Well, it’s official. I’ve crossed a line and there’s no undoing it. Gone are the days of independence and youth. I’ve now officially breastfed in public… like… around strangers.
Naturally I accomplished this task with as much style as is possible. Considering my options at the time, I decided against sitting in the car at the Target parking lot and opted to utilize the Starbucks nestled within the Target instead. I ordered (for the first time ever) an eggnog latte. (Weird. I know. I was curious.) It seemed more nonchalant for me to be sipping a hot beverage while Bennett was enjoying his own beverage than for me to be awkwardly perched on a public bench.
So, yeah, once I got my drink, I caped myself up (so convenient, these “hooter hiders”), sat down at a tiny round table and proceeded to make eye contact with every single person who walked by… just to see if they noticed us. Interestingly enough, I got neither an expression of approval nor an expression of disgust. In spite of the fact that I felt like there was a gigantic, neon light flashing an arrow at the two of us, we really weren’t anything special to the rest of Target’s shoppers this morning.
And then it hit me: I’ve never felt less noticeable. For my first attempt being a public breastfeeder, I realized that I’ve never felt less sexy being out and about. Then again, do I need to feel alluring right now? Not really. I did, however, feel really competent, organized, mature and proud of myself for making it all look easy (which, funnily enough, turns me on so it’s gotta be some version of sexy).
Yep, I think I’ll do it again.
“hooter hiders”
love it. i’ve never heard any of my friends who are young mothers call it that!
when done properly, breastfeeding in public is perfectly normal and not at all conspicuous (could you check the sprlling on that, please?) the only times i’ve ever heard people talk smack about it was in some uber-conservative Christian circles where the old busybodies were concerned that ‘weak men would be tempted’
as if. :/
There’s actually a brand name called ‘hooter hiders’ 🙂
Well, that’s definitely an interesting name for it, hooter hiders … kudos to you, I only managed to do it in the movie theater, but there’s something to be said for not having to warm up a bottle in a public bathroom. 🙂
I’m not that original. Hooter Hiders is actually a brand. See? http://www.bebeaulait.com/brands/hooter-hiders
Yippee! Glad to hear it went well. I am all for it when you need to.
One of the many great things about breastfeeding is NOT having to deal with the bottle and making sure you have enough bottles and that they are the right temp…yadda yadda. So happy for you that it wasn’t full of anxiety. I unfortunately have been yelled at in public for breast feeding, and was told to take that baby home and feed him. I was mortified but then that very moment gave me understanding of ignorance and made me very ready for the next time that might happen but it hasn’t happened yet. : )
Horray, glad it went well! I’ve only received appreciation for using a cover, I guess people don’t appreciate when women whip it all out, lol. It can still be done quite discreetly w/o a cover, too. Esp if you cut a hole or slit in the front of an undershirt, or wear an extra band of cloth around your middle as another layer to hide the belly, people will hardly notice, they will come to look at the baby and exclaim in surprise, “Oh, you’re nursing the baby, sorry!”
I’ve done a lot of the bottles, too, and nursing, even in public, is definitely way easier and quicker than packing extra milk and perhaps heating it up! I know I live in a “granola” area, so maybe it’s easier here to “be natural” than in other areas, but I think breastfeeding has come back around this decade and strongly accepted in most areas.
Target is a good place to go. The employees aren’t allowed to tell you no or else they could lose their job. If you want more privacy, ask to use a fitting room. Especially during the day there’s likely to be one open.
Funny I was at target this morning 8 ish and went to the Starbucks. We must have missed each other! Way to go. Breastfeed is something I never attempted in public. I was too shy and nervous.
Good job, Suzy! Enjoying a starbucks while nursing is pretty much the way to do it! 🙂
christianity today has an article this month on breastfeeding on the pew during the service. i’ve breastfed all over fort worth. i actually daydream about someone asking me to stop, so i can tell them that what they did was illegal. texas has very strict breastfeeding laws to encourage mothers to breastfeed.
I can’t believe Abbie’s comment. Texas???? Maybe California would have such a law, but Texas! I am thrilled. Way to go. Suzanna, no one would dare to
confront you, I am sure. You do not look wimpy and
always present as a strong, together woman. They’d be afraid.
Rock on! I too have breastfed babies all over, whenever. It took me alittle practice to make it look easy and Ross wasnt exactly cooperative, pulling the cover off continually. Just in this past summer, in fact, I nursed Darcy at the fair, walking down through the cattle barn. Ya do watcha gotta do. I too have never gotten any negative feedback. Only other moms giving me a knowingly smile of encouragement. If approached with negativity my simple, not make a scene line would be, “Im guessing that a screaming child would bother you more than this?- cause that’s the alternative.” Actually, I probably would be so blown away by their ignorance and rudeness, I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of saying anything. Then they would he the only one looking like a butt. 🙂
You’re right! A loud, fussy baby would be much more of a public annoyance than a peaceful nursing one!
I too waited for someone to say something to me, and I dreamt of the things I would say to a person who confronted me… never happened, even when my convienent hooter hider wasn’t with me… I used regular shelf-bra cami’s, and then a t-shirt or whatever I was wearing. Would lift up the tshirt, pull down the cami and my nursing bra, so only the nipple was accessible. Once he latched on, my shirt could fall over the rest of my breast and no biggie. This technique became especially helpful once he was old enough to try to pull the cover off him, which was incredibly frustrating!
This makes you a lactivist! Nurse-on, my friend!
I like that!
Oh, BTW, I have a nursing tanktop that is awesome. It unclips at the straps just like nursing bras. Then you can wear any shirt you want and your whole side and tummy doesn’t have to be on display. I got mine at JCPenny I believe.
I have those too–I got mine at Target! They are so nice!
I’m in the process of making a few myself. LOVE them.
LOL! Oh Sunanna….. you make me smile.