Feeding in public..

**kristi001** · 18-03-2008 22:15

So when feeding in public do you have a blanket or wrap covering you and bubs or do you have have your breasts out?

Reason i ask

I have been out a couple of times with bubs and had to feed her, I use a wrap to cover us but she seams to get a bit hot and irratable and i find it hard to see while im latching her on, But im a bit hesitant in just having my boob out for all to see.

So Is it the Done thing to just have her feed without a covering or is it more appropriate to cover up?

**Shanaynay** · 18-03-2008 22:19

You're feeding a baby - feed her how she needs to be fed!
So if that means no cover, well, no cover!
I've never covered while feeding in public as I found it a bit cumbersome, not to mention all my fiddling around with it all would actually draw more attention to myself!

So no, I don't cover up when I feed, just try and relax and not worry about what is 'appropriate' - just keep doing the great job you are doing

**reAllytee** · 18-03-2008 22:21

You do whatever you feel is comfy for you & bubs !

Everyone is different with how they feel about it etc but all that matters is whats right for you ... If someone says anything to you tell em to bugger off lol !

For me at first yes i did use a muslin wrap to cover Squeak but that was because i was so darned unco-ordinated i couldnt figure it out LOL ! Otherwise if he was in the HAB there wasnt an issue as you couldnt see him.

I got comfy after that though & using b/f singlets helped heaps too cause you werent exposing your tummy when you lifted your top or you could move the neckline on your top for bubs to gain access.

It does take a bit to master but once you get it seriously the only time people will cop an eye full is when they get to that wonderful stage of pulling off & looking around for a gander LOL !

**Freya** · 18-03-2008 22:24

I don't cover... I wouldnt eat with a cloth over my face so why should my child?

I like to do it in public because it shows others that it is NORMAL.

**MummaBear03** · 18-03-2008 22:25

Whatever works. My daughter hates blankets and would kick off anything I used so I stopped using them. She's a sticky beak though so I had to go into a cafe and sit in a quiet corner when she wouldn't feed. People mistook this for "hiding out" to feed her but really it was only doing whatever it took to get her to have a feed and that's all you can do. Don't worry about other people, feed how it suits you and bub. Better to have a few people glance over than to have a hot and hungry bub.

**MilkOnTap** · 18-03-2008 22:29

I covered in the early days when I thought that I 'needed' too. But now... stuff it! I honestly couldn't be bothered. If people dont want to see me feeding my son then they dont have to look. You wouldn't eat your lunch under a blanket - right? Why should your bub?

If you feel more relaxed with a muslin wrap over you and bub then go ahead; but if your comfortable without it then go for it. The only way for breastfeeding to become more accepted, is to do it publically, openly and freely!

I have a couple of 'Lovable' camisoles ($35 from David Jones). They're basically a normal spaghetti strap singlet with a maternity clip on the side. Wear it with a cardigan and that covers you up more than the average 14year old hanging out at the shops (okay - hanging out at MY shops!)

Breasts have been far too sexualised and trying to move away from the 'oh-no-my-boob-is-showing' thing is kinda hard, especially as a young mum. But honestly - god gave us boobs to nourish babies. Thats it.

ETA - Congrats on breastfeeding! Good luck with it and stick with it! The older your baby gets, the more you will enjoy it! Jedd is 10 months old now, and still loves his boobie-juice. I just love it when he says 'ba-ba' and pulls at my shirt... I know he loves it as much as I do!

**Bellas Mum** · 18-03-2008 22:32

I used to use a muslim wrap depending on where I was feeding. If it was a really public place or lot's of oldies around, then I covered up but Bella didn't like it as she got older so mostly I gave up. If people dont like to see you BF then they can look away!!

**SassyMummy** · 18-03-2008 22:33

I hardly breastfed (but am a breastfeeder at heart, I swear

), but when I DID breastfed, I usually did it in public, without covering up.

Before I had DD, I said I'd never do that... but when I had her, everyone came to visit and brought gifts... and I could hardly kick them out and say, "Thanks for those, but I need to bf now, so can you get lost?"

Also didn't help that my first experience of breastfeeding involved me having my shirt opened by a midwife, me struggling away trying to do it, not doing very well (was laying flat on my back after c-sec... I could hardly see what I was doing!), so the middie milked me like a cow infront of Mum and DP.

My need for privacy kinda disappeared after that.

So I just fed out in the open. Wherever I was. In front of everyone (except my Grandparents, who didn't wish to see it... which was fine, in their day women didn't do it in public, so I borrowed an upstairs bedroom at their place).

Nobody can really see much anyway - just a bit of flesh with a baby head blocking the view of the nipple. I think I have more revealing tops tbh...

**GraceUnhearing** · 18-03-2008 22:34

what i used to do is wear two tops

i pulled one up and the underneath top down

that way DS covered the only par of my bob that was showing, and no one passing by got to see my flabby belly either

but i never covered up with a wrap or something