospital ( he's been asleep every other time). I was in Sainsbury's and sat in cafe. Pretty much got whole boob out as he's a nightmare and I have massive boobs so suffocate him if I'm not careful. No issues were raised and I found expirence posative.
It's made me much more confident in going out alone and feeding him as needed ( he's feeding almost constantly as it's soo hot). So I'd honestly not worry and brave it! Or you could try a breastfeeding group for your first outitlng if nervous?

This has reminded me of the early days, I’d forgotten about it! I kept local (kind of had to in early days as was post c section), and picked cafes as destination points :) I would also feed before I left the house to buy me time. Motion sent him to sleep reliably.

I was fairly discreet but the whole experience of labour just made me so much less bothered about flashing people. However, son is now 7 months old and not once have I had a negative experience while breastfeeding in public. I found that people mostly love tiny babies, and are nice to new mothers. It must be the slightly shocked expression I had ;)

He is now at an age where feeding outside leaves me exposed as he whips his head round to look at things. I just stick my hand over my nipple. I also use the vest/ loose top layer. Breast vest are a make that just cover torso. However in this weather if he is particularly distractible, I clamp one end of a muslin under my arm and use it to cover the top of my boob.

Invest in a decent sling. You can then feed baby whilst walking about xx

A breast feeding apron with a wire in it is quite useful for stopping anywhere, something like what I've posted in the link below. I used it a lot with DS1 but I've got much less bothered about using it with DS2!

www.amazon.co.uk/BebeChic-UK-Quality-Oeko-Tex%C2%AE-Certified-Breastfeeding/dp/B00B6XIKGG?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=b509d4ca-ed68-5be9-a21d-15d66a3d3be1&pf_rd_r=N2R0V7G4JEXVB0WE1HJJ&pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-5&pf_rd_t=30901&ref_=Oct_CAMGiftedC_60212031_1&tag=mumsnetforum-21&pf_rd_i=60212031

A short trip to town yesterday involved breastfeeding in the laundrette, wetherspoons, and the car park!
My baby cries in his pushchair but soothes easily in his sling if we need to get to a good seat for feeding.

I bottle fed, and once had to sit down in a cafe and feed baby right away before I could get the chance to order. After a few mins the manager came over and I was worried they'd be annoyed and would ask me I leave since I wasn't a paying customer, when actually he just came over to ask if he could fetch me anything and to let me know where the baby changing was if we needed it. Turns out he had a baby the same age.

Most people understand OP, especially those that have had small children themselves or are used to dealing with nieces/nephews etc.

I had the same issues, OP. Plus mine was one of those babies who freaked out any time I tried to put him in a sling (any kind of sling - stretchy wrap to structured carrier, we tried them all) so no prospect of waking and feeding simultaneously as some manage to do. We also struggled quite a bit with breastfeeding for the first 3 months so feeding in public was a nightmare anyway - he'd pull away and scream while I was spouting jets of milk in all directions. I hadn't wanted to use a dummy, but ended up offering one out of desperation and it was a godsend. Bought me the ability to leave the house, plus a bit of time to find somewhere to sit down when he needed to feed without his getting screamy and distressed. Also really helped with his wind (which was one reason he was often quite screamy). Congratulations and good luck!

Feed ANYWHERE! Don't overthink it!

New mum to 8-day-old.

We're breastfeeding, but he tends to fall asleep and I have to wake him a couple of times.

I'm very busty (last check was a KK cup - but can't currently wear any bras as my boobs have grown with milk supply) and the rugby ball hold is the only one that works. He was slightly premature at 36+6 so is still below 6lbs at the moment.

I need to sit down to feed him.

There is no way it is possible to be discreet.

I haven't been out long enough yet to breastfeed in public bit even though I don't care, I am worried about how to handle comments. I need to be near enough topless/ whole boob completly out to feed. We're having to use a nipple guard because my nipples are still fairly small and flat which makes it hard to latch without it.

Legally, no one can refuse you service for breastfeeding. But I'm feeling a bit emotionally fragile and I don't want to be made to cry in public for doing something totally natural.

Bibijayne did you see the link I posted above for a breast feeding apron with wire?
I bought something similar from amazon for DS1. The wire means you can see what you're doing under the apron and have both hands free while getting practised at latching on a newborn. I haven't used it much for DS2, and haven't really had any comments, but my boobs are way smaller than KK so I guess you might draw more attention!

I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their tips and experiences. Really helped back then with getting the confidence to go out the first few times.

DS is now two months and I wanted to share my experience with any new mum who comes across this, as many said, just go for it! I had both a nursing top and a wrap and most times going out worked no problem, he either slept or latched on and off we went. A few times he wouldn’t stay in the wrap (screaming, arching his back) and we just had to delay going out while he calmed down. The heat was a nightmare though so we went out either early or late in the day.

We also figured the reason he screamed any time he was laid down in a pram was he wasn’t getting enough food so had to start topping up with formula and he’s been a lot calmer since, also more predictable in terms of feeding. Still only likes the pram after he’s asleep though as he likes to look around otherwise, so if he’s awake I’ll just carry him then put in the sling once he’s asleep.