Hi everyone,

Breast-feeding seems to be a very sensitive issue on many points, so I hope I won't offend anyone here.

I've tried to bring up this issue with my family and friends and they all look at me like I'm nuts, so I basically want to know if any of you have experienced this.

I'm 21 and pregnant for the first time, I feel very positive about everything (including the birth), but I absolutely dread the notion of breast-feeding.

Just for the record, I am not one of those creeps who thinks breast-feeding is unnatural and how dare women do it in public, etc. At all. I'm not a judgmental person. And I know how important it is for my baby's health, which is definitely why I'm going to do it even though I dread it.

My issue is that I am extremely modest about my body. The only people who ever see me unclothed are my husband and doctors. Not even my best girlfriends or my mom. I've always been that way and I foresee no change in myself once I give birth.

It's not body issues per se. I don't feel embarrassed about my doctors seeing me and being naked with my husband is natural and fine. But other people - especially strangers? I've seen some photos on the breastfeeding pics page, and I think they're beautiful, but for example there's no way - not in a million years - I could bring myself to take a photo of my breasts with a baby sucking on them, let alone post it. And when people who know I'm pregnant say well-intentioned but teasing things about breastfeeding, I feel so embarrassed and always blush. I don't want people to know I'll be breastfeeding, let alone see me.

So part of the reason I dread it is I guess I feel so strongly embarrassed that I'll be staying home for six straight months, because I'd die if milk even leaked through my shirt.

The dumbest thing about all of this is that I was raised to view breastfeeding as beautiful and natural, which I do. And also - even worse - I'm a medical student!

Any advice for me?

EDIT: also of importance, and perhaps the stupidest thing of all - I even feel embarrassed about my baby looking at my breasts.

Sorry no advice but didnt want to read and run.

Hopefully some of the other mums who BF may be able to give you some words of wisdom to make you feel better!!

You can express milk into a bottle for when you're out, so that you don't have to breastfeed in public.

You can also alter feeds between breast and formula, so you don't have to exclusivly feed breast milk.

Also, you can wear breast pads so that you don't leak through. They are very discreet, and in fact I wear them now as you may have some leaks during the pregnancy.

Have you talked to your MW about your concerns?

I think it is normal for a young woman to have embarrassed feelings towards breastfeeding... I don't know what to say hough, because I have always been set on breastfeeding... I don't breastfeed in public often, and I usually just go into the family washroom to breastfeed. I have breastfed once in our car in the mall parking lot while I waited for OH to get done paying bills, but if your main issue is other people not seeing your breasts, it can still be done!!

i am not speaking from experience but I think once you start breast feeding that when it comes time to feed your little one in public you will just do it and not think of what you are doing.. once the baby cries you will do ANYTHING to soothe your child. You will become more comfortable with the idea after you have started....

I felt like this before having Caitlyn. I wanted to bottle feed because of it. However, after going through labour and numerous people seeing my watsit all I wanted to do was nurse my baby! I wanted her on my breast and I didn't care who was watching!!

Don't feel bad and don't worry about what other people think. Who cares? If you want to bf in private then do it with confidence! If you aren't comfortable with popping out a boob and posting it on Facebook then that's fine. There's no reason for anyone to make you feel bad about that.

Personally unless something in my personality drastically changes I won't be breastfeeding. I too am very private and the whole idea is too invasive for me. I don't care what peoples opinions of that are, but I'm like that with all of my life choices- from homebirth, to homeschooling, to everything else I do or plan to do- I don't care how people see it.

Do what you feel comfortable with. Maybe you'll get over it and maybe you won't. Everyone is different and there is nothing wrong with that.

Well the nice thing is love, you have total control over who sees what. I promise you don't have to get all your breast out to feed, especally in public. I have found that wearing a tank top under my tops is the best solution. I just pull the top shirt up and the top of the tank down, and it is enough for nipple access and no one can see anything else.

As for leaking in public, this doesn't happen to every one, I am not a leaker at all. Even when my son is nursing, and pulls off, I only drip. So you could be the same way.

You can also get a nurseing cover like this:

http://www.gerard-lin.com/lin/wp-con...oter-hider.gif

It will cover you and the baby.

There are loads of ways to keep your modesty and still nurse. But like Wife said, you gotta do what you are comfortable with. Good luck hun.

Same here, I really don't care who sees me... When I have my best friends over I don't want to leave the room, so both of them have seen my breasts likely while I have fed her... After giving birth I just don't think much could make me feel uncomfortable!!

At the end of the day sweetie its your body and you should never feel pressured into doing anything you dont want to. Sure you can express for public and feed in private and thats great but you know whats also great? Ejoying your baby and being a mum and if breast feeding really fills you with so much dread and will increase anxiety about being a mum then dont do it. Plenty of babies are perfect without breast milk, some parents cant do it at all due to health reasons, some just chose not to and so long as your baby gets fed, it really doesnt matter a huge deal. Ive seen so many ladies with PND because they have felt such pressure to BF and in my HO Id rather a happy mummy than a depressed mummy as no matter how you feed your baby, its ultimately your love for them that makes them thrive.

Good luck! xx

(NB: Im not anti breast feeding, did BF my son but if shes that scared of it....)