Nursing while working

[lovepiggie]

Hi ladies

My DS is 6 months old, and I will probably be returning to work very soon. A local coffee shop/book store has expressed interest in hiring me, and even said that I could bring my baby with me to work sometimes!

We live only a 2 minute walk away, so DH and I were hoping on working it out so that baby stays home with DH, and then is brought to me when he is hungry so that I can nurse him on my breaks.

I would probably be working evenings, and by myself for a couple of hours. It really isn't the kind of store where people run in and out to get coffee - it has a very laid back atmosphere, and people tend to linger, drink their coffee, pay later, etc.

I would try and nurse in a carrier, so that I could still be able to help customers, but I'm still worried that some customers would find it off-putting... If you were to enter a business, and the employee was nursing a baby, would you be bothered by it? Has anyone else ever worked a job where they nursed while working?

[ExuberantDaffodil]

with my first, my mom brought my baby to nurse at my work, but I sat in the back and nursed him. It was an open-style learning center at a college. Now with my second, I nurse my baby while I work -- it is a church job, teaching the primary kids on Sundays. The kids never blink an eye when the babe fusses to be nursed while I'm reading them a Bible story or setting up a craft.

That said, if I walked into a coffee shop and saw a mama nursing, I would thrilled and would probably strike up a conversation. But that's me. I never see mamas nursing there babies around my city unless I go to a specific breastfeeding support group.

[groovyem]

I know people that would be bothered by it, because, well, there will always be some close minded people out there. I think it depends on the business, a business that is very family oriented and more "earthy" would have customers that would be more accepting, or just nor caring one way or the other. Especially if your breast isn't exposed, who would care? They shouldn't.

[hildare]

I would LOVE to see that!
But, you know, I had really high hopes of being rebellious and doing the nursing-in-public-wherever-i-darn-well-please, and my dd won't cooperate! She cannot stand any distractions whatsoever while she tries to eat. It may depend on the age of your babe, too.. just wanted to throw that out there so you might be able to set up a nursing station in back or something.
That sounds awesome, even if you are not out front, having your babe brought to you on breaks. yay!

[lovepiggie]

Originally Posted by hildare

I would LOVE to see that!
But, you know, I had really high hopes of being rebellious and doing the nursing-in-public-wherever-i-darn-well-please, and my dd won't cooperate! She cannot stand any distractions whatsoever while she tries to eat. It may depend on the age of your babe, too.. just wanted to throw that out there so you might be able to set up a nursing station in back or something.
That sounds awesome, even if you are not out front, having your babe brought to you on breaks. yay!

I know, I'm really lucky... I actually got two job offers that said I could bring my baby with me

There is a place in the back where I could nurse, and I do plan on nursing there most of the time... But for times when I am minding the shop by myself, I would need to stay up front!