what is the proper protocol?

[hamletsjadedlover]

what exactly is the proper protocol for public breast feeding? do you cover up? wear a nursing blouse? or just do it and try to be non chalant about it?
has anyone ever had any negative b/f experiances in public?

[polishprinsezz]

do whatever makes you and your baby most comfortable. i dont cover. my son never liked it. i got a positive comment when he was 6 month. an older woman told me she thought it was great that i was nursing.she said she wished she would have nursed hers.

[RootSnort]

Originally Posted by polishprinsezz

do whatever makes you and your baby most comfortable.

Bingo. Just be comfortable. I was only able to nurse a handful of times (darn nipple confusion!). I wore nursing shirts and did nothing else to cover. There is a reason that we are made with heads that turn. Before I became a nursing Mom, I supported the practice of breastfeeding, but I did a lot of head turning - to see it going on, even in a photo, made me a little queasy. Now I think it's the most beautiful thing in the world.

[nikihodges]

nurse in public as often as possible....yes i have gotten very rude comments...but :nana: to them i am so proud to be a breastfeeding mother...i think it is silly that people in USA are so pent up sexually that seeing a breast exposed sends them over the edge. i also believe that if more people NIP then it would be accepted. no covering up...you cover up when you are ashamed of something or hiding...now if the mom needs to cover up to bf by all means she should but i would hope that the covering up got to be so bothersome and the mom would get to be so proud for what she is doing that she wouldn't feel the need to cover up

[uzra_hashmi@rediff]

I usually avoid nursing in the public, but if it cannot be helped I do make a note of who is present and could be watching. If I have been wearing a Burqa (veil) it also helps. If women relations and friends are around, I often don't care about fully covering; afterall they too must be doing it or would do it sooner or later. An interesting thing I have noticed is that quite often women also show interests in others' breasts and make it a point to have a good look at them. An easier way for them is to start a conversation about the baby's habits, etc. If menfolk or elders are present, I make it a point to either move to a more secure place or turn around if it can't be done , for example, in a train. I did not have had any rude comments ever; perhaps it is our culture in the country. Some womenfolk have, however, compared notes and narrated their experiences in nursing.
Uzra

[Onemagicmummy]

with S2 (who i ursed for 14 months) i would jsut feed him where ever adn when ever but id make a point of making sure i was not leaving anythng on display by either tucking my shirt around it, puting my coat over it a bit and in the very very early weeks when he would bob on and off and id have super strong let down i did us a blanket but taht was more to catch any spraying milk, protect ME from embarresment than others. with the next baby i plan on doing the same sort of thing,

i did all that not cos i was worried about others but cos my boob/exposed belly got cold.

Kiz

[Draupadi]

Originally Posted by hamletsjadedlover

what exactly is the proper protocol for public breast feeding? do you cover up? wear a nursing blouse? or just do it and try to be non chalant about it?
has anyone ever had any negative b/f experiances in public?

Whatever makes you and your baby comfortable.
My DS (3 months)tends to be fussy and he pops on and off a lot. I don't use a cover because William doesn't care for it much.

[amber913]

I don't throw a blanket over my baby's head. I only have 2 nursing shirts, so I'm usually not wearing one. I nurse wherever I want. I don't worry about comments or stares; if people have a problem with it, that's their mental issue to work out. It has nothing to do with me. My baby needs to eat when my baby needs to eat, and that's all there is to it.

[nandodianenicole]

I'll whip it out anywhere and nurse. Issue is, DS is quite distractable, so sometimes I will go in the car if it is close by so he gets a good nursing in. Public for me lately has been someones house or the park or something. Havent been out much, but the times I am, I dont care, baby's hungry, feed him. Dont like it? Look away. And I have never gotten a comment or so much as a second glance.

[alegna]

Protocol? I'm feeding a baby, not negotiating a war.

I feed the baby. Wherever, however, whenever.

No, I never cover.

-Angela

[VeganMamaRed]

I just plop down wherever and go for it. I don't cover-neither one of my kids would ever tolerate that. I dislike nursing shirts, so I don't use those. Most of the time I think people are not even aware that ds is nursing, I think they think he is cuddling. I have gotten some nasty looks but no one has ever made any nasty comments. Perhaps that is because my dh is often standing next to me, giving any potential nay-sayers the evil eyeball?

A few times I have had a relieved looking woman plop down next to me to nurse her baby (safety in numbers?).

Once a woman sat down next to me and got out a bottle of formula to give to her baby, only to be informed by my then three and a half year old that breastmilk is best for babies, LOL.

[MilkTrance]

I bought a Hooter Hider, but DS hates it. He does not like to be covered.

Your baby will probably let you know what he wants.

[becoming]

My DS already refuses to eat with a blanket over his head, and he's only 4 weeks old! I just try to hide what I can with my clothes. I usually wear a tank top under a low-cut shirt, so I pull down the shirt and pull up the tank top from underneath, making a sort of "slit" for my boob to come out. That way my squishy tummy doesn't show.

[meesa143]

I use a cover when I'm not home, just because I'm not comfortable without it. I think it's a personal preference. It doesn't stop me from nursing no matter where I am though. I either wear a nursing top or a tank top that I can pull down.