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Nursing your baby is one of the most joyous experiences of life and one many mothers can attest to. But one thing that can discourage a new mom from breastfeeding is her fear that she won't be able to nurse her baby in public and that bottlefeeding would be easier and more convenient.
Certainly it takes a little more thought ahead to nurse your baby discreetly but it really is pretty simple.
How you decide to go about nursing your baby in public depends partly on your comfort level with breastfeeding some place where people you don't know are around. It doesn't have to mean you are exposing yourself to everyone, but the more comfortable you are with breastfeeding and that it is a natural event the easier nursing in public will be.
The right type of clothing to wear is crucial when nursing in public. Any tops that have buttons will be difficult if you try and unbutton from the top. This will leave the top of your chest more exposed and that is very hard to cover, most especially with an active baby who doesn't nurse quietly.
A button shirt can work if you pull the shirt up from the bottom but those types of clothing are often more restrictive in their fit and more difficult to do so with. And nursing discreetly also means having a certain amount of ease in accessing your breasts for your baby without putting on a show for everyone.
Certainly the most convenient shirts would be pullover ones. They would be looser in fit and usually more flexible to pull up from the bottom. They also will naturally drape along your body so little else will be necessary to nurse discreetly.
If more covering is desired there are a variety of options to choose from. A basic baby blanket or receiving blanket can be used to cover your baby close to your breast. The bigger the blanket the more area that can be covered. Decide for yourself what feels most comfortable. Your first time out in public you might consider bringing along different types of blankets to see which one will work the best.
Slings can provide a way to nurse discreetly as well though they do take some practice. I have known some mothers to be able to shop while nursing their baby in public and no one is the wiser.
Where you choose to nurse is important as well. If you have any apprehension at all about nursing in public, seek the most isolated place you can find. Some women's dressing rooms make nice places to breastfeed and more stores are designing rooms exclusively for feeding babies. In these cases you won't need to be as discreet as if you were in the public eye.
If you have no choice but to sit where there is a constant flow of traffic, prepare yourself before picking up your baby so you can easily lift your shirt and begin nursing. Fumbling with nursing bras while holding a hungry baby can be a total disaster.
So, think ahead and plan for what feels comfortable and don't worry about what others think.
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