Posted on December 24, 2007 in Chest Feeding
Most first time moms worry about nursing in public because it makes them feel exposed and in the process they feel embarrassed. If it’s a bottle there are no qualms about it, but if the mother has to breast feed the baby in public, not only does the mother feel self conscious, but the family or the husband who is out with the new mother also feel uncomfortable.
Before you even start reading the article, remember, its alright to feed your baby in public and you can do it discreetly. And learn to put your baby and his needs first. If you get that logic right, you will not think twice about feeding that little hungry mouth.
Get comfortable:
Start practicing at home. Do not isolate yourself while feeding you baby. Keep telling yourself that nursing your baby is normal and is a healthy practice. Will you eat in private in your bath room? Then why should your baby do that? If you want to feed your baby in the drawing room, do that. And if someone is uncomfortable they leave. You don’t leave. That should be the basic attitude.
When you nurse, nurse discreetly:
Avoid drawing attention to yourself or the baby while breastfeeding. You can soon master that art if you can practice well at home with your family gradually. Once you start breast feeding discreetly, you will start feeling more comfortable feeding your baby in public too.
Get the right clothes:
Clothes play an important role in concealed breast feeding. Buy separate sweaters, tops, skirts and jeans and don’t forget to add a few nursing tops too. You can always try it out at the store and see if you will be comfortable wearing them and then buy them. Most importantly wear these clothes at home and try nursing your baby in front of a mirror, so that you will know what parts of you will others be seeing. Tees are the best tops because they cover the upper part of your body at least till your breast. You will then have to lift the tee, to feed your baby and adjust it to conceal your breast. If that’s not possible get a blanket to cover your chest.
Stay in Tune with Your Baby’s Needs
When you are in public, give priority to the baby’s hunger. If your baby is hungry, nurse immediately. Do not try to stretch his hunger and decide to rush home and feed him. If he yells its a signal to feed him instantly. Remember. A baby starts yelling and crying only after all his other means of getting your attention has failed. And if you don’t gets the message even when he cries then its going to be difficult to pacify a miserable and hungry baby public nursing experience.
Find a Good Spot for Feeding
If you are in a restaurant or a mall, try to get out of the crowded area so that you can have a little privacy. If you cant do that, just turn your back to the crowd facing a wall and start nursing.
What If Someone Is Staring At Me?
It is definitely uncomfortable. But return the gaze and look into his eyes without backing down. And in most cases, they will look away or go away. But usually people don’t stare if your baby is quietly feeding. On the other hand if your baby screams and is difficult to control you will have a lot of inquisitive gazes on your which is difficult to handle. So start by attending to the baby immediately.
Remember, breastfeeding the baby is a normal activity. Stop feeling self conscious and use a little bit of your wisdom to ward of curious stares.
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