Breast feeding in public

Large Muslin, tie the corners and wrap around your neck! You got this mama! Own EBF

Make a cover but you can also buy them if you feel its something you might need in the future.

It’s not silly, it’s completely normal to feel this way. I am completely the same. It feels unnatural whipping a boob out in public & BF. It also feels a bit weird doing so in front of family (not immediate family). I’ve breastfed in public but not in front of my partners family yet. I think the more you do it, the easier it becomes x

Definitely not silly. Once you do it the first time, every other time becomes easier and easier. Like others have said you could use a large muslin or depending on what you’re wearing - if I’m wearing a shirt I tend to use it sometimes. But honestly enjoy your lunch and remember you’re feeding your baby so don’t worry. You’ll be okay.

What you’re feeling is normal. You’ve got this though. When you’re out and your baby starts showing signs of needing you and needing to be fed, your motherly instinct will overcome any awkwardness coming in the way of tending to your baby. You’re doing great mama! If it helps, I use the Bella Moon breastfeeding cover which comes with a stiff rim at the top that lets you see your baby while feeding.

So true, you forget about the embarrassment when baby is crying for milk.

I get you, I'm all for publicly breastfeeding aswell but still feel abit exposed doing it myself, espesh infront of strangers or men in the family. I just put a muslin over shoulder and drape it over my breast but leave babys head/face uncovered.

I used to be scared and try cover up when breastfeeding in public. (This won't necessarily help for tomorrow) But hopefully help you for the future. I felt so anxious and embarrassed at first. Now I literally could not care less and just whip em out. My point is. It does get easier 💕❤️❣️ and you stop caring about others. If feeling anxious maybe find somewhere a little less in your face or make sure you wear something easy to pop it out. I always found a jumpsuit and T-shirt was good because you could have the top up a bit and jumpsuit still covering if that makes sense x

One more thing that helps me - I try not to check if anyone is looking before I start. It helps get into the mindset that it absolutely does not matter. Once my baby is latched and I’m comfortable with the position of my feeding cover, I then look up and start chatting with whoever is with me, often about something unrelated to feeding. This I find instantly puts everyone at ease.

Get some breastfeeding friendly clothes and it is so subtle. My friends asked if my baby never eats the other day at a bbq because they hadn’t even noticed, just thought we were having a cuddle. It gets easier

I was deff nervous the first couple of times I went out too. I ended up BF in the car right before we got out and meet up with people. Sometimes I also just excuse myself and find a quiet place to feed her, everyone is always very understanding

I felt like this the first time I did it as well and today I still feel a bit weird doing it. Sometimes I pump in advance and just give from the bottle, other times I just cover up with a muslin

It gets easier! Currently 6 months into breastfeeding and I don’t bat an eyelid at feeding my LO anymore, but I was terrified at the start. I’ve found wearing a strappy vest under a tshirt worked well, and made me feel a bit more covered as my stomach wasn’t all out while I was feeding. Tucked a muslin under my bra strap on my shoulder and draped over my arm to feel like I had a bit of privacy. Focus on baby and don’t look around everywhere. I found family members who were uncomfortable with me feeding either looked away or made unblinking eye contact to make sure they didn’t look where baby was feeding 😂.

When I first started breastfeeding I was like "oh my what if people see my nipple by mistake oh this is awful" and now today I was walking around with my boob out for 15 minutes without realising (thankfully in my own back garden 🤦‍♀️). People are less bothered than you think, they know babies are feeding and they focus on their own bits. People who haven't breastfed might tell you their stories about why they didn't, but most people don't even blink an eyelid. A big muslin or a light weight jacket is your friend while you are gaining your confidence. You will find men don't know where to look (my father in law spends a lot of time looking at the ceiling!). My partner is always thinking of my modesty (big late at this point when most of England has probably seen my boobs) and is usually there to pull my top back down for me when baby pulls away or decides to just expose my nipple for no reason. I promise you, you will do amazing, and soon enough you'll be a dab hand at it. These first few feeding sessions

Are definitely the most ""scary"" as I felt like I was being judged or looked at but after a few weeks, I stopped caring. I'm feeding my baby, my baby is happy and healthy, and all is swell. It takes a few public feeding sessions but now my family (other than fil) are quite desensitised to it 😂

Thank you all for your kind words and advice. It’s the reason I love this app so much 💕

Late to the party but just wanted to say when I first started feeding in public my husband would engineer it so he was holding baby when early feeding cues started. Then he would bring him over to me and stand in front so I could get baby latched (we had a lot of issues for the first few weeks with latching!) and position a muslin and then would sit down. Just meant I could get myself adjusted with a bit more privacy. Now I just don’t care and crack on 😂 iOh and check out the seats when you arrive and pick the one which looks most comfortable/is by the wall if possible so you can lean on that if needed. The other day I opened the door to the postie with baby latched so it def gets easier 😂 enjoy showing off your new bubba!

I do feel weird about breastfeeding infront of in-laws as well! So I cover up or go to a different space like the car even if need be when at restaurants with in laws! But not really at all the same feelings with the general public! When I’m alone or with my partner My brain occupies itself with the thought of nourishing my child, instead of worrying about prying eyes or stares. I know what I am doing is not sexual in nature. I don’t feel odd for feeding my child anymore than a mom feeding a bottle would! It is very interesting to me how much more ok I am with random strangers possibly seeing my boob than I am with my in laws possibly seeing it lolol