An Embarrassing Breastfeeding in Public Moment

Before I had decided if I was going to breastfeed my daughter or not, I heard a lot of opinions. So many of my friends had good and bad breastfeeding stories, I found it very hard to make up my mind. After much thinking and research, I decided I would try it. I wasn’t thrilled about the idea, since I was not even 21 at the time. But, I had heard how much better breast milk was for the baby and how great of a bond it creates between mother and child.

My main concern was breastfeeding in public or in front of anyone I knew. I was very worried about being inappropriate, making others feel uncomfortable, and accidentally showing anything I didn’t want to show! This was during a time when breastfeeding was not as common as it is today.

I was fortunate enough that I didn’t have to feed my daughter in public for quite a long time. The times I did have to breastfeed in public, it was in a place where I could run into the bathroom or in a hallway.

The one time I didn’t have a place to hide, I experienced the most embarrassing moment. I was at a dance recital, and I couldn’t find a sitter for my daughter. I figured if I did need to feed her, I could sneak into the hallway. When the time came to feed, I quietly left the auditorium and went into the corridor.

Unfortunately, there were twenty teenagers practicing a routine. I realized I had to take care of business right there, because my daughter was screaming by this point. I sat on a bench and covered myself the best I could. The dancers kept watching me, which made it extremely uncomfortable.

But the worst part is my daughter latched on with her new teeth and would not let go! I was in tears, trying desperately not to show my pain to the dancers. It didn’t work. Several girls came up to me asking if I was ok. I had to tell them what was happening, and they all got a tremendous kick out of it! I was devastated, since some of these girls were old classmates of mine.

My daughter did let go eventually, and I walked away while scraping my dignity off the floor! Even though this experience was humiliating, I would recommend breastfeeding. It really does create a unique bond and is a simple reminder of the beauty of life and creation.