For Future Reference . . .

. . . it would be wise to confirm that one's nursing top is clipped before taking a photo with a Disneyland character. Whoopsie.

Nursing Covers

When your baby is a newborn, using a nursing cover is a great way to "break yourself in" to nursing in public. Most tiny babies don't object to having a piece of fabric tossed over their heads, and the stiff neckline of a nursing cover makes it easy for mom to see baby, and for baby to see mom.

When your baby is a bit older, a nursing cover can be used in order to minimize distractions and help baby focus on nursing when you're out and about in an exciting new environment. On the other hand, the cover itself might seem exciting and new to baby, and become its own distraction.

It is very much possible to learn to nurse discreetly without a cover. In fact, a nursing cover is essentially a giant billboard shouting "I AM BREASTFEEDING RIGHT NOW!!!", which isn't really very discreet. I'm half inclined to object to the use of nursing covers AT ALL because of this paradox. Ultimately, though, whatever makes YOU feel comfortable nursing in public is what you should be doing or using. Note that I said whatever makes YOU, the nursing mom, comfortable. This may or may not be the same thing that makes others comfortable. They'll live.

In my personal experience, the one instance in which I find my nursing cover to still be useful is while I'm nursing Rhys, especially nursing a tired Rhys, in his carrier. The cover isn't so much "over" his head in this position as it is "around" his head, which isn't as objectionable to him. It also gives the illusion that I'm walking around with a "sleeping" baby instead of with a "BREASTFEEDING!!!" baby.

I own two covers by Udder Covers which have served me well over these last ten months. Both were purchased using free cover discount codes. Use one of the following codes (sourced via a simple Google search) and you'll pay only $9.95 in "shipping and handling" for your cover (which is still a heck of a lot less than the $40+ covers go for in boutiques): onefree, family2010, babies, cousin2, parenthood (etc., etc. . . . the list goes on.)

Nursing with a cover while shopping at the Queen Mary Scottish Festival

Creative Breastfeeding

We took Rhys to Disneyland this weekend, which gave me opportunity to expand the list of unusual places I've breastfed. Specifically: on Pirates of the Caribbean, in line for Peter Pan, on the train and on the Mark Twain riverboat.

I've also breastfed on the kiddie train at Knotts Berry Farm, while outlet shopping, while hiking Fryman Canyon and Griffith Park, while both of us were buckled into the backseat of a moving vehicle and at a myriad of museums, aquariums, restaurants, beaches and malls.

I've pumped in cars, in supply closets and once in a half finished house on a Habitat for Humanity building site.

Where is the most interesting place you've breastfed or pumped?

Product Recommendation: Undercover Mama

There are a zillion different options for nursing tops, and which one any particular mother likes best is a matter of personal preference. While some mothers prefer to wear specially designed nursing shirts with cleverly concealed openings, one doesn't need any special clothing in order to nurse a baby. Any shirt that you can lift from the hem, a shirt with a scoop or v neck that you can push down or anything that unbuttons down the front can suffice.

I've always been a fan of the v-neck/push down method, although it can be a bit indiscreet for nursing in public. My new favorite option, for times when I want a little more coverage, is the Undercover Mama.

The Undercover Mama is a tank top without straps that attaches with little clips to your nursing bra. It is designed to be worn underneath any shirt and to provide coverage to the back and belly when lifting from the hem for nursing access. You could accomplish the same effect by wearing a built-in bra style nursing tank under your shirt (I like these ones from Target), but I find that the Undercover Mama is a little less bulky. It also allows you to wear your own, perfectly fitted nursing bra. And the Undercover Mama clips to your bra in such a way that one handed nursing access is still possible, which is great because how many moms do you know who have spare hands free?

Now that Meyers has staged his last stand against nursing covers, the Undercover Mama really helps me to nurse discreetly in situations where I want to be discreet (allow me to qualify that by saying I often exercise my right to nurse INdiscreetly!). However, when I want to keep things under wraps a bit, I'm able to do so quite nicely with the Undercover Mama on.

A few days ago I was nursing Rhys at a museum and a group of guys came up and stood literally 2 feet from me. I was sitting there glaring at them, thinking "Pervs!!!" until I realized . . . they HONESTLY had no idea what I was doing (and likely would've been mortified to figure it out!). I was even less conspicuous than I would have been if I were wearing a nursing cover, and that's worth a recommendation, I think.

Nursing my little bundle on Xmas Eve, wearing the Undercover Mama

_________________________________

I was not paid to write this post or to endorse the Undercover Mama (Although now that it's out there, I'd gladly take a free nursing shirt. Maybe? Please? Ok, nevermind.)

Breastfeeding in Baby Carriers

Breastfeeding with baby in a carrier is liberating. Once I learned to breastfeed Rhys in his Ergo, I was able to breastfeed while walking, while hiking, while shopping, and even once on the kiddie train at Knotts Berry Farm (no joke). Being able to breastfeed while moving around enabled my husband and I to incorporate Rhys into our active lifestyle with ease.

To breastfeed in the Ergo:

* Wear easy access nursing clothing. A nursing tank with a full sling offers a bit of coverage to the top of the breast and can help you nurse discretely. A v-neck or low scoop neck top that you can pull down to nurse would also work well. What won't work as well: A shirt that you have to lift from the waist for nursing access.

* Loosen the shoulder straps. For regular babywearing, baby should be situated at "kissing distance", so that you're able to kiss the top of baby's head. For nursing, baby should be a bit lower, at breast height. Loosening the shoulder straps a bit will help accomplish this.

* For additional coverage, if desired, a nursing cover can be worn. In my personal experience, Rhys rejects the nursing cover when being fed in a cradle position, but doesn't object when in the carrier. However, if you're able to nurse discreetly (or if you're exercising your right to nurse indiscreetly!), baby may enjoy the view while you walk and nurse.

* Uncover the breast, slide baby over and help baby latch. It may be necessary to support the breast from underneath while latching.

* Go about your business! Hike! Shop! Wait in lines at amusement parks!

Nursing is also possible using a Moby or other wrap style carrier. Either in the "Hug Hold" which is very similar to the Ergo carrier positioning, in the Moby Wrap's Breastfeeding Hold as described here or in a nursing carry like the one demonstrated by this mom via YouTube.

Multi-tasking!

Super Rad

I ran across this photo while trolling for breastfeeding info online a few weeks ago and it just makes me happy.

What doesn't make me happy? Blogland's commentary on this photo: "Maggie Gyllenhaal caught breastfeeding in public" (as if breastfeeding should be done in private), "This might freak some people out" (as if it should) and "I almost didn't post these pictures because of the whole breast feeding in public debate" (whether babies get to eat is up for debate?).

If more high profile women breastfed unashamedly, that might help to normalize breastfeeding in the public's eye.

Maggie Gyllenhaal: YOU RULE. I'm off to buy all of your movies now.

Boob: The Portable Food

My family and I were away for several days over the holidays and feeding Rhys in the course of our travels really highlighted the fact that breastfeeding is uber convenient for moms on the go:

* Breastmilk is always available, ready to go, and at the perfect temperature.

* Breastfeeding mothers can travel light: No bottles, refridgeration or sterilization equipment to pack.

* Breastfeeding mothers never run out of food for their babies (A potentially cruicial benefit in the event of travel delays, holiday traffic, etc.)

* Breastmilk helps protect against illness, helping baby brave travel and crowds and upping mom and baby's chances of having a cold and flu free vacation.

* Breastfeeding ensures that, even on the most hectic days, mom and baby will have quiet time together to bond.

* Breastfeeding burns a slew of calories, meaning mom can enjoy that Peppermint Mocha / piece of fudge / pile of potatoes / 18th chocolate covered Peppermint Jo Jo / etc.


Nursing Rhys in the backseat of our (parked!) car, halfway up to Monterey. *Nursing a baby in a moving vehichle, while mom and baby are both fully buckled in, is TOTALLY POSSIBLE, by the way. But that's another blog post.*

What is Your Code Word for Nursing?

We go by "Baby Snacks" in our house (as opposed to "Noms" which means solid food). We started out with "Boob", as in "He wants a Boob" or "You, my child, are a Boob fiend".

The trouble with "Boob", however apt it is, is that eventually nursing babies turn into older nursing babies, even nursing toddlers. We let a "Boob" slip out every now and then (literally and figuratively!), but we try to stick to "Baby Snacks", in hopes that Rhys will pick up the term when he's old enough to ask to nurse. Imagine a toddler out and about for the day, clammoring for "Booooooobbbbbbb!!!!", and I think it is pretty easy to see the appeal of a code word.

A quick purusal of the internet shows code words such as: "Nursies", "Snuggle" and "Side" (as in "the other side").

Do you use a code word for breastfeeding? What is it?