Drive Thru

L., S., and I went to a barbecue last night at a friend's house. She lives about 40 minutes from us, which is pretty normal out here. S. had been a little difficult to feed that day for a couple of reasons. He is teething like mad and sometimes when he nurses, it hurts his gums so he doesn't really eat. Also, he finds it almost impossible to focus on eating when things are going on. In consequence, S. didn't really eat for a couple of hours before the barbecue and then, though he was obviously hungry, couldn't focus on eating at the barbecue. We left at around 8:30; I could tell that S. was reaching his limit of hunger and tiredness. We put him in his seat and I sat in the back of the car with him to try and keep him calm. I was hoping that he would be able to just go to sleep, but no such luck came our way. Instead, S. started whimpering, then whining, which crescendo'd into screaming. I really didn't want to have L. pull over--we still had a 30 minute drive home and S. was so tired. I hadn't brought a bottle and I needed to feed my son, so I decided to try something that no one but a frazzled, half crazy mom would ever try--breastfeeding on the go.

Now, before you grab your torches, tar, and pitchforks, let me make it clear that S. stayed safely buckled into his car seat at all times. I, channeling my inner contortionist, tucked the leg closest to the car seat under me to give myself a little extra height, leaned into the car seat, and bared my breast. S. took care of the rest. He happily nursed and nursed and nursed until he fell asleep. By the time he finished I had a serious cramp in my lower back and my leg had fallen asleep, but it was worth it. S. had finally had a full meal was sleeping sweetly, and we were that much closer to home. However, I wouldn't recommend that other moms try this. I kept worrying about what would happen if L. got pulled over while I was nursing S. like a member of a freak show ("Step right up, Ladies and Gentlemen, and see the Amazing Drive Thru Mama. The only woman on earth crazy enough to breastfeed her baby in the back of a moving vehicle while he is strapped in a car seat!"). I knew that I'd get busted for not wearing a seatbelt and would likely be slapped with a public indecency charge, as well. I kept trying to justify my nakedness to myself by repeating over and over, "I'm doing this inside our own car, so how is that public indecency?"

Next time, I'll just bring a bottle.