Breast feeding is very important for the baby because it provides the necessary nutrition for the baby. It’s helps the baby build immunity, protect the baby against diseases and many other conditions. It also has many benefits for the mother for example it helps in reducing the risk of diabetes 2 and certain cancers. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.
Breast feeding does not necessarily have to be done at home. A mother can still enjoy her outdoor activities and breast feed her baby in public. There are mothers who are comfortable in breast feeding in public. Some find it very uncomfortable and may be anxious.
If you are worried about breast feeding in public there are things you can do to make yourself familiarized. You can comfortable in public.
Try to practice in front of a mirror
If you are worried about showing too much skin you can be rest assured because your baby will cover you very efficiently. When you practice in front of the mirror you can try different with different outfits. You see which is perfect for you. Some babies don’t like the fabric falling on their faces while others are not bothered by it. So, experiment with it and see which one suits you the best.
Wear an outfit that is comfortable for you
You can buy or sew nursing clothes that will be comfortable for you to nurse. You can get clothes that make breastfeeding easy or you can put together an outfit with your normal clothes. A loose t shirt will be easy for you to lift up on one side to feed the baby. A loose t shirt will cover up most of your belly and breast. A buttoned loose shirt is also very good, because when you want to feed you can just unbutton a few buttons.
Choose an easy access bra
Many mothers find stretchy nursing bras very helpful when breast feeding. Rather than having to undo a snap and put it back on. Stretchy bras will easily pull down this way it makes the feeding easier. Practice lowering the cup of your bra at home with one hand as this would make it easier to do it outside.
Pick a spot
When you are outside, look for a place where you can sit comfortably and at a location where you won’t be exposed to the public much. If you are in a restaurant you can turn towards the inside of your booth. If there are no booth you can sit facing away from the dining table.
If you at a mall you can try breastfeeding in a changing room or you can find a bench next to a plant or a place where it is not very exposed to the public eye. If you are stressed about finding a place don’t worry about it. Make enough room for yourself and organize yourself well and feed the baby don’t worry about the people who see you.
At first it might seem hard but once you get the practice you won’t need to be worried about it the next time.