Hellobee Boards

@sloaneandpuffy: I don't like to nurse without a cover in public if there's a man (besides my husband) in close proximity, say sitting at a table next to us or on a bench next to us.

I will not nurse without a cover on the subway.

I also use the two-shirt method of pulling one shirt up and the other down, so no boob is exposed even when I am not using a cover.

I will nurse uncovered in front of most people, usually because she fusses under the cover now and she has to eat. But when my in-laws were over last week I wouldn't even nurse with a cover in front of them... We were usually out and about so if I really had to do it, I would turn my back and nurse. It was just too much to nurse and hold a conversation with them at the same time, lol.

I won't do it with over a cover or blanket. DH isn't comfortable with me doing it in a restaurant, thinks should just go to the car. He says he isn't comfortable with someone doing it at a table next to him, while eating, so I shouldn't. But he also understands sometime you don't have a choice.

I'll nurse in front of anyone covered, but uncovered I turn my back to the room or wait til I'm in a less crowded place. I nursed at the zoo a few times on benches that were kind of out of the way, but there were still people around. I always used a cover or a cardigan, etc. when at restaurants.

I will nurse anywhere, anytime if my kid is hungry. If you took the word "breast" out of "breastfeeding", it just becomes "feeding". Would you hide to feed your baby a bottle? I get so frustrated when people tell me to go to the bathroom and feed her- I ask them if they would like to eat in the bathroom. I have used a cover before but LO hates them- it's hot under there!
I am all about doing whatever you are comfortable doing, and if you're modest there is nothing wrong with that. I just don't like it when other people try to guilt me or make me feel bad for feeding my baby. At my birthday dinner my own sister gave me the "you might make other people uncomfortable" line. If you aren't comfortable, don't look.

when I used to nurse during the daytime I always use a cover unless I am my car

I had a semi-traumatic event nursing Ellie uncovered in front of a felon (don't ask; he was at the hospital when she was sick, and it was either not feed my hungry sick baby, or do it in front of him and his guard) and after that, I decided, "who cares?" Now I don't really have any limits. If my baby is hungry, my baby eats.

@mrsjazz: I do the two shirt method too! I find that to be more convenient than the cover. I've done that in church and freaked out my mom and DH.

I use a cover sometimes but she's not used to it and is extra squirmy. The cover is such a production too. .

When she was a newborn I would nurse anywhere. I was like honey badger I just didn't care. LOL!

@Foodnerd81: I was totally like that before I had the baby so I'm a little surprised by my current attitude. I guess you never know until you're in the situation.

No real limits, I just look for a situation where I feel most comfortable, a quiet corner, or dressing so I'm more comfortable (nursing tank with a shirt over it). I've only used a real cover once and hated it, so I usually bring an A&A blanket with me and wear it like a scarf to cover anything I don't want showing. I had no problem whipping them out on the plane last week, it preserved everyone's sanity since it got him to sleep. I'm just relieved that I only had grannies and mommies next to me!

I've nursed without a cover in front of my husband, female relatives, and a few close friends. Other thatn that, I use a cover when BFing in public. I might relax more when we have a second because I do think women should be comfortable nursing without a cover in public. I'm just not quite there yet.

I was in Ikea the other day and we came across a mom holding a boy C's age sitting at one of the displays, usually we walk by and say hi to the other kid, then I saw boob and that she was trying to nurse, so we quickly diverted our path to not disturb them. I felt silly feeling awkward around them, but I totally did. So even from someone who's not afraid to who whip them put in public, I still have plenty of awkward moments!

@lemondrop: wow---I had an ikea moment too! Except mine made me think I may never try BFing in public uncovered. DH and I were looking for the bathroom, and there's one near the restaurant/eatery. There's a section of the eatery that is walled in by see-through glass, and that section is where the bathrooms are.

There was a mother there, breastfeeding uncovered, whose LO kept popping off (distracted, I guess?), and there was a crowd of South Asian men at the glass window just watching. It was super disturbing. I mean, they weren't watching in a, "oh, how sweet that mom is feeding her baby" way.

Anyway, I at least learned not to choose a glass window to feed next to, if I'm going to go uncovered.

Edited to say: she wasn't using a two-shirt method or nursing shirt either. She had pulled her top up, almost over one side...so there was a lot of bare skin. In all fairness, I'm sure those men are not used to seeing that much skin in public and they were probably just....curious? interested? But in any case, I was creeped out.

I have nursed in public without a cover, at a restaurant without a cover and in front of my Dad and FIL (facing away from them). I was super awkward about it at first. Finally I decided, I HAVE TO FEED MY BABY! I'm tired of going upstairs so, deal.

@katsupgirl: I'm totally a nursing honey badger! love that!
As a preggo I thought I'd never nurse in public, but now I could give a poop about who sees me nurse. If my baby is hungry I will feed my baby. I have a really pretty cover, but it's a pain in the buns to put it on when LO is fussing for food so I never use it.

@Anagram: omg! yes, that would definitely be a scary thing to see! Location is everything to make you feel comfortable. I probably would have approached them with some not very nice things to say.

Eta: To clarify, before bfing, I probably would have been shocked to see her in public too, but after having the starving baby that must eat NOW, I'm somewhat of a bfing mama bear, and want to protect other mothers

I'm pretty indifferent on whether or not I'm covered but DH hates when I nurse in public uncovered. Problem I have is that both DD (when she was nursing) and DS hate to be covered so they are constantly pulling the cover off.

@LulaBee: @Mrs. Twine: Same here. If people do not like it they do not have to look. I do not use a cover (R would take it off) but I do use my hand to cover myself very quickly when she decides she wants to look around so I am not flashing anyone. As for a bit of skin showing...it is the same amount that a shirt would show and less than a bathing suit!

I'll nurse uncovered anywhere. I'd do it in front of the president, honestly. Maybe not the Pope.