3. Wear something comfy 

Your comfort matters too, so wear something that could make you feel at ease with your body. Don’t feel pressured to buy nursing wear—just pull something from your closet that suits you comfortably and gives way for uncomplicated nursing. 

For one, a button-down shirt can do the trick. You can unbutton it from below to cover your breast or unbutton it from the top if you may want to cover up your tummy. Other options are loose shirts, or stretchy tops and a cardigan.

You could also try using the 2-shirt nursing method: just wear a tank top under a blouse or t-shirt. Then, when it’s breastfeeding time, simply pull up your top shirt and pull down your bottom shirt just below your breasts. Not a lot of skin will be exposed here, and your nursing baby will also help cover your breast.

4. Practice at home

I get it, okay? The discomfort, the worry that you’re showing too much skin, the concern about what people are thinking as your baby sucks your breasts in public.

But you wouldn’t want to let your baby go hungry, right? So, my advice is that you let your discomfort push you to practice.

A good start is to try nursing indoors while wearing your chosen outfit for breastfeeding outdoors. This will help you know your groove, so you can easily pull it off once you’re in public.

You could also try on different nursing outfits and see for yourself which ones look and feel right—and which ones make you look and feel great.

5. Try using a sling or wrap

Feeding on the go? Slings are your breast-friend.

Using slings or wraps lets you respond quickly to your baby’s feeding cues while giving your body enough coverage. Imagine: skin-to-skin contact that still gives you the privacy you need!

And hey, don’t be discouraged if you don’t know how to use slings or wraps yet. There are how-to guides out there for you, and I promise that practice will make progress! Once you get the hang of it, you’d be surprised that you can breastfeed even while walking and with one (or two!) hand free.

6. Find breastfeeding spots in advance

Nothing beats a prepared momma. Finding last-minute feeding-friendly spots can be stressful, so plan and research your destination.

Do they have baby-feeding rooms or lounges? Do they have changing rooms or seats where you can comfortably sit? 

Most malls and department stores have dedicated spaces for breastfeeding. You can even ask fellow mommas in your community about their experiences breastfeeding in public within your area. 

And if your state or country laws protect you when breastfeeding in public, remember that it’s your right to do it unbothered.

7. Be boobie confident  

No matter the shape and size of your boobies, you should stand proud in doing your momma mission of nurturing your baby. Our bodies are designed to sustain and give life, and that should give you more than enough reason to feel empowered in your own body. 

Of course, I don’t mean that you should just pop your boobies out to breastfeed anywhere. Like I said, most places have designated rooms or corners for breastfeeding. So do check on that as well.

8. Talk to your employer about nursing rooms 

Did you know that the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) includes provisions for breastfeeding moms? If not, well, you’d be glad to know that it does!

Among other things, the FLSA requires employers to:

• allow a reasonable break time for an employee who’s a mother to express breast milk for her child
• provide a private and intrusion-free area (other than the bathroom) where the employee can express breast milk

If your workplace already has these in place, then that’s awesome! If not, then it might be best to communicate with your employer. You could also share some implementation guidance to give them a bit of help in complying with the law. 

Having this federal law in place is a big help for working moms. Having your workplace set up what is legally mandated isn’t just beneficial for you. These things will help you focus on your job better, which will bring positive results for the company.

You should know, however, that not all states have a lot of equivalent policies. A report by the Pregnancy Accommodation Working Group of the Center for WorkLife Law tried to pinpoint the states with the most and least number of protective laws, and this is what the report showed:

Screenshot taken from the “Discrimination Against Breastfeeding Workers” Report by the Center for WorkLife Law

9. Prepare your response

Sad to say, but not everyone is duly educated about breastfeeding. Some people out there will tell reasons why they disapprove of breastfeeding in public, which could affect your confidence if you don’t prepare for them in advance.

This is why it’s really helpful that you’re aware of your legal rights and that you have your well-informed spiel ready.

It would also help if you get at least a few insights on the different attitudes surrounding breastfeeding in public—it’s a good start to learning how to properly respond to them without losing your cool.

For example, if someone from an establishment tells you to breastfeed in the washroom, politely respond: “Thank you, but no human deserves to eat in the washroom.”

Normalize breastfeeding in public! 

It’s okay to feel uncomfortable, awkward, or even embarrassed about having to breastfeed in public. Your feelings are valid. But breastfeeding shouldn’t be a shameful act—instead, it should be something that every momma should be proud of doing.

A lot of moms say that seeing other moms breastfeed their babies in public gives them the confidence to follow suit. Isn’t that inspiring?

And who knows? With the tips mentioned in this guide, you might just become another momma’s source of inspiration for persevering in breastfeeding and providing your baby with the best nourishment possible.

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This mom-powering piece is curated by multiple contributors: Lian Delos Reyes, founder & CEO of Milksta, and research & content specialists Nicole Saldaña and Rose Jane dela Cruz.