Should I wear a special shirt made for breastfeeding moms?  Where would I sit?  Would people stare?  In the beginning of my motherhood adventure, public breastfeeding seemed complicated and impossible.

Now, breastfeeding is no big deal. I simply cover baby with a blanket, pull up my shirt (and any old shirt will do) and discretely put baby to breast. I’ll admit that I did enjoy my “Hooter Hider” before we accidently left it at a park, but I wouldn’t tell any new mother that she had to have lots of fancy equipment, clothing, or prearranged locations to nurse her infant.

breastfeeding in publicI’ve breastfed in pizza parlors, grocery store aisles, dressing rooms, airports, buses, my car, restaurants, friends’ houses, and while walking through the zoo toting my babe in her Ergo carrier. I once breastfed her in church during silent meditation in the hopes of quieting her for a few moments.  It backfired, resulting in lots of loud slurping sounds which echoed through the room–causing smiles to appear on several faces.

Still, when I get even the remote sense that I am making others uncomfortable, I’m amazed by how many people are completely clueless about what I’m doing. One of my former middle school male students once chatted with me for twenty minutes while I fed my daughter in a cafe. I’m sure he would have been mortified if he had any idea of what was going on under her blanket.

If you’re on the bring of bearing your child, don’t waste any of your precious time worrying about how to breastfeed in public.  It truly is easy and you’ll get lots of practice on a regular basis thanks to your child’s appetite for milk.  Get out there and give breastfeeding on the go a chance!

Where is the most bizarre place you’ve ever breastfed your child? Help support those moms who are just getting started with their breastfeeding adventures!