Official Breast Feeding Support Thread for WDW Parks

[SoonerSarah]

I have never been to Disney, but I have traveled a lot, nursed in a lot of public situations, mainly with teens around because DH is a Youth Minister. If we make it to Disney, I will have nursed in 10 different states.

So here's a few of my ideas...we live in Texas...

I don't use nursing covers really. Don't like them, too hot, I think they draw more attention. I'm also very plus size and very busty. I buy shirts that are longer and more like an A line shirt, ones that are stretchy and loose fitting around the waist. Almost all of the time, this is more than enough for me to pull up over my breast and still keep all of my skin covered up (breast and flabby belly). I'm able to BFed without a cover while still being respectful and modest.

If there is a shirt that does show a bit more belly skin, you can always lay a burp rag against your belly underneath your breast, most people don't sit there and stare to see what exactly the material is, so unless it's patterned, they likely won't notice it. This also works very, very well for hot days. The fabric soaks up any dripped milk or sweat that comes from the skin to skin contact that often leads to a baby being like a greased piglet. I felt that as long as she wasn't slip sliding all over the place, it was much easier for her to get the task done.

A lightweight flannel blanket can always be used for a coverup if needed as well.

When at a resturant, ask for a table in the corner or something a little less open in the public. You can even tell them that you will be BFing and they are usually more than happy to put you in a less viewed spot. I would also ask for a booth as it offers more privacy. And then I would sit on which ever side had my baby's head pointing into the booth.

I'm a non confrontational person. I don't like fights, I just usually leave things alone. And while I've never had anything negative said to me about BFing, I have no problems standing up for it. And for others in regards to it. I generally have the attitude of I don't really care what you think, when it comes to life, and I don't back down easily from something that I believe in. So perhaps when I'm BFing, my confidence in it is showing. This is something that I absolutely had to work at. Due to a lot of problems with my first daughter, I wasn't able to BFed. Due to a lot of obsessions with my second daughter, I was able to exclusively BFed. And I have to say it took me a good several months before I felt confident that I was going to be able to keep BFing for at least a year.

 

[rosedolph]

CAUTION * There is ranting in this post -

I was reading a TR when I came across this -

"Well, I was walking down Main Street after going to Guest Services and I casually glanced next to me…lo and behold there was a woman walking next to me, stride for stride, cradling her young child in her arm with her right **** sticking out and the kid going to town. ZOINKS!! I wish I was holding a coffee, I would have asked for a squirt."

The TR author had this listed under rude behavior that he had seen at Disney! I replied that they only thing rude about a Mother breast feeding her child was HIS comment about wanting a "squirt for his coffee."

Now it could be because of the pregnancy hormones but this really upset me. I get so tired of people wanting me to go away, cover up, or bottle feed because they are embarrassed by breast feeding. I try to be discrete when I BF but I am not going to hide when my child needs to eat.

Ok, I think I am done for now. Thanks for listening.

 

[SoonerSarah]

Too bad he didn't ask for a squirt. She could have offered to hose him down after she threw his coffee in his face, or offered to hose him down after she reported him for harassment.

What is a TR? Sorry, still trying to figure out the millions of abbreviations here.

 

[rosedolph]

A TR is a Trip Report.

I think when I am there in Dec I will BF and pump while I walk down main street!
(again maybe it is just the hormones that makes me think that is funny?)

 

[kdfogliano]

OHHHHHH!! This would be AWESOME!!!

Come on girls! Get them all out there before friday

i love my aden + anais blankets, they are made of muslin cloth and so light weight and cool/but warm also!

great for a swaddle, nursing cover and sun shade!!

 

[Dopeygirl]

If there is a shirt that does show a bit more belly skin, you can always lay a burp rag against your belly underneath your breast, most people don't sit there and stare to see what exactly the material is, so unless it's patterned, they likely won't notice it. This also works very, very well for hot days. The fabric soaks up any dripped milk or sweat that comes from the skin to skin contact that often leads to a baby being like a greased piglet. I felt that as long as she wasn't slip sliding all over the place, it was much easier for her to get the task done.

A lightweight flannel blanket can always be used for a coverup if needed as well.

When at a resturant, ask for a table in the corner or something a little less open in the public. You can even tell them that you will be BFing and they are usually more than happy to put you in a less viewed spot. I would also ask for a booth as it offers more privacy. And then I would sit on which ever side had my baby's head pointing into the booth.

I'm a non confrontational person. I don't like fights, I just usually leave things alone. And while I've never had anything negative said to me about BFing, I have no problems standing up for it. And for others in regards to it. I generally have the attitude of I don't really care what you think, when it comes to life, and I don't back down easily from something that I believe in. So perhaps when I'm BFing, my confidence in it is showing.

Yep to all of this! I also really like a hat with a big brim. I was inspired after seeing these hats. The wide brim and carefully placed hat provides some nice extra coverage.

I also sometimes wear belly bands. When pulled up, the cover from below my waist band to nearly the bottom of my bra. So good skin coverage! I used to use nursing tanks when out in public but that requires one more snap to undo it. Not so bad when I had just one kid but now that I am on #3, those extra two seconds can mean the difference between DS1 pulling a jar off the bottom of a display and me preventing that.

I know some moms who buy larger sized mens undershirts/tanks and then cut a slit in the breast area.

So packing ideas:
--belly bands or nursing tank top
--lightweight blanket or nursing cover
--wide-brimmed hat for baby
--your CONFIDENCE
--the name and number of a IBCLC or LLL leader in case something comes up and you need advice
--a pump & bottles, if necessary
--the sterilizer microwave bags, if necessary since you could use the microwaves in the food courts
--lanolin if you're prone to sore nipples (I use breastmilk but I know some people prefer lanolin)
--pain medicine (I'm prone to plugged ducts, so pain meds can help with the pain while I wait for the plug to get unplugged)

Whatever method you want to use to give you a little extra coverage (if desired), I'd highly suggest practicing at home using those items. If you have a good handle of them at home, you'll be able to use them with ease at WDW. And using them with ease means less attention you'll draw to yourself and babe.

I think when I am there in Dec I will BF and pump while I walk down main street!

I'm thinking my double pump while walking down Main Street.
Not just your hormones...I've been around the DIS long enough to have seen several threads with similar tones. Before having kids, I thought it was a bit out there but didn't really get it. Now that I'm on nursling #3...yeah, my blood pressure would be up if I had read it too!!

 

[cerilene]

I need some words of encouragement, good thoughts, vibes, prayers and anything else you ladies can throw my way. I'm getting ready to go away for the weekend without my DD. My breasts don't respond to pumping anymore because I didn't keep it up. So I have no milk to leave for my DD. I've missed bedtime here and there and she goes to bed OK without it, but she's never gone 48 hours without her mama milk before. I'm so worried that she's going to end up weaning and won't want me when I get home. I'm going to pump while I'm away in hopes that I'll get some milk and keep up production. She's 21 months so it's not like I'm leaving an infant, but I'm not ready for us to be done bfing.

 

[SoonerSarah]

It's possible that your daughter will go on a "strike", but it's also possible that this will make her want to BF even more.

Yes, supply and demand is very important, but there are many women who have had medical circumstance get in the way, especially with younger babies that didn't know what they were doing, and they were able to get things going in the end. Unfortunately, there isn't any way to really predict what is going to happen. I would continue pumping as often as possible, fi that is what you are wanting. Even if you don't get any milk, the stimulation is better than nothing.

Hugs to you!

 

[GAGirlInVA]

Can't wait to nurse in WDW! I've nursed tons of places so far.

 

[Heatherwags]

Hi there! I am a little stressed about our trip next week. My DD2 is now 12 weeks old, and EBF. I nursed my first DD and traveled, but never for long trips. So I was able to refrigerate any pumped milk and bring it back with me.

This time, we'll be gone longer and based on the guidlines, I'm not comfortable with my milk sitting for 7 days in the fridge. Our room (staying at Poly) doesn't have a freezer. I'm going back to work shortly after our trip, so I've been pumping once a day to stockpile my supply for when I go back to work. I'd hate to cut that session while on vacation, b/c I don't want my supply to go down. I really like getting that extra milk bagged. I just don't want to have to pitch it.

Anyone have any tips since I won't have access to a freezer on this longer trip? I figured on the way home, I'll just use a soft sided cooler and ice in baggies if I don't have to dump it. So it's the time in the hotel I'm worried about!

 

[Dopeygirl]

Could you ship it to a friend or relative to freeze until you get back? I've shipped frozen breastmilk using dry ice...but since you won't have a freezer, I googled. Here's what I found: http://breastfeeding.about.com/od/faqs/f/shipbreastmilk.htm

It says to use the gel packs for refrigerated milk.

I'd probably do that after a couple days and then take the rest of it home with me on the plane.

 

[aksunshine]

Only 6 more days until I get to BF for the first time at WDW!!!!!

 

[TarzansKat]

Only 6 more days until I get to BF for the first time at WDW!!!!!

If I don't get back to this thread again before then, I just wanted to say, have a wonderful trip!

 

[december]

Only 6 more days until I get to BF for the first time at WDW!!!!!

I'll be there in 6 days, too. Just for a quick weekend trip. I'm taking dd10 and dd1 to MNSSHP. We fly in Sat, have breakfast at 1900 Sun morning, BBB for dd10 at 1, party at 4, and dd1's 1st haircut at 5, party until midnight, then fly home Mon morning. I am so excited!

I was worried about finding a costume I could nurse in. I'm going as Minnie Mouse, and have the ears, yellow crocs (added red bows). I just couldn't see spending $70 for the Minnie dress, and being miserable all night trying to nurse in it. I lucked up and found a red dress with white circles at a salvage store for $8, and it is stretchy enough up top that I can just pull it down (with an udder cover on top). I wore it to a party last night, and had no problem nursing. I can't wait for next weekend. Dd10 has no idea we are going-I told her we were going out for lunch and then going shopping!

 

[aksunshine]

I am so excited for you december!!! What time do you get in Sat?

 

[december]

Plane arrives at 6pm, so probably 8 before we get to Pop. I don't know if we'll stay around Pop, or head over to Ft. wilderness for the campfire.....

 

[aksunshine]

We are staying at pop! Would be great to meet!!!

 

[december]

We should be checking in between 7 and 8. We will probably end up eating there, and staying close by that night. I'm a short, chunky brunette, dd10 is tall and thin (getting a little to curvy.....), and Katie is 17 mos and will be built like her mama!

 

[Ash&Wes07]

So glad I found this thread!!

I will be nursing DS in December, and I nursed DD in the world in '08.

I am a big fan of nursing tanks and I do use a cover because my children like to pop on and off the **** constantly and there's no way to keep it modest that way, lol.

However, I have noticed that more people stared at me when I had the cover on, and people would try to look down in there to see what was going on!! I guess people are just facinated, lol.

 

[Ash&Wes07]

Hi there! I am a little stressed about our trip next week. My DD2 is now 12 weeks old, and EBF. I nursed my first DD and traveled, but never for long trips. So I was able to refrigerate any pumped milk and bring it back with me.

This time, we'll be gone longer and based on the guidlines, I'm not comfortable with my milk sitting for 7 days in the fridge. Our room (staying at Poly) doesn't have a freezer. I'm going back to work shortly after our trip, so I've been pumping once a day to stockpile my supply for when I go back to work. I'd hate to cut that session while on vacation, b/c I don't want my supply to go down. I really like getting that extra milk bagged. I just don't want to have to pitch it.

Anyone have any tips since I won't have access to a freezer on this longer trip? I figured on the way home, I'll just use a soft sided cooler and ice in baggies if I don't have to dump it. So it's the time in the hotel I'm worried about!

Your milk should be fine in the fridge for 7 days. Kellymom's guidelines give you as many as 8 days, and I've kept milk in the fridge for up to 9 days without spoilage. I always go by the rule of "it isn't spoiled unless it smells spoiled". Crank up the fridge (if you can) and don't open it more than you need to.

I exclusively pumped for DD for 5 months before she started nursing and I EPed for DS for a month before he'd nurse, so I've had my fair share of milk handling issues.