Well, I sure educated a bunch of people on Breastfeeding in Public yesterday. If any of them were the kinds of people who thought women like to breastfeed in public to either flaunt their boobs, be sexy, or get attention from men or whatever, they sure got a reality check! Ha ha!

My baby is 6 weeks old and we were headed to the beach for a quick trip to visit my dad (who hadn’t seen the baby since the day after she was born) and to give my 5 year old daughter a bit of fun and swimming before school starts back on Monday. My husband had to stay home because of work, so it was just us 3 girls.

(Side note: My baby has latching issues so I have to use a Nipple Shield)

So, we had already been driving for about an hour and a half, when DD (dear daughter) asked to stop for lunch. She wanted Taco Bell, which I was good with thinking we could get in and out quickly. Boy, were we wrong!!

First off, they didn’t have changing tables in the bathroom. Baby was still pretty chill as we went into the bathroom, but when the toilet flushed, it was so loud, she began crying. We came out and I found us a seat. I looked for one in a corner or away from other guests, but there were about 16-18 people all perfectly spaced around the room, so it didn’t leave many options. I used the car seat to block the view somewhat from my right, and I sat on the seat twisted to the right, to block the guy two tables over on my left, as I began to nurse a screaming infant. I realized quickly I didn’t have my nipple shield in my small bag that I brought in, so I had to run back to the car to look. Still couldn’t find it, and was worried I may have left it at home! 😬

Went back in and tried to nurse screaming baby, as DD (dear daughter) was trying to be patient but was starving. Our seat was in clear view of the counter (which was empty) so I tried to get DD to go place her order (which she has done dozens of times with me standing next to her) but she wouldn’t. I tried to get the employee’s attention since she was just staring at me and screaming baby, but she didn’t budge. Luckily a stranger came up (another customer/ not employee) and offered to place the order for us. She even came back and walked DD to the fountain to fill her drink cup, and brought the tray to us when the order was ready. (She was an absolute angel!!!)

The baby was still struggling to nurse, and was very unhappy about no nipple shield, but I was using a cover, and trying my best. It was so hot, the cover was sticking to the baby’s head, and everyone was staring. After I got as much milk into the baby as I felt we would, I tried to be sneaky and change the diaper on the seat between me and the car seat. This whole time, I didn’t see judgemental looks from the other customers (thank god!) but I think they genuinely felt like I was trying, but unfortunately it wasn’t going well...

Once DD (dear daughter) was done, she threw away our trash & we got out of there. I found the nipple shield in the car, and nursed the baby more before we got back on the road.

Luckily the rest of our trip was way less exciting. But I think (or HOPE) that all of those people in Taco Bell today, learned a lot, and will be way more receptive to seeing women breastfeed in public after today!!! (If they weren’t already!)

Ha ha!! Hope you guys are having better luck breastfeeding in public than this! 😊🤪