It is possible to breastfeed-on-demand and socialise! MARIAN BUCKLEY examines some of the options that can help mums feed with confidence. One of the most challenging aspects to new motherhood is how to feed your newborn. The last Infant Feeding Survey published by the Office for National Statistics showed a 7% rise in the number of babies breastfed from birth and if you are among the growing number of mums who choose (and manage successfully) tobreastfeed, you'll then face the issue of what to do when baby needs feeding in public.
In the UK, health experts recommend feeding on demand. In the not-so distant past mums were instructed to only ever feed every 4 hours, despite whatever protestations baby made. There are many devices which can help you protect your modesty whilst feeding, and what works for you might not suit the next mum. Slings: There are several fabric versions on the market, including Karen Lloyd's Sling Easy, which enables you to feed discreetly in public simply by adjusting the way the sling is positioned. It is also possible (and I know this from personal experience with three hungry babies!) to walk and feed without standing out from the crowd. Ponchos and Pashmina-style scarves: They might not be the height offashion, but having a poncho to hand is very useful for when baby might need nutrition and you cannot secrete yourself away to a quiet corner.
The Mamascarf: This was invented by Keira O'Mara, a mum who was inspired to design the device after being made to feel uncomfortable by the stares of fellow customers when she was in a cafe. The Mamascarf ties around your neck and can be moved to a position that suits while you adjust your clothing. It's very easy to use and ensures you andbaby complete privacy. National Breastfeeding Awareness Week is from10th to 16th May 2009. For more information and support visit www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk |
.....Ophelia Grace...............Mira Lorne...............Jude Bennett.........Liam Daniel Baines.
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on Sep. 21, 2012 at 10:47 PM
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on Sep. 22, 2012 at 1:59 AM
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Thank you miss :) I am way too slow when I try the two shirt method. I start out with a cover and to the 2SM and then take the cover off once we've got ourselves situated but I'd like to be able to do it without a cover at all.
Quoting larissalarie:
It works best with a shirt and a jacket for me. You reach down your shirt to unlatch the bra then pull baby close and cover your nipple with your hand as you pull baby in and lift your shirt. In one smooth movement with baby's head covering the nipple you let go of your breast right as baby goes to latch. Them you've got the shirt covering your breasts and the jacket covering anything else.
Might be hot for you in Texas, but at least baby won't suffocate!
Quoting perezamberly:
Omg I was at the bowling alley using a cover and nursing and I mentioned to my friend that I feel MORE obvious using a cover and she made some smart remark about how if I had my "tit out" I'd be more obvious. It made me feel so bad.
But i see you said you're an h cup. I have very large boobs myself and have been practicing the two shirt method because here in Texas, my baby sweats when she's under the hot cover. Please share with me how you do this inconspicuously!!
Quoting larissalarie:
Please see the picture I posted of me nursing at a park without a cover on page 5 and tell me how you can see any boob? Would you guess I'm am H cup?!
Putting on a cover is like putting on a neon sight that flashes "I'M BREASTFEEDING!!!"
And that's perfectly fine if that kind of attention makes you more comfortable :-)
Quoting jshalas89:
Idk why people say "you can't see anything anyway." uh yes you can. That's why I choose to cover. But I'm rather protective of my boobs and I don't want any unnecessary attention.
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Platinum Member
on Sep. 22, 2012 at 2:16 AM
Your husband "getting wood" from a breast is no different from a man who has a fetish for any other non -sex related organ that happens to be a turn on: ass, legs, neck, calves, elbows etc.
Breasts are absolutely NOT a sex organ, although American culture has conditioned many otherwise. They play ZERO role in making a pregnancy (as you should know!)
The "truth".doesn't hurt bit. I am in no way insecure or foolish...or immodest! I was insecure when I held tight to the ways I was raised which were as you hold tight to now.
Breasts are absolutely NOT a sex organ, although American culture has conditioned many otherwise. They play ZERO role in making a pregnancy (as you should know!)
The "truth".doesn't hurt bit. I am in no way insecure or foolish...or immodest! I was insecure when I held tight to the ways I was raised which were as you hold tight to now.
Quoting abra:
Last time I checked my husband didn't get wood from seeing a bottle. Breasts ARE sexual organs. Thankfully. But you've proven my point. We are sexual. If we weren't sexual, how did we get pregnant in the first place? When women are immodest they are always, without exception, insecure or foolish. Of course, there is no point in actually trying to reason with an insecure or foolish person because they refuse to hear the truth because sometimes the truth hurts.
Way to backpeddle on the other points. Smooth.
Quoting larissalarie:
I have zero emotional or mental deficiencies...thanks for trying to make it about that though :-)
A breast dildo would be a bottle to someone who views the breasts as a sexual organ. A dildo replaces the penis, a bottle replaces the breasts (their intended purpose) if you want to view it that way. Otherwise the breast feeding a baby is utilitarian same as a bottle.
Quoting abra:
Also if you take the time to read back you'll see that I have friends who disagree with me. It obviously isn't an issue I feel strongly enough about to alienate people over. If someone can't emotionally or mentally handle an argument, they shouldn't engage in one.
Quoting abra:
Christianity isn't about being a pushover. It's about being truthful. I'm not perfect. If I was there would be no reason to be a Christian. When people get angry or offended on the internet, it is simply revealing their own insecurities. I never said anyone was ugly, quite contrary. A bottle isn't precious, it's a utilitarian piece of equipment. Not sure what a breast dildo is, though.
Quoting larissalarie:
Seriously?! Miss "I'm too perfect to be judgmental" Abra being ridiculously judgmental?!...because you're so perfect you value your body the perfect way?
So because covers made me feel embarrassed and on display, I'M UGLY?! And your beauty is so great they must build a shrine around you to nurse? (You look ok, but you are more than slightly full of yourself which is a major turn-off. Good thing you stuck with hamburger kiss guy...) Wow, what a "Christian" attitude you have toward fellow mothers who feel differently than you about covers.
Do you also feel that covering that breast dildo, the bottle, when in use adds to the preciousness?Quoting abra:
I agree. That or they don't feel beautiful enough to cover up. Covering up only adds to the private connection between a mother and baby. Its too precious to share.
Quoting paknari:
I think mothers who do not cover are specifically doing it for shock value. They are attention whores and want to challenge what is considered the norm.
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I've done both. I've used a cover at times & other times I don't. My DS is almost 10 months old, he doesn't like the cover & will pull it & move it off of him. He gets especially upset if it's hot. I use the 2 shirt method as well & I agree, you can't see ANYTHING. My baby's head & face pretty much cover my breast & the top shirt will cover the top of it as well. But to be honest, even if it didn't cover, I wouldn't be concerned about other peoples ignorance & insecurities when it comes to feeding my baby. When he's hungry, I nurse him! Whenever, wherever, however, just like those Mommy's that opt to bottle feed. Shame on ANYONE that finds some issue with a woman breastfeeding her baby! It is what God intended our breasts to be! A form of nutrient for our babies. I think it's amazing & beautiful that we can bring life & maintain it NATURALLY. Instead of being ashamed of that, you ladies should be PROUD!! & no MAN should have any say about that. We have made breasts a sexual organ, but we should remember that is NOT their purpose, their purpose is to provide nutrients for our babies! Get it together ladies, it's something beautiful, even when it's NOT COVERED UP!
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Elizabeth
on Sep. 22, 2012 at 8:49 AM
2 moms liked this
No, I don't wear a cover that might as well have "Hey!! Hey you!! Guess what I'm doing over here!!" written across it. It's not difficult to nurse, uncovered, without showing anything. Unfortunately alot of people are very ignorant and assume if you're uncovered, then your flashing your breasts for the world to see... ;)
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Member
on Sep. 22, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Same thing with my DS.
Quoting robibuni:
Those are nice, but I don't need a cover, and DD won't let me cover her anyhow. I use the two shirt method and everyone survives seeing nothing.
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by
Bronze Member
on Sep. 22, 2012 at 9:22 AM
5 moms liked this
My church is ACTUALLY pro-breastfeeding by not forcing me to isolate my child and myself from fellowship with my congregation by breastfeeding. I have actually fed my child sitting right next to my pastor while we were in a spiritual gifts class. His wife breastfeeds her child in church. Multiple women are feeding their children during service or in the nursery after church when they pick up their kids. It is actually one of the reasons I am joining this church... because, for the first time in a long time, I don't feel judgement and hypocrisy from the "church ladies" at church. I feel Christ's love and acceptance.
Quoting abra:
Why doesn't your church have a place for women to breastfeed privately? My church is pretty pro breastfeeding and provide a screen in the back of the auditiorium and chairs so we can be comfortable.
And my guess is, most people are too embarrassed for you to bring it up.
Quoting TiffanyMarie80:No, they really don't. . . . case in point, I was nursing in church, uncovered, and during the sharing of the peace I sat in my place while others were up and about, shaking hands. I had 3 different people come up to me to shake my hand, not realizing that I was nursing until they were literally standing right over me. It looked like I was snuggling a sleeping baby.
Quoting abra:
A cover makes second, third and fourth glances unneeded. there is nothing for strangers to see, so they move on. Cover or not, everyone notices a mother holding a baby to her breast.
Quoting TiffanyMarie80:And I think that using a cover draws attention to what you are doing - wereas I can lift my shirt and latch baby on without most people having any clue what I'm up to . . . . .
Quoting paknari:
I think mothers who do not cover are specifically doing it for shock value. They are attention whores and want to challenge what is considered the norm.
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by
on Sep. 22, 2012 at 9:24 AM
i typically do not use a cover. because amie gets hot. plus i want to give her the chance of eye contact. I guess I really don't care if someone staring really hard at me gets a flash of boob. I dare anyone to say anything after the week we've had. DH would probably get arrested
by
Silver Member
on Sep. 22, 2012 at 9:43 AM
3 moms liked this
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STOP spreading your ignorance!! It was bad enough in the other post. Now you've made a completely different post with the intention of "proving your point" and it's obvious that more people disagree with you than agree with you. Give it up already. Get over yourself. YOU are the insecure and foolish person. The truth DOES hurt and it's SOOOO evident in ALL of YOUR replies as you try and weave the truth into your opinion and it's getting you nowhere. Breastfeeding should not be hidden. Breasts are NOT sexual. No more so than a woman having a nice ass or a nice pair of legs, or the "perfect" figure.
Quoting abra:
Last time I checked my husband didn't get wood from seeing a bottle. Breasts ARE sexual organs. Thankfully. But you've proven my point. We are sexual. If we weren't sexual, how did we get pregnant in the first place? When women are immodest they are always, without exception, insecure or foolish. Of course, there is no point in actually trying to reason with an insecure or foolish person because they refuse to hear the truth because sometimes the truth hurts.
Way to backpeddle on the other points. Smooth.
Quoting larissalarie:
I have zero emotional or mental deficiencies...thanks for trying to make it about that though :-)
A breast dildo would be a bottle to someone who views the breasts as a sexual organ. A dildo replaces the penis, a bottle replaces the breasts (their intended purpose) if you want to view it that way. Otherwise the breast feeding a baby is utilitarian same as a bottle.
Quoting abra:
Also if you take the time to read back you'll see that I have friends who disagree with me. It obviously isn't an issue I feel strongly enough about to alienate people over. If someone can't emotionally or mentally handle an argument, they shouldn't engage in one.
Quoting abra:
Christianity isn't about being a pushover. It's about being truthful. I'm not perfect. If I was there would be no reason to be a Christian. When people get angry or offended on the internet, it is simply revealing their own insecurities. I never said anyone was ugly, quite contrary. A bottle isn't precious, it's a utilitarian piece of equipment. Not sure what a breast dildo is, though.
Quoting larissalarie:
Seriously?! Miss "I'm too perfect to be judgmental" Abra being ridiculously judgmental?!...because you're so perfect you value your body the perfect way?
So because covers made me feel embarrassed and on display, I'M UGLY?! And your beauty is so great they must build a shrine around you to nurse? (You look ok, but you are more than slightly full of yourself which is a major turn-off. Good thing you stuck with hamburger kiss guy...) Wow, what a "Christian" attitude you have toward fellow mothers who feel differently than you about covers.
Do you also feel that covering that breast dildo, the bottle, when in use adds to the preciousness?Quoting abra:
I agree. That or they don't feel beautiful enough to cover up. Covering up only adds to the private connection between a mother and baby. Its too precious to share.
Quoting paknari:
I think mothers who do not cover are specifically doing it for shock value. They are attention whores and want to challenge what is considered the norm.
by
on Sep. 22, 2012 at 10:01 AM
I'm not 100% sure if I really want the answer, but I HAVE to ask. How in the WORLD can you think that feminism is the ultimate form of feminine insecurity?
You do realize that there are many types of feminism, right? That there is even one that embraces the "feminine" stereotype? Feminism, to me, is about confidence. It is about being proud to be a woman and realizing that women are an important part of the human race. Here is one source of information about the different types: http://sparkcharts.sparknotes.com/womens/womens/section4.php
Quoting abra:
Yeah, I have some friends who say and do that, and sometimes, rarely, they actually are quite adept at not flashing anyone. Of course, they are smaller chested so the baby's head covers most of it. In my opinion, even if you can't see anything, you are drawing unneccesary attention and therefore being ostentatious and immodest. I think women feel the need to be ostentatious when they are insecure or are feminists, which is, of course, the ultimate form of feminine insecurity. I like being a woman and I like being beautiful. I appreciate that my husband thinks I'm too hot to share! :)
Quoting jshalas89:
Idk why people say "you can't see anything anyway." uh yes you can. That's why I choose to cover. But I'm rather protective of my boobs and I don't want any unnecessary attention.
Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together. ~Pearl S. Buck
When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty
One should examine oneself for a very long time before thinking of condemning others. ~Moliere
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Does your baby have great-grandparents?
Cow Milk?
- abra
on Sep. 21, 2012 at 10:47 PM