Breastfeeders who pump and give a bottle when out?

I've done it a few times, but generally for my convenience and not for
risk of offending someone. For example, on airplanes, so I can keep
the kiddo strapped in. DD would fall asleep nursing and wake up when I
strapped her back into the car seat, so it was either give her a bottle
or risk her waking up. That said, if she preferred it from me, she
got it from me.

Also, I used to do it before long car trips so we didn't need to stop.
However when DD was 13 months old, we had to evacuate for hurricane
rita and were on the road for 2 weeks, during which time I figured out
how to nurse without undoing either of our seatbelts. Lots of bending
and stretching on my part, but saved us some hassle. And a wonderful
way to get a fussy kiddo to sleep. Now that DS is here, I've found
it's even easier when they're rear facing.

We've also used to do it when DD was in the baby bjorn for a long time
we were out and about. Never figured out how to nurse in one of those
things, and never got around to getting a sling.

Of course, I've been blessed with an excessive supply of milk, so I
never mind wasting a bit.

JJ

"cjra" wrote in message
oups.com...

lucy-lu wrote:
But to me, expressing to go out is ok. A lot of people aren't
comfortable
NIP, and I can understand that - BFing should never be uncomfortable
emotionally,and if it is, find an alternative.

Oh, I probably used a poor choice of words. It seemed silly to me to
suggest one *should* do it to appease others, since it's basically
taking away all the convenience of BF. But honestly if one *chooses* to
do so because it makes them happy, that's great. Does that make sense?
I was just surprised that so many make that choice, not that it's a bad
choice.

I agree that in theory it may sound a bit of a mad idea, but sometimes it
really is the easier/more comfortable option.

Also, when you're in a mad
shopping.hurry, and trying to feed a newborn who fusses/messes about for
ages, it really isn't always practical (I know that might sound bad, but
let's face it, we all have those times when we wish they'd have just
waited
an extra 10 minutes until we'd finished queueing in the
supermarket!).When I
was first having BF issues, I expressed for the majority of feeds as it
was
easier than struggling with a baby who didn't want to feed properly
every
ten minutes, in public. I was embarrassed, stressed and uncomfortable.
With
a 4oz bottle, I could do a quick dash round the supermarket etc, get her
home and try BFing again.

Ah yes, there are times when I wish she'd take a bottle so I could do
that, but I'm sure even if she did I'd never get around to preparing it
to bring along. I've learned to nurse in the sling, and so far that's
working, but we'll see as she gets older. She's already getting
distracted.

I'm lucky in the respect that Jessie sleeps from 9pm til 7am, so when I wake
up, my boobs are really full. What she doesn't want can easily go in a
bottle, and I can express a couple of 5 ounce bottles really quickly. I
don't use a pump, just apply a bit of pressure, and they're done.

As for offending people, I can understand that too - yeah, boobs are
convenient, and I'm all in favour of being able to NIP, *but* I also
realise
there are a few situations, like me at church, where I don't feel it
appropriate. There are a lot of elderly people there, and I respect that
they were brought up at a time where NIP wasn't done, and so they don't
like
it. That's fair enough, and I don't want them and me to feel uncomfy -
therefore I express just before I go, meaning my boobs don't feel
overfull.

Are you sure they care? I'm not trying to say you should feel
comfortable NIP there, just wondering how likely it is that 'elderly'
people are offended. I ask because my parents would be considered
elderly (70yo+), and they're the sort ot applaud it. Heck, when I was
first struggling to BF in the NICU, my dad was there cheering me on.
And, IME, most people of their generation (family and their friends)
are the same. I've found that those who tend to give funny looks and
are obviously uncomfortable are the younger crowd.

Oh, I'll happily BF in front of my 60+ mum etc, but I don't know she'd be
comfy with someone that she didn't know well doing it in front of her. It's
not her fault, just how she is I guess. DIfferent people like different
things, and watching people BF just makes some people uncomfy. Putting them
in that position makes me uncomfortable therefore we have bottles

"Anne Rogers" wrote in message
...

"lucy-lu" I do, but only in certain situations. I go to church every
Sunday, and I
don't feel comfortable breastfeeding her there. ABout 45 mins into the
service, she kicks off for food, and I want to to be able to soothe her
quickly, and still be able to concentrate, so I express a bottle that
has
too much in for her so that I don't run out. I don't mind dumping a
couple
of ounces if I do too much.

so how do you think Mary fed Jesus?

Yeah, but she didn't feed Him in my church Seriously tho, we've still got
the legacy of the Victorian's with their strange table leg coverings to deal
with. Some people just aren't comfy at the mere thought of women "getting
their boobs out". I respect that, and I also want to be able to soothe
Jessie quickly before she kicks off during a quiet period. My bottle sat
next to me is quicker and quieter than trying to discreetly get a boob out
with a screaming baby in the other arm, and people looking to see if she's
ok.

sorry, I think not feeding in church is intolerance from the congregation,
just like anyone else, if they have a problem with it, they should get
over
it, and to be honest in a church, even more so, aren't they supposed to be
welcoming to all? Had it been a case of not breastfeeding in church, I
would
rarely if ever go to church, it just happens that one of Ada's regularish
feeding times still falls within church time, she only took a bottle for a
week.

I agree with you in theory, but I go to a very traditional church, and I
think I'm probably the only regular under 50. If there were other young
mums, I might reconsider. Also, because of the trouble my real father caused
there, I am gossip enough without BFing there.

At the moment I'm on a drive to convert church mums to the possibility of
feeding past age 1, there is a very strong culture of breastfeeding to age
1, but many people do feed past that age, they just don't tell others
about
it and feel if they do, they have to make an excuse, so it's boobs out for
me!

I intend to feed past one, but she'll still have a bottle at church!

Anne

lucy-lu wrote:
"cjra" wrote in message


Are you sure they care? I'm not trying to say you should feel
comfortable NIP there, just wondering how likely it is that 'elderly'
people are offended. I ask because my parents would be considered
elderly (70yo+), and they're the sort ot applaud it. Heck, when I was
first struggling to BF in the NICU, my dad was there cheering me on.
And, IME, most people of their generation (family and their friends)
are the same. I've found that those who tend to give funny looks and
are obviously uncomfortable are the younger crowd.

Oh, I'll happily BF in front of my 60+ mum etc, but I don't know she'd be
comfy with someone that she didn't know well doing it in front of her. It's
not her fault, just how she is I guess. DIfferent people like different
things, and watching people BF just makes some people uncomfy. Putting them
in that position makes me uncomfortable therefore we have bottles

I should clarify, that they're not bothered by anyone doing it, they DO
applaud it when others do. not that they seek out BF'ing moms, but both
of them have commented that it's good to see moms BF'ing. I think their
generation and older it was still the norm to BF, tho by the time my
mom started having kids in the mid-50s, FF was already being pushed
-she BF'd all 8 of us, but only for a few months. She says she envies
those women who BF much longer and encourages them when she sees them
in public.

I was in the drugstore the other day when DD definitely needed to eat.
We were walking so the car wasn't available. I took a chair out of the
way, used a blanket as much as possible to not fully expose myself (she
does the latch on latch off thing) but it was too hot and moved her to
the breast just as this 80ish yo man walked by. He said very happily
"looks like she needs to eat! Eat up little one!" or something like
that, it was very sweet as I *was* feeling a bit bad for basically
flashing him.

cjra wrote:
Is there anyone here who does this?

*Raises hand*

Honestly, I -don't- NIP. I breastfed DD until she was a year old, and
I probably NIP'd 3 times, each time when I was wearing a poncho or
something to fully cover baby, and still put a blanket on top of that.
DS is 3 months old and I have not NIP'd once and don't plan to.

I can't exactly articulate why I don't, or rather, won't. I am never
offended by others who do (though in this area, I think I've only seen
a couple women do it, and they were covered) and don't really concern
myself with whether others would be offended. However, I am protective
of my bare breasts -- I don't care so much about strangers seeing them,
but I would never want to have a friend or co-worker see them. Also, I
am afraid that in this area of the country, legal or not, I could end
up being charged with indecent exposure and having to fight that
battle. I'd win, obviously, (NIP is clearly exempt from the indecent
exposure statute) but not without a good amount of media exposure,
which I don't want.

Anyway, I guess I've never found it to be that bad. I BF in the car, a
restroom, a fitting room, or a nursing room when we're out and about,
and if there are no such outlets, I carry a bottle. I don't think that
makes me a *bad* breastfeeding mom -- it's just what I've chosen to do.

-Carlye
DS 6-2-06
DD 9-29-04

cjra wrote:
Is there anyone here who does this?

I just wonder how common it is. On another board, someone had suggested
to avoid offending people by NIP, they pump and give a bottle when
they're out. Of course I said this was ludicrous, heck, one of the joys
of BF is that my boobs are portable and always ready! But I was shocked
by the number of people who said this is what they do.

Ive never done it and wouldnt to much hard work. I have never been able
to express anyway.me and my baby are fine with feeding out.I understand
y some people do it I found it hard to start wiv and a few people i go
out with still do 10 months later but its up to them