BFing in public help!

Bfing is going well ... AT HOME. I have always pumped bottles when I am going out. But now that I have beening getting out for longer periods of time... its getting to be a pain. Ive tried nursing in public and I feel so awakward. I cant seem to get the boob out latch him on and stay covered. I get so frustrated and then I feel like the whole world is looking at me! Then, if ds pulls off, the milk goes squirting all over my shirt and in his neck... its a disaster! I thought this was supposed to be easier than dragging botttles and ice packs everwhere... but now I seem to have to do both bottles and boobs.

Any advice or suggestions from the moms who are pros at doing this anywhere PLEASE HELP!

Message edited 5/18/2008 5:30:54 PM.

Re: BFing in public help!

I haven't BF myself, my daughter never latched on, but my sister did very sucessfully and she always just layed a blanket over herself. Maybe if you find a spot that isn't so busy, like I know a lot of stores have family rooms/mother rooms. A few department stores have them. Maybe even going to your car, and then back inside, just so you can have some privacy.

Re: BFing in public help!

well, i cant just tell u to "get over it" and "we all have nipples"... but thats is my take on things...i BF anywhere and everywhere i have to...sure, there may have been a flash here and there, but i think to myself, who am i flashing? anyone that i will ever see again? probly not... and the only people that dont understand BFing is public are usually young people (like teens and stuff)...

in either case, for me to be as discreet as possible, i take along with me one of DDs blankets- usually just a light cotton one (a receiver will do just fine) and i take an oversized pin (you know, the kind u would use cloth diaper for) and pin two of the ends together... i slip it over my head, and it covers my entire front of body... and i am still able to look down and see what she is doing...wearing the nursing camis helps- just a simple unsnap and wahlah, your boob is out....this might help u too and keep u covered up like it does for me...

or else, u can just take my attitude and say "who cares what anyone thinks- i am BFing my baby, and if a nipple slips everyone now and then, oh well, such is life..."

Re: BFing in public help!

I was no good with it either. I was too embarrassed to BF out - so I pretty much always pumped and brought a few bottles with me when I went out.

The excepts to that were:
Nordstroms - they have two nice lounges I always see mom's BFing in - the 3rd floor one near the baby clothes is the nicest - but the 2nd floor one works well too. The 3rd floor one has a changing table right near the couch so you don't have to leave the sitting area.

At the source mall there is a super small family room - near the restrooms. It is NOT ventilated and has NO AC in it so it is not fun in the summer - but in a pinch there is a metal chair in there that will do if you run out of bottles.

Otherwise I think BRU and BBB both have family rooms -but I only tried the BRU one once and wasn't very comfortable feeding DD in it - it is kind of too public.

For better coverage - target sells these great nursing tank tops - that are really comfortable - you can put a regular tee shirt over them and so when you pull up your shirt you aren't as exposed.

Re: BFing in public help!

Thank you so much.... I know I have to stop thinking about what OTHER people think. Im always worried im going to offend or gross someone out. But your right... who cares! Im going to try pinning the blanket and putting it over my head... I wa just trying to hold it over my front and it kept coming down... and then i couldnt see what he was doing under there.

I do have the target tanks... they are great!

Message edited 5/18/2008 5:29:28 PM.

Re: BFing in public help!

It's hard at first, but the more you do it, the better you'll feel and the easier it will be. I found that nursing shirts really made it a lot easier. Also, you can practice at home in front of a mirror, then you can see how well you are covering yourself. Keep it up -- it's worth it!

Re: BFing in public help!

I never got to BF in public, since DD stopped at 5 weeks. Wait, I did BF on the beach with a towel around us. I also thought "the heck with everyone, I am feeding my baby" but when it came down to the wire, I would get very nervous and self-conscious about it - even though I didn't want to feel that way.

Just wanted to add places with good family lounges for BFing -- IKEA (upstairs in kids dept.), The Source Mall, and there is a really nice family room at Sunrise Mall. Nordstrom as mentioned probably has the nicest lounge of all.

As far as restaurants and such, I always BFd before we went out. Sometimes I would BF in the car.

Good luck!! I hope some of this helps.

Re: BFing in public help!

I still feel the same way you do. Most of the time, I will just BF in the car. The mall seems much too intimidating for me and DD won't latch on and keeps pullling the cover off. She seems to like the car! Recently, I BF on an airplane twice and it didn't bother me a bit! It all depends on the place I guess....

You're doing a wonderful thing-keep up the good work! It will get easier and you will eventually become more comfortable with it!

Re: BFing in public help!

If you figure it out, let me know! I can't get the hang of it either. I have BF in my car in the parking lot of Target & Stop & Shop more than once. I also try to shop near a BBB or BRU and use their nursing room if necessary (I was in BBB ALL afternoon today just because I felt comfortable that there was a place to nurse!). I have also nursed in fitting rooms in several stores. I've yet to successfully dine out with him - I tried to time going to a diner yesterday after a feeding but without fail , he wanted to eat the minute my food came
Needless to say, that didn't go too well.

Re: BFing in public help!

I am one of those whip it out anywhere anytime DD is hungry and needs to be fed. I got that way by hanging out with LIF mommies. The weekly mall walk was an opportunity to be with moms who "get it" whether or not they were BFing. It created a comfort zone that I have managed to extend to those times when I'm not with them.

Re: BFing in public help!

I got the hooter hider (from bebe au lait) and felt soooo much more comfortable because I felt like it covered me so much better.

I got it when DD was 3 or 4 months old and totally wished I had bought it sooner.

Re: BFing in public help!

I was nervous the first few times. My first time was in the Mother's room at BRU. Then I started doing it standing up in bathrooms. I put a blanket over me, but DS likes to pull it off if he can't see my face. What really helped me was getting the nursing tank tops. (Or nursing clothes as someone mentioned above) That way if you need to pull your boob out, your belly is still covered and things aren't as awkward. I have heard the hooter hider is great too.

Re: BFing in public help!

Re: BFing in public help!