Parents frequently tell me after they have been to my breastfeeding support group that it was their first experience of breastfeeding in public.

If you feel a little unsure about breastfeeding in public then a baby group or family friendly local cafe can be a really good opportunity to practice.

⭐️Top tips if you’re feeling little trepidatious:

🧥Wearing a cardigan or draping a muslin over your shoulder (twist one corner through your bra strap at the shoulder) can create a shield to give you more privacy whilst latching. 

🥻Layer those clothes- maybe wear a vest top covered in a T-shirt? You can lift one up and the other down (this also avoids getting your postpartum tummy out in public if that is a concern for you). This also means if milk drips down your vest, the T-shirt covers the wet patch when you are finished.

🤱🏽🤱🏼Bring a friend-for moral support, forming a shield or to sit & breastfeed together.

✨Feed in the baby-carrier or sling. This one my fall into the category of “mums-skills” that come along a bit further into your parenting journey. Once your baby is a bit stronger or if they don’t need too much support with latching, feeding in the sling is a great option when out and about. You may find your baby may to be less distracted if you have a cover on your sling. Most slings and carriers are suitable for breastfeeding, your local sling library can advise.

🪞Practice at home in front of the mirror-a common concern is that when your baby is feeding a lot of flesh will be exposed, however if you look in the mirror you will see that your clothes and baby cover almost everything.

😊My top tip is Most People Don’t Care! News stories about breastfeeding parents being harassed in public do pop up but, this is extremely rare. Most members of the public would rather have a happy contented baby beside them than one who is screaming for a feed! Ask mums where they have fed and answers such as “In the waiting room at Kwik-Fit” and “On the last tube from central London on a Saturday night” are not uncommon…OK I admit it those two were both me!

😍And have you been lucky enough to receive a “Thank you for breastfeeding in public” card? I love the positivity of this wonderful Yes Mumma card, and there are also ones from breastfeeding charities and helplines-the idea is that you will pass this card to someone breastfeeding in public and they will pass it on again.

Have you seen #FeedOn a- social awareness campaign by RÅN studio and the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM), using photography and film to help normalise breastfeeding in public. 

Here is a really comprehensive page on the subject from LLL.

Fancy joining the group in person? Details here.

Sally