[normajean]

How would you handle this?

The church I go to has a "Mothers Lounge" off the bathroom for nursing. It is a tiny, dark room with 2 rocking chairs (one is broken, you sit on it and it tips over!) and a counter along one wall for changing diapers. There is a diaper pail on the floor.

If someone comes in and changes a poopy diaper while you are nursing, and they leave the dipe in the pail, not only do they stink up the whole room while they are changing, then the room stinks afterward b/c of the diaper in the garbage.

Its not a comfortable environment for me. I used to take my son there to rock him when he was tired, and the tiny space stresses me out, even when I'm not trying to nurse.

Women are asked that if they are nursing, to nurse in there.
I feel it is nice they provide a place for it, but on the other hand I feel like its more for the comfort of the *other* people than for the nursing mom. I don't have a problem nursing in public view (discreetly). My mom, MIL, and DH think I should go along with the "rule" and nurse only in the Mothers Lounge.

If I were bottle feeding, I could feed my baby in the service, in a classroom, or in the foyer.

Should I even worry about it, and just nurse wherever I want? Or should I use the room?

Baby is due in October, so I don't know why I'm worrying over it now, but I want to be sure of myself and what I am doing KWIM?

Thoughts?

 

[JennP]

I think you should nurse where you are most comfortable.

I'm catholic and I was uncomfortable nursing during the service till I did once and now I am fine with it.

Is it only for you to say where you nurse!!

JennP

 

[wende]

Like you said, unless they are going to force ffing moms to go in there also they can't force you to go in there. BF anywhere and everywhere that you feel most comfortable and forget about the "rule".

 

[Kabes]

Nurse wherever you want!!! At my church there are several places a mom can choose to nurse. Or they can nip. Some are more discreet than others. Some aren't discreet at all. Reality check - how do you think Jesus got fed?, Moses? Anyone for that matter back before there were bottles?

 

[phathui5]

I nurse in church every week. It's how I get dd to sleep through the service and be quiet. Most people know that that's what we do and they'd rather have a quiet baby than a fussy one in church. (I'm not going to leave to feed her and end up missing church)

 

[root*children]

I don't go to church regularly, but have had these same concerns.
First off, invest in a couple nursing dresses. You can get them alot cheaper on ebay, than ordering from a catalogue. They will make you feel more comfortable nursing in church, and also most people won't even realize what you're doing! (especially if you have a sling that baby will be sleeping in during service, nobody will even see him/her

)

Secondly, can you discuss with the church staff your concerns of their "lounge"? I would. Just maybe give some suggestions, or offer to help set up something better (maybe even look for better *second-hand* furniture to fill it). I'll give an example. My mom's church, which is a big one, and is so to attract lots of new members, is in Omaha and has a room called the parent-child room. It was designed with the intention of when a child gets fussy and disruptive during the service, a parent can be with him in this room. The service is on a closed-circuit TV. There are toys, a rocking chair, sink, lots of room, and even a cabinet so moms can bring a big box of snacks to stash there! It has turned into a room for an alternative to sending your kids to the nursery. I love visiting her church and just hanging out in there the whole service. The kids can run around and be noisy, you still can catch (at least parts

) of the service, and breastfeed comfortably, all the while spending time with other AP moms/dads.

HTH! Good luck!

 

[Emilie]

Nurse where you want. Churches are SUPPOSED to be open loving places for ALL people. If questioned I would bring this up. The more people see women nursing openly the more they will be comfortable with it. Only till then tho.
Oh my- how nice that they have a room- but why should you be told to hide away!
Go for it!
Em
By the way- I NURSE EVERYWHERE!

 

[Sustainer]

Please don't breastfeed in that room. Please breastfeed in the same places where people formula feed.

Also, I don't think it would necessarily be a good thing if people didn't "even realize what you're doing."

 

[root*children]

If you go to a conservative church and don't want every old geezer there trying hard not to look at you, and every old lady giving you NASTY looks b/c she doesn't want her husband to see you, I think it's fine if people don't even realize what you're doing. In church I want to draw absolutely zero attention to myself. In other public places (park, stores, etc) I've been much more open about nursing (even tandomly) in public. Church is just different. Not trying to decieve anyone, just not showing the goods

 

[taz925]

Nurse where you sit for the service. It really is no big, people should be paying attention to the service not to what you are doing w/ your child. I nursed in the church all the time, my son slept thru most of the service.

If you want to you can suggest they improve the room they have, get a better diaper pail and either fix or repair the rocking chair. You do not HAVE to nurse in there esp if people are changing diapers in there, um YUCK! Maybe you can tell them that too!

Doreen

 

[root*children]

yah, that's pretty gross there's a diaper changing area right there. It's seems any reasonable person would realize that. Maybe the staff hasn't been in there, or nursed a child there! Definatly a friendly chat with the staff may be helpful!

 

[jadegirl553]

ITA quth the pp who suggested talking to your church leadership about the room. That's just nasty!
If you don't feel comfy nursing during the service, could you go to a nursery to nurse? Like an infant room or something?
Personally, I love the nursing room at my church, but it's off of a nursery room, and there are always other mamas there, or the sermon is piped in.
I have to admit, tho, you mamas have me wondering WHY there is a nursing room anyways- ff moms feed anywhere! hmmmm.......