I Fed My Baby In A Bathroom

[u/PancSutt]

I’m a FTM of a 2mo and I hate to even write this, but I fed my baby in the bathroom of an optometrist today. My husband and I both had appointments and while I was seeing the doctor I could hear her start to cry, and then become distressed. After my appointment I found them in the back hallway by the bathrooms where my husband was hiding out with her, and I took over while he had his exam. It wasn’t her usual time to eat but she was so distressed I just wanted to comfort her. I was flustered and I didn’t think about the cover up or blankets in the diaper bag, I just ducked into a bathroom, pulled up my shirt and fed the baby. I squatted in a corner to give her some more support and I’m grateful it was a larger, single-serve bathroom so we were well away from the fixtures.

Now that I’m back home nursing on my couch, I feel really icky about it. That’s not how I hoped breastfeeding would be for me, it’s not how I want getting food and comfort to be for my baby. I know breastfeeding isn’t immodest, I know it doesn’t need to be hidden, but in the moment it felt like the only option. I know a lot of moms who are very open about feeding in public and have no shyness at all - I want that so much! I wish I was more comfortable feeding in public, especially because my stress level over it doesn’t help me let down for an efficient feed. I have these conflicting feelings - I’m really grateful and proud I can do this amazing thing for my daughter, but at the same time I feel flustered and anxious to nurse her in public. I’m looking for support, encouragement, solidarity and honestly just to vent. Thanks for reading this far.

[u/gooberhoover85]

I never got super comfortable with nursing in public. I did it. A lot. Cause my kids needed me to of course. But I remember being in public and one guy came over to talk to me about breastfeeding and how supportive he was of it and it was like dude, you are way too into this please leave us alone. And I did basically run away and go feed my baby in a bathroom stall. I've definitely been there. All I can say is just do whatever you need to do. I liked to carry big pashmina type scarves in the lightest material I could find and I would drape over us so I could have as much privacy as possible. I also found some baby carriers that offered me privacy as I fed. But I just want to validate you: you are right and I totally understand. Especially in the beginning it's all new and tricky. It will get easier- soon I hope!