My how times change
I started out my mothering career as a very private nurser. The only person who ever saw me feed Jack was Josh, but that was by my choice. I just didn't feel comfortable nursing in front of other people.
For the first couple of weeks, I took the nursing so seriously that I didn't even do anything else while I was feeding him -- no phone, no TV, no books, no computer. I had read that it was important to use that time to bond with your baby. Look into his eyes, talk to him, let his little fingers grip yours.
What a bunch of crap. I figured out really quickly that babies, they fall asleep when they're nursing. They don't want you to talk to them, they want to eat and sleep. And at 3 a.m., I am not talking to anyone. And once they get a little bit older, you can't look at them for fear they will pop off and get distracted, thus making the feeding session that much more difficult, not to mention longer.
So within a few weeks I was feeding Jack on the boppy while sitting at my desk, typing over his head. I was a working, multi-tasking momma and besides, there's nothing like reading a little celebrity gossip to encourage that letdown now is there?
But for an entire year, if we had guests, I would go into his room to nurse him. If we were visiting family, I would comandeer a bedroom for privacy. If we were out at a restaurant, I would nurse in the bathroom. And let me tell you, I spent a lot of time in bedrooms and bathrooms because that kid ate all the damn time. I got sick of missing out on conversations and hot meals, but I soldiered on.
This time around, with Miss Emmie, I have dropped all pretenses. From the beginning, I have multitasked while feeding her. Hey, I had to; I have a whirling dervish of a toddler. But I have also been known to read, watch TV or surf the Internet with her on the boob. She's asleep, so what does she care? And I might as well use the time wisely.
I have also entered the world of Nursing In Public. That's NIP for all you non-message boarders out there. And you know what, I am having fun with it. Let me share with you places I nursed this weekend: in the car at a gas station, while eating pizza at a restaurant, at my parents' house, at Cosi while eating a salad and at the playground while pushing Jack in a swing. The more I do it, the easier it gets. On vacation I even nursed her at the table at Don and Charlie's restaurant. I figured people there were too busy looking for baseball players to notice the woman at the next table nursing.
Now before you go imagining I am whipping the boob out for everyone to see, I am not that brave. There is always a blanket involved and you can't really even tell what I am doing. You might just think there's a baby sleeping under there. Or that I am wearing a sarong in pink flower print. A really small one. With drool on it.
So I might not have mastered nursing in a sling but I can unclasp a bra, get a baby latched on and keep her there for more than 10 minutes all without looking. Although a good gust of wind at the playground today might have given one of the dads a little more to look at then he bargained for.
For the first couple of weeks, I took the nursing so seriously that I didn't even do anything else while I was feeding him -- no phone, no TV, no books, no computer. I had read that it was important to use that time to bond with your baby. Look into his eyes, talk to him, let his little fingers grip yours.
What a bunch of crap. I figured out really quickly that babies, they fall asleep when they're nursing. They don't want you to talk to them, they want to eat and sleep. And at 3 a.m., I am not talking to anyone. And once they get a little bit older, you can't look at them for fear they will pop off and get distracted, thus making the feeding session that much more difficult, not to mention longer.
So within a few weeks I was feeding Jack on the boppy while sitting at my desk, typing over his head. I was a working, multi-tasking momma and besides, there's nothing like reading a little celebrity gossip to encourage that letdown now is there?
But for an entire year, if we had guests, I would go into his room to nurse him. If we were visiting family, I would comandeer a bedroom for privacy. If we were out at a restaurant, I would nurse in the bathroom. And let me tell you, I spent a lot of time in bedrooms and bathrooms because that kid ate all the damn time. I got sick of missing out on conversations and hot meals, but I soldiered on.
This time around, with Miss Emmie, I have dropped all pretenses. From the beginning, I have multitasked while feeding her. Hey, I had to; I have a whirling dervish of a toddler. But I have also been known to read, watch TV or surf the Internet with her on the boob. She's asleep, so what does she care? And I might as well use the time wisely.
I have also entered the world of Nursing In Public. That's NIP for all you non-message boarders out there. And you know what, I am having fun with it. Let me share with you places I nursed this weekend: in the car at a gas station, while eating pizza at a restaurant, at my parents' house, at Cosi while eating a salad and at the playground while pushing Jack in a swing. The more I do it, the easier it gets. On vacation I even nursed her at the table at Don and Charlie's restaurant. I figured people there were too busy looking for baseball players to notice the woman at the next table nursing.
Now before you go imagining I am whipping the boob out for everyone to see, I am not that brave. There is always a blanket involved and you can't really even tell what I am doing. You might just think there's a baby sleeping under there. Or that I am wearing a sarong in pink flower print. A really small one. With drool on it.
So I might not have mastered nursing in a sling but I can unclasp a bra, get a baby latched on and keep her there for more than 10 minutes all without looking. Although a good gust of wind at the playground today might have given one of the dads a little more to look at then he bargained for.
Labels: Breastfeeding
posted by Amy at
2:45 PM
5 Comments:
I applaud you. Why should you "hide" out in a yucky public bathroom or a bedroom? You're feeding your child for goodness sake! If people stare at you, it's their problem not yours.
good for you!! Ethan was the king of popping off, so anytime I NIP'd, it was a boob-show for all nearby. Awesome.
Did you figure out how to nurse in the hotsling?
Awesome! I was a little more cautious with my firstborn, but I didn't nurse him very long. With my second, I NIP'd practically from day one and everywhere I could. I used a blanket for the first few months, but I quickly got over that too.
NIP is the best... I got so bored sitting in the car. By my third baby I didn't even need a blanket.
Good for you to do it! In SF, it is practically mandatory to NIP. I had a friend say when i had Q and was self-conscious about it, "oh no. You just gotta whip it out. Whip it out." I balked, but eventually I did it life was sooo much easier (although i understand when people aren't comfortable). Good work!
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home