Nursing on demand in public.

[ChelseaWantsOut]

When I'm out or at friends' houses, I feel really conspicuous whipping the boob out every 20 minutes for a 3-5 minute feeding.  No one has ever said anything, but I always feel like they're thinking, "She feeds that baby too much," or "She must not be producing enough milk if he needs to eat that frequently," or something.  I'm sure I just need to get over it and do what works for me and my babe regardless of what anyone else thinks.  I guess I was just wondering if anyone else feels weird, not about NiP per se, but about nursing, say, three times over the course of lunch at a restaurant?

[poorlittlefish]

I used to feel the same way too but no one has ever commented and if they did, I might just say she is distracted because we are somewhere different and not eating well or something along those lines.

[averlee]

Honestly, I don't think people really notice that much. I think no one says anything, because no one sees anything out of the ordinary with a mama taking care of her baby. And nursing 3 times over lunch is always better than sitting through a lunch of baby shrieking, right?

[Beltane]

I don't think folks notice that much either.  I used to worry about it - but now it's just a part of life for me - a part I love. :)

[plantnerd]

I nursed somewhat on demand in public when the boy was an infant, and nobody ever said a single negative thing.  Even at the pool last year, it just became normal for people to see D on the boob.  A few people would even say "snack thirty!" when he was trying to pull my boob out of my swimsuit LOL.

Now that he's a toddler I am working to curb it a bit though.  NIP was never my favorite, but a necessity for a young baby.  Now that he's older he can enjoy a cup of water/milk/juice and a snack instead of demanding I lean over the shopping cart.

[D_McG]

how old is the baby?  a newborn I would nurse.  I didn't nurse that frequently past the newborn stage but that's my own preference.  I just find it too distracting for everyone and we all did much better with a different pattern.  

[kittywitty]

I don't feel uncomfortable about it. My 3rd child was that way-snacked her way through mealtime, usually. I doubt anyone is thinking that of you or even really thinking about it at all.

[kanga1622]

It may give someone else the confidence to nurse. When I visited my sister with my then 3 month old, she was surprised at how often he ate but recognized it as a similar pattern from a family friend of hers. At the time, they thought the friend was nursing too much since they had no experience with nursing babies. After they spent a few days around me, they realized that it was normal. I just hope that leads them to support any BF moms in the future in their circle.

Usually we just eat a bit later so DS nurses at home first and then will play with table food while we are out. When DS was really little, we just ate at odd times when he would normally be napping or less likely to nurse. It took me awhile to get the hang of NIP but now we are pros and I am not shy now about feeding him as often or as long as he wants. BF is natural and I just hope it leads someone that is watching to feel more confident with BF their own children or supporting another BF mom they know.

[ChelseaWantsOut]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone!  Y'all are great.  People probably don't think anything of it, you're right.  It's so easy to think everyone must be thinking about me when they're probably busy thinking about themselves and worrying what people think about them, ha.  

My babe is 4 months old, by the way.

[sosurreal09]

We took a long plane ride to Vegas recently and it was about 12 hrs. The woman (more like teenager?) sitting across from us had a few month old baby that was formula fed.

My DD was 14 m/o...She of course asked me how old she was/made small talk w/e. So DD was having a rough time trying to relax and stay still or sleep on the plane and was nursing about every hour or so for comfort and what not. OMG were people talking.

The woman wit the infant was like "oh you are still BFing, she's 14 mo?!" I was like ummm yea the WHO recommends it until at least 2 y/o. In a "duh" like tone of voice b/c frankly I am sick of people being all up in my business about it...and it is NORMAL

So she keeps saying to her friends or her friends keep saying to her OMG shes nursing her AGAIN! Then her baby's father says "Good thing you never BF"

I was FUMING inside.

Yes I felt a little weird b/c she "doesn't need it now" according to the majority of the US. I also felt weird that people were justifying FF like Oh thank God they make formula b/c I would hate to be that lady!

[ChelseaWantsOut]

Jeez, that sucks majorly sosurreal!    It seems those people don't understand that there's a huge difference between having a tiny baby on a plane and having a toddler on a plane.  If they fly again when their babe is older they'll probably be tearing their hair out trying to find ways of keeping their LO entertained/still/quiet, and if they remember you they might have a different view of your nursing.

But the important thing is that you're doing right by your daughter.  And way to be mature and not yell at them, which is probably what I would have done.

[sosurreal09]

lol I so wanted to scream my head off at them! Making it sound like formula was so great compared to crazy ole me over there with my boobs out the whole flight exhausted! I am only 23 y/o too so it wasn't like I was sooo much older than this girl or anything!