Breastfeeding on the Go. Wherever. Whenever.
[Photo was taken by Anya]
People sometimes ask me, ‘How do you manage to still breastfeed baby Brie when you’re out and about with your two other kids?’
Well, I guess I have no problems with breastfeeding Brie (or Anya and Vai when they were babies) because I don’t specifically look for nursing rooms when I’m outside.
I simply breastfeed discreetly, … whenever I need to, and wherever I happen to be at the time.
On the train, on the bus, at food courts, at restaurants, at the beach, etc.
And with a sling and an extra cloth that I drape over my shoulder, it’s completely discreet and convenient, ie. I don’t have to desperately look for nearby nursing rooms (whether I happen to be alone or with Anya and Vai).
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This is what I usually do when Brie is hungry but I’m outside:
– Decide if this time round Brie needs to feed from the left or right
– Put on my sling accordingly (note: In the photo above, Brie is feeding from my right, and hence the sling’s ring is on my left shoulder)
– Let Brie lie comfortably inside the sling (sleeping position)
– Drape an extra cloth over the shoulder where Brie’s head is (see picture above)
– Lift shirt discreetly from behind the cloth and sling, adjust Brie’s head level accordingly
– Brie starts feeding, and I continue with my meal if I happen to be eating at the time =)
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Once Brie is comfortably feeding (and latched on), I can actually stand and continue walking to wherever that I’m supposed to go. I simply need to gently support the lower part of the sling (ie. Brie’s back) with my arms.
(I do this very often actually =)
And to me, this approach to breastfeeding really gives me the ‘freedom’ and ‘convenience’, allowing me to still continue with my other tasks or plans, though I have a small baby in tow.
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How’s your approach to breastfeeding so far? Do you breastfeed in public? How do YOU do it?
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I also enjoy to breasfeed my baby whenever and wherever we go,just use breastfeeding cover and my baby can breasfeed comfortly…sometimes i wear nursing top,sometimes not…and i’m agree if we “don’t care” with people surround us it will be easier to breasfeed on the go…:))
Thanks Dina for sharing too!
Somehow, I think … Asians do have this tendency to ‘look’ (stare?) at others … it’s kind of a ‘habit’, may be? =) And this naturally makes people uneasy, especially if you’re a new mother and is new to the whole idea of breastfeeding a child.
I say, YES to not caring about what people think when it comes breastfeeding on the go! =) If we are discreet and are not disadvantaging anyone, there’s nothing wrong with breastfeeding a baby in public, yes? =)
I use a Bubzilia – LOVE that sling! I used it from Birth and still use it to carry my 14 month old. She can sit on my hip with her leg over my very pregnant belly.
Oh wow … you still can carry 14month old baby with a very pregnant belly …? Great to hear that you’ve been healthy and well throughout this pregnancy!
Yeah! I know I am too used using Baby carrier so not used to sling. But I must admit once you get the hang using it, it is really conveninent especially nursing, really like nursing on the go.
Pregnancy yeah going good:)
Thanks Susan!
Yes, I’m sure those wearing nursing tops are finding it even easier to nurse in public discreetly
(I still wear my normal tops so far though =)
Hi Sam,
hehe … many are feeling the same way as you, I’m sure =)
I say, it takes a bit of practice to get used to the idea of using the sling (ie. you’ll get the hang of it and once you can use it, you’ll appreciate how it really frees up your two hands so you can handle the older kid =)
Btw, hope your pregnancy is going well so far yeah …
Hi Linda,
Somehow I feel if the mom is more ‘bo chap’ about the surrounding, it’ll be a little easier to do too =) Esp. when the public somehow likes to … ‘stare’.
agree.. the more confident you are when you’re nursing, the less people will stare… they *will* stare if you’re busy fumbling with bra and latching… but if you’ve practiced enough so you hardly need to look down to know what’s happening, no one really notices.
I’ve bfd all three kids all over Singapore… on buses, trains, taxis… in shopping centres, at the zoo, anywhere you can think of really.. its totally doable with a sling and a nursing top (I was too “chicken” to use a normal top)
Yes yes… No need to really ‘look down’ and see what’s going on behind the sling once one is used to the whole idea of breastfeeding on the go.
I wear a normal top so far … (and sometimes I still wear my Bella band over my jeans … because the colour is black, it covers my tummy area so there’s no ‘skin’ showing =). With a nursing top, I’m sure it’ll even be even more ‘doable’ for the mom …
Hi Maria,
I have two slings.
The blue coloured one is by Moms in Mind (satin cotton type)
The one I wear in the photo in this blog post is by Zolowear (cotton material).
Hi Melinda,
I was more clueless when I had my first baby, so when you mentioned ‘toilet’, it reminded me how I DID nurse her in ‘clean’ toilets at shopping centres (when the nursing rooms are ‘full’).
Somehow the thought of using a sling was still foreign to me at the time …
So you’re due real soon then yeah … Wishing you all the very best in welcoming the new baby to the world =)
Wow I’m so impressed at how discrete you make it look. Thankfully the nursing tops these day have made breastfeeding easier for moms too.
That is great! Tell you I still cannot use sling haha… I will just use nursing cloth to nurse whenever baby is hungry.
It’s easier to said than done….. Wish I can do this too….
I agree this is the best way with bf….
What kind of sling do you use?
Good for you!!!
I did the same with Kate, and plan to do it all again in under 8 weeks.
I don’t eat in the toilet and neither should my baby 🙂
Wow, that’s a really neat and clever trick!
Thumbs up 😉