We hope that breastfeeding is going well for you! At first it's a lot of work, but it truly gets easier with time and eventually just become part of how you parent your children. In these first few weeks, you have probably had a number of opportunities to breastfeed with friends and family around. It isn't easy practicing this new art in front of others! Are you tired of hanging around at home and want to get out in the world? Here is some information to help make nursing in public a breeze:

Five Easy Steps to Nursing in Public
1. Look for a place to nurse your baby before she or he gets hungry or fussy. Choose a comfortable, out-of-the-way place such as a back table in a restaurant, a quiet bench in a mall, or a rear pew at church. That way both of you will feel more relaxed.

2. Settle your baby into your lap, loosening or removing any outerwear that might make things harder.

3. Reach under your nursing shirt or into the nursing opening and unfasten and position your bra flap.

4. Bring your nipple and your baby's mouth to the edge of the nursing opening, or lift the hem of your top to just the top of your areola. After baby latches on, arrange the fabric to show the least amount of breast while still ensuring your baby can breathe easily, and look at you.

5. Look up and smile and converse with your companions. Be proud of your ability to fulfill your baby's needs anywhere!

Building your Nursing Wardrobe
The whole world is clamoring to meet your baby. Preoccupied with feedings, naps, diaper changes, and marveling over your child, what you wear might be the last thing on your mind. You probably don't have much spare time, and perhaps not much inclination, to worry about what you look like. Yet those pregnancy clothes probably feel awkward and floppy now, and your new nursing curves make your old clothes a stretch. If you spend a few thoughtful moments now, you can put together a feel-good nursing wardrobe that will carry you from home to town, through your baby's weaning, and beyond. And a gift to yourself of some practical, attractive, comfortable nursing clothes might be a great way to celebrate motherhood.

Begin by asking yourself a few questions. During which seasons do you expect to nurse? Where will you be going with your baby, and what will you need to wear? A soft top might do just fine at home, but wrangling with a swimsuit might just thwart that family picnic at the lake. And what about that evening meeting? The anniversary party? With the right clothes, you can breastfeed anywhere, anytime, comfortably and with as much discretion as you want.

Look through what's already in your closet. See what you have to work with and ask yourself the simple question: what will work for nursing? You may have a number of outfits that need only a finishing touch or two to transform them into great breastfeeding styles. Make a list of what you need to complete these ensembles, such as nursing tops to complement pants and skirts or nursing camisoles to slip under a front-button dress. Consider adding a new dress for a special occasion, or whatever else it takes to make you feel great about yourself and nursing. A few key purchases can create a sense of comfort and confidence.

See our Everything-You-Need Nursing Checklist at the left. Most moms expect to nurse their babies for at least a year, and many nurse for several years. Select clothes you can layer so they last throughout the year. Tank tops for example, work alone in hot weather or under other clothes on cooler days. A long-sleeve top and a sweater are a great choice for year-round wear, as are dresses, which you can wear solo or with a cardigan or jacket, depending on the season.

Read the label. You can extend the good look and fit by paying close attention to care instructions. Nursing bras last doubly long if you wash them by hand with a mild detergent and hang them to dry.

Recycle! Carefully pack and store away your nursing clothes if you think another baby is in your family's future. Or keep wearing them once your baby has weaned. Motherwear styles are designed with this inevitability in mind. Or pass them along to a friend who is nursing. The moms' hand-me-down network is an important friendship tool.

Nursing your Baby Makes a Lot of Cents
Breastfeeding is not just a healthy choice, it's also an economical choice. And the longer you breastfeed, the more the savings add up. As babies mature, they eat more. If you're bottle-feeding, that means your expenses grow along with your baby. Nursing, by contrast, costs no more at six months than it does at six days.

In a 1998 study, Dr. Marta Sovyanhadi of the Long Beach, California, Department of Health and Human Services estimated it costs a mother only $90.36 in extra calorie intake to breastfeed an infant for the first six months.

You also are saving in healthcare costs for your baby. Studies show breastfed babies get sick less often, need fewer doctor visits, and are hospitalized less often than formula-fed babies. For working mothers, that means an added savings of less time lost on the job. The chart on the left shows what not having to buy bottles and formula saves you, based on how long you nurse.* By breastfeeding you are saving well over $1,000 the first year. That's money you can spend on other things, like education, savings, or a special treat to make nursing even easier!

Your Monthly Breastfeeding Planner
You’re currently reading breastfeeding information we’ve geared specifically to new nursing moms whose baby is about 2 months old. Our website offers insight and information on other stages of pregnancy and birth, to help guide you through the details of selecting your nursing wardrobe, planning for those first days in the hospital and home, breastfeeding in public, returning to work, and more. Browse your current stage, look back or ahead, and refer to this section often as your nursing experience progresses:

It's Time to Shop for Maternity & Nursing Bras (6th month of pregnancy)
Essential Information for New Nursing Moms (7th month of pregnancy)
Pack Your Bag For Baby’s Birth! (baby due in less than 2 months)
Building The Perfect Nursing Wardrobe (baby due in 1 month or less)
Essential Information To Get Breastfeeding Started (baby due now)
Nursing On The Go (baby 1 month old)
Yes, You Can Breastfeed & Work (baby 3 months old)
10 Reasons to Keep Nursing your Baby (baby 4+ months old)