Spots to go nurse when out in public.

[KurumiSophia]

Long story short, I need to know some decent spots where I can go nurse DD since apparently I'm not discrete enough (according to DH) even though I keep my shirt pulled down and her head covers the rest. Yes, DD is at a point where she likes to pop off for a minute or so leaving my boob exposed. So when you're out in public (or @ someone's house for that matter.), where do you go to nurse so that you can do it w/o folks seein' the boobs?

[acannon]

I don't go anywhere special. I do it whereever and whenever he's hungry. No one's said anything negative about it yet. One guy saw me and told me that he and his brothers were breastfed and that's the only comment I've had about it. Do you use nursing shirts/tanks? Those help quite a bit. Using a carrier, like a sling, helps, too, because you can use it to cover more. I use a sling, have a nursing tank top that I use, and I pull the outer shirt over the exposed part. That seems to work so far.

One reason your DH might have said that is if he's not comfortable with the idea of you NIP. Mine isn't and he doesn't like me talking about it. I think he just tries not to think about it.

[_betsy_]

Your DH's comfort level should not necessarily be the guiding factor here. If you are comfortable, then you nurse wherever you are, however you'd like. There's no reason to hide.

I usually find a quiet, out of the way bench, the shade of a tree, a quiet bedroom, whatever. That's for DD's comfort, not anyone else's. She's always been very distractable and has a hard time settling down, especially if we're out and about.

[KurumiSophia]

Originally Posted by acannon

I don't go anywhere special. I do it whereever and whenever he's hungry. No one's said anything negative about it yet. One guy saw me and told me that he and his brothers were breastfed and that's the only comment I've had about it. Do you use nursing shirts/tanks? Those help quite a bit. Using a carrier, like a sling, helps, too, because you can use it to cover more. I use a sling, have a nursing tank top that I use, and I pull the outer shirt over the exposed part. That seems to work so far.

One reason your DH might have said that is if he's not comfortable with the idea of you NIP. Mine isn't and he doesn't like me talking about it. I think he just tries not to think about it.

I've been NIP whereever and whenever but apparently people have told him and not me that they're uncomfortable with it 'cause they don't want to hurt my feelings. I used a MayaWrap for a bit but it makes my shoulder hurt w/a vengeance since it aggravates soft tissue damage done when I got hit by a car. I just got a Mei Tai in the mail today which I adore but am not sure how to nurse in.

I have a nursing tank and a nursing shirt (one of each) but apparently that's not good enough somehow since he said "You do realize that every member of my family from the oldest to the youngest has seen your boobs?!" He even started in about how all the "perverts" could see and so on.

Thus wondering where to go, besides bathrooms, of course.

[KurumiSophia]

Originally Posted by _betsy_

Your DH's comfort level should not necessarily be the guiding factor here. If you are comfortable, then you nurse wherever you are, however you'd like. There's no reason to hide.

I usually find a quiet, out of the way bench, the shade of a tree, a quiet bedroom, whatever. That's for DD's comfort, not anyone else's. She's always been very distractable and has a hard time settling down, especially if we're out and about.

I'm rather comfortable but apparently folks are complaining to him for fear of hurting my feelings by coming to me directly. So I'm not just dealing w/his comfort level, I'm dealing with other people's too.

Part of me feels like I might as well just not go out for the next year and a half or so that she'll be bfing but I know that's not workable so I'm trying to work out a solution that will please everyone w/o me going completely crazy.

[NewMama2007]

I've always used a blanket, for my own comfort. I used my HotSling thrown over my shoulder also (kind of like a purse - my arm through the loop of fabric and over my shoulder). I don't leave the room though. It makes my inlaws so uncomfortable, but I figure I'm covered, they can't see anything, they need to get over it!

[kawa kamuri]

I don't have any advice for locations - tonight I nursed DD while sitting on the floor of a bookstore, yesterday I walked around a store nursing her. I just wanted to say that this post makes me sad. You're doing a beautiful thing for your LO. Keep it up!

[Neth Naneth]

I agree with teh pp you are doing an awesome job, don't start. My advice is this when you have a baby is pops off a lot try nursing with your hand relaxed at the top of your shirt so the mili-second your DC pops off you can pull your top over your boob. That is what I do. Good luck.

[KurumiSophia]

Originally Posted by kawa kamuri

I don't have any advice for locations - tonight I nursed DD while sitting on the floor of a bookstore, yesterday I walked around a store nursing her. I just wanted to say that this post makes me sad. You're doing a beautiful thing for your LO. Keep it up!

I have no intention of stopping bfing. The thing for me now is to be able to find places quickly when she gets hungry that are private enough so its just me and her while she eats and than when she's done, rejoin the rest of the world.

[KurumiSophia]

Originally Posted by NewMama2007

I've always used a blanket, for my own comfort. I used my HotSling thrown over my shoulder also (kind of like a purse - my arm through the loop of fabric and over my shoulder). I don't leave the room though. It makes my inlaws so uncomfortable, but I figure I'm covered, they can't see anything, they need to get over it!

I've tried using a blanket in the beginning but she despises things over her face so I gave up on that rather quickly which leaves me at a loss.

[pantufla]

Originally Posted by KurumiSophia

I have no intention of stopping bfing. The thing for me now is to be able to find places quickly when she gets hungry that are private enough so its just me and her while she eats and than when she's done, rejoin the rest of the world.

I just find a nice comfy place to sit. And then I focus on my baby and the rest of the world just fades away... Unless my 3yo is bugging me of course.

[KurumiSophia]

Originally Posted by Neth Naneth

I agree with teh pp you are doing an awesome job, don't start. My advice is this when you have a baby is pops off a lot try nursing with your hand relaxed at the top of your shirt so the mili-second your DC pops off you can pull your top over your boob. That is what I do. Good luck.

I usually tend to wear some shirts that are a bit large on me so the fabric will fall over my boob if she pops off but apparently its not enough for everyone around me. Any other private spots besides bathrooms and fitting rooms that you ladies know of?

[KurumiSophia]

Originally Posted by pantufla

I just find a nice comfy place to sit. And then I focus on my baby and the rest of the world just fades away... Unless my 3yo is bugging me of course.

I wish it was so easy for me. *wistful sigh* Sad to say that I'm surrounded by folks who aren't as understanding of my nursing and are apparently offended by it. The thought of just staying home save for essential trips out such as to the grocery is starting to get really tempting just to avoid the argument altogether.

[Turkish Kate]

A few questions: Who are all these people who are so offended by your baby's eating habits? Is this one or two family members? Family friends? Neighbors? The whole town? Or could this be a blown-out-of-all-proportion comment by one ignorant person? And why is their comfort more important than yours and your baby's? Are these people you could choose not to see for a while--like until your baby weans? Could you surround yourself with a better class of people? What about your husband getting your back? Shouldn't he be standing up for his wife and child instead of passing along ignorant comments? Why is it your responsibility to be concerned about another person's discomfort with breastfeeding?

If you want someplace private for *your* comfort level, then by all means, look for some place that suits you, but don't feel that you need to hide because some people around you are uncomfortable with breastfeeding. It's not your problem, it's theirs. There is absolutely no reason for you to stay home except for trips to the grocery store unless that is what *you* want to do. Aboslutely essential is to get your husband on board. I'm a big judgmental, I'll admit, but I have no tolerance for a man who passes such comments on to his wife and expects her to comply for *other people's* comfort. Harrumpf.

For me, if someone had a problem with howmy baby eats, they can go hang out with someone else. Maybe I'll deign to see them again once my baby is weaned. And if someone didn't want me breastfeeding in their house, that's fine. I won't be going over there again. (And this *did* happen to me once with DD, 14 years ago. I was thrown out of my in-law's house for breastfeeding and never went back.)

[Erin+babyAndrew]

I think the people around you need to get over themselves and accept that a nursing baby and a glimpse of a human breast is not something that needs to be hidden away. It's their attitude that is disgusting mama, they should be ashamed of what they are thinking. Nursing your baby is normal

[KurumiSophia]

Originally Posted by Turkish Kate

A few questions: Who are all these people who are so offended by your baby's eating habits? Is this one or two family members? Family friends? Neighbors? The whole town? Or could this be a blown-out-of-all-proportion comment by one ignorant person? And why is their comfort more important than yours and your baby's? Are these people you could choose not to see for a while--like until your baby weans? Could you surround yourself with a better class of people? What about your husband getting your back? Shouldn't he be standing up for his wife and child instead of passing along ignorant comments? Why is it your responsibility to be concerned about another person's discomfort with breastfeeding?

From what I understood, it's members of our friend and our family. Personally, I could care less what they think but apparently my not caring isn't sensitive to the other people's feelings. He told me it's fine and well for me to bf but I need to be more in tune w/others' feelings about it and so I need to be more discrete and/or find another room. He's rather uptight about others seeing my "private" parts because he thinks its his job to protect me and from what I could gather, my NIP makes it hard for him to do so.

I mean, I suppose, I could not just see the family and his friends (mine all moved way out of town and out of state) until she weaned. It wouldn't be the first time I've dropped off the face of the planet but now he's upset that I've changed plans from bfing for a year to 2 yrs. Apparently, it's "icky" to nurse a toddler in his eyes. I'm trying to suss out why but so far no luck

It's part of him trying to help me be more sensitive to others since there's not too much of filter between my brain and my words and actions. The conversation started because some weeks ago, I innocently offered to express some bm for a toddler that is a great nephew of his best friend. So it went from that to my NIP making people uncomfortable. He likened it to my telling people how to raise their child. I was asked if I'd like it if people told me how to raise DD. I responded in the the negative and he told me that what I'm doing is quite similar to that and that I needed to start finding places to be nurse her because I'm not discrete. (Still trying to figure out how but its what he says and I trust what he's telling me.)

He's all for me breastfeeding our DD; he's reassured me of this many times. I just don't think he's as on board w/me NIP. The first time we went out for lunch, 2w pp, I fed our DD in the bathroom at his request because my NIP is "rude". We had a row over it and I told him I would not be feeding our DD in a bathroom and I thought that was the end of that. Obviously, I was wrong.

Originally Posted by Turkish Kate

If you want someplace private for *your* comfort level, then by all means, look for some place that suits you, but don't feel that you need to hide because some people around you are uncomfortable with breastfeeding. It's not your problem, it's theirs. There is absolutely no reason for you to stay home except for trips to the grocery store unless that is what *you* want to do. Aboslutely essential is to get your husband on board. I'm a big judgmental, I'll admit, but I have no tolerance for a man who passes such comments on to his wife and expects her to comply for *other people's* comfort. Harrumpf.

As I've said in other posts, I could care less, but I need to start finding places for the comfort of the people I'm around since what I'm doing is apparently insensitive to their feelings. It's just a compromise that I'm going to have to make if I want this argument to stop instead of going on for as long as DD nurses.

Originally Posted by Turkish Kate

For me, if someone had a problem with how my baby eats, they can go hang out with someone else. Maybe I'll deign to see them again once my baby is weaned. And if someone didn't want me breastfeeding in their house, that's fine. I won't be going over there again. (And this *did* happen to me once with DD, 14 years ago. I was thrown out of my in-law's house for breastfeeding and never went back.)

I've already wanted to quit hanging out w/his friend because I disagree so strongly w/the way he and his wife raise their children but I was told I need to start coming more because "they think I hate them", which I don't, I'm just not wanting to kick it because I don't have much if anything in common w/them and I turn into a babysitter while I'm there which isn't cool in my book. So it's just this never ending battle that I'm over and that I'm going to give in on just so it'll freakin' go away.

[KurumiSophia]

Originally Posted by Erin+babyAndrew

I think the people around you need to get over themselves and accept that a nursing baby and a glimpse of a human breast is not something that needs to be hidden away. It's their attitude that is disgusting mama, they should be ashamed of what they are thinking. Nursing your baby is normal

It's what I keep telling him but he says it's "insensitive" and that I need to learn to filter my actions and words more because I have been offensive in how I bf because other people aren't as comfortable w/it as I am.

So thus wondering where the good spots are to go bf her before rejoining the world at large.

[clintonhillmama]

i don't know if this is enough of a solution for you, but it helps me when i NIP -
i try to go out wearing a cardigan over a tshirt. that way, when i pull up my tshirt to nurse, the cardigan is covering any exposed skin.

i do try sometimes to find a quiet corner when out in public - that way both baby and i can relax while she's eating.

[jenjenl18]

I would tell you to avoid bathrooms...thats icky. Other than that if you're at someones house, ask if you can use a guest room/formal living room, empty room in the house. If its these same people then I bet they will still have a problem with even the idea of you nursing around them. So honestly I would just nurse in front of them but thats me. In public like a restaurant....there only is the bathroom and a waiting room. Ask your husband where he thinks you should go in that situation. If the answer is waiting room then my guess is HE has a problem when your friends and family possibly seeing your breast or something. At target or something I have done it in the fitting rooms (if I'm there), back table of eating area, rocker in baby section. I nurse all the time in front of my FIL and MIL never nursed hers, he has no problems with it I think cause in the beginning (when my breasts were MELONS and it was hard not to expose myself) he was over our house and I just said, "I'm gonna bf DS now but don't feel like you need to leave cause I could care less." And I think that set the tone KWIM?
My only concern is that your missing out on social interactions. Are you planning on having and nursing another child? If so thats 3yrs min. of being a recluse. Do you really want that? And when your DD is older and you have to explain to her that you have to go hide to nurse her lil brother/sister, what will you say and will it make her maybe have an aversion to nursing her own children in the future?? I know those questions may seem far off but really I think they are important to think about.
My DH tells me he thinks that when my DS can ask for it hes too old to nurse anymore. Well my DS is 10mos old and not eating solids and no where near weaning (neither am I) and he pretty much asks for it now. I tell him "do you think DS can just go from nursing every 2-3hrs to nothing...that'd be traumatic...he doesn't look at it as a boob. To him its simply milk and mommy and your a pervert if you read into it anymore" End of convo.
GL momma. I hope you have the strength to stand up to your DH bc I think these are more his issues than that of you being insensitive to others or others having issues about NIP.

[Turkish Kate]

I'm gonna be brutally honest--my tact meter is broken today. Your husband is the problem, not you or your friends or family. Your husband should grow a pair and stand up for his wife and child. Rather than telling you that you need to be sensitive to the feelings of others, he should start being a little more sensitive to yours. Real men don't send their wives to hide in the bathroom to feed their babies. And you can tell him I said that, too. :P