Adventures in breastfeeding

I'm sure I'll write that title a lot as my blog gets under way, especially since feeding your child by breast is hard and trying to have a bit of decorum in public makes it even harder.

Yesterday, I was feeling a bit stir crazy in the house, and I needed a new nursing bra, so off to the mall I took my little Munchie. He slept and slept until I was wandering around Talbots wondering if I would ever again wear clothes that weren't cheap cotton shirts able to withstand my son's battle with reflux. Munchie started to stir then the stirring turned to grunts then my little 12 pounder let out lots and lots of pooping farts. Ah, the sight of ladies' heads swiveling over the racks to look in my direction, and of course, they couldn't see the stroller just my head. We left quickly, and I began the debate of changing him at the mall or driving the 15 minutes home. I decided to change him, so to Macy's we went. He had had a complete blow out -- diaper, onesie, pants, car seat, socks all of it. During the changing he started to cry, par for the course when I have to take his clothes off, but the echo of his cries off all the tile really frightened him and the crying turned to an ear piercing wail made worse by the echo. Finally he was clean and he wanted to do what Munchie does best -- MUNCH.

When he wants to eat it has to be right at that second. There is no distracting him, no putting him off for even 1 minute. Luckily for me the women's bathroom had a lounge. Granted the white leather and chrome couch had seen better days decades earlier. It didn't matter. It was exactly what we needed. I could care for my hungry son and not have to put a blanket over his head. Obviously, I'm all for breastfeeding and I plan to do it for the full year. However, I find that people in the US stare or sneak peaks at a breastfeeding mom. Breasts are so taboo that people don't know what to do as a woman uses them as nature intended in public. So yes, I cover up his head when I breastfeed in public. But there in the lounge I felt safe. Thank you Macy's!!!!

Anyways, we finished up and continued our shopping. He gives great clothing advice for a 2 month old. He gave me a huge smile when I tried on a green top in what used to be my size pre-Munchie, but I think he just liked the way his food source was popping it out. Someday I'll be a medium again.