Breastfeeding in public

It’s totally normal to feel that way, but I promise you, most people genuinely do not care. I’m still breastfeeding my 16 month old and haven’t had any comments or any negative experiences. To build my confidence, I went to a breastfeeding support group/cafe which was wonderful for support but amazing as it was an environment with lots of other breastfeeding mothers in public. I also started off going to places I felt comfortable, close to home with my husband (M&S cafe is good!) at quieter times of day. I’ve never personally used them, but you can get nursing covers which some people really like and find beneficial.

I use a cover and I honestly feel comfortable nursing ANYWHERE. I may move to another part of the room depending on where I am. My Lo needs to eat and if I’m somewhere where they don’t have accommodations for nursing mamas, I’ll create one-lol.

I was like like this I’d say until my boy was about 6 months old. He’s 11 months now and I just whip em out and when needed 😂😂 I do try and cover with a muslin butt baby often just pulls it down 🤷🏼‍♀️😂 it will get better xx

I completely understand this and I was the very same in the first few weeks, avoiding going out. I started using a nursing privacy cover and this really built my confidence. Like others have said, doing it initially around other BF mums also helped, as well as in baby classes. My little one is now 8.5months and still exclusively breastfed, it becomes easier with time. I still use covers when out for the most part or in other people's homes as I feel more comfortable that way. At my own home, I managed visits around feeds where I could and/or used the cover in the early days. I hope this helps and that you build your confidence over time ❤️

It’s definitely normal at first, I found zipped breastfeeding tops really helped as they were much easier to negotiate than blankets/muslins - I also had a summer baby so didn’t want to risk them overheating - now I just use a breastfeeding vest but you’ll adapt and build confidence the more you do it! Also recommend building confidence in public, health visitors always said libraries were good spaces to do your first few feeds etc

I honestly feel more comfortable / confident breast feeding in public around strangers than I do around friends and people related to me. Lmfao The thing is, I know I might be empowering or comforting another mom to feed her baby whenever she’s gotta, AND I know I’m legally allowed to feed my child wherever; so that part helps too. I never used a covering situation really, I’d wear giant t shirts just cause their comfy & I’d also wear oversized button up tops so that if I ever did get anxious or anything while feeding my son I could cover up 🤷‍♀️ rarely ever did tho my son refused to latch when covered

I’m the same as Parker, i find it harder feeding around people i know when they are in my home or i am in mine for some reason! I think with strangers maybe it’s because they are really unlikely to notice, but with friends and family i’m normally trying to talk at the same time! It does get easier, although my baby recently starting pulling off mid feed which i find awkward. I started by going places like restaurants with booths, shopping centres with baby rooms and feeding in the car too which made it easier to get used to being out and about. I also actually found a cover harder to navigate and would end up getting more stressed trying to keep everything in place. In the very early days my fiancé would ask people to go with him to the kitchen so i could feed in privacy or i would just head up to our nursery to do it x

@Emily yessss! Breast feeding support groups are AWESOME. I’m in one and it has helped me tremendously.

I was more comfortable nursing in public as he got bigger and better at it. I didn't worry so much about his latch and my position when he was older.

I felt like this with my first and then realized I should not feel ashamed for feeding my baby. It’s always easier said than done haha I still ask if the people I am with are okay with me feeding as I don’t use a cover. I find baby over heats to quickly with covers. This time round I found good zip nursing shirts that help keep me covered while still being able to feed. I went to the mall the other day and I simple used my stroller to cover most of me and fed baby. When I knew I would be exposed when baby unlatched I asked my hubby to stand in front on me.