Breastfeeding in Public
Could I get that to go please?
When my first one was a baby and needed to be nursed while we were out, I’d always go to the car or find a fitting room if we were at a clothing store. I NEVER breastfed in public, even though I had a proper cover that prevented anyone from seeing anything from the neck down.
Not that I think it’s wrong or offensive, I just was not comfortable doing it. I’m way too self-conscious and would never be able to relax with people around.
When you only have one baby to take care of, it’s easy to just pick up and leave to go nurse in the car. Not always the case when you have a baby AND a toddler in tow.
Earlier this week we went to the library because it’s an activity that’s free and air-conditioned (what’s up with this heat lately!?) They have a great children’s section and Serophina loves to sit at the little tables and do puzzles. It was a Saturday, so not many people were there and we were the only ones in the children’s section (which, by the way, is all the way in the back of the library.)
We were having a wonderful, relaxing time when Saioa started to get fussy. I knew that she was getting hungry. We were having such a nice time I hated the thought of packing up everything to go to the car. I looked around me and no one was even near. Dare I nurse her right then and there??
Yes. Yes, I was going to do this. I positioned the stroller at my side so that you couldn’t see anything from that end and then discreetly began to nurse Saioa. It was going well and I was even proud of myself for getting over my fears of public breastfeeding. But then every time I heard a voice from anywhere in the library I got nervous that someone was going to come over to where we were. Unfortunately, I let my nerves get the best of me and decided I wanted to finish nursing in private. Luckily the bathroom was only a few feet away, so I could leave my stroller and it wouldn’t be a big deal to have Serophina stop doing her puzzle for a minute to come with me.
Even though we had a minor distraction of having to take a nursing break, it was still a great afternoon with my girls, and that’s good enough for me. I’ll have to work on the breastfeeding in public thing later.
How do you feel about breastfeeding in public?
Good for you for facing your fears (: Wow you breastfed in public AND survived a harrowing day at the beach! You go, girl!
Thanks! Just another war story under my belt I guess!
This comment is a bit late to the post, but I just had to say that I breastfeed in public all the time-without a cover. No I don’t just flop my breast out for everyone to see, I’m very discreet. But hey, if someone wants to stare me down in hopes of catching a glimpse-oh well! That’s their problem. After all, boobs aren’t lewd, they’re food.