Chest-Feeding With Confidence

Posted on: March 16, 2017 | Breastfeeding, Parenting, Postpartum

When making the decision to chest-feed their child, many factors play into a parent’s choice.  One of the most common ones I hear is the fear of nursing the child in public.

While laws vary state to state, I am going to address chest-feeding in Illinois.

First thing is…the law is on your side.  In Illinois, anywhere the parent is legally allowed to be (public or private), they can nurse their baby.  The exception to this is a private residence and places of worship.  While you very well may be allowed to nurse in your place of worship, they do have the final say, so just check with someone if you have any concerns.

The second part is…chest-feeding is exempt from the public indecency law.  Chest-feeding is NOT considered to be indecent and does not require that you cover yourself or move to another location.

The third part (and the main concern I hear)…How do I nurse in public?  Most parents are very nervous of how to do it and not offend others.

I am here to tell you, there is no right answer to that!

There are many ways to chest-feed in public and the “right” way is the one that is most comfortable for you and your child.

This carrier is available on Amazon!

Nursing Cover/Scarf – Some parents choose to use a nursing cover or scarf.  You can buy these at most retailers that sell baby items, resale shops, and online shops.  You can even put one on your registry for a gift idea.   Imagine a super hero cape on backwards.  This provides yourself and your child with the privacy you may feel more comfortable with along with.  This is also an option for those with “distracted” nursers so they are then blocked from seeing all the interesting things that may cross their path.  Some of the complaints I have heard (and experienced myself) is that these covers can actually draw more attention to what you are doing as they are not very discreet.  Also, they can get hot and uncomfortable.  While companies do try to make them light and airy, the extra fabric in August humidity may not be ideal.  Lastly, it can be a little less than graceful trying to maneuver latching a child on to the chest while juggling the cover as well as the little darling may decide they don’t like being covered and yank it back.  Therefore, causing the you to spend the entire nursing session in a tug of war match with your baby.

Two Shirt Method – This is another option for a parent that want to feel covered, but without an extra thing to carry around with them. When getting dressed for the day, you could put a nursing tank or camisole under whatever shirt your are wearing for the day.  Depending on your chest size and comfort level, you could choose to wear a nursing bra with this also or not, as the tanks have very little built in support.  When the baby is ready to nurse, get comfortable, unlatch the nursing tank (and bra), pull your top shirt up, bring baby to your chest, and then pull the tank down for the latch.  This way allows for the top shirt to cover the top of your chest, while the tank keeps your stomach and back covered.  This way is usually discreet enough that a passerby just assumes baby is sleeping in your arms and is the none the wiser.  The only real complaint I have come across with this method is again in the heat, wearing extra layers all day long could get uncomfortable.

Uncovered – While this method is more common a choice for those with smaller chests, it is a viable option for all. This would mean no need for extra accessories or layers.  You go about your regular routine for getting ready for the day.  When it is time to nurse your options would be to either lift the shirt up and latch baby on or (if the shirt is low cut enough) you could bring the breast out the top of the shirt.  This choice usually takes a lot of confidence on the part of the parent chest-feeding as it is typically very clear to all around what you are doing.  There is nothing wrong if this is your chosen way to chest-feed, but unfortunately you may run into times where you need to defend yourself and explain the laws.

Baby Carrier – Another option is baby-wearing. Some parents find it easier when out an about to wear their baby in a carrier or wrap instead of carting around the infant car seat.  Another bonus to that is hands free nursing!!  You can walk around and continue grocery shopping while baby nurses contently in the carrier.  The nice thing is basically no one can tell what baby is doing and again assume they are just sleeping!  This is a great option for the busy on-the-go parent.  The complaint I have heard with this is that you do have to put some thought into what you wear that day as you need to come out the top of your shirt and is difficult to impossible in high collar shirts like tees, turtle necks, hoodies, etc.  You also may need to “loosen” the carrier a little bit to give a little more room for baby to get latched on.

While, of course, chest-feeding in your car is an option, know that you do have other options available to you.

Every parent is different.  Not only in the way that you become a parent, but in you comfort levels and body types.  If you decide chest-feeding is right for you and you want to be able to do it in public these are just some of your options.  Try out different ways to see what works best for you and your baby.  It could vary from day to day and place to place.

My best advice to new parents is practice!  Practice at home in front of a mirror, practice in different places around your house and ask your partner, older children, anyone if they can see anything you don’t want seen.  This will help give you more confidence before you go in public to nurse.

Remember, Gemini Birth Services is here to help answer questions you may have and point to you other helpful resources.