Musings on Milk 'to go'

Having a baby certainly opens up a whole new world, with many topics and issues that I never really thought about before Bronwen came into our life.

One of them is breastfeeding, and more specifically, breastfeeding in public.

I am the type of person who really doesn't like to be cooped up inside the house. I enjoy being home, and puttering around the house, but I like to get out at least once every day. Even if the weather is awful- which, it often is here in St. John's! (as a side note, it's sunny today- so I am enjoying that- blue skies are always welcome even if it's still bitterly cold out! I'm trying not to be jealous of the warmth in the rest of the country).

Anyway, my need for activities means that I had to get comfortable with breastfeeding Bronwen outside of our house pretty quickly. The very first time I did so was when she was 5 days old. Brian and I were waiting in Shoppers Drug Mart to pick up a prescription. We had a hungry baby. And had to stick around for at least 25 minutes to wait for the prescription. It seemed silly to go home and then come back. So, I saw down in the chairs by the pharmacy, clumsily fumbled under a blanket to get all the parts in order, and fed Bronwen. It was probably pretty obvious that I was breastfeeding her, given that there was a brightly patterned receiving blanket draped over my front and two very small feet sticking out the one side of it. Still, I don't think anyone really noticed. Or did they? Maybe they were starting at me... but I was too tired to really care.

I have read a lot of comments from people online, in forums and groups, blogs and other writings, that breastfeeding in public is still very controversial. This can be quite dependent on where you live in Canada. For example, the Atlantic provinces have the lowest breastfeeding rates. An interesting publication by Statistics Canada shows that Newfoundland has the very lowest breastfeeding initiation rate (as in, starting right from day 1 in the hospital), at 63% (compared to 93% in BC!). This is shocking considering that most of the problems with breastfeeding lie in keeping with it, not the first few days in the hospital. (those numbers are from 2003, so maybe things have changed...). At 6 months, only 9% of mothers were exclusively breastfeeding in Newfoundland, compared to the highest rate 28% in BC. Still only just over a quarter. Interesting, considering that the WHO (World Health Organization) recommends continuing breastfeeding until age 2 or beyond. (that's something else to think about... personally I can't picture breastfeeding a 2 year old in public. That's more likely to be a bedtime thing or something)..

If you look in the news, breastfeeding is there too. For example, this recent article about an Edmonton politician/mother, and more about the same story here. Even celebrities cause people to take notice when they nurse babies in public (good for them, I say!).

But, back to the feeding in public- so far, I have not had any negative experiences. No one has come up to me and asked me to stop, or to cover up Bronwen. Mind you, there's not really much to cover up. I can get her latched on pretty much under my shirt, and then her body covers my belly and her head covers most of my chest. It's just the one side, anyway.
I can see how things would be more difficult if your 'equipment' was larger, however. In my case, everything is pretty compact, so it is easier to be discreet. This means that I have a portable milk bar that is fast and convenient.
And maybe, when she is older and bigger and more obvious, I will attract more attention. We'll see.

Interesting to note is the fact that I have never, since Bronwen was born at least, seen anyone else nursing in a public place. Where are all the breastfeeding mamas with little babies? Are they trapped in their houses? Or maybe, they just don't stand out because really, nursing in public is not that big of a deal. Maybe I haven't noticed them tucked away in the corners. (and I wasn't really looking before it was something I was doing myself).

There is a lot to write about this topic. What about the question of exposed breasts to nurse a baby vs all the sexual images all over the place?  Or the way formula companies subtly discourage breastfeeding? Or the guilt that moms feel if they are having trouble breastfeeding?

 Have you ever seen anyone breastfeeding in public? I'm curious.