nursing in public

By On March 24, 2011 · 25 Comments

Once we got over all the jaundice and weight gain issues and then the milk supply issues, we had a new problem. Unless I wanted to be a shut in for the rest of my life, I was going to have to figure out how to feed my son somewhere other than inside my house.

I didn’t want my business all hanging out everywhere so I needed to figure out how to nurse discreetly. I’ve found three options that work for me: nursing in public with a cover, nursing in public without a cover, and nursing in a carrier or sling.

Nursing with a cover

When I was pregnant I saw a deal for a “free” nursing cover, just pay $8.95 shipping. I jumped on it and ordered an Udder Cover. I later found out they’re always free with a coupon code you can easily find online but I still think it was worth it. I like it because it has a rigid neckline so you can still see what you’re doing even though everyone else can’t. But nothing lasts forever and eventually my baby (as I’m sure yours will eventually) decided he wanted to rip that thing off every time I used it.

Luckily for me I had seen this video from Jessica over at The Leaky B@@b.

Nursing in public without a cover

Whenever I go out I usually layer a shirt over a tank from Old Navy (I’m currently loving these & these) with a loose neckline. I’ve also used my BellaBand from when I was pregnant under a shirt. It works great to hide my belly when I pull up my top shirt. Sometimes if I’m going to be hiking (there is usually no one else around) then I don’t bother with the layers because it’s too hot.

Layered and dressed for nursing

I absolutely adore my ERGO because it’s so easy to nurse in discreetly. It has a hood that I can just snap in place and it covers everything.

Nursing in public in a carrier

Nursing in a Moby wrap

I know plenty of women who breastfed but chose to pump and bottle feed when out in public or just not go out in public. Neither of those were really an option for me because it takes me three days to pump one bottle and I love being outdoors. So now, I’m comfortable feeding the gnome whenever and where ever he gets hungry. On occasion I will still use my nursing cover if I feel like it but it draws more attention than just nursing him does.

Did you breastfeed? How did you handle nursing in public? And, if ya like me, then like me on facebook!

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  • http://jehanisnotsupermom.blogspot.com/ jehan

    I did breastfeed both babies. I am now ashamed to say that I was way more worried about what other people thought than I should have been. I would duck and hide in a bathroom that chairs (those nice ones in the big department stores) or even in the car. In Texas heat! I wouldn’t care, now. Screw what others think. Now I have many friends who nurse in public, and I feel I would have more support than I did back then. I covered with a blanket sometimes, and I also did the pump and bottle thing. That only worked if we were out for just a little while. If we were out too long, it hurt! I never thought of the tank top thing. That’s smart!

    • http://thegnomesmom.com/ thegnomesmom

      I wish I could take credit for the tank top idea but I can’t. I can pass it on to as many mamas as possible though!

  • http://domesticdeeds.wordpress.com Kirsten Deeds

    I *hated* nursing in public. I was already worked up because we had so many issues getting it going and I felt very self-conscious that she’s fight me that in general, I’d end up nursing and then cutting the nursing session short just to avoid fights with my baby in front of others. In fact, I did end up pumping into a bottle if I was going to be around a big group of people and there was no where to break away to.

    I remember leaving one party because there was no where to nurse where people wouldn’t hear my baby screaming at me as she fought against nursing. It was an extremely difficult process!

    Finally, I was able to get her to nurse ok under the cover or with the help off nursing tanks layered under other shirts. LOVE Target’s nursing tanks! Kudos to you for finding various ways to make it work!!

    • http://thegnomesmom.com/ thegnomesmom

      Sometimes he screams at me when I nurse him but it is so, so rare (like maybe 4 times in 5 1/2 months). It’s only happened once in public but you’re right, it is embarrassing. I definitely feel for you. If he did it all the time, I would not nurse in public. I would have a hard time nursing at all because it really hurts my feelings when he does it!

  • http://nomethodallmadness.blogspot.com/,http://bigbadmilleruniverse.blogspot.com/ Dawn

    The tank top method is my fave. My son SWEATS LIKE A MANIAC when his head is covered and he emerges looking like he just took a shower. Plus sent he passed the 3.5 month mark or so he has baby ADD and just wants to look around, so covering him is useless. But the looking around leaves me exposed if I’m not paying attention.

    I REALLY want to nurse in his carriers, but I’m pretty big busted and the girls hang a little too low. I suppose by the time I get the hang of it (no pun intended) he’ll decide to wean himself.

    • http://thegnomesmom.com/ thegnomesmom

      Just so you know, I’m a low hanging DD. The ERGO is the easiest for me to nurse in but I do have to hold the boob up with one hand so it can reach his mouth :)

      Unfortunately we’re dealing with baby ADD too. I keep my hand on my top shirt and yank it down when he pops off. Unless I’m not paying attention. That happens a lot!

      • http://nomethodallmadness.blogspot.com/,http://bigbadmilleruniverse.blogspot.com/ Dawn

        Ooh that’s good to know about the ergo. I just bought a wahm made ergo-ish carrier from etsy. Maybe I’ll do some practicing.

    • http://thegnomesmom.com/ thegnomesmom

      Can you link to the product on etsy? I’d love to check it out.

  • http://nomethodallmadness.blogspot.com/,http://bigbadmilleruniverse.blogspot.com/ Dawn

    I forgot to mention the one time I did try to pump and feed him a bottle was a total disaster. He wanted NOTHING to do with it and ended up making a bigger scene. It was in a Bob Evans, where I realized trying to NIP in a booth is just ridiculous. Luckily I always wear my layers so I can be ready for battle at a moments notice.

  • http://nomethodallmadness.blogspot.com/,http://bigbadmilleruniverse.blogspot.com/ Dawn

    http://www.etsy.com/transaction/45150013

    That actually links to my receipt, so I hope it gets you there. It looks like she took it down from her site, I must’ve purchased the last one she had made. And from the last post on her blog it looks like she’s due to deliver a baby girl any second now. I was really impressed with the carrier, though. I found the link on diaperswappers.com from another mom who had bought one. It’s MUCH lighter weight than I would’ve imagined, but it travels well and I can carry T on my back when he’s refusing to sleep and I need to get stuff done. It’s actually more of a mei tai style and I guess she’ll do custom fabric if you request it. I just bought the basic black.

    • http://thegnomesmom.com/ thegnomesmom

      Very cute. I like how the straps cross in the back for extra support. Not sure how you’ll nurse in it… I loosen the straps in the ERGO to drop him down to boob level. But, I bet you’ll figure it out!

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  • http://ewoman88.wordpress.com ewoman88

    I found a way to nurse in the football position while walking around last night but I’ve only been out in public once when he was hungry and that was an awkward blanket-holding effort by my mom at the doctor’s office. After that weird moment, my mom decided I needed a ring sling so we picked one up but I have yet to try it out. I am a very large-busted DDD who hangs low on a very short waist so all carriers just don’t work for me :S

    • Lori

      I had a really hard time nursing in a carrier at first too because the boobies are a little large. My favorite is my ergo but they have to be able to sit supported and have good head control for that so you’re a little way out from that. My next fave is just the layered no cover deal, it’s especially easy when they’re newborns and stay latched. Now the gnome wants to pop off, look around, and show the world my nip.

    • Lori

      Oh and let me know how the ring sling is, when I went to buy my first carrier I went for the moby because I couldn’t get the hang of the ring sling but I kind of want one to round out my carrier selection.

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  • Pnut

    What a great idea about using bellaband! I was wondering how to go about all this. Im small boobed and finding nursing wear that is not for DDD size is more difficult! Thanks for sharing these tips and experiences!

    • Anonymous

      No problem! Happy to help!

  • Anonymous

    You can also feed through the sleeves of a wide sleeved or batwing top (video at http://www.milkchic.co.uk/#/breastfeeding-techniques/4544718220). I look for normal clothes that work for feeding in UK high street stores. The US site is still under construction, but the UK version might give you ideas of other options :)

    • http://thegnomesmom.com Lori W

      What a great idea, thanks!

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