Breastfeeding and the summertime
Posted in breastfeeding and tagged with breastfeeding, Nursing in Public, Summertime on 06/11/2009 07:17 pm by Rachael
Welcome to the June Carnival of Breastfeeding–exploring the topic of nursing in public. Check out other participants linked at the bottom of the post!
Unless you are one of the rare few–the bold moms that I so admire–the question of how to balance breastfeeding with summertime activities is bound to enter your mind. Over at Mamapedia, I saw a similar concern posted by a reader.Â
Concerns like pools and leakage, family bbq’s, trips to the park, and going for that morning jog can have many modest moms camped up in their home for the whole season. This is not only completely unnecessary but wasteful! There is no reason to sit this summer out, because the public and breastfeeding are compatible. I promise.
Let’s start with the family bbq’s. If you are new to nursing in public this is absolutely perfect. You are breaking your nursing in public seal surrounded by friends and family. Once you are a nursing pro you will look back and feel silly at how awkward you felt feeding your baby outdoors.Â
If the thought of nursing around people still makes you a little uneasy start smaller. Go in your backyard in the morning, breath in that fresh air, nurse your little one, and listen to the birds sing. I am telling you, that is peace and love baby.
Another popular summertime spot is the public pool. This setting can be downright terrifying, especially for the boob, I mean the noob. There is just not a lot of modesty options when nursing in a bathing suite so start with the above –backyards and bbq’s if you have to.  One key piece of advice I have–especially at the pool–is people are really not paying attention to you.Â
I always felt like when I was about to nurse a huge spotlight beamed directly down on me and everybody held their breath and stared, absolutely appalled at what I was about to do. But in reality the insecurity was all mine, nobody around me noticed or cared. So when you are at the pool nurse with pride and if somebody happens to notice all the better. You are helping change our culture for the better (and don’t worry about the leakage, you won’t be swimming around with a streak of milk in your wake I swear).    Â
Nursing in the summertime is beautiful, it is convenient, and it is healthy. You don’t have to carry around formula, bottles, and sterile water. Food is always ready, always the perfect temperature, and always perfectly mixed. And all this with zero clean up required. So enjoy your summer of breastfeeding, I know I will!
Blisstree.com: Nursing in Public: To Cover or Not to Cover
Lucy and Ethel Have a Baby:Â (Boobs) Out and Proud
PhD in Parenting:Â Would you, could you nurse in public?
Dirty Diaper Laundry:Â Breastfeeding in Public- Talents- I haz it
Kim Through the Looking Glass: Here? At the Restaurant?
Grudge Mom: Nursing in a room full of people you know
Mum Unplugged:Â Aww, is he sleeping?
Massachusetts Friends of Midwives: Nursing in Public: Chinatown, the Subway, the Vatican, and More
Mother Mary’s Soapbox:Â June Carnival:Â Breastfeeding in Public
Tiny Grass:Â Nursing in Public as an Immigrant
A Mother’s Boutique:Â Breastfeeding in Public
Chronicles of a Nursing Mom:Â Why Worry About NIP?
Blacktating:Â Thank You for Nursing in Public
Musings on Mamahood:Â NIP, no tuck
Motherwear’s Breastfeeding Blog:Â Get kicked off a buss for nursing in public?
babyREADY:Â A wee NIP in the park
Long Life:Â Planes, trains, and automobiles–we’ve breastfed in them all
Breastfeeding Moms Unite: Nursing in Public: A Fresh Perspective on Nurse-In’s
Pump Ease:Â Breastfeeding Hats? YES! Nursing Covers? Uh… Not So Much
Breastfeeding Mums Blog:Â Â Nursing in Public - What’s a Breastfeeding Mother to Do!!
Hobo Mama:Â Easy, discreet way to breastfeed a toddler in public
Stork Stories…Birth and Breastfeeding: Little Old Men… & Nursing in Public
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June 16th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
THANKS FOR SHAring - am nursing my newborn as I read this, and am encouraged by your advice. If only it weren’t so hot!
June 16th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Ah the heat is the worst part! Good for you for nursing, you will be amazed at how much easier it is to get out and just go
I loved knowing I could go to the pool or beach and not have to worry at all about feeding because food was always ready.
June 21st, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Laughing at the bit about swimming with milk in your wake. Would totally have been something I was concerned about with my newborn, but now that she’s a year? I can see how that doesn’t even make sense. Great tips! Another tip for nursing at the pool/beach is to buy a nursing swimsuit … I have one from Motherwear that I got for almost 50% off!
June 21st, 2009 at 9:07 pm
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