My thoughts and feelings have changed and grown regarding breastfeeding since I began this journey with my baby. We are now at 8 months going strong and counting. My breastfeeding goal is for at least 1 year and to go with baby-lead weaning. I’ve had great success with babywearing and co-sleeping as tools for bonding and picking up on breastfeeding cues. I feel confident in discreetly nursing in public now because of a baby carrier. One of my first NIP (that’s Nursing In Public) experiences was nerve-wracking but overall success. When my baby was almost 3 months old we went on our first grocery shopping trip just the two of us. I had just recently figured out how to use a Moby wrap as a means of carrying or wearing my baby. As soon as we walked into the store with the shopping cart she began to bob her head and route around. I guess I didn’t feed her right before we left the house. I decided to put this wrap carrier to the test and attempt nursing while wearing her and shopping
I quickly scurried into the restroom to figure out how to position her while looking in a mirror to see if I could make it look not so obvious, got a good latch, then off we went into the brightly-lit supermarket. I was so afraid someone might realize what I was doing and have something to say about it. I had heard stories of people being harassed for feeding their babies and I was not that confident yet to endure any criticism. I was avoiding eye contact with people as we passed in hopes that they wouldn’t look or notice. Nobody said a word and in fact, a few women who saw me nodded at me approvingly and with silent applause encouraged me to do what I had to do while going on with my everyday activities. I left that day feeling like I could do anything.