The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
After my son was born, the one thing that caused me the most anxiety was the idea of NIP (for the uninitiated: nursing in public). The "lactvist" posters on the nursing moms message board just couldn't understand why someone might not be comfortable whipping it out in the middle of the food court.
It took some time, but I did find some bay area public places that understood my need to feed — but in private. Here are some of my picks. (If you know more, leave a comment below.)
Westfield Shoppingtown Citrus Park: It has a carpeted play area for toddlers and several curtained rooms with easy chairs, as well as ultra-convenient diaper changing stations with wipe warmers and eye-catching mobiles for the babes. The nursing rooms even have electrical outlets so if can score some alone time, you can go in there and pump away. This is the best!
Westfield Shoppingtown Brandon: This mall also has similar nursing rooms and changing stations but not the adjacent play area. Still a good deal though.
Nordstrom women's lounge at International Plaza: The first and second floor women's restrooms each have a lounge, but the second floor is worth the elevator trip. It has a separate room nicely decorated, with a couch, coffee table and two comfy chairs.
Motherhood Maternity: They don't have nursing rooms but they are nursing friendly, which, duh, isn't surprising since they sell clothes to PREGNANT women. One store let me use a fitting room for nursing and diaper duty.
The Florida Aquarium: I never knew about it or I might have had some fun out there during maternity leave. My mom friends tell me it's nothing fancy but does have an all-important lock. And we know, for those of us who don't like to show off any of the goods, it's good to have some privacy.
Babies "R'' Us: Each store has a mother's room with a couch or comfy chair and a changing table. The Wesley Chapel store is connected to Toys 'R' Us so you can shop both stores and have access to the mother's room. The shopping center also includes Bed Bath and Beyond, Ulta cosmetics store, Michaels, Dick's Sporting Goods and Best Buy so you can shop 'til you drop or until you have to drop blou again.
Busch Gardens: You may not be able to take Junior on the Montu, but you can take him to one of two nursing areas — one in Desert Grill and the other in the Land of Dragons. Restrooms there have chairs. Not private enough? You can also use the first aid stations, sit on a bed and pull the curtain.
La Leche League meetings: The only other people there are also baring it so you're in good company. It's also a good place to make friends and get support. And they will help if you're trying to get up the guts to NIP. To find your local group's meeting schedule, or get help with breast-feeding, visit www.lllusa.org.
YMCAs: The New Tampa branch offered to let me use its chapel. Check your branch to see if there's a similar deal.
Lisa Buie can be reached at buie@sptimes.com or (813) 909-4604.
[Last modified: Nov 18, 2008 02:26 PM]
Comments on this article
by we're all differnet
Jul 10, 2008 10:54 AM
Some moms can pump easily, some take >1 hr to pump 2 oz. Some can NIP discretely, some moms need to see to latch. There's no "1 size fits all" answer. It's good to have privacy when needed. Some moms practice in a mirror before NIP.
by laura
Jul 10, 2008 10:29 AM
Why would you even write this article to perpetuate the myth that it is OK to feel uncomfortable breastfeeding your child? I have nursed my daughter while walking around Al Lopez park, fully whipped out. Lisa, you are part of your own problem!
by It's MRS MM
Jul 9, 2008 10:35 AM
It wasn't too stressful for me! We all have our own style and what works best for us!You can "whip" your's out i'll use a bottle in public!
by Lara
Jul 9, 2008 9:51 AM
BF-ing is no big deal. Its the few who think it's cool to WHIP IT OUT in public that make a big deal about it. Be Discrete. No need to ever sit in a bathroom - would you eat there? Any store will let you relax in private in a try-on room. Ask.
by BTDT
Jul 8, 2008 9:45 PM
A sling comes in handy too. I've nursed everywhere and never had to whip anything out.
by been there
Jul 8, 2008 5:44 PM
Have you ever been in the nursing room at the FL Aquarium? It doubles as a diaper changing area and it's so small, once you close the door and settle in to nurse, you are trapped for the next 30 min. with the stench of poopy diapers in the trashcan.
by to Miss MM
Jul 8, 2008 5:44 PM
MM, it can be quite stressful to try and pump enough milk out in between feedings, and then while you're bottle feeding, your full breasts must be emptied, so you either nurse or have to pump again. Not so easy for most moms.
by QHAmom
Jul 8, 2008 5:44 PM
ugh . . . I wish people would stop saying "whip it out". Many of us NIP so discretely, no one even notices. They do not need to be whipped or even out. A loose t-shirt works well.
by TampaMom
Jul 8, 2008 5:38 PM
But the point, MM is that all that pumping, freezing and carting a bottle around is a LOT more trouble, not easier as you were saying. This is the very reason I think bfing is easier, no bottles to wash and you always have food with you
by MBA
Jul 8, 2008 5:17 PM
Why not just breastfeed? It seems a lot less stressful and less of a hassle than carrying bottles around all day, making sure they stay clean, and looking for a place to heat it. I breastfeed everywhere and most of the time, nobody even knows !!
by MM
Jul 8, 2008 1:38 PM
You can freeze it. Then when you go out keep it in a proper container put it in a bottle when the baby wants it. Milk that's warmed will not harm your child as long as it's not been sitting out not in a proper container for safe keeping!
by Carmen
Jul 8, 2008 1:37 PM
I'm glad that nursing mothers have a private place. I have figured out how to "snuggle up" my kid to my barely open shirt to nurse. It's a matter of shifting your idea of how to get the boob to the kid's mouth. You don't have to "whip it out".
by TampaMom
Jul 7, 2008 5:10 PM
There's no such thing as "just pumping," You have to hook yourself up to a breast pump (in between regular feedings?) and express the milk, then you would need to keep it cold while shopping and then somehow warm it up? Much easier whip it out.
by MM
Jul 7, 2008 5:00 PM
Why not just pump the milk and give it to your baby in bottle form while in public? Seems less stressful this way...
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