Tuesday, June 12, 2012

On A Plane! On A Train! In the Dark! With A Shark!

We recently went to Sea World with the kids' grandparents and it made for some interesting breastfeeding experiences, to say the least! There wasn't time to pump, so I had to feed the baby wherever I could. With all of the breastfeeding buzz going on thanks to Time magazine's cover a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but laugh while I sat there in the dark corner of the shark exhibit, feeding my baby under a blanket. I'm "Mom enough"* to feed my baby with sharks ... but not without a cover-up! So funny.

Some other locations included the airplane, the airport, a curb next to Shamu stadium, and by the hotel pool. Onlookers were either oblivious or polite, which I appreciated--I never heard a negative remark. At one point I had to feed her on a stairwell and an older gentleman saw me and could tell I was a little embarrassed (I know, I shouldn't be, but I'm just that way anyway). He gave me the sweetest smile and nod and said in a sweet frail voice, "Precious baby you have there, sweetie."It was so kind of him to acknowledge me without making me feel awkward. I always use a cover-up, but the baby feet sticking out always give me away, too.

So, I have to know, where is the craziest place you've ever nursed your baby? Are you out there with it or do you prefer a cover-up?

Have a lovely day, friends!



*FYI--To avoid any confusion, I need to go ahead and assert that I don't believe that being "Mom enough" has anything to do with anything more than doing what's best for your kids and your family. Breastfeeding or bottle feeding, co-sleeping or crib-sleeping, to each your own. Let's drink to that with a Venti Caramel Mocha, shall we?

8 comments:

  1. Weirdest place was on the gun of a retired tank Imperial WAr Musuem. It was the only place I could find to sit, but it would have made for a funny picture!

    The most awkward though was when E was about 4 months old and just the two of us were flying from the UK back home. I had an aisle seat so I was careful to cover with a blanket. I started nursing her when we took off and then woke up FOUR hours later to find that I had fallen asleep, E had kicked the blanket off and there I was, in the asile, completely exposed for everyone that walked by! Pretty embarrassing really :) the joys of breast feeding

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  2. Go, you, for nursing on the go! I think the strangest places I've ever nursed include in the middle of an antique store, the toilet at Silver Dollar City, and in just about every parking lot known to man. ;)

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  3. Nursing in church is awkward for me! Also nursing at a major league ball game in my seat and at my friends wedding reception at a small hall and I forgot my cover and my daughter was only 2 weeks old and was still figuring stuff out.

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  4. I have nursed sitting on a public toilet ...gross! I will nursey anywhere using my nursing cover in public... planes, restraunts, walking around the zoo :) etc.

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  5. I second the "every parking lot known to man"! Probably the weirest place was at the cemetery where they were having a burial service for Taylor's grandma. It was HOT outside, I had the window down, and when it was over, pretty much every attendee walked right by my open car window.

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  6. I never figured pumping out, so I had to nurse everywhere - in a car in a parking lot, church, parks, etc. The weirdest experience was probably at a wedding reception, so I was dressed up, but my dress wasn't too nursing friendly.. It had a zipper on the side, so I had to unzip it, and nurse - with a cover, so no one saw anything - but it was still kind of weird to sit there totally unzipped.

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  7. I've been at the fabric store twice and found myself in a sticky situation. Once one the floor in the back corner (which just so happened to be directly under a video camera - oops!)and one time on one of those stair ladders "for employees only". That time I was a bit cramped! I never have been able to use a cover, although I have perfected using my shirt as a cover just fine. Nobody sees a thing!

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  8. Disney World. Hope was 10 weeks old. Thank God there were some sweet European nursing moms to lend support!

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