Nursing Etiquette

We had a wonderful dinner last night with friends.  They welcomed us into their home and lovingly made us egg rolls and fried rice that were de-lic-ious.  Yum.  I ate two full servings.  I don't joke about food people - it's serious business.  There's none of this "leaving food on the plate" either.  I lick mine clean.  *Slurp*.  Have I mentioned that my favorite part about nursing (my apologies, man readers) is being able to eat all the food I want?  I eat.  And eat.  And eat.  It's pretty much the most awesome thing ever.

SPEAKING OF NURSING...

Men:  Beware.  You are about to enter somewhere you don't want to go.

(This is Georgia's "Beware!" face)

I've thought about doing this post for awhile, but was hesitate, as I wanted to make sure I could handle it in a politically correct manner.  Then, I just decided to give up and write it anyway.

One of the hardest things I have had to learn as a new mom is when it is okay to nurse in a public place and when it's not.  I've asked me Mum several times "Do you think anyone would be offended if I nursed while we are there?"  It's awkward, to say the least.  I mean, some people are offended and shocked when you nurse in public, even if you do it very modestly.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not pullin' the feminist kind of nursing where I'll-nurse-where-and-when-I-want-while-not-covering-up-and-make-you-very-uncomfortable.  I'm polite about it.  I cover it all up.  I seclude myself, as much as possible.  But there are some times when it is absolutely impossible to avoid - the babe gets hungry!

Other Mom's understand.  They don't mind.  We actually have quite the little nursing-moms club at church.  It's a happenin' place, man.

But sometimes the situation can get more difficult.

For example:
Our church's Christmas Feast.  200 people.  Big open room.  No side rooms.  No secluded areas.  It was 2 degrees outside, so the car wasn't an option.  I thought to myself, "Self:  Just cover up and nurse quietly at your table".  We were sitting along the back and to the side, so I didn't think it would be a big deal.  I could put my back up against the wall and no one would be the wiser.  Except for the only other person sitting at our table.  A young, single guy.  He isn't married and doesn't have any children (ie: has not become immune to the imagine of a nursing wife), so I fear that it might make him a wee-bit uncomfortable to have such things going on in his zone.  I have one other option: a bathroom stall.

Have you ever nursed while sitting in a bathroom stall on a toilet with no seat? 

I am a stronger woman for having survived that.  It wasn't pretty.

But one must also adapt and learn to nurse anywhere.  Church nurseries.  Libraries.  Friends houses.  Parents houses.  Church feasts.  Parking lots.  Bathroom stalls.  Random people's bedrooms.  Work.  Hair salons.  It's all fair game for the baby - they don't consider how much nursing in a particular situation will make the mother unbelievable uncomfortable.  And once I get uncomfortable, I get nervous, and then I start to sweat and it's a downward, embarrassing, spiral that we shall not address any further.

Or, for another example, going to dinner at another couple's home who have a child.  Georgia gets hungry, so I go to the couch and feed her (covered up completely, of course).  I figure that the other husband has seen his wife do it a thousand times, he knows the drill.  The other wife knows the drill.  Stuart knows the drill.  I know the drill.  We have all been acclimated to the ever-present task of getting a hungry baby full.  Easy-schmeasy.

One must consider their company carefully as one does not want to offend.  But who draws this line?  How do we know?  Do you just have to hope that when you nurse in public someone doesn't take offense, throw a shoe at you, and tell you to go burn your bra?

Is there an etiquette book on this that I just happened to miss out on?

Lord willing, we will have more children to raise on our homestead.  So I know this whole nursing-thing will be around for years to come and I am grateful that the Lord has blessed us with it!  It truly is a gift from God to be able to nurse my babe, whether that be privately in my bedroom or in the middle of a dinner party.

I suppose as long as it is handled with respect and thoughtful consideration, no one can hate on a Mom and her baby...right? 

Please do not throw shoes at me if you see me nursing in public.

The end.