Krisula Moyer

It's funny, My youngest is 3 and still nursing. That brings my total
nursing years to 10 so far <sheepish grin> In all these years of nursing I
can remember only a few times when I noticed someone become uncomfortable.
Most of those instances were when I had a very young infant and someone was
just *waiting* for the baby to want to nurse. They knew it would happen and
were anticipating what should be their response.

I do think that disgust and phrases like "whip it out" are often thinly
veiled hostility and while I'm not all that interested in accomodating
people who would speak to me that way, I certainly don't want my children to
be exposed to this type of hostile response and I also recognize there are
some people who are (sadly) genuinely uncomfortable with the thought of
bresastfeeding in general. These might not say anything.

I learned in LLL that lifting a shirt from the bottom is more discrete than
buttoning down from the top but you'd be surprised how many new moms simply
don't think of this at first. It is obvious if you live in a cold climate
but not here in SoCal.(Also, it's easy to make your own nursing shirt by
layering two light weight shirts of the same color.)

I agree that it's much quicker and more dicrete than a big blanket over the
shoulder. Some other ideas to try: A sun hat, hankerchief, even a book or
newspaper to screen the "contact point" where you might becomeexposed. If
you do use a blanket it's better just over baby and a bit to cover his face
than over both of you whichjust screams"look over here!"

My 3yo likes to nurse standing up while I sit in a chair. I have had entire
conversations with people who had no idea that she was nursing bc I obscured
the view with a jacket or something.

Usually, with my friends and family, I make no special effort to hide our
breast feeding but occasionally, i know there are people with whom I'd
rather not discuss it. Discretion gives me more power to choose when and
with whom I wish to talk about these parenting issues.

There was a time in each of my three kids nursing relationship that they
wanted mor of me - more exposure, posession of "the other side" or lifting,
unbuttoning etc. With each child, all that was neccesary was consistent,
kind, explanation that "mommy wants to be covered up." It may take a few
weeks but by the time they're doing these things they were usually old
enough to understand this.

If you got this far you're likely a nursing mom yourself. Thanks for
putting up with my long ramblings.

sincerely
Krisula

Amy and Cory Nelson

Reminds me of an illustration in this book Accalia received for her first
birthday: Breastmilk Makes My Tummy Yummy
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9163082535/qid%3D1063755196/sr%3D11-1
/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-2304433-3317619

Very cute :)

Amy
Mama to Accalia (6/14/99) and Cole (9/03/02)
"Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better
way will they find?"
--Dr, Samuel Johnson
http://thissideofsomewhere.blogspot.com/


> My 3yo likes to nurse standing up while I sit in a chair. I have had entire
> conversations with people who had no idea that she was nursing bc I obscured
> the view with a jacket or something.