Thursday, August 1, 2013

Nursing in Public

breastfeedingcafecarnivalWelcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival!

This post was written as part of the Breastfeeding Cafe's Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today's post is about nursing in public. Please read the other blogs in today's carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 22nd through August 4th!





Thursday, August 1st - Breastfeeding in public: do you have any tips or tricks? Why is it important to you? Has anyone ever confronted you about breastfeeding in public?

 I wrote a lengthy post on this topic a few years ago when I was a guest poster for the Cafe: http://breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/first-experience-nursing-in-public/. Check it out! As I re-read it today, it was fun for me to go back and remember what it was like to learn to nurse in public as a new mom.

Now, two years later and with two kiddos,  here's the advice I'd give to moms about nursing in public:
  • Plan ahead- consider your clothing choices before leaving the house 
  • Find supportive friends or family- If you're unfamiliar with nursing in public, go to a LLL meeting or hang out with other moms of new babies- they'll totally relate to what you're going through. 
  • Consider babywearing - practice nursing in a carrier (ring sling, buckle carrier, wrap, etc.) at home to get more comfortable with it
  • Be confident- You are feeding your baby the normal, healthy way, and you should be proud of that! Also, you are setting an example for other moms and future parents. You have every right to take care of your baby's needs wherever you are. I like a litmus test for nursing in public from a hilarious post by The Feminist Breeder: if it would he appropriate to feed a baby a bottle in that place/situation, then it's appropriate to breastfeed your baby. 
  • Relax. Your experience will be more positive if you aren't stressed out (and your baby will probably eat better, too). 
  • Just do it! the best way to get comfortable with nursing in public is by nursing in public- it gets easier!
You got this, momma! Before you know it, breastfeeding in public will become second nature to you and you won't even stop to think about it :).





Here are more post by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.
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1 comment:

  1. AngelinaAugust 1, 2013 at 1:05 PM

    Popped over to read your old post : ) well written and super positive. Thanks for that!

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