When was the last time you saw a woman breastfeeding in public? When was the last time you saw a woman feeding a baby in public with a bottle? Do you find yourself wondering, whenever you see a woman with a baby, "If she breastfeeding?" Are you a bit let down when you notice the formula in the shopping cart or the prepared bottle sitting in the stroller cup holder? Do you wonder if that mom is a breastfeeding mom, too, just not in public? Is she scared, embarrassed, ashamed to nurse in public?
Do you nurse in public? If you do, I thank you. Every time you nurse in public you help to normalize breastfeeding. Every time you nurse in public, you remind people that not everyone chooses formula. Every time you nurse in public, you have the potential to encourage another woman to breastfeed. Every time you nurse in public, you might convince a mom that she doesn't have to pump or feed her baby formula when out and about. Maybe your nursing in public will let a mama know she doesn't need to retreat to the bathroom/backseat of the car/back bedroom/nursing mother's room. Simply by breastfeeding your baby in public, you are standing up for yourself, your baby and nursing mother's everywhere. Thank you.
Want to thank a woman for nursing in public? Download this "Thank You for Nursing in Public" Card created by Amanda at Kind Over Matter.
Check out the other wonderful Carnival participants listed below.
Lucy & Ethel Have a Baby: Nursing In Public (Boobs) Out and Proud
Chronicles of A Nursing Mom: Why Worry About NIP?
PhD in Parenting: Would You, Could You Nurse in Public?
Dirty Diaper Laundry: Breastfeeding in Public Talent - I Haz It
Kim through the Looking Glass: Here? At the Restaurant?
GrudgeMom: Nursing in a Room Full of People You Know
MumUnplugged: Aww, Is He Sleeping?
Massachusetts Friends of Midwives: Nursing in Public: Chinatown, the Subway, the Vatican, and More
Mother Mary’s Soapbox: Breastfeeding My Newborn in Public
Tiny Grass: Nursing in Public as an Immigrant
Breastfeeding 1-2-3: To Cover or Not to Cover
Mommy News and Views: Tips for Nursing in Public
Stork Stories: Little Old Men...& Nursing in PublicWarm Hearts Happy Family: Breastfeeding and the Summertime
Musings on Mamahood: NIP, No Tuck
Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog: Get Kicked Off A Bus for Nursing? Here's How to Respond
babyReady: A Wee Nip in the Park!
Mama Knows Breast: Products That Can Help You Breastfeed in Public
Tales of Life With A Girl on the Go: Planes, Trains & Automobiles...We've Breastfed In Them All
Breastfeeding Moms Unite: Nursing in Public: A Fresh Perspective on Nurse-Ins
Never A Dull Moment: Breastfeeding Hats? Yes! Covers? Not So Much....
Breastfeeding Mums Blog: Nursing in Public --What's A Breastfeeding Mother to Do?
Hobo Mama: Easy, Discreet Way to Breastfeed A Toddler in Public
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9 comments:
I'll confess to smiling wistfully when I see someone nursing in public. I sometimes point out "that lucky baby who is getting milkies" to my daughter. It's a good message for her and if the mom hears, that's good, too.
I don't know if I'm brave enough to directly approach a stranger, although the cards are nice.
I love those cards. I had forgotten about them. Thanks for the link to them. :)
In defense of those of us who chose not to breastfeed in public, I have to say that I was dissappointed to discover that my baby wouldn't do it. He would get overstimulated and refuse. To this day, it is difficult to get him to eat anywhere away from home. If there's anything remotely interesting happening within his range of perception, any hunger is forgtten in favor of that.
Zen, my son was very distractible as well. It's why he nursed a lot at night for months. If your baby can't or won't nurse in public, it makes sense to pump a bottle. I just wish moms didn't feel like they had to use bottles in public because they were scared to breastfeed.
I smile when I see a woman nursing in public. It warms my heart.
I love it when moms bf in public! It gives me strength to do so myself. I'm getting braver. My son also gets distracted, but I have figured out that if he is directly asking for it (planting his face into my breast) then he will nurse. I also figured out that if he has time to take in his surroundings, he will be able to focus on nursing (unless something in the environment changes, like someone suddenly talking loudly).
I thanked another mom for nursing in public last month (I unfortunately see it so rarely here). It was great except for that tense moment after I opened my mouth and before it was clear I was *complimenting* her. She probably thought I was going to say something negative. But once I got out the first couple of words, she smiled and we chatted.
At a playdate recently, five of us moms realized we were ALL breastfeeding our babies or toddlers--a great moment since, again, it seems to be so rare around here.
When my son was smaller, it wasn't a problem with breastfeeding him in public. Now, though, he gets annoyed because it's not the same, I guess. I do like some privacy when I feed my baby, so I don't mind the nursing rooms. At the same time, though, I want the option of feeding my kid wherever I want. We went to a wedding last weekend, and due to my dress, I had to find an empty room at the church to feed the baby. They did have a 'cry room' where another woman was feeding her baby using a nursing cover. Since my dress had a back zipper, I didn't think it would be appropriate to get naked in front of other people (men) in a glass-fronted room!
I was impressed with the content and the readability. Great blog to keep, read, and, dare I say.
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