When we go out to eat and I have to breastfeed Henry, this is how I see the restaurant. The first thing I do is scan the room for all old men/teenage boys/middle aged men/little boys. Where we sit is then strategically chosen based on the location of the males, which usually = breastfeeding on a toilet in the bathroom stall (because I am still too scared to do it in front of strangers).
What I really can't stand is how frustrated and mean I get! Looking at the guys I think, "Why did he haaaave to sit there?" and, "Couldn't that group of men eaten someplace else today?" and, "Eww. That little pervert is totally going to like watching me feed Henry". I feel like every male in the room is staring at me and thinking something unpleasant and I get all sweaty and flustered and pissed off. I know these thoughts are pretty unreasonable and totally not legit but they still pop up and the whole meal I'm judging, judging, judging.
I seriously need to grow some and get over this fear already...
Ack.
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15 comments:
i was *so* the same way with my oldest. i was terrified to feed her out in public because i was always concerned about who would be watching...plus, some people are just weird, ya know? so i totes get it, mama.
hopefully you can figure something out. like maybe, picture all of them in their underwear...? yea, i dunno.
Awh. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it in public. A lot of people never do.
Good to know I'm not alone! Some people are creeps, and I think that's a big part of my problem. Yesterday there was this teenage boy who kept staring at me and it was weird.
Poor Henry and his public bathroom feedings!
i would too LOVE the courage to breastfeed corbin in public because honestly, being huddled up in the car or in the bathroom stall is no fun at all. plus, i have to plan EVERY SINGLE outing around his feeding schedule! your picture represents my exact feelings too!
We feed in the car a ton too! I'm always bonking his head in there because it's so cramped...poor guy :(
Once I've fed H it's like, "Okay...GO!" and then we rush to get everything done within a two hour time frame...
Ummmm.....I am totally the mom that breastfeeds in the backseat, with the tinted windows blocking, maybe even a blanket covering the window. I can't bring myself to do it in public. I totally understand what you are saying. It really isn't a terrible thing, I just can't do it in public. Although I have pumped while riding shot gun in a car on the way to a funeral...some things just put things in perspective.
I definitely felt the same way in the beginning. And I still breastfeed in the car if it's possible, mostly because Luki is really nosy and keeps getting distracted from eating when there are too many people around. However, when he's really hungry and needs to eat, I'll pull out my boob anywhere. Now that he's older, feedings are super fast and he latches on right away so I don't really think that many people notice when I'm nursing him. And if they do see my boob, I've stopped caring. I've never felt so comfortable about my body since getting pregnant and becoming a mother. I hope you get over your fear soon!
Again, it's so, so good to know I'm not the only one! Sometimes I feel like I am confident enough to do it and then when it comes down to it- nope not even happening.
Henry does have a hard time latching, especially when the blankets all in his business...man, he hates that. If he could just get it in there without me having to assist, the whole thing would go more smoothly I'm sure. Ailen, you give me hope!
As for pumping on the go, great job Momma E!
It's funny when we're feeding in the bathroom and he starts farting really loud...I'm sure everyone's like, "wtf?" :)
i was a bit wierded out in the beginning too. but once we got rid of the dastardly nipple shield (it totally shaved my *falling apart* nipples in the first two weeks and then she was addicted to it for a few months till i got the gumption to wean her off of it... not fun but i'm so glad i got rid of it!) it was a lot easier for me to NIP. ive always been pretty comfortable with that kind of stuff so i more worry about making other people uncomfortable with my public display :-)
edie is getting old enough now that if **anything** else is going on (even things as normal as her daddy walking by or something) she will pop off to check it out. SHEESH!! so i haven't NIP in the past few weeks just because she is too absorbed in everything else to even nurse!! she'll latch on just long enough to get let down to happen and then pop and leave me squirting...
fun stuff :-)
just keep trying though and hopefully you'll eventually be able to do it. and as long as i'm with someone else i don't worry about the potential creepos... let them think whatever they want as long as then don't do/say anything...
~ashley
Ashley! Henry has just started being distracted by everything while he's eating too! Instead of nursing, he'd rather lay there and smile, coo, blow spit bubbles, watch his dad walking around, etc. :)
Latching wasn't working for us right after I had Henry and I was almost given a nipple shield! Sounds like having one was a lot of work?
Thanks so much for the encouragement...you have given me nothing but awesome advice since I stumbled upon you and your cute little family!
aw. i do get REALLY nervous, but i've honestly not had a bad experience so far and i do it everyplace. i just try to be discreet and thoughtful about it. i also do the nursing in the car thing, especially if we are out and about in between errands.
BUT YOU CAN DO IT!!! we believe in you.
Jamie, I read your nursing in public post a while back and seriously loved it. I think about it from time to time, perhaps I need to read it again after our last experience at Panera Bread!
I used to have an issue with public breastfeedin too..i still do every once in a while but for the most part im over it. ill breastfeed almost anywhere now. I think it just takes doing it a few times to overcome the awkwardness
practice and compatible clothing...haha.
thankfully i've never felt weird breastfeeding in public. idk why its just...not a big deal? my whole boob isnt hanging out, she and my clothing block it all :]
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