Having formula 'on hand' so you don't have to breastfeed in public is a good way to not be able to breast feed. Breastmilk works on a supply = demand equasion. If you skip nursing sessions to give a bottle without pumping to mimic the 'demand' on the breast, pretty soon you won't have any milk any more.
Women should breastfeed in public. That doesn't mean they need to sit right next to a stranger to do it, or be 'in your face' about it.
Anyone who has an issue with a woman feeding her baby as God intended with superior nutrition to anything Man can devise is the one with the problem. We Americans have a weird relationships with breasts. On the one hand, we look at images every day of barely concealsed breasts, artifically enlarged breasts, sexualized breast, etc. If a woman doesn't wear v-neck shirts or a bikini on the beach she's a prude. However, if the same woman is latching on her baby and the merest hint of flesh shows, it's considered 'rude, impolite' and she should cover up. I have never seen a woman breastfeeding in public show 1/10th of the skin that I see when I go to the pool.
Wearing a baggy loose T-shirt or top is the pefect breastfeeding clothing. I nursed in public anytime, anywhere. Do you want to hear my baby crying or see his head under my shirt?? I assure you I was able to nurse without showing ANYTHING and never used a blanket to cover up. A sure fire way to scream to the world "I"M BREASTFEEDING" is to use a blanket.
I had people come up to me and lift my shirt to 'see my cute baby' - even AFTER I said 'he's eating...'. They had no clue he was nursing. Needless to say they were more embarrased than I was.
You should be able to nurse a baby anywhere you would give a bottle. Why should you have to go to the bathroom, or a separate room? There is nothing shameful about breastfeeding. Formula fed kids score lower on virtually ANY study ever done - health wise, asthma, childhood leukemia, IQ/intelligence, # trips to the doctor, # prescriptions for antibiotics, etc. There is NEVER a study done that shows formula to be even an equal substitute for breastmilk.
And yes, I am very biased - I breastfed all 4 of my children, and I think the biggest shame in the world is women who intentionally deprive their babies of the benefits of breastmilk because it's not convienient for the mom. (I'm not talking about women who at least TRY...) Why would anyone willingly cheat their baby when the nature's miracle formula is right there, free for the taking? I just don't get it. If a pharmaceutical company could come up with a shot or pill that would give the benefits of breastfeeding, it'd be considered child neglect not to give it, yet women who nurse their babies to provide the best possible start in life have to deal with our culture's attitudes about how nursing is something shameful that should be done in a separate room, or in the bathroom. Yes it is a natural function, but it is not the elimiation of waste products like the example given of 'peeing'. Breastmilk is not to be compared to urine.
I also teach breastfeeding classes and do breastfeeding support and counseling. I tell my students that with my first baby I was not comfortable nursing very openly in public. With the 2nd baby I was comfortable nursing most anywhere, but I worried that i was making others uncomfortable, which caused more stress for me. By the time the 3rd baby came, I figured out that my baby's needs were far more important than anyone's comfort level.
