Do you nurse in public? When I first began breastfeeding my son, I was extremely shy about nursing in front of anyone. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to see any more skin than I might want to show someone, whether I was in public or even at home with guests. But after spending the Christmas holidays holed up in the bedroom nursing my newborn rather than enjoying the company of our visiting family members, I realized enough was enough. After all, no one was making me breastfeed my son in private – except me.

A quick survey would have found that our guests would not have been uncomfortable with me nursing in front of them. I was the one who was embarrassed.

Nursing in public can be challenging, especially the first time. But over the past few months I have come up with several tips and tricks for nursing in public.

• Find a secluded spot. If you can, try to find a low traffic site where you can nurse comfortably. This could be a corner booth in a restaurant, a dressing room at the department store, or a park bench.
• Make sure you’re comfortable. There’s nothing worse than hunching over to get baby to latch – and then getting stuck in that position for a half hour or longer. Bring a pillow if you need to, or use a folded up blanket to position yourself and your baby comfortably.
• Make sure others are comfortable. If I’m with a group, I ask if anyone would be uncomfortable with my nursing my son. In most cases, everyone is fine with it, but I think sometimes it doesn’t hurt to ask.
• Don’t over-expose. In the winter, a pashmina scarf around my neck and shoulders helps to keep people from seeing anything I don’t want them to see. In warmer months, I bring with me a receiving blanket that I can drape over my shoulder to shield baby from onlookers. Many online stores also sell special tops or covers to keep you covered during a feeding.
• Practice at home. Nurse your baby in front of a mirror or ask your husband or a friend if they can see more than you would want someone to see of you in public.
• Check the laws. Many states have laws regarding breastfeeding. Check out this link for your local laws. Some states allow breastfeeding in any public place. Some states will even let you get our of jury duty if you are a nursing mom!

Breastfeeding in public can be nerve racking, but with a few preparations you can do so comfortably.

Some time ago I was watching an episode of Judge Judy, and I don’t remember the details, but the lawsuit was sparked because a woman had chosen to breastfeed her baby in public. It seems to me that there will always be people who have strong feelings about this one way or another. Well I think anyone who has a problem with it should try putting themselves in the shoes of a nursing mom. I’m sure no mom actually prefers to have to nurse in front of strangers, but sometimes the situation just doesn’t leave many options.

Adding to the discussion, Angelina Jolie’s cover photo for W magazine seems to show her breastfeeding, and of course there are supporters and detractors. But is it anybodies business really? Now, I wouldn’t allow myself to be photographed breastfeeding, let alone have it splashed across the cover of a magazine, but any woman who chooses to do that should be free to do so.

Take a look at some of the shows on TV, and I’m not talking cable here. Look at some of the images we are exposed to daily. Networks are constantly pushing the envelope as far as it can go, so does the image of a baby nursing really warrant that much attention? Are Jolie and partner Brad Pitt to be blamed for allowing this picture to be published in the first place?

For my part, it’s difficult to see why something as fundamental and important as breastfeeding should cause any kind of controversy. Jane Crouse, spokeswoman for La Leche League International, a breastfeeding support group, had this to say, ‘I think we do need more role models like Angelina Jolie willing to be photographed and say, ‘Hey look, it can be done, it oughta be done.‘ I’m afraid I’m not with her on that one. Do grown women really need role models when it comes to the decision to breastfeed? Is the suggestion here that more women will be inclined to nurse their babies because a celebrity has been photographed doing it?

I don’t think La Leche is giving women enough credit. The decision to breastfeed is a personal one. While we may feel inclined to make assumptions or judgments about a woman who decides not to breastfeed, we should keep in mind that it is a personal decision. Any mother of a young baby should certainly consider the well documented evidence of the advantages of breastfeeding, but ultimately it is a private matter.