Breastfeeding and the Summertime

Unless you are one of the rare few–the bold moms that I so admire–the question of how to balance breastfeeding with summertime activities is bound to enter your mind. Over at Mamapedia, I saw a similar concern posted by a reader.

Concerns like pools and leakage, family bbqs, trips to the park, and going for that morning jog can have many modest moms camped up in their home for the whole season. This is not only completely unnecessary but wasteful! There is no reason to sit this summer out, because the public and breastfeeding are compatible. I promise.

Let’s start with the family bbqs. If you are new to nursing in public this is absolutely perfect. You are breaking your nursing in public seal surrounded by friends and family. Once you are a nursing pro you will look back and feel silly at how awkward you felt feeding your baby outdoors.

If the thought of nursing around people still makes you a little uneasy start smaller. Go in your backyard in the morning, breath in that fresh air, nurse your little one, and listen to the birds sing. I am telling you, that is peace and love baby.

Another popular summertime spot is the public pool. This setting can be downright terrifying, especially for the boob, I mean the noob. There is just not a lot of modesty options when nursing in a bathing suit so start with the above –backyards and bbqs if you have to. One key piece of advice I have–especially at the pool–is people are really not paying attention to you.

I always felt like when I was about to nurse a huge spotlight beamed directly down on me and everybody held their breath and stared, absolutely appalled at what I was about to do. But in reality the insecurity was all mine, nobody around me noticed or cared. So when you are at the pool nurse with pride and if somebody happens to notice all the better. You are helping change our culture for the better (and don’t worry about the leakage, you won’t be swimming around with a streak of milk in your wake I swear).

Nursing in the summertime is beautiful, it is convenient, and it is healthy. You don’t have to carry around formula, bottles, and sterile water. Food is always ready, always the perfect temperature, and always perfectly mixed. And all this with zero clean up required. So enjoy your summer of breastfeeding, I know I will!