Breastfeeding in public - share your tips

There is nothing quite like the first time you decide (or need) to feed your baby in public. Whether it's in a shopping mall or restaurant or park, there suddenly seem to be eyes everywhere. Your breasts take on a life of their own, you don't have enough hands and before you know it, everything you have kept private until now is on display for the world to see.


Don't worry. It gets easier with practice. There are plenty of tips on the www.lactivist.net but here are just a few to get you going:

1. Practice in front of a mirror. You’ll be surprised at how little actually shows.
2. If you feel self conscious, sit at a corner table and wear a poncho or pashmina so you don’t feel too exposed.  
3. To boost your confidence, make sure you’ve got the hang of it before venturing out in public.
4. Go along to a breastfeeding group to get practice feeding in public while in a welcoming environment with plenty of other people doing the same thing.
5. Take a friend – ideally someone else who is breastfeeding - for moral support.
6. Put your bag on the table in front of you to shield you if you want more privacy.
7. Invest in a good nursing top and wear it when you know you’re going to have to feed out and about.

The next question is where to feed? You still hear stories about nursing mums being asked to leave various shops or restaurants or being steered towards the toilets to feed their babies, so it's not surprising new mums are a bit anxious about where to feed.

The good news is that it is increasingly common now for retailers and shopping centres to support mums by being 'breastfeeding friendly'. The best Breastfeeding Friendly places are designed to make breastfeeding as easy as possible; with comfortable seating, magazines, water, and a positive attitude to breastfeeding.  

Mamas & Papas, ASDA, Mothercare and IKEA are just some of the many places supporting the campaign. And indoor shopping centres are great as most will have dedicated Baby Care rooms with baby changing and seating so you can feed in private.

On those days when the weather is fine, you can often find somewhere secluded to feed your baby in most parks and gardens.  And, if you have older children with you, it means they can play and you can still watch them while you feed.


There are even cafes now designed with mums in mind.  If you speak to your local NCT group, breastfeeding support group or even midwife or health visitor they should be able to let you know the best places locally that welcome breastfeeding mums.


If you know of any great breastfeeding friendly places, please let us know about them and don't forget to share your tips on how to breastfeed in public with confidence. And if you're interested, blogger Nurture with Soul is organising a flash mob in London during Breastfeeding Awareness Week, encouraging as many mums as possible to breastfeed out in public. You can read all about it here.

Breastfeeding: Routine or Demand Feeding?

In the lead up to National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (19 - 26 June), we're examining some of the breastfeeding issues that affect new mums. And today we're looking at the sometimes contentious issue of whether to feed your baby on demand or to a set routine.

One of the challenges with breastfeeding is that unlike a bottle, you can't be 100% sure of how much your baby has had to eat. Inexperienced mums might worry whether their baby is still hungry, if the baby is putting on enough weight and whether their baby crying means that they're hungry - or if it's something else entirely.

Take heart - we’re all unsure initially and especially if it’s your first, knowing how often and how much your baby needs to eat is difficult. It's even more difficult when there are two opposing schools of thought - routine feeding or on demand. Let's take a look at both:

Feeding on demand simply means feeding your baby whenever he signals that he's hungry — usually by squirming around and sucking on his hands and eventually crying. It works on the principle that your baby knows instinctively when she needs to feed and will take the amount she needs, no more no less.

As a result, during the early weeks you may feel like you’re feeding your baby constantly, especially if you’re feeding every couple of hours, which is not uncommon. Keep in mind that young babies have tiny stomachs — about the size of a walnut. Milk quickly fills their little stomach and is absorbed, so it's no wonder they need to eat again relatively soon.

If your baby seems hungry soon after eating, go ahead and feed him again. Keep in mind, too, that babies are just hungrier on some days than on other days, which often precedes a growth spurt.

Feeding on demand works well so long as you are able to determine when your baby is actually hungry and not tired, needs a nappy change or is bored. If this is the case, it can be easy to automatically feed your baby whenever she cries thinking she is hungry, but it won’t take you long to get to know your baby’s wants and needs. Most babies will be happy to settle into a feeding rhythm of around 3-4 hourly by 2-3 months of age.

The second school of thought is to have a routine with set times for feed, sleep, bath and play (depending on baby’s age) and regardless of whether they cry to be fed. Some mums will follow the routine rigidly and wake the baby up for a feed if they were asleep. We think: take a view and do what’s right for you.

This method can work especially well for babies that may not show obvious signs to be fed and very young babies who don't yet have the strength to wake up and demand to be fed. Sometimes a premature, jaundiced, or sick baby is too small and sleepy to cry, conserving energy for growth and recovery instead. If your baby's hunger cues are slight or non-existent, be sure to wake him at least every three to four hours and encourage him to feed.

If you’re a mother of multiples this method often works best and can be a great way to maintain some order at a time that is full of change and uncertainty. Routines are often used to improve sleep patterns too – another bonus!

So, routine or demand feeding?
There is no right answer. The right answer is what works for you and what works for your baby. Often a combination of both demand feeding and routine can work well - try to stick to a routine, but be flexible with it to accommodate your baby's needs on any given day.

It depends on you, your baby and your family dynamics. All that matters is that your baby is healthy, happy and thriving. Oh, and give yourself a pat on the back for giving your baby the best start in life by breastfeeding in the first place!

Don't forget to check out our range of nursing bras if you are breastfeeding. At least having a comfortable, supportive bra will be one less thing for you to worry about!

The Let Down Reflex

The sensation of the let-down reflex takes some getting used to.  It usually occurs just before you’re due to give a feed, if your baby is crying or sometimes even if someone else’s baby is crying!  But what is it?  Well, your breasts will feel full and create a throbbing, tingly sensation.   

After a few weeks you’ll absolutely get used to it.  Some mums have even reported knowing that their baby will wake up as the let-down reflex kicks in a minute or so before their baby wakes fully.  Just thinking about feeding your baby can trigger the let-down reflex. Some mums find that their breasts can leak when this happens. Our tip:  Invest in breast pads to prevent any embarrassing accidents!  We have a great starter kit that includes bra extenders, washable nursing pads, nursing band (so you don't forget which side to feed) and a laundry bag.

It is important to listen to your body and the physical indicator that the let-down reflex provides. Ensure you’re relaxed and calm as more milk will ‘let-down’ if you’re relaxed. If you’re tense or upset, only the front or fore milk will come out and your baby will be dissatisfied. A hungry, crying baby is never good for anyone’s nerves!  So, take five to get set up and get comfy.  Pour a glass of water, plump the cushions and have your phone and TV remote to hand.  You know you’re going to be nursing for at least 15 minutes – so use it as time to sit down, relax and catch up on Loose Women!

The Science Bit

The let-down reflex, also known as the milk ejection reflex, is set off by the hormone, oxytocin. It stimulates the muscle cells in your breasts to squeeze out milk. . It’s also the hormone that makes you feel love and calm which is handy given you produce more milk when calm.

 

In the first few days the oxytocin hormone also prompts the uterus to contract back to its pre-pregnancy size so you may feel stomach cramps as you feed. The more children you have had, the more likely you will be to feel the uterus contract.

The good news is once you stop breast-feeding the sensation disappears, and you never know you might be someone that never even feels it in the first place.

Breastfeeding Celebrations!

All of June we will be celebrating breastfeeding as it’s national breastfeeding awareness month later (see this post for details http://emma-jane-maternity.blogspot.com/2011/05/help-us-keep-breastfeeding-awareness.html)

In the news

We do like a bit of publicity. So here's our latest:

Our maternity swimsuit (style 952) was featured in the July issue of Practical Parenting in the swimsuit round up. If you haven't grabbed one yet for summer, get one now! While Everyday Maternity, one of our retailers, is listed in this article, we do have several others too who stock the swimsuit. Check out our list of retailers on our website.

 

And our Nursing Top (style 826) was included in the maternity & nursing round up in Lingerie Buyer. Because the print if very small, we'll tell you what it says:

"To help new mums stay cool in warm summer weather, Emma-Jane has released a multi-purpose nursing top made from ultra soft bamboo, which is fast-drying and has natural anti-bacterial properties. Bamboo also offers natural UV protection and moisture-wicking capabilities to draw moisture away from the skin, helping to keep the wearer cool......"

So if you're heading off somewhere hot this summer, make sure you grab a stash of these.

Don't forget to come and say hi to us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@emmajanebras).

One born every minute

If you missed this TV series – where have you been?  If you’re an expectant mum you’ll either be devouring every minute of this great series on Channel 4 which shows real women going through labour and giving birth or you’ll be avoiding it like the plague, put off and scared by what you’re seeing.

Either way, you’re going to have to go through it…but we guarantee once you’ve had your baby you’ll want to devour each and every episode as much as we do.  It’s emotional, funny, heart-warming and most of all amazing to be allowed to watch the wonder of new life being brought into this world.  Pass the tissues!

So for those middle of the night feeds when there's nothing to watch…click here to get the series on demand.

Remember, you can follow us on twitter (@emmajanebras) or Like us on Facebook to get all our regular updates on pregnancy, breastfeeding and being a mum!

Help us keep Breastfeeding Awareness Week alive

Breastfeeding Awareness Week takes place between 19 - 26 June 2011. But there's a snag. The Government has cut all funding for this initiative. Read about it here. You add this to the cuts to SureStart centres where many mums get breastfeeding advice and support, and you have to wonder where mums will turn to for support.

The Government says that "support and information is currently available to health professionals and parents via NHS Choices, the National Breastfeeding Helpline, UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative and the peer support programmes."

But is that enough? We don't think so and want to help.

So here's what you can do:

1. Sign the petition run by the Lactivist to encourage the Government to bring this initiative back.

2. Join the Bring Back Breastfeeding Awareness group on Facebook.

3. If you're a blogger, please write a blog post about breastfeeding and send it to us by 17 June (send all entries to melissa@peekaboocoms.co.uk). We will host a blog carnival on this blog featuring all the posts. They can be about your experiences with breastfeeding, some tips or advice, your own thoughts on the government cuts, or suggestions for mums wanting to breastfeed about where they can get help from. Whatever you like - as long as it is about breastfeeding.

4. Throughout June, we will be posting articles on our blog giving information, tips and advice about breastfeeding. So if you're a breastfeeding mum or plan on breastfeeding, please pop by and take a look.

5. If you're a blogger and would like to run a competition on  your blog to raise awareness of Breastfeeding Awareness Week and need a prize, we have a limited number of nursing bras we can give away as prizes. Please contact us on the email address given above to make arrangements.

6. If you are holding any kind of breastfeeding awareness event, please let us know about it either by emailing us or posting a comment below. We will tweet about it, mention it on this blog and put it up on our Facebook page. So please let us know what what you're doing.

Join us in keeping Breastfeeding Awareness Week alive!