I’m uncomfortable nursing in front of people 😕

I think it’s one of those things that you just have to do to get over. I always felt a little weird about it too. But I got sick of being left out (youngest child syndrome over here lol) so I just started doing it. I’m nursing my second now and will do it anywhere as long as I have clothes that allow easy access. Edit: but also it’s totally fine to cover up or go in a corner or your car if you would rather!

I found going to playgroups with other mums also feeding helped me. I wasn’t the only one so it felt ok to, i was then more confident to feed in public moving forwards. I’d also echo what Haley said above, about just having to do it - I was super uncomfortable feeding with my dad or father in-law around but realised I was missing out as I kept disappearing upstairs away from everyone so started to feed whilst they were around, they were also slightly awkward at first but I’m now feeding my second child and it’s completely normal to have to feed anywhere and everywhere no matter who’s around.

Honestly I don’t really care how many people try to normalize exposing your boobs to others to breast feed… I have never been comfortable with it and prefer to nurse in private or bottle feed. I don’t want any one seeing my pepperoni nipples and there’s not a soul who will make me feel otherwise. There’s nothing wrong with wanting privacy. I even use it as a way to escape for a break and just chill on my phone or shut my eyes for a few minutes.

You can get a nursing cover if you feel uncomfortable, I did at first now 7mnths in iv realised the people looking with a problem … they are the problem ! Xx

practice at home in the mirror! you’ll eventually be able to work out how to do it comfortably without nipslipping 🤣 also i know it feels like everyone is watching, but they’re really not! x

I think you just have to keep doing it in order to be comfortable. If that's what you want then I would just keep practicing, but it's totally ok to cover or go someplace private too! No one can tell you how or where to feed.

I agree with everyone else, you just need to keep doing it. I was so scared the first time, I felt sick and kept talking myself out of it. But I did it eventually because there was nowhere private to feed him (he hated covers too and honestly I don’t like them either, I don’t see why I should cover his head with a stuffy blanket for other people’s comfort). After the first couple of times the nerves eased and I just do it now - I’ve fed him in loads of different public places. I sometimes get nervous if it’s a new place but I do it anyway and luckily I’ve never had any unpleasant experiences of people staring or saying anything to me. Just remember it’s perfectly natural and if anyone has an opinion, they’re in the wrong, not you.

In front of other women, idgaf 😅 but in front of my dad and brothers and random guys, I try to be respectful and cover up or leave. A nursing cover (breathable blanket with a string around the neck basically) is very helpful and better than a straight up stuffy blanket. I used mine strategically and wouldn't cover the baby, but the view between the guys and my body lol Nursing clothing helps so much so you don't have as much skin exposed you have to worry about

If you practice, you can figure out how to nurse without exposing your boobs/nipples too much by pulling your shirt down to cover up. Some shirts do work better for nursing than others - for me, I found nursing tops, t-shirts, and flowy tops to be the best. If you feel self-conscious about exposing your side, you can wear a nursing cami underneath. And if you are worried about flashing people, you can keep the nursing cover on hand to cover up while you latch/unlatch/switch sides/get situated and then remove it while baby is nursing.

There is nothing wrong to nurse in private if it's what you choose to do. I wasn't comfortable neither to do it in public, and my son didn't like the cover either. I have done in parks though, but making sure I was in safe distance of others. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it in a restaurant, for example, or in front of my in-laws..., I'll go to another room. I'm also aware that some people are uncomfortable witnessing breastfeeding for various reasons. I'll do it in public if my baby is really hungry and I don't have time to go anywhere else though, my priority remains taking care of my baby. But just saying you don't have to force yourself to do it in public.

I like the idea of practicing in the mirror and experiment with discrete nursing bras and shirts. Or the double shirt method, tank under goes down outer shirt goes up. This may seem anti-discrete but I felt better announcing that I would be feeding and if anyone was uncomfortable they should go somewhere else and I would let them know when finished. This was more with family. It felt less awkward than the “gasp, her boob is out reaction.” Latching and unlatching is the time for potential exposure if you have a focused nurser, so I would just turn my back to the crowd for this part. I got to the point where I could care less if strangers got a glimpse and made any uncomfortable family, leave where I needed to nurse. Sorry bye ✌🏻 this is happening

It helped to realize that people really don’t care. Some might give the stink eye, but for the most part they don’t. Since they don’t care no one is really looking. And 2, you can’t really see your breast once baby is latched. It just looks like you’re holding baby. A suggestion i saw, I never tried it, is to be infront of a mirror while feeding. See what others would see. It might help you. I’ll feed my baby just about anywhere except in church. I will always step out there. And I won’t in a huge group unless I absolutely have to. I will try to sit off to the side or find a seat all by its self. But that’s just how I like to feed my baby, more calm and quiet. It really took baby crying in a crowded place and no choice for me to kind of get over it honestly. He was about a month or so old and we took him to the aquarium. It was so crowded and he lost it. Like I said no one batted an eye.

I looked at it is I need to put the needs of my baby before other people’s comfort levels. If they have an issue, that their problem, not mine. Also I would say being around other breastfeeding moms helped normalize it.

Personally I would never breastfeed in public or even at a private party for example. It makes me very uncomfortable so I’ve always found a private spot. Plus for me, breastfeeding was our special time together and I don’t want to share that with a bunch of people. If I had no other choice though, I obviously would.

When I feed my baby in public or around friends or family members, I have a cloth or rag to cover up when baby unlatches. He hates being covered so this is what I do since he is a distracted eater now, especially when we are around others. I have used a blanket to block the view from others but not really covering up my baby. Like others have said though, it is completely fine wanting to feed in private. I had to do that for a while as baby got more use to feeding in other locations and around others.