Content Map Terms

Getting Comfortable With Breastfeeding in Public

 

Image
baby feeding at mother's breast

 

 

More and more women are breastfeeding in public these days, but if you’re just starting out, you might be uncomfortable.


That’s understandable. It’s tough to learning a new skill when people are watching. And many women are embarrassed by the thought of exposing their breast.  There are lots of ways around these concerns. Here are some ideas to consider:

  • Breastfeeding is normal – breasts exist for feeding babies.
  • Breastfeeding can be performed discreetly. Try it sitting in front of a mirror. See how little breast actually shows when you breastfeed.
  • Some mothers will place a cover, such as a light receiving blanket, over their baby while they latch on, removing the cover once the baby is latched.
  • When enough mothers breastfeed in public it will become so common, no one will notice.
  • If someone has a problem with breastfeeding, it is their problem, not yours or your baby’s.
  • In British Columbia, all mothers have the legal right to breastfeed in any public area. Asking a mother who is breastfeeding her child to move or cover up is illegal. 

Resources & Links:

Successful Breastfeeding

VIDEO: Admission to Postpartum - Keeping Your Baby Skin-to-Skin

VIDEO: Baby's Feeding Cues and Behaviours

VIDEO: Breastfeeding Positions

VIDEO: Hand Expressing Milk

VIDEO: Latching Your Baby

Last Updated: