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Expert Q&A

	By Melissa Clark Vickers International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn.

I will be breastfeeding my baby but I am a very private person – can I express milk and feed it to my baby when I am in public places? Also, how long does breast milk last when carried in a diaper bag, and what is the best way to store it? One more thing: is it OK to suplement my child's diet with formula? What would be best: expressing milk or using formula?

Congratulations on your decision to breastfeed your baby! And your concern about breastfeeding in public is quite common, actually. I'm going to take a few liberties with your question to begin with, and then will answer it more directly.

There are a number of ways that you can breastfeed "in" public, without ever showing anything. If you wear loose-fitting tops that you can lift from the bottom, you can nurse your baby and it just looks like he is nestled in your arms. You can practice in front of a mirror to make sure nothing shows. Make sure you have nursing bras that don't require two hands (and a degree in engineering!) to undo one side.

Many moms drape a baby blanket or pretty shawl over their shoulder, covering baby and breast while they nurse. This draws attention to the fact that you are nursing, but covers your breast. This works better for a very young baby than an older one who has learned how to play peek-a-boo!

If you are out shopping, you can go to a department store and grab an item of clothing in the women's department and take it into the fitting room and nurse your baby in peace and quiet.

Many malls have family restrooms equipped with a couch for nursing mothers as well. And many maternity/baby stores have special areas for nursing mothers.

Remember that people will notice a crying baby long before they notice a nursing one! You certainly have the right to nurse your baby anytime, any where as well.

With all that said, many moms – especially first time moms – are simply not comfortable nursing their babies in public. That's OK, too. You can pump your milk and take it along in a diaper bag. Fresh breast milk can be left at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours at 79 degrees Farenheit, 10 hours at 66 to 72 degrees, and 24 hours at 60 degrees. (It's amazing stuff!) During the hot summer months, or if you'll be in a warm area for long, you could put the milk in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack.

As for supplementing with formula, breast milk – whether it is straight from the breast or in a bottle – will ALWAYS be better than formula. Breast milk is a living tissue – it has disease fighting cells in it that help keep your baby healthy. It also changes through out the feeding, throughout the day, and even from week to week, month to month. It suits your baby's needs at the time. Formula will never be able to do either of those.

There may come a time that you will find yourself out somewhere with your baby and he decides it is time to eat and for whatever reason you won't have anything handy to give him but your breast. So I would encourage you to practice discreet nursing at home, just in case! You might even decide it is OK to do in public.

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