5 Tips For Confidently Breastfeeding In Public.

I remember the first time I got my boobs out in public. John was a few weeks old & in preparation for venturing out more & facing the first public breastfeed, I headed to Mothercare to invest in a proper nursing bra. I came away empty handed. Why? Well, you know when they say your boobs may leak when you hear your baby cry? What they don't tell you is that it isn't just your baby - its any baby! So as I was trying on nursing bras in Mothercare - John sleeping soundly in his buggy beside me - a baby somewhere in the massive shop starting whining. Milk everywhere! I was so mortified & overwhelmed that I basically dropped said nursing bras in the changing room & ran home (where I may have had a wee cry - thanks, post-pregnancy hormones!). Not a great confidence boost for biting the bullet and breastfeeding in public!

I did however start breastfeeding in public not long after. It is a daunting thought - getting your boobs out in the public eye but rest assured it's not as scary a you first think. The biggest thing is to get that first feed out the way and after that you'll feel like an expert! So to help get you started, here's my top 5 tips to get your breastfeeding in public with confidence.

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1. Know your rights. First & foremost, when it comes to breastfeeding in public, the law is in your favour. As it stands, it's a breech in the Equality Act under sexual discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably for breastfeeding. Of course, we've all heard of that one woman who was asked to leave such-&-such business because she was breastfeeding but that is by no means the norm. What you need to remember is that the reason we hear about this is because it's so uncommon & also against the law. So keep in mind, if people don't like your breastfeeding, there's actually nothing they can do about it.

2. Practice at baby groups. Despite knowing you're allowed to breastfeed in public, some women still lack confidence. I found the best way to tackle my nerves & build my confidence was to first practice breastfeeding alongside like-minded women. The ideal place is a Mum & Baby group as not only can you share advice & experience, you can also offer moral support. The first time I breastfed in public was alongside another breastfeeding Mum - safety in numbers, they say! Of course, nothing bad is going to happen but it can be reassuring to know you're not alone.

3. Ditch the cover. I'm not a fan. At all. Don't get me wrong, I get the point of them but I can't help but feel the use of breastfeeding covers is completely contradictory. Firstly, they're not subtle at all. In fact, people are more likely to look at you and a) wonder why you're wearing a giant bib & b) stare long enough to realise what you're doing anyway, so hence defeating the purpose. Instead, embrace your breastfeeding! Be proud of what you're doing for your wee one. And rest assured that you've done your own wee bit in normalising breastfeeding as opposed to reinforcing public opinions that it's something to be hidden by covering you & your wee one up.

4. People notice crying babies. Generally, people are wrapped up in their own little worlds. It's only when something distracts them from their world that they take note & form their opinions. And where a contented baby snuggled into the boob is unlikely to drawn someone's eye away from their daily business, you can be sure that a screaming baby certainly will. In my experience (& other mothers I speak to) it seems that you're more likely to be judged for having a unhappy baby on your hands than you are for breastfeeding one - simply because people notice! So don't hold off feeding your hungry little one - you're both just going to end up upset & flustered - do the deed & get on with your day.

5. Have your comebacks at the ready. Confidence is key. I truly believe that like in all aspects of life, people don't mess with the strong the ones, just the weak. However that being said, we all have off-days; the days when we've been up all night, have sick in our hair & realise we haven't changed our breastpads in a acceptable number of days - you can guarantee this will be the day you're confronted by some small-minded busy-body who is unaware of the law. This is where comebacks are your friend! If Breastfeeding Offends You has a fantastic, extensive list of breastfeeding comebacks that are worth having a read & remember. My favourites being, "If you are offended by me doing this, then you are looking too closely", "If my breastfeeding offends you, I will be happy to ask your waiter to bring you your food in the restroom" and of course, "If breastfeeding offends you, put a blanket over YOUR head!"

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See what these other lovely ladies have to say in the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt.

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And have a look at Blazing Needles who have kindly donated a Boobie Beanie (perfect for making a statement whilst breastfeeding in public!) to the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt.