Tips On Breastfeeding In Public

How to breastfeed in public, so you may ask. Staying at home after birth and now it’s time for you and the baby to get out and into the world. Here is some tips on breastfeeding in public.

Know Your Rights Before Breastfeeding In Public

Modern day society loves its cleavage and the mainstreaming of porn but the public can easily become riled up by the glimpse of a nursing breast so before you undo your breastfeeding bra, know your rights!

When it comes to nursing in the United States, breastfeeding is not considered indecent exposure. You may freely feed your child and expose your breasts in public places except venues that children or yourself are expressly forbidden. So no nursing your baby in the over 21 nightclub.

If someone dares asks you to leave or to move to a degrading and dirty toilet stall, remind them that it is your right to breastfeed in a public place where you and your baby are legally allowed to be.

Area To Be prepared When Breastfeeding In Public

If this is one of your first outings, bring someone – a friend, your mom, or your significant other – for support and pick familiar places. It is perfectly legal to expose your breasts when nursing your child but if you want to bring a shawl, scarf, or baby blanket to cover you and your child, practice at home before your outing. Babies love to kick off blankets and they want to see what’s happening, too. Wear layered and light clothing along with your easy-to-open-with-one-hand breastfeeding bra. Keep your gear minimal. We know you won’t on your first outing and will probably bring the entire nursery with you, but try to since it will keep the flustering to a low.

Type Of Location

Remember, safety first. No matter where you decide to breastfeed, always pick a location that is safe for you and your baby. There is a vulnerability factor because your focus is usually on your baby and your boob.

The Mall

Benches and places to rest are great places to stop and feed your baby. Just relax and do some people watching. Some malls have designated rooms other than the bathrooms for breastfeeding. Sometimes they are called family rooms or mothers rooms. Look for the universal symbol for breastfeeding as a friendly place to nurse. If you do want some privacy, go to a quiet store and take a couple of items to try on in a dressing room.

The Eatery

Outside cafes, noisy diners, even the food courts are great places to give it a go. These are casual eating venues so if the baby cries or fusses, no one will mind. Remember, you are using up to 500 extra calories a day to make milk so mom’s gotta eat!

The Park

Whether it’s a beach or a playground, the park is a good standard. Watch for bad weather and watch for weirdos. Choose a safe and busy location.

The Car

Parking lots can be dangerous so park near an attendant or near lots of foot traffic. And don’t do a Britney-whenever the car is in motion, the baby must be strapped in their baby seat.

Freestyle

Do like the pros and strap the baby into a carrier or sling and you can feed and grocery shop at the same time. Heaven! Just be careful to not drop baby or accidentally bump baby’s head into anything.

Breastfeeding Videos | 20 Breastfeeding Tips

First time mothers who has or going to give birth to your new born are always thinking about breastfeeding. While there are many questions on breastfeeding from curious mothers like, Should I breastfeed my baby? When should I start breastfeeding my baby… Listen to Rebecca Charlton on breastfeeding tips and answers most of the common questions on breastfeeding. Rebecca Charlton is a lactation educator and specialty lies with feeding infants and young children.

The breastfeeding videos touches on the common breastfeeding questions and tips ask by first time mothers.

• What is “lactation”?
• What’s in breast milk?
• Should I breastfeed my baby?
• When should I start breastfeeding my baby?
• Does breastfeeding hurt?
• What is a lactation educator?
• How can a lactation educator help new mothers?
• How can I find a qualified lactation educator near me?
• What nursing supplies does a new mother need?
• How do I breastfeed my baby correctly?
• My baby has teeth. Can I still breastfeed?
• How do I know if my baby is breastfeeding properly?
• How often should I breast feed my baby?
• How long should a breast feeding session last?
• At what age should I stop breastfeeding a child?
• Is it risky to have someone else breastfeed my baby?
• What is “donor milk”?
• When would my baby need donor milk?
• How do I purchase donor milk?
• How can I include Dad during my baby’s breastfeeding stage?

The transcript of the videos

What is “lactation”?

Lactation is the process of making milk in a woman’s breasts and then feeding that to your baby. You can feed your baby either through pumping and providing it in a bottle or through breastfeeding.

What’s in breast milk?

Breast milk is made of hundreds of different elements. It’s have all the nutrition for your baby needs, its contain living growth factors as well as vitamins, minerals and proteins. In fact breast milk can grow tissue on its own and it can attacks bacteria. Milk for the mothers a remarkable fluid that help the baby grow.

Should I breastfeed my baby?

Every woman should provide breast milk to her baby throughout the first year as much as she can. We’ve discovered with breast milk teaches the gut how to grow and mature. There are other options like formula milk but indeed there’s nothing in this world that can replace breast milk for your baby.

When should I start breastfeeding my baby?

As soon as you deliver your baby, you should ask to have your baby placed on your stomach. Eventually the baby will begin a process of moving towards the breast. You may help to guide your baby so that the baby can have its first breastfeeding within the first five to thirty minutes of life. It’s important for both mother and baby that that breastfeeding gets started. It’s also important for letting your baby know it’s safe and secure. Breast milk provide colostrum which is a protective ingredient in breast milk that will help your baby to avoid illness in the first year.

Does breastfeeding hurt?

Pain is really subjective it really depend on individual mothers, so it’s hard to answer this question in a straightforward way. Actually breastfeeding should never be painful that you recoil from it – the immediate reaction people have to pain. However, a little tenderness is normal as it’s a very sensitive part of your body. If the baby doesn’t latch on correctly, it’s probably going to be like having someone flick your hand. However if it hurts more than that you can take, you may have a problem on breastfeeding your baby the right way. You need to go talk to somebody.

What is a lactation educator?

A lactation educator is someone that just gives information about breastfeeding. They’re not the clinicians. I frequently call them the nurses to the doctors of the clinical consultants for breastfeeding. Actual problems would have to be solved by the “doctors” of breastfeeding who would be the consultants. So lactation educators are there to make sure that people understand what breastfeeding is about and how it gets done in general unless there’s a problem.

How can a lactation educator help new mothers?

A lactation educator could help a new mother by giving her the information she needs before the baby is born. It’s very natural to be stressed and concerned, and thinking that there are a lot of problems that maybe not even exist at that point. So, by having the information beforehand, having talked to a lactation educator, a mother can feel much more confident in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding. If a problem arises after the baby is at the breast or just in the whole process of starting the breastfeeding, then a lactation educator could help a mother find the resources that she needs in the community to solve that problem.

How can I find a qualified lactation educator near me?

Most lactation educators are employed in hospitals or by certain government programs. But more importantly for new mothers would be to find a lactation consultant who can actually help you on your problem. Those people would best be found through your birthing hospital. You’ll probably meet with one soon after the baby is born, or you can call the breastfeeding task force in your area and they would know who all of the educators and consultants are.

What nursing supplies does a new mother need?

The great part about breastfeeding is that evolution has ensured that all the supplies you need are you, your baby and something to put a foot on, whether that be a rock, a cushion, a stool or whatever makes you comfortable. However, we do live in a society where we like lots of material goods and sometimes we feel more comfortable if we feel like we have supplies. The most important things to have on hand are a couple of really good reference books, one of which would be “Medications and Mothers’ Milk (Medications and Mother’s Milk)” so that you know if what you’re taking is safe for your baby and another would be “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding” which is written by the La Leche League and can answer pretty much any question that you have come up. There’s a whole lot of other supplies you’ll find out there – everything from pillows to nursing bras to nursing shirts and different creams. I do recommend you have Lansinoh Cream, which is non-toxic. It can help you with any pain you might experience and also help the baby to latch. Other than that, try the products, go and experiment with them, find what works for you and makes you feel most comfortable with the process.

How do I breastfeed my baby correctly?

There really is no correct way to breastfeed a baby. There are as many different breastfeeding positions as there are wiggles that a baby can do. Your body and the baby’s body will figure out a way to work together. However, if you’re a brand new mother and you have no idea how to go about the process, the very best thing to do is to sit in a chair and get comfortable. Get one leg higher than the other one. Take your baby, just so that you’re planning, and you’re supporting its head and its back, and put it in the cradle hold, which is just a very natural way to hold babies when breastfeeding. If your leg is crossed or up on a stool, the baby’s head is at the perfect level so that it will just naturally find the nipple and latch on. If you’re large breasted, you’re going to have to support yourself a little bit. If you’re small breasted, you may have to guide the baby a little bit. For the most part, once your knee is higher than your navel and the baby’s in a cradle hold, you and the baby are going to be in the proper position for latch and a successful breastfeeding session.

My baby has teeth. Can I still breastfeed?

Of course you definitely can. Babies don’t chew when they breastfeed therefore your baby teeth don’t get involved in breastfeeding at all. The baby’s teeth are far behind where your breast is, as it uses it’s lips to compress and get the milk out. So even once a baby has teeth it’ll curve it’s lips over the actual teeth and not injure the mother at all. If the baby’s biting, it’s because the baby has a shallow latch and you need to pull the baby off with a good firm no, and then let it reattach and it will curl it’s lips under and avoid biting its mother.

How do I know if my baby is breastfeeding properly?

This is probably the most common question that mothers ask. They get so concerned about the fact that they can’t see the transfer of milk from their breast to the baby. The best way to know if your baby is breastfeeding properly is to answer, “Is your baby growing?” If your baby is growing and developing every day then you’re breastfeeding correctly, and there’s no reason to be concerned. However; if you need a little more evidence, the best things to think about would be: “Can you hear the milk transferring through the baby’s throat?”; meaning “Can you hear it swallow?” Babies are not known for being quiet. So, you should be able to hear them make gulping noises as they’re breastfeeding. If you can’t hear that you can look for the little jaw. Babies jaws do a sliding motion back and forth. If their little jaw is making a sliding motion on the underside of your breast; the baby’s getting milk. The next important thing to look at would be: “How many diapers are they making in a day?” If they’re making fewer than six diapers you might want to call your doctor and see if your baby has a fever. Otherwise, if it’s more than six wet diapers and at least a couple of stools; you have a baby who is breastfeeding just fine.

How often should I breast feed my baby?

You should breast feed your baby as often as your baby gets hungry. In the beginning, babies have very, very small stomachs. It’s going to breast feed very often in the beginning, so you want to make sure that you’re providing milk every time that little, tiny stomach gets empty. Most babies have pretty clear signals when they’re hungry. They’re going to bring their little fists up to their face and start licking them, moving their nose, sniffing, looking around pretty intently for their mother. If your baby’s doing that, and you bring it to your chest, and all of a sudden it starts looking for the inside of your shirt, you know your baby’s hungry. As your baby grows, its stomach will grow about in line with the size of its fist. After about six weeks, it’s about this size, so babies will have longer sessions, and less often, because they have more space to fill, and around six months, your baby’s stomach will be up to a bigger size. At that point, you’ll have what’s considered a normal breast feeding session, which is every three to four hours, and the baby will stay on for about thirty minutes.

How long should a breast feeding session last?

A breast feeding session can last anywhere from five minutes to an hour depending on the age and the size of your baby, and at what period in the baby’s life it currently is. It’s development changes very quickly, as you’ll notice. In the beginning, babies are developing a mother’s milk supply, so they tend to stay attached for a very long time. It’s not unusual for a newborn baby to nurse for forty minutes every hour. That’s very frustrating for mothers in the beginning, but it’s nature’s way of making you stop, relax, and watch your baby. As the baby ages, it’ll want to play more than it wants to eat, so breast feeding sessions will become shorter, and have a little space in between them, but it’s really dependent on the baby. You want to leave the baby at the breast as long as you see its little jaw sliding back and forth and it’s telling you that it’s enjoying breast feeding. When the baby comes off, you may want to burp it, let it have a little break, and then offer the other side. If it goes to the other side and kind of wrinkles its nose and pulls off, it’s not hungry anymore. If it attaches and drinks for longer, then it wanted that side. The baby will let its mother know how much it wants to eat.

At what age should I stop breastfeeding a child?

You should continue to breastfeed your child until you and your baby have made a decision to stop breastfeeding. There’s no set age limit. It is recommend and requests that you breastfeed your baby up to at least one year. However at any point during that time it will be between you and your baby if breastfeeding continues to be an important part of the mother-baby dynamic. Breastfeeding is about you and your baby being in synergy and understanding one another. When it comes to a point that it’s no longer the right choice, both you and your baby will know it. If that’s at nine months and you’re ready to transition, or if it’s at 19 months, that’s between mother and baby.

Is it risky to have someone else breastfeed my baby?

In many cultures, it’s common to have more than one person breastfeed a single baby. Historically, this has even been a normal job for women – a career in breastfeeding other people’s babies. As you decide if you are going to let a neighbor breastfeed your baby or if you would like someone else to do it altogether or to hire out, bare in mind that such thinking is not common in our culture and there may even be some ramifications that your doctor might have ideas about. Be aware of the following risks involved in letting someone else breastfeed your baby. Some diseases do pass from breastmilk. You should know for certain that this person does not have Hepatitis B or HIV before you allow them to breastfeed your child. In the same vein, you can request donor milk. This is very expensive. However, donor milk has been pasteurized, purified, and tested for all diseases that could possibly be passed along from breast milk.

What is “donor milk”?

Donor milk is breast milk that has been pumped by another mother and sent to a facility for pasteurization and purification. Donor milk can be purchased and given to another baby, mainly risk-free, and is done in many hospitals, especially among premature infants, who benefit greatly from the use of breast milk.

When would my baby need donor milk?

Donor milk is available for any baby of any mother who wishes to purchase it. However, it’s extremely expensive. The only time you would likely see donor milk used on your baby would be with your permission in a NICU or neonatal facility. The purpose is that donor’s milk allows the baby’s gut to develop more rapidly and can save them from certain infections. Babies who are given donor milk generally do better in a NICU environment as they handle ventilation better and they tend to go home sooner.

How do I purchase donor milk?

If you wanted to purchase donor milk for your baby, you could go to your local birthing hospital and get information about how to go about obtaining breast milk. At this point, there are only a few centers around the country who are collecting donor breast milk. If you happen to be a lactating mother who would like to donate, I guarantee they would like to hear from you if you are willing to give them your breast milk.

How can I include Dad during my baby’s breastfeeding stage?

Dad’s are very important to infant development, but they have a very different role to mothers. Dad shouldn’t feel left out when mom is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is mom’s role, however dads are very important. In the research, it shows that dads play with babies almost fifty percent more than moms do. Dads are involved in teaching babies facial expressions and laughter. Dads should be allowed free reign with the babies when the mother is not playing with or breast feeding them. The reason for this is that dads have a different approach and different strengths. Let dad have lots of time with the baby when it’s off the breast, and use breastfeeding time as special mother and baby time.

Choosing Not To Breastfeeding Your Baby

Choosing not to breastfeeding your baby is more common than you may think. Many factors like poor milk supply, long hours spent at work, inverted or sensitive nipples or prescription medications may make a mother feel as if it is impossible to breastfeed her baby. Other mothers simply know before the birth that they will not breastfeed their baby.

Choosing to formula feed your infant was at one time considered to be a social faux pas. Today’s culture is much more accepting of bottle feeding an infant. Many mothers return to work shortly after the birth of an infant and breastfeeding is simply not conventional in the average workplace. Deciding to formula feed your baby is often a matter of necessity rather than personal choice. Electing to formula feed your infant does not have to be a disadvantageous experience for you or your baby.

Many breastfeeding advocates will argue that breast fed infants receive better nutrition than formula fed babies. With the advances in the ingredients of baby formulas, this is no longer true. Eating a well balanced diet with enough calories to sustain two people is often an arduous task for mothers. Strict dieting, indulging in sweets and any consumption of alcoholic beverages are all prohibited for breastfeeding women. Breast fed infants receive a portion of everything consumed by the mother, making prescription drugs, alcoholic beverages and many over the counter medications off limits. It is also difficult to accurately gauge how much milk a breast fed infant actually consumes. For children with medical conditions that require close monitoring of their intake, bottle feeding is a necessity.

Learning about breastfeeding benefits and drawbacks is often one area that healthcare practitioners focus on heavily during the prenatal period and immediately following the birth of a child. Many breastfeeding advocates support breastfeeding in part because of the bond created between the mother and child during frequent breastfeeding. This same bond can be achieved with bottle feeding by holding the infant during feeding times. Making eye contact, stroking and talking to your infant during feedings can create as strong a bond as breastfeeding. Talk about breastfeeding versus bottle feeding with your OB/GYN or nurse practitioner if you have doubts about your choice to not breastfeed your infant.

Many baby websites offer chat rooms or discussion forums dedicated to the discussion of bottle versus breastfeeding. Baby websites can also be a great source of information about the nutritional, social and emotional aspects of choosing not to breastfeed your baby. Many of the popular baby and parenting magazines now offer a corresponding baby website with additional articles, contests and links to other helpful baby-related websites.

Deciding not to breastfeed your infant does not make you a poor mother. Bottle feeding provides adequate nutrition and bonding opportunities for the whole family. Those who prefer to breastfeed simply have decided that natural feeding is best for their lives. Bottle fed infants fare just as well physically as breast ed babies. Choosing to breastfeed your infant is not mandatory. Mothers now have the opportunity to choose between the bottle and breast without sacrificing the well being of their babies.

When To Stop Breastfeeding Your Baby

Most mothers would say that nursing babies are a picture of tranquility and happiness. Nursing babies portray contentedness and tenderness in a universal language that spans the continents. Mothers fall in love while talking to nursing babies and stoking their soft, fuzzy heads as they suckle and coo themselves to sleep. What happens when that adorable baby transforms into a foot stomping toddler seemingly overnight? A demanding three-year-old who yells to be nursed right now may leave a mother wondering how old is too old to be breast fed.

Choosing to breastfeeding your baby may have been a simple decision but determining when to wean a child can be difficult. When many mothers begin to breastfeeding their babies, they assume that weaning will occur naturally. For some breast fed babies, the transition form the breast to the sippy cup comes with a fight. Nursing babies who have a difficult time adjusting to life away from the breast may be objecting to more than just weaning. Some breast fed babies crave the physical closeness of nursing more than breast milk. Determining if this is true for your child can help make the transition easier for both mother and child. Continuing to hold your child during feedings can help reduce the shock of weaning for a sensitive child.

While the appropriate age to wean a child is not set in stone, it is culturally acceptable in America to nurse a child for the first twelve months. Once solid foods are introduced into the child’s diet and they begin to walk, American customs call for the weaning of the child. Some breastfeeding women choose to extend this period of nursing, sometimes until the child leaves for kindergarten. While many breastfeeding women wean their babies shortly before returning to the workforce, some continue to pump breast milk and bottle feed their babies for several years. The choice really is up to each woman and many choose to ignore social norms. Breastfeeding women can even choose to keep their extended breastfeeding a secret by storing breast milk in the refrigerator disguised as cow’s milk or formula.

When a mother decides the time has come to stop breastfeeding, it can signal the end of a special bonding time between mother and baby. Children can sense anxiety and unhappiness in a parent and may react by acting out during the initial attempts to stop breastfeeding. It is important for a breastfeeding mother to examine her feelings about weaning and come to terms with any unresolved emotions before attempting to stop breastfeeding her baby.

Mothers who choose to formula feed a nursing infant can be in for a fight unless the transition is made slowly. Abruptly springing a formula feed schedule in place of breastfeeding sessions can be traumatic to nursing babies. The bottle should be introduced slowly and be filled with 100% breast milk at first. Formula can be slowly added to subsequent bottles of breast milk until the child is completely weaned from the breast. Gradually substitute a breastfeeding session with a bottle feeding session over a period of several weeks if possible. Once a child is accustomed to the 100% formula feed schedule, the mother should continue to provide physical interaction with the baby during bottle feeding sessions to continue bonding and provide intense social interaction for the child.

Nursing babies can transition smoothly to the bottle or sippy cup if a nursing mother is emotionally prepared to wean her baby. Armed with a few facts, mothers can help nursing babies adjust smoothly to being away from the breast. Not all nursing babies will be pleasant to nurse as they grow to be demanding toddlers. Each woman must decide for herself when her child needs to stop breastfeeding. Before you decide on it, have get right your necessary pregnancy and breastfeeding accessories to support your breastfeeding.

Important of Having Breastfeeding Support

Many new mothers seek out breastfeeding support during the first few weeks of breastfeeding your baby. Getting advice and encouragement and sharing stories can help a new mom feel better about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding support can be obtained from other breastfeeding mothers, lactations consultants and healthcare practitioners. Breastfeeding support can help a struggling mother continue to breastfeeding your baby during feeding difficulties.

Many first time mothers develop sore nipples. This can be an especially difficult time for both baby and mother. Sore nipples can make every breastfeeding session excruciatingly painful for the mother. The resulting stress and anxiety can be sensed by the infant and can cause an infant to be fussy during feedings. Sore nipples can also be a health concern for the mother if the skin is not treated appropriately. Women who experience sore nipples should consult a lactation specialist or experienced breastfeeding mother for suggestions on topical lotions and home remedies to treat sore nipples before the skin becomes cracked and opens the mother up to infection.

Some women experience a sudden decrease in her milk supply. This can cause frustration and discouragement as a mother struggles to continue breastfeeding her baby. Consulting a lactation specialist to help pinpoint the cause of a weak milk supply is often necessary. A mother with a weakened milk supply does not have to give up breastfeeding altogether. She can mix breast milk with formula to ensure that her infant gets the proper nourishment until her milk supply returns to normal.

Lactation consultants are available through local La Leche Leagues as well as most hospitals. Many obstetricians will employ or recommend a few local lactation consultants for mothers who are new to breastfeeding or those who are experiencing problems during feedings. Lactation consultants are specially trained medical personnel who are passionate about breastfeeding. It is important to be honest about your lactation problems and questions in order for the lactation specialist to assist you and your baby properly.

Obtaining breastfeeding support can help reduce the overwhelming feelings of helplessness and isolation that a new mother often experiences. Membership in a breastfeeding support group is a great first step for new mothers who are struggling with breastfeeding and it will clear your doubt on when to stop breastfeeding your baby. Those fortunate mothers who breeze through pregnancy and breastfeeding can offer breastfeeding support to others who may be struggling. Choosing to help others in need provides an enriching experience that can chase away the baby blues.

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