| |
|
Breastfeeding in Public Places
More and more mothers, like us, are deciding to breastfeed their children. In the late '50s, formula was all the rage, as it was specifically made for babies and allowed moms to go back to work much sooner than before. It afforded women more freedom than traditional feeding. So, just like we encounter some resistance when we talk about staying at home, we're likely to encounter resistance when we breastfeed.
Since everything old is new again, you might feel uncomfortable feeding your baby in public. Some lactivists advocate bare breasted nursing, since it is legal in most US states, to challenge people to deal with it. I'm not going to ask you to do that. My husband and I would not be comfortable with that sort of exposure or vulnerability. Though it might seem impossible to juggle modesty and baring enough breast to properly nurse your baby, I'd like to share some ideas with you to make it more manageable.
- Wear clothing designed for breast feeding. While they make special clothing just for this purpose, or you can improvise or modify clothes yourself.
- If possible, find a secluded area. If you can find a spare chair, that's great. A spare dressing room or hidden corner is even better. If you are in a restaurant, you can ask to be seated in a confined area or simply be seated near a wall and face your back to the crowd. If you can't find anywhere else, don't be afraid to sit on a public bench.
- Use a cover. While many women use a baby blanket, you can be even more discrete by wearing a jacket or large shawl to cover your baby.
- Practice. While it may seem silly, the best way to learn to breastfeed your child in public is to practice in front of a mirror while feeding at home. Try different positions and different coverings. This will help you know which positions are the best for feeding without showing too much.
- Ask for somewhere private. If you need to breastfeed at work, it's not unreasonable to ask for somewhere to do it. Many employers would rather you feed in a break room or secluded area rather than in the middle of the office. You can also look into laws in your area related to workplace breastfeeding.
While it's normal to want to be respectful of other people, you and your baby's health and safety should always take precedence over the comfort of stranges - you do have rights. There are certain things you should never do:
- Never feed your baby in a restroom stall. Outer sitting areas in restrooms are fine. They are generally more comfortable for you and your baby; however, the actual restroom is not. Bathrooms are dirty and usually have an unpleasant smell. Adults don't have to eat in restroom stalls; neither should your child.
- Don't let people intimidate you. No matter how discrete you are, it's inevitable that someone will still be offended that you choose to breastfeed. Inform people politely that you have a legal right to feed your
baby in public. If you feel inclined, you could have a few of the positive aspects of breastfeeding, like a boost to immunity and IQ, to share with naysayers. If you feel uncomfortable saying things to strangers, there are breastfeeding rights groups that can provide you with cards to hand out to people who object. (Many state governments have these on their websites.)
Breastfeeding may takes some getting used to, especially when you need to be in public, but keep in mind that it's the best nurtrition for your baby. If it feels right for you and your baby, then trust your instincts, and if it doesn't, trust those instincts too.
- For more information on breastfeeding, please check out these resources.
- For more information on bottlefeeding, please check out these resources (Coming
Soon!).
|
|
|
