Anyone mastered the art of b/f in public? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

baby#2 · 05-05-2006, 11:36 AM

I really want to be able to go out but with my son's feeding rituals that would be impossible. To b/f I need to set myself up all comfy with pillows and blankets all over the place. Also, I need to take off my shirt or lift it right up and literally hang out a breast (sorry tmi) to try to latch him. He is really strong and I can't move his hands away from his mouth so it takes a few minutes to finally get a good latch. Also, I end up spraying and dripping milk all over his face, clothes, hands and myself!
When does it all settle down and b/f becomes less of a chore? I need to know it gets better.
Also, my breasts get so full after 2 hours or so that I literally soak heavy breast pads and need to change them 2 to 3 times a day. Does this slow down and become more "normal" or am I going to have to deal with that the whole time I'm b/f???
Please help. Any advice or personal experiences are very much appreciated...

Spanish · 05-05-2006, 01:03 PM

LOL! I feel for you, really I do, 'cos I've been right there (especially the bit about spraying milk everywhere - in fact that still happens sometimes and my DD is 9 months old). Yes, it does get much better. You don't say how old your baby is but quite quickly they learn to latch on themselves if you just wave a nipple anywhere near their face. They also get bigger so you'll find you don't need loads of cushions because their bum will rest on your legs. Plus they get stronger and can support themselves better. Then breastfeeding in public is easy.....until they get old enough to get distracted by things going on around them....at which point they pull off every couple of minutes and leave you exposed and spraying milk everywhere! LOL! But by then you'll have mastered one handed breastfeeding and will have one hand free to preserve your modesty!

As to the engorgement, yes that gets much better as well. As your baby's feeding pattern settles down your body will only make as much milk as you need. I only feed four times in a 24 hour period now and even when I wake up in the morning they don't feel full and hard.

Good luck, and thanks for making me laugh.

Spanish

Laur77 · 05-05-2006, 01:51 PM

You can get breast feeding ponchos. It goes on over your head and covers your whole upper torso. These are great.

debating · 05-05-2006, 03:44 PM

I can't breastfeed in public, or at least, not yet. I have BIG boobs (E's) and it's way to hard to keep them conceled because finding nursing bras in my size is imposible, which means I have to whip my shirt up. Not fun.

My daughter is now 6 weeks old and will take a bottle of expressed breast milk, which is usually what I do if I'm going out when she needs to be fed, otherwise I'll try to feed her in the car. At least that I way I can flash my ta ta's all over the place (thank goodness for tinted windows!!).

I've also noticed my milk has calmed down a bit, although it has taken a dive in the other direction (poor supply) but that is due to some mistakes on my part (supplementing).

I live in Florida and I could not imagine using a nursing poncho, way too hot! I do use a light recieving blanket. You know the cheap little things that come in packages of 6? Those. They're great because they're so light.

muffintop · 05-05-2006, 07:51 PM

My 2 cents...

Luckly for me in the beginning most of the malls in North Texas have "family" restrooms with private nursing rooms (6x6, rocking chair, sink and changing table) I just loaded my bobby under his stroller and when needed went in there. As for out and about, I found sitting in the back seat of my car with the bobby and a light blanket gives me enough privacy. Even when I did have to feed him in front of strangers (like a doctors waiting room) most pretty much ignored us.

It gets easier as you go along. I found 6 weeks was our "we finally get it" stage - my engorgement and painful letdown reduced tremendously and DS's latch became a breeze. You will get there, I am sure you are doing a great job.