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Tackling the Tough Stuff
Public Nursing, Pumping at Work and Misguided Advice By Jackie Rupp
You mastered latching-on, can breastfeed while half-asleep and made it through many marathon feedings. Beyond the mechanics of breastfeeding, however, you might still be a little confused and intimidated by the social aspects. What do you do when the baby gets hungry while you're shopping, at a family gathering or at a restaurant? Should you talk with your boss and co-workers when you begin pumping breast milk? How should you respond to all of the questions and comments made by everyone from your mother-in-law to the lady behind you in the checkout line?
Many times these delicate situations are not addressed when you are learning the basics of nursing. You may feel unprepared when an awkward situation occurs and you haven't prepared a response. Using some basic "breastfeeding etiquette" can graciously navigate you through these tense situations.
Nursing in public can be a daunting task that discourages many women from even trying to breastfeed. "I used to be very nervous about breastfeeding in public," says Heather Manning, a breastfeeding mother of two in De Soto, Iowa. "I would hide in the car or in a dressing room, anywhere away from public eyes."
With a little practice, discreet breastfeeding in public can become second nature. Katy Lebbing, manager of La Leche League's Center for Breastfeeding Information, encourages mothers to learn basic breastfeeding techniques before the baby comes. "Usually just the latch on is more difficult when Mother is new to nursing," she says. To gain some extra confidence, Lebbing
