My First Time Breastfeeding in Public

When I first started breastfeeding I didn't think I would ever be able to nurse in public.  I needed my boppy, my footrest and my water within arms reach.  I could barely move an inch and the thought of nursing in public was enough to make me want to stay in my apartment for the next two years. 

My very first time breastfeeding in public was at a baseball game, of all places.  Adelaide was four weeks old and there was no getting around it, she needed to be fed.  I was so nervous- how was I going to get her latched, was someone going to see my boob, was someone going to make a negative comment?

I nursed her that day under a blanket, and remember feeling so empowered that I was feeding my daughter.  I was doing it!  She slept the majority of the game, and even got a certificate for her first Mets game.

Since that day, I've nursed at restaurants, on planes, on the beach, in the park, at my office, in a dressing room, on the boardwalk, at the bar, at the mall, at Target, at Costco... you name it, I've nursed there.  Personally, it works best for us to not use a cover.  I wear a nursing tank under my shirt so virtually no skin is exposed.  Most people can't even tell that I'm feeding my child.

And I've never had one person say something negative to me.

My absolute favorite place to nurse in public is at Nordstrom.  They have mother's lounges at every single location with comfy chairs, a changing table, a sink and free wifi.  And little known fact: they will convert any regular bra to a nursing bra for $10!

I also loved that there are private nursing lounges at Camden Yards (and they're air conditioned)!  I would go to the nursing room just to escape the heat!  We love baseball, can you tell?

What about you?  Have you nursed in public?  What's your best nursing in public tip?

Breastfeeding and Jury Duty

 

a few months old

Literally the day I came home from the hospital with my daughter I had a summons in the mail for jury duty.  Insert freak out.  I immediately called and got it delayed as long as I could because I knew I wasn't ready to leave my days old baby.

Fast forward a year and it was my time to serve.  I was pretty nervous about being able to pump- would they tell me tough luck, would they make me pump in the bathroom, would I be allowed breaks at all?

a year later

Some states will allow you to get out of jury duty if you are a breastfeeding mother (check out if your state is one of them here).  New York is not one of those states, so I showed up at the courthouse with my pump in hand, ready to serve my civic duty.

After waiting in line, going through a metal detector and watching a video my name was called to be a potential juror.  I was escorted to the building next door where a judge informed us that we were being interviewed for a 3 month long trial.  THREE MONTHS??  My heart started pounding.  Technically there was nothing preventing me from serving, and I raised my right hand and promised I would be honest during the selection process.

I was brought back into the judge's chambers where about ten different lawyers surrounded me.  The judge said he'd heard every excuse in the book at this point (he'd already met with over 200 jurors) and wanted to know what mine was.  I told him I had none and I was fit to serve.  I just asked that I could have two breaks a day to pump.

He told me that wouldn't be an issue at all, by law I was allowed to pump.  And get this- he even told me by law I was allowed to bring my daughter and breastfeed her in the court room.  How cool is that??

It turns out I wasn't chosen for that case for other reasons, and was sent back across the street to sit in the jury waiting room again.  By this point it was time for my first pump of the day, so I went to the front of the room and asked where I could pump.  I was taken into an office where they let me pump, no issues at all.

Lunch time came, I went outside and got some food and fresh air and resumed my waiting in the juror's area.  I pumped again in the afternoon with no issues.

Honestly, the only bad part was I had forgotten an ice pack and didn't want to dump that precious milk.  So I got creative and bought sodas throughout the day from the vending machine and stuck it in the cooler bag with my milk.  Did an impressive job of keeping my milk chilled!

back home after jury duty with a milk drunk baby

Overall it was easy peasy, and I had worked myself up to think I'd have all kinds of issues.  I actually quite enjoyed my time sitting in the juror's waiting lounge.  I had no one at work expecting me to get back to their emails and I didn't have a little one pulling at my computer plug or trying to snatch my phone.  I feel good that I performed my civic duty even though I wasn't chosen for a case.

See ya next time, jury duty!

Nursing Wear for the Mama on the Go

With NYC fashion week in full swing, I can't help but want to spruce up my own wardrobe.  I suddenly find getting dressed in the mornings so much harder.  I don't want to show my stomach when I nurse in public, so I often wear nursing tanks under my clothes.  I've compiled a few of my go-to looks that not only look great, but make nursing easy.

jacket // nursing top // jeans // shoes

I wore a bit of H&M Maternity while pregnant and was excited to see they made nursing tanks, bras and shirts as well.  This double layer nursing top is a great place to start an outfit for a day around town with baby.

 

jacket // top // skirt // booties

Let's be honest, date night has taken on a new meaning.  For me it's always rushing through dinner because the baby is fussy, or trying to get home in time for a bedtime nursing session (if we were lucky enough to get a baby sitter)!  I've found that the dresses in my closet have stayed in my closet, and I've been favoring skirts and blouses instead.  There's no easy way to nurse in a dress unless it has a low neckline.  This blouse is perfect for nursing- the buttons go low enough that you could unbutton it to nurse, or simply lift it up.

 necklace // pants // top // heels

Work seems like the only place I can break out my statement necklaces these days for fear of having them tugged and broken by my little one.  I often choose blouses like this one over a button down because it's much easier to pull over my head for a pumping session.  Add in some great shoes and necklace and no one will ever know you were up all night with a teething baby!

What are some of your staple pieces for nursing your little one?  Tell me about it!

Working Mamas Must Have Pumping Supplies

When I returned to work I had a few ounces of milk in the freezer and a whole lot of determination to continue feeding my daughter breastmilk.  My first day back to work I sat in my office's lactation room, hooked up to the pump, and cried.  It was so easy for me to just put my baby to the breast.  She preferred the breast!  She hated bottles!  So I cried.

I've been back at work a few months and so much has changed since that first day.  I actually look forward to my pumping sessions.  They're a few minutes for me to escape my busy day and watch videos of my babe, or catch up on social media, and sometimes even do some online shopping!  I've compiled my must have lists for what to have within arms reach while you're pumping, as well as useful things to keep at your desk to make life a little easier.

 

1. Kindle or iPad/tablet- I keep my iPad Mini within reach at all pumping sessions.  Whether to catch up on Facebook or to watch a video on Netflix.  I powered through the first two seasons of Scandal in a few days thanks to my iPad and pumping sessions.  I would find myself thinking, "I can't wait to pump again so I can watch Scandal!"

2. Phone- Again, something to keep you entertained while hooked up to the machine.  Send some texts, look at photos and videos of the baby, check out Instagram. 

3. Water bottle (with straw!)- While I'm pumping I find that I am so thirsty, so I always make sure my tumbler with ice cold water is within arm's reach.  It's so important for a breastfeeding mama to keep hydrated, so a cup close by is a must have.

4. Hands free pumping bra- I love this Simple Wishes nursing bra, but I know people who cut holes into a sports bra and that works just as well. 

5. Photo and videos of baby- Milk letdowns are based on hormones, so if you're stressed you won't produce as much milk as if you're relaxed.  An easy and awesome way to pump up those milk producing hormones while pumping is to look at photos and videos of your little one.  I love watching videos of my daughter on repeat while I pump!

1. Medela Quick Clean Sanitizing Bags- Before I had these quick clean bags, I would bring home my pump parts each night and boil them.  Now when I finish my last pump of the day I just throw them in the bag with some water and microwave.  I even keep a mini bottle rack in one of my cabinets at my desk to dry my parts!  I've heard great things about these Medela Sanitizing Wipes as well.
2. Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags- These are personal preference, but I've been really happy with them.  I lay them down when I freeze them and they freeze flat.  I keep a permanent marker at my desk that I label them with the date.
3. Cooler bag and ice packs- You could really use a lunch box or anything you have on hand, but I love this insulated bottle bag.  I keep my pump parts and milk in it, in the fridge, and then sanitize the pump once at the end of the day.  It would be a major time suck to sanitize the pump parts after each session, so just keep them refrigerated and sanitize once at the end of the day.  If you have a shared fridge at work no one will know what's really in it!  I throw the insulated bag into my work bag at the end of the day with my milk and an ice pack.
4. Replacement Membranes- It's important to replace your pump membranes every few weeks.  If you aren't getting great suction out of your pump, try changing the membranes.  I've noticed significantly better output with fresh membranes!

What are your must have pumping items?  I'd love to know!

A Bad Latch

I did so much to prepare for the birth of my daughter.  Twenty four hours of Bradley classes (spread over eight Saturday nights), pain management practices, book after book.  During my time educating myself I read up on breastfeeding and even practiced with a doll at my classes. 

After basically the most awesome natural birth ever I brought my baby to my chest and she latched on with ease.  I grew this baby for nine months, I birthed her and of course I could feed her.  We spent the next twenty four hours wrapped in each others embrace in my hospital bed.  New York City hospitals are pro-breastfeeding and keep formula out of sight, but no one ever asked if I wanted to see a lactation consultant or got close enough to see her latch.  And I was too prideful to ask them.

Toward the end of my baby's first week of life I was in so much pain I declared breastfeeding harder than giving birth naturally.  And I meant that.  My nipples were cracked and bleeding and I was crying along with my baby.  Finally, late that Saturday night I called my Bradley teacher in tears.  I remember so clearly that she told me, "It's okay not to love every second of this."  She helped me find a lactation consultant who came over the next morning and not two seconds into her visit she diagnosed Adelaide as having a bad latch and showed me how to get her to latch correctly.

She also suggested I soak and rinse my nipples in warm salt water which helped tremendously in healing.  

That afternoon I put on my shoes and my coat, put my baby in the sling and walked proudly outside to meet my husband and in-laws who were picking up lunch.  My nipples still hurt like hell, but I knew from then on out that I could do it.

It's been just over nine months since my daughter was born.  I don't think there's any feeling in the world like knowing you made this tiny little human and your body alone is sustaining all of her needs. 

Now if only teaching her not to bite me with her shiny new teeth was as easy as teaching her to latch correctly.